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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/02/thai-monk-caught-temple-tiger-skins-fangs
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| Thai monk caught fleeing temple with tiger skins and fangs | Thai monk caught fleeing temple with tiger skins and fangs |
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| Thai officials say a monk has been intercepted trying to leave a controversial “tiger temple” with skins and fangs, in the latest discovery to fuel long-running accusations that the sanctuary is involved in the illegal wildlife trade. | |
| Dozens of police and park officials have been stationed at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple in western Kanchanaburi province since Monday after receiving a court order to remove more than 100 adult cats from the complex. | Dozens of police and park officials have been stationed at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple in western Kanchanaburi province since Monday after receiving a court order to remove more than 100 adult cats from the complex. |
| For decades the temple has been a popular stop for tourists who pay a steep fee to pet and be photographed with the predators, which animal rights groups say are heavily sedated. | For decades the temple has been a popular stop for tourists who pay a steep fee to pet and be photographed with the predators, which animal rights groups say are heavily sedated. |
| “Today we found tiger skins and amulets in a car which was trying to leave a temple,” Adisorn Noochdumrong, deputy director of Thailand’s parks department, said. | |
| The discovery came after authorities found dozens of dead tiger cubs inside a freezer at the temple on Wednesday. | The discovery came after authorities found dozens of dead tiger cubs inside a freezer at the temple on Wednesday. |
| Adisorn said a search of several monks’ quarters yielded further body parts, bringing Thursday’s haul to two full-body tiger skins, about 10 fangs and dozens of pieces of tiger fur. | Adisorn said a search of several monks’ quarters yielded further body parts, bringing Thursday’s haul to two full-body tiger skins, about 10 fangs and dozens of pieces of tiger fur. |
| Animals rights groups and conservationists have long accused the temple of secretly acting as a tiger farm and making huge profits by selling animals and tiger parts on the illegal market for use in Chinese medicine. | Animals rights groups and conservationists have long accused the temple of secretly acting as a tiger farm and making huge profits by selling animals and tiger parts on the illegal market for use in Chinese medicine. |
| Repeated efforts to shut down the temple over the years have been delayed and complicated by the fact that secular Thai authorities are often reluctant to intervene in the affairs of the clergy. | Repeated efforts to shut down the temple over the years have been delayed and complicated by the fact that secular Thai authorities are often reluctant to intervene in the affairs of the clergy. |
| The temple has always denied trafficking allegations. | The temple has always denied trafficking allegations. |
| Officials said they have removed 84 tigers so far this week and are transferring the animals to nearby breeding centres. | Officials said they have removed 84 tigers so far this week and are transferring the animals to nearby breeding centres. |
| But police say no charges have been filed against the temple yet, with the case still under investigation. | But police say no charges have been filed against the temple yet, with the case still under investigation. |
| Previous raids of the temple revealed that dozens of hornbills, jackals and Asian bears were also being kept at the sanctuary without proper permits. | Previous raids of the temple revealed that dozens of hornbills, jackals and Asian bears were also being kept at the sanctuary without proper permits. |