Wat Pa Luangta Bua Mahasampanno, known to the world (and the worldly) as the Tiger Temple, is a unique monastery in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province. Here, Theravada Buddhist monks in ochre robes walk the eight-fold path to salvation with tigers trotting placidly at their heels. They go about this business with smug St-Francis-of-Assisi-like nonchalance. A sign outside informs us that this is a center for conservation. That claim is put to test as you walk in, and remains unresolved as we walk out.
A tiger pants in the heat at the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
A monk walks with a tiger cub at the Tiger Temple.
A house-sized concrete sculpture of a tiger and its cub greet visitors to the Tiger Temple.
Trigger-happy visitors crowd at the gate to photograph the cats as they are taken to the exhibition arena.
A handler rests on a sleeping tiger's rump at the Tiger Temple.
A visitor looks at a wall of trophy photos taken by tourists.
Tiger Temple merchandise on display.
A monk bares a tiger's maw to display its sharp canines.
It's clear that the monks love their tigers, but keeping them captive is questionable.
A handler pulls a tiger's tail to control it. This could result in spinal injuries.
