Thai Officials Raid Popular Tourist Attraction ‘Tiger Temple’ to Remove Tigers After Abuse Accusations

Wildlife officials in Thailand have started removing some of the 137 tigers at a Buddhist temple after monks were accused of illicit acts.

Thai wildlife officials carry a tiger on a stretcher as they remove it from an enclosure after it was anaesthetised at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi province, western Thailand on May 30, 2016. Thai wildlife officials armed with a court order on May 30 resumed the treacherous process of moving tigers from a controversial temple which draws tourists as a petting zoo, but stands accused of selling off the big cats for slaughter. / AFP / CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images

Wildlife officials in Thailand have started removing some of the 137 tigers at a Buddhist temple after monks were accused of illicit acts.

Monks at the Tiger Temple in the Kachanburi province, a popular tourist destination, were allegedly involved in illegal breeding and trafficking of the exotic animals.

The temple has also faced criticism because the tigers appear to be drugged while tourists take selfies with them and bottle-feed the animals.

A foreign tourist poses for a photo with a tiger at Tiger buddhist temple in Karnchanaburi province, western Thailand on April 24, 2012. Pornchai Kittiwonsakul/AFP/Getty Images