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16 September 2019 Tens of tigers died after being confiscated, due to repeated allegations of ill-treatment, to a Thai temple that used them as a tourist attraction. Of the 147 cats, taken by the Thai authorities at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple in Kanchanaburi in the west of the country, 86 are those who did not make it, probably due to a genetic anomaly linked to inbreeding. The tigers had been transferred to two parks in neighboring Ratchaburi province."It is possible that deaths are related to inbreeding, genetic abnormalities have been found that affect the body and the immune system," said Pattarapol Maneeon, a manager at Thailand's national park. Many suffered from paralysis of the tongue, respiratory problems and lack of appetite, which was fatal. Many of them "were already in a state of stress after their transport and their habitat change, health problems appeared later," said another official, Sunthorn Chaiwattana.
But some animal defenders have questioned the quality of care provided to the tigers since their capture by the authorities. "Honestly, who would have the ability to take care of so many tigers simultaneously?" denounced Edwin Wiek, founder of the NGO "Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand".
Too small cages, which promote the spread of diseases, "are not at the level of what was needed for so many tigers," he complained. Thailand attracts tens of millions of visitors a year and wildlife tourism is a huge success, often at the expense of animal welfare. Tourists can choose to ride elephants, play with macaques or pose for selfies with tigers. Sometimes these animals are chained, neglected and forced to perform.