PHOTOS: DNP VIDEO – I Am A Tiger Advocate

Officials are conducting a full investigation after a video clip of a tiger chained at Phuket Zoo on social media claimed that the tiger had been drugged for photos with the public.

Phuket officials today have inspected the Phuket Zoo after several social media complaints that the tiger was chained and drugged for tourists to take photos. No tiger was found at the area which was in the video clip.

The Phuket Zoo manager Pichai Sakunsorn says they have moved the two tigers back to their cage after the social media complaints.

He has denied drugging the tiger but said those tigers were used for tourists to take photos and were familiar with the daily experience.

“We have to chain those tigers for tourist safety.”

The Phuket Zoo has a long history of complaints and bad news stories involving the treatment of some of its animals – most recently ‘Milo‘ the Sumatran orang-utan and ‘Dumbo‘ the baby elephant.

A tiger attacked an Australian tourist at the Tiger Kingdom in Kathu five years ago whilst the 49 year old was having his photo taken in a ‘controlled’ compound. Read that story HERE. The companies running these tiger photo opportunities strenuously deny that the tigers are drugged. The Thaiger has huge doubts about these denials, without evidence.

An unidentified body has been found on Koh Tapao Noi off Saphan Hin along Phuket’s east coast yesterday afternoon.

Wichit Police were notified that the body was found on Tapao Noi beach at 5 pm.

Police and Kusoldharm Rescue workers arrived at Saphan Hin in Wichit and four rescue workers headed out on a an inflatable dinghy to Koh Tapao Noi, about 3 kilometres south east of Saphan Hin. They arrived at the island and brought the body back to Saphan Hin. The body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for examination.

Police speculate that it was the body of a man who had died at least two days before before the body was located. On June 14 Phuket Marine Police were notified of a missing boat crew. Police are checking into the man’s ID.

PHOTO: Original Vision

Island Escape by Burasari, the second Phuket hotel from the Thai-based group, will have a soft opening this September.

Located on Koh Maphrao (also known as Coconut Island), the initial product will be 15 villas. By December this year, the full inventory of 180 rooms and 40 villas will be operational.

With Island Escape, Burasari Group will operate eight properties in Thailand and Laos.

The Koh Maphrao hotel has been designed by Original Vision.