KANCHANABURI: Thai wildlife officials began a headcount Friday of nearly 150 tigers kept by monks at a temple which has become the centre of a dispute over the welfare of the animals.

Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua in Thailand’s western Kanchanaburi province — commonly known as “The Tiger Temple” — has long proved a hit among tourists who flock there to visit the monks and be photographed next to their huge feline pets.

But the authorities say the temple has been keeping the animals without the proper paperwork and have vowed to seize them, sparking standoffs in recent weeks between officials and angry monks blocking their way.

Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) said earlier this week it planned to take the animals away on Friday.

But when officials arrived at the temple on Friday morning they contented themselves with counting the tigers, most of whom are microchipped, to ascertain how many there are in the sanctuary. “We have come to check and scan the tigers to see whether the numbers match what we have or not,” DNP official Somsak Poopet said, adding his department said they had been told there should be 147 tigers at the temple.

Asked whether the department would consider seizing the animals he replied:

“We have that idea but in our actions so far it has not reached that process yet.” Unlike previous visits, the monks did not object to officials entering the sanctuary, a photographer on the scene said. The tigers were led out in groups of four and tied to a tree to allow officials to scan their microchips.

The headcount was sparked by allegations from a temple vet earlier this week who complained to police that three tigers had recently disappeared from the sanctuary, sparking fears they may have been sold on.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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