Phuket is one of the most spectacular cities in Thailand, hosting countless tourists annually. One of the fantastic attractions in this exceptional city is the tiger kingdom, which I want to discuss in this article.
Where Is the Tiger Kingdom, and Why Is It So Popular?
The tiger kingdom is actually a zoo, but as you can guess from its name, this zoo is only for one kind of animal, tigers! Apart from Phuket, the zoo has another branch in Chiang Mai, which is actually the tiger kingdom’s first branch. But due to tourists’ good reception, its second branch was launched in Phuket. Since tiger hunting was very common in Thailand in the past, the number of tigers has decreased. With the tiger kingdom establishment, Thailand aimed to protect and save these beautiful and essential animals from extinction.
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How Are Living Conditions and Their Longevity for Tigers in the Tiger Kingdom?
Tigers generally live about 20 to 26 years, and tiger kingdom officials are working to keep tigers healthy for nearly 25 years and help them reproduce to help their offspring from extinction. The total area is about 4 hectares, and it has created excellent and favorable conditions for about 110 tigers currently living in this zoo.
History of Tiger Kingdom
The tiger kingdom has two branches, the first established in 2008 in Chiang Mai. But where did the idea of building such a zoo come from? Simply put, once a tourist wanted to get closer to the tigers and touch them, his request made the idea of building the Tiger Kingdom in the minds of its creators. Following the great reception of the first branch of Tiger Kingdom, the second branch was opened on July 13, 2013, in Phuket. After constructing the second branch of Tiger Kingdom, the Tiger Kingdom Learning Center was established, which focuses on the growth and maintenance of tame tigers.
What Will You Experience in the Tiger Kingdom?
What sets the tiger kingdom apart from other zoos in the world is that you can physically interact with tigers; you can touch them, take pictures with them, and feel the adrenaline rush in your veins. Of course, if you do not like to do this, you do not have to; you can enjoy seeing these beautiful animals behind the protected cages. Want to touch tigers? You must first be trained to do so. Professional and trained mentors teach these pieces of training. Interestingly, when touching tigers, you should be completely calm and try not to make sudden movements to prevent provoking the tigers. After receiving the relevant training, visitors will be directed to the tigers game section to have one of the best and most exciting experiences of their life.
If you love animal babies, the beautiful tiger cubs will attract your attention. Since the danger of these baby tigers is much less than adult tigers, children are also allowed to enter this section. But before entering this section, you should also learn special health tips because these baby tigers are incredibly vulnerable and have a weak immune system.
Tiger Kingdom Ticket Price
The entrance fee to the tiger kingdom is determined by the size and age of the tigers you want to see. These prices are in baht, the currency of Thailand. These prices are according to the online ticket booking services they provide, but don’t forget to check the recent price when you want to visit there. They change the ticket price due to different occasions.
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| Tours | Price adult/child (THB) |
|---|---|
| Infants tigers (2-5 months) | 1600 (USD 54) |
| Teenagers tigers (6-12 months) | 1200 (USD 40) |
| Medium tigers (12-18 months) | 1200 (USD 40) |
| Adult tigers (19-36 months) | 1300 (USD 44) |
| Half-Day Program 1: Medium (Small Tiger) + Elephant Riding | 1200 / 700 (USD 40 + 24) |
| Half-Day Program 2: Medium (Small Tiger) | 1100 / 600 (USD 37 + 20) |
| Half-Day Program 3: Medium (Small Tiger) + ATV | 1400 / 900 (USD 47 + 30) |
| Half-Day Program 4: Medium (Small Tiger) + Elephant Riding + ATV | 1600 / 1000 (USD 54 + 36) |
| 2 cages: Big or medium + small tigers | 2000 (USD 72) |
| 3 cages: Big or medium + small + infant tigers | 3200 (USD 107) |
| 4 cages: Big + medium + small + infant tigers | 4500 (USD 151) |
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Are the Tigers in the Tiger Kingdom Drugged?
From the photos that tourists take with the tigers and post on social media, you can see that the tigers are chained, some of them do not even have a claw, cannot stand on their feet, and even they are constantly asleep. Therefore, it can be assumed that tigers are given drugs to protect people from them and prevent any possible attack.
Is the Tiger Kingdom Safe?
Although these tigers have lived and tamed in the tiger kingdom since childhood and have become accustomed to humans, the tiger kingdom is not entirely safe. The reason is that there have been reports of tiger attacks on humans in recent years, but none have caused severe injury.
What Else Can We Do in the Tiger Kingdom?
In addition to visiting tigers and experiencing touching them, you can enjoy the tiger kingdom’s restaurants, which are equipped with free internet. You can also walk on beautiful hiking trails and make the most out of this zoo’s nature. The Tiger Kingdom is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm.
Where the Tiger Kingdom is Located?
Hopefully, finding a taxi driver who speaks English is easy to do there. You can easily ask them to take you right to the Tiger Kingdom, and they sure will do. Also, you can use your cellphone to find the location, but anyway, here is the address of this place:
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| Place | Address |
|---|---|
| Tiger Kingdom | 118/88 Moo 7, Kathu, Phuket, Thailand |
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How Do I Get to the Tiger Kingdom?
There are many ways to get to the Tiger Kingdom; you can either use the bus or the taxi. Taking a taxi will get you to your destination faster, but at the same time, it will cost more. On the other hand, taking the bus may take up to 30 minutes, but it’s a lot cheaper.
Final Note
There is no doubt that the Tiger kingdom is one of the most interesting attractions in Phuket. In recent years, this zoo has gained a lot of fans. Also, the possibility of touching and petting tigers, as well as the fact that you will have the necessary training, are some of the advantages of this complex. But some people may not like how the tiger kingdom’s staff treat the tigers and may not be satisfied with the Tiger kingdom’s safety.
Also, some tourists complain about the zoo’s bad smell and say that the authorities there do not monitor the tourists’ treatment of tigers. Anyway, these are all personal opinions that you cannot be sure of their accuracy, and there is only one way to be sure. You should visit the Tiger kingdom once and then decide which of the opinions are correct and which are not.
