Police are trying to find out the connection between the Tiger Temple and the wildlife trafficking
business after carcasses and animal parts were found on the premises in Kanchanaburi.
Deputy national police chief Chalermkiat Sriworakhan is heading the investigation into possible links
between Wat Pa Luang Ta Maha Bua and the illegal wildlife trade.
Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, the national police chief, said on Friday that investigators would start by
examining the trail of the carcasses seized at the temple in Sai Yok district to animal smugglers.
Pol Gen Chalermkiat has been working with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant
Conservation as it continues its efforts to remove all 137 cats from the temple to two breeding centres
in Ratchaburi.
The steppedup police action comes after wildlife authorities discovered more than live animals in
their latest intervention that began on Monday. They included the remains of 40 frozen tiger cubs, 30
carcasses, two skins and hundreds of tiger skin talismans. The parts were believed to be destined for
use in traditional medicines.
All of the evidence will be moved to Bangkok for authorities to examine further, and then it will be
destroyed, department directorgeneral Tuanjai Noochdamrong said.
Wildlife advocates for years have accused the temple of making profits from the tigers it is tending,
even beyond the money earned from the thousands of tourists that visit every month. The temple has
denied the accusation.
The problem for authorities so far is the almost total lack of cooperation from temple authorities to
help them shed light on the findings, including the seizure of the skins and ta krut (tubular amulets) on
Thursday.
"We are disgusted at this discovery and we don't condone this. We are looking forward to the
authorities bringing the culprits to justice," the temple said in a statement on itsFacebook page on
Thursday