I went to Tiger World which is a sanctuary for wildlife. All Tigers looked healthy, semi-active, and they weren't drugged. I was definitely glad to see a different side from what I have read online. Before I keep raving about my experience, let me assure you, that the infamous Tiger Temple everyone who went has either raved about or warned others not to go has been shut down by the government due to too many allegations.
Wildlife Black Market
The infamous Tiger Temple which was located in the town of Kanchanaburi was finally shut down when the DNP followed up on the allegations of illegal breeding and trafficking. After hearing the locals stories of the temple and doing my own research, I came to learn that it is against an International law to breed protected species. So when the DNP found dead tiger cubs in a freezer, they knew immediately the temple was involved in illegal breeding. On top of that, the temple never registered those cubs and kept them hidden and frozen. This can only mean they were going to sell them for parts in the black market. Having had enough proof and evidence of the temple being involved in illegal breeding and trafficking, the DNP closed down the temple.
My Experience
I visited Tiger World in Damnoen Saduak which isn't far from the floating market. This is a sanctuary where young volunteers take care of the tigers. My first impression was how funny, attentive and well trained the staff were. They made sure I felt very comfortable with the tiger and vice versa.
It was such a surreal feeling, exciting and an interesting being this up close to a tiger. I was so comfortable with the tiger that I almost took a nap on its lap.
When I went, some of the Tigers were fairly active. I believe it's because the Tigers were getting ready to take naps and that could've been the reason why some of the Tigers weren't up roaming around. Overall, all tigers looked healthy and well-taken care of.
Pros
If you want a close-up encounter, this is the place to go.
The volunteers are kind and go above an beyond to make sure you have the best experience and epic pictures.
The Tigers are clean, healthy, well fed and well taken care of.
They weren't drugged
When I visited, they were expanding and reconstructing the property to make it a better condition for the tigers.
Cons
It's quite pricey. The price goes up based on the activity you want to do and the age of the tigers. The experience is worth the money.
Most of the adult tigers are kept in small cages, and the other tigers were kept in small spaces.
Only a few tigers were roaming free in the field.
Although I had a fun experience, I wouldn't go again. I was so eager and caught up in the excitement of being around wild animals, that I didn’t think about what they might want. However, I do believe this might be as best as it gets when it comes to tigers in the Bangkok region.
