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 monk sprays a tiger's face with water and tiger urine to make it submissive.
A tiger is led to the 'canyon' for the afternoon activities.
A monk escorts a tiger to the canyon for its 'exercises'.
A captive tiger in one of the enclosures inside the Tiger Temple.
A cub interacts with an adult tiger at the Tiger Temple.
Visitors wait for their turn to be photographed with the tigers.
A volunteer addresses visitors at the Tiger Temple grounds.
A bored, possibly traumatised tiger plays with a twig.
A monk leads a tiger cub by the tail to an adult tiger.
A visitor has a photograph taken with a tiger cub.
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