Thai wildlife officials load a tiger into a cage on a truck after they removed it from an enclosure at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Tiger Temple. Photo / Getty
Wildlife officials in Thailand on Monday began removing some of the 137 tigers held at a Buddhist temple following accusations that the monks were involved in illegal breeding and trafficking of the animals.

The director of Thailand's Wildlife Conservation Office, Teunjai Noochdumrong, said three tigers were tranquilised and transported yesterday in an operation involving about 1000 state personnel that is expected to continue for a week.

The animals will be taken to three government animal refuges elsewhere in Thailand.
 The temple, a popular money-earning tourist attraction in the western province of Kanchanaburi, has been criticised by animal rights activists because of allegations it is not properly set up to care for the animals and flouted regulations restricting their trade.

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