Frozen tiger cubs found at Thai temple
Tiger Temple is a popular tourist attraction in the province of Kanchanaburi.
Around 40 tiger cubs have been found dead at a Buddhist temple in Thailand.
The shocking discovery comes just days after wildlife authorities tried to remove 147 tigers from the 'Tiger Temple', which is a popular tourist attraction in the province of Kanchanaburi.
Authorities discovered the tiger cubs in a freezer where food is stored for the living tigers. Raid leader Yanking Lekavicht told a Bangkok news website that the discovery was 'abnormal’ and that an investigation is now underway.
Responding to the news, World Animal Protection issued a statement describing the cruelty towards tigers at the temple, and the latest scenes of dead cubs, as ‘extremely disturbing’.
‘It’s clear that the welfare of the tigers is not a priority and their lives are full of abuse and commercial exploitation for the entertainment of tourists,’ they said.
‘We commend the authorities in Thailand who are taking action by removing all tigers from the Tiger Temple. We also urge the government to investigate the cause of death of the tiger cubs and identify an appropriate safe environment where the tigers’ welfare is fully considered for the remainder of their lives.'
In the last few hours, BBC News has confirmed that wildlife authorities in Thailand will press charges against the temple. Officials say the operators may be charged with keeping the carcasses without permission.
In 2010 the temple decided it would stop cremating cubs which died shortly after birth, but it has always denied allegations of trafficking.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
