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Thailand Tiger Temple to face charges over dead cubs Thailand Tiger Temple monk held 'for smuggling'
(about 3 hours later)
Wildlife authorities in Thailand have said they will press charges against a Buddhist temple where the bodies of 40 dead tiger cubs were found. Thai authorities say they have detained a monk attempting to smuggle tiger skins and fangs from a Buddhist temple.
Operators at Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple, known as the "Tiger Temple", are accused of wildlife trafficking and animal abuse. They deny the charges.
On Wednesday, wildlife officials found the bodies of 40 dead tiger cubs at the temple complex.
The discovery came during a week-long effort to relocate 137 tigers from the tourist site in Kanchanaburi province.The discovery came during a week-long effort to relocate 137 tigers from the tourist site in Kanchanaburi province.
Police caught one monk trying to flee with skins and fangs, reports said. The temple operators had resisted previous attempts to remove the tigers.
The "Tiger Temple" operators have been accused of wildlife trafficking, animal abuse and illegally possessing carcasses and endangered species. Tiger Temple's long history of controversy
Operators at Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple complex deny all allegations and have resisted previous attempts to remove the tigers.
BBC visit to the Tiger Temple in 2012BBC visit to the Tiger Temple in 2012
"We found tiger skins and amulets in a car which was trying to leave a temple," Adisorn Noochdumrong, the deputy director of Thailand's parks department, told AFP on Thursday. Police intercepted the monk, and two other men, in a lorry leaving the temple in western Thailand on Thursday.
It came a day after tiger cub corpses were found in a freezer at the complex, along with body parts from other animals. The authorities confiscated two full-length tiger skins, about 700 amulets made from tiger parts, and 10 tiger fangs, Teunchai Noochdumrong, director of of the Wildlife Conservation Office, told the BBC.
Police Col Bandith Meungsukhum told AFP the cubs would have been one or two days old, but it was not clear how long they had been dead. "This confiscation shows that the temple is likely involved in illegal tiger trade. They are clearly violating the law in selling, distributing of transferring the protected animals or their parts," she said.
Wildlife authorities in Thailand have said they will press charges against the temple.
On Wednesday, tiger cub corpses were found in a freezer at the complex, along with body parts from other animals.
Police Col Bandith Meungsukhum told the Agence France-Presse news agency the cubs would have been one or two days old, but it was not clear how long they had been dead.
They will be DNA tested to see whether they were related to other tigers at the site.They will be DNA tested to see whether they were related to other tigers at the site.
Officials say the temple operators could be charged with keeping the carcasses without permission.Officials say the temple operators could be charged with keeping the carcasses without permission.
The temple has previously said it decided in 2010 to stop cremating cubs which died soon after birth. It has always denied trafficking allegations. The temple previously said it had decided in 2010 to stop cremating cubs which died soon after birth. It has always denied trafficking allegations.
Authorities started the operation to remove all 137 living tigers from the temple on Monday. Dozens have already been removed. Authorities started the operation to remove all 137 living tigers from the temple on Monday. Dozens have already been removed, and taken to animal refuges.
The site, west of Bangkok, is a popular tourist attraction, with visitors able to post for photos with the animals for a fee.The site, west of Bangkok, is a popular tourist attraction, with visitors able to post for photos with the animals for a fee.
It has been closed to the public since the raid.It has been closed to the public since the raid.
Animal activists and former workers have claimed the tigers are mistreated and kept in small concrete cages.Animal activists and former workers have claimed the tigers are mistreated and kept in small concrete cages.