Out of all the animals available in Thailand, wild tigers are definitely some of the most difficult to see. Unfortunately, they have been victims of various misfortunes in recent years as they have been killed and maimed for various reasons. Nevertheless, this does not necessarily mean that you cannot see wild tigers during your visit to the Land of Smiles.
Generally, there are some places where wild tigers are sometimes seen in Thailand. These places include Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiger Kingdom, and Tiger Temple. If you are lucky enough, you may be able to see at least one wild tiger in one of these places during your visit.
It should be understood that each of these 3 places has some peculiarities that make it different from the others. Furthermore, a few of these places have controversies surrounding how they breed and treat these animals. In this post, we will shed more light on these things so that you can decide where you want to see wild tigers in Thailand.
Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary – Uthai Thani and Tak Provinces
Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary is perhaps the biggest and most ethical place to see wild tigers in Thailand. Situated in the western forested mountains of Thailand, this sanctuary is found in Uthai Thani and Tak Provinces and covers a landmass of 1,700 km. Due to its importance to the culture of the country, it is a UNESCO-listed park that features tons of animals and plants.
According to official reports from Thai National Parks, more than 80 Indochinese tigers are living in this location. Despite the seemingly substantial population of wild tigers in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, you shouldn’t bet on seeing any one of them. In other words, there is a high possibility of not seeing any Indochinese tigers throughout your stay in this sanctuary. Even the park guards can go several weeks or months without seeing any wild tigers. But you may hear them roar while inside the park.
However, this shouldn’t stop you from visiting Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary as there are several other things to see. You can see other cat species such as clouded leopards, leopards, leopard cats, fishing cats, Asian golden cats, jungle cats, marbled cats, and civets. Without a doubt, leopards are much easier to see in this magnificent animal sanctuary than wild tigers. Deer, elephants, and so on are also available in the park.
Besides, there are more than 120 species of birds including hornbills, Burmese peacock-pheasant, and green peafowl. Additionally, you can also check out bamboo forests, grasslands, rivers, and other natural elements of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.
When you are done with seeing wild tigers, take a trip to the visitor center to learn more about the park.
Tiger Kingdom – Chiang Mai
The Tiger Kingdom is another pleasant place where you can see tigers in Thailand. This tiger park is located in the Northern part of Thailand and requires a 30-minute drive from the main part of Chiang Mai. It is worthwhile to note that the Tiger Kingdom is a relatively new and modern tourist location that offers different individuals a chance to see tigers.
As a modern tourist location, everything in this small park is monetized. So, you should be ready to buy tickets as you try to see tigers. The tickets come in different packages, and the packages will determine what you can do with the tigers in the Tiger Kingdom. So, you should be prepared to pay for tickets as you visit this tiger park.
Inside the park, you will find lots of baby tigers as well as older ones. It is often easy to interact and even play with the baby tigers. The little ones are usually harmless as many of them were hand-raised. Hence, they are used to having humans around them without trying to hurt anyone. Nevertheless, you still want to be careful while interacting with the tigers in the Tiger Kingdom.
You should expect a tour guide to follow you throughout the trip inside the kingdom. Also, you will be given a couple of rules such as how to touch tigers, how to approach them, etc. These are some of the ways to ensure that everyone stays safe.
Tiger Kingdom – Phuket
Another place for seeing tigers is the Tiger Kingdom in Phuket. The offers of this park are quite similar to those of the Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai. The park has several tigers – both small and big ones. Therefore, you can hardly have any issues with feeding your eyes with the sight of these wonderful animals in the Tiger Kingdom (Phuket). In addition, there are cheetahs in the park; so, you may want to see them too.
Notably, tickets are sold for anyone that wants to view tigers in this park. The tickets are available in different sizes – Giant, Big, Medium, Small, and Smallest. You should budget at least 800 Thai Baht for buying any of these tickets for seeing tigers. However, children will pay less, but they must be accompanied by an adult before they can be allowed into the Tiger Kingdom in Phuket.
While it is generally safe to see tigers in the Tiger Kingdom, you should be cautious. In 2014, it was reported that a man was attacked and wounded by a tiger in the park. Therefore, you should be this in mind while you are interacting with the tigers.
It is noteworthy that people used to see tigers in the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi which is not far from Bangkok. However, in 2016, the site was closed down due to the maltreatment of these wild animals by the guides and owners of the park. More than 150 tigers were taken away by the Thai authority. Now, it is an abandoned site with a few animals.
In addition, World Wildlife reported that there have been additional sightings of tigers in other places in Thailand. As a consequence of this, you may be lucky to see wild tigers in other locations in Thailand apart from the aforementioned three parks.