KANCHANABURI — About 100 monks and disciples at the famed “Tiger Temple” blocked the gates to prevent forestry officials from leaving after they seized six protected Asian black bears said to be illegally possessed by the temple.
A team of about 70 military officers, police, veterinarians and officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) raided Wat Pa Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno in Sai Yok district on Thursday afternoon. They had a court search warrant to examine bears found in cages at the temple a day earlier.
Somsak Phupetch, director of DNP’s wildlife crime suppression unit, said monks and staff at the temple were uncooperative when the team visited the temple to investigate the case of three missing tigers on Wednesday. That was when they discovered the black bears.
Mr Somsak said the temple failed to show official documentation for the bears and staff refused to unlock the cages that housed them. The team had to use cutting tools to seize the animals after shooting them with anaesthetic darts.
Phra Vissuthisaradhera, the abbot, then led about 100 monks, staff and disciples to block the main gate at about 6pm to prevent the officials’ truck carrying the bears from leaving. They placed metal barricades across the gate and sat on the ground, demanding that the officials return the bears before leaving the premises.
The situation became tense as the number of protesting monks and followers grew later in the evening and neither side would back down.
At 9pm, Kanchanaburi deputy governor Boonyapat Chatara-urai arrived at the temple to mediate, but failed to end the stand-off as the monks continued to insist that the officials release their bears.
