Kanchanaburi: The relocation of another five tigers from the "Tiger Temple" in the province is scheduled for tomorrow following an agreement that satisfies both the temple and wildlife officials.
The Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Foundation, which oversees the tigers, has no objection to the relocation plan, said its deputy chairman Pol Col Suphitphong Phakcharung after a meeting between the two sides yesterday.
The second phase of the relocation will take place tomorrow after five of the 147 tigers currently under the care of the temple in Sai Yok district were earlier taken to Khao Pa Son and Khao Prathap Chang wildlife breeding centres in Ratchaburi on Jan 28.
The move can go ahead because the hostile atmosphere between the two sides, which was once feared to hinder the relocation, is easing.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has presented evidence the tigers are in good care, Pol Col Suphitphong said.
After the tigers are moved, a third phase of the relocation plan will go ahead on March 15, before a further five tigers on average are relocated every month, he said.
The two-hour meeting went smoothly yesterday, a marked contrast from previous efforts which were filled with tension, observers said.
Yanyong Lekhawichit, chief of the department's Protected Area Regional Office 3, asked the foundation not give food to the five tigers 12 hours before their move, for the sake of their safety.
The foundation, meanwhile, gave him documents related to the temple's plan to open a tiger zoo on the premises.
The department will mull the request over the next 30 days.
The foundation earlier agreed to hand over 70 tigers to the department on condition it should be allowed to continue raising 77 tigers at its proposed zoo.
The zoo, which will be built once the department grants a licence, will be located on an area of 25 rai, according to the foundation.
It has put aside 120 million baht for the project, expected to take three months. It hopes the zoo will continue to draw tourists to the temple even though the number of tigers in its care has diminished.
According to a source, the temple was trusted by wildlife officials to help take care of seven tigers 15 years ago. The number of tigers later increased sharply, which resulted in an increase in tourist numbers to the temple.
The department decided to relocate the tigers, following the disappearance of three tigers from the temple last year.