Wrath of the Lich King comes out in just a couple of day. I have no idea why i'm so excited due to the fact that my higest level character is level 25 i think? not to mention it is November and i'm writing for NaNo like crazy, and I don't even have WLK on pre-order like all the superfans out there.
I think Rebecca's anticipation has rubbed off on me a little....
In other news, I came accross what i thought was an absolutly amazing picture on the internet today. It was a woman with a real full grown bengal tiger's head in her lap like it was a kitten enjoying it's belly being scratched. I was in total shock at where they would let tourists play with one of nature's most lethal creatures and read further for more information since that's one of my more wild, sorry for the pun, dreams. The picture was taken at the Thailand Tiger Temple (i think Thailand just moved up my list of places to visit a few notches).
Then i started reading about how all the tigers there were "rescued" from poaching and taken care of by the monks. Reading further told me that they were drugged.
The first thought through my head is, hmmm feed them well and drug them and get a lot more money from tourist or have them eat the tourists?
While i don't believe most wild animals should be kept in captivity or drugged, this is one instance where i have to dissagree. The tiger's numbers are still so few, though growing. And poaching is becoming easier with their dwindling habitats. The temple is also breeding more tiger cubs all the time and all the feeding and breeding is funded by the tourist factor. So by taking away a lot of the danger in older tigers, they're able to breed new generations of tigers to help supplement the population.
No doubt, i wish there were other ways. it's still a sad catch 22. But I think it would be by far the most amazing experiance ever to be that close to a creature that could rip me to shreads. and while i might be slightly on the crazt side, i don't have a death wish so as far as drugging them, there could be worse things.
Oh dear, you've been sadly misled by the Tiger Temple. The tigers, far from being 'rescued', are actually ilegally traded. Whenever one dies, a new tiger is quickly drafted in and promptly re-named with the same name. The monks are effectively inbreeding them at the temple - this will in no way contribute to tiger conservation efforts as the genetic pool is unsuitable and limited. The tigers are all tame, so will never be released. They are simply a money machine (generating millions of baht) for the monks.
ReplyDeleteFollowing repeated complaints from tourists and volunteers working at the temple about tigers being shockingly mistreated there, Care for the Wild International (CWI) undertook an intensive two year investigation. The resulting CWI report reveals illegal wildlife trade, animal cruelty, false conservation claims and visitor safety risks at the Temple.
You can read the report at: http://www.careforthewild.com/projects.asp?detail=true&I_ID=580&mypage=Reports
This issue has widespread media coverage:
CWI's press release - "Illegal tiger trade, cruelty and human health hazards at famous tourist destination":
http://www.careforthewild.com/files/tt_news_release%2020-06-08.pdf
"Black market tigers linked to Thai Temple, Reports says"
National Geographic News, 20 June 2008:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080620-tiger-temple.html
Please consider removing the positive comments from your blog, as this only generates more interest for the temple.
While i am thankful for the information posted by Jane, i have decided to not remove the comments in my post.
ReplyDeleteI am not trying to promote the Thailand Tiger Temple to anyone.
I analyzed the information i had originally read, i did not say it was the all out truth. If you will notice, there were quotations around "rescued".
I also said it was a sad catch 22.
Despite reading this, i still think that would be an amazing experiance.
Please feel free to dissagree with me further but understand that i was more interested in a possibilty to sit face to face with a creature i both admire and have a healthy fear of rather than to debate the ethics of another country where i do not reside in nor can control. Call it whatever you wish. My post will remain unchanged.