Bangkok: Wildlife officials in Thailand on Monday raided a Buddhist temple famous that inhabiting 137 tigers in response to global pressure over animal trafficking.
The authorities have seized and removed six tigers amid accusations of illegal breeding and trafficking of the animals.
Government officials plan to clear the temple of all tigers, and will spend the next week removing the remaining 131 animals.
The temple is a popular tourist spot in Kanchanaburi province, where visitors are allowed to play with tigers and cubs and even take selfies with them.
The director of Thailand's Wildlife Conservation Office, Teunjai Noochdumrong, said three tigers were tranquilized and transported Monday in an operation involving about 1,000 state personnel that is expected to continue for a week.
The animals will be taken to three government animal refuges elsewhere in Thailand.
The temple, a popular money-earning tourist attraction in the western province of Kanchanaburi, has been criticized by animal rights activists because of allegations it is not properly set up to care for the animals and flouted regulations restricting their trade.
The monks resisted previous efforts to take away the tigers, and impeded the effort again on Monday morning despite the massive show of force by the authorities. They relented after police obtained a court order. More than 300 officials remained at the temple overnight to ensure the tigers remained safe.
The temple recently made arrangements to operate as a zoo, but the plan fell through when the government determined that the operators failed to secure sufficient resources.
