Jeff Corwin
Okay, somewhere in here is something I want you to see. Ah, and this is it, you tricky devil. Isn't that great? Oh, what are you doing? You going for a swim? Isn't this great? That tiger is only about four months in age. He weighs about 30 pounds. Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. And look in that mouth. See that? It's got those teeth. And those teeth will shear bone and muscle apart. And look at his coat, see that? He's got those bars. Those bars will break up his shape. You've got that central brown in between the black, okay? That helps him blend in with the earth and the bark. Then the bars will break up his shape so the predator, so the prey can't see his form. And those pads, look at the size of them. They're padded, okay, that way this creature, listen, when he jumps, he's practically silent. And inside those paws are huge claws. See those? Very, very sharp claws. And they're retracted, see, when he's in hunt mode, they come right out like that. And that is going to dig into the hide of a samba deer or whatever this animal is hunting.
Jeff Corwin
The conservation and protection of these big native cats is pursued by a group of Buddhist monks. Well, hello Mr. Chun. It's a pleasure to visit you again, sir. A pleasure. Can I shake? This is Chun. Chun is the head abbot here at this monastery, and he's in charge of keeping order here. This place is sort of a sanctuary for wildlife, right?
Chun
Yeah, right.
Jeff Corwin
Lots of animals have come to have peace and sanctuary here, but what's the animal that you like most that is protected here? Your most favorite animal?
Chun
Tiger.
Jeff Corwin
Tiger.
Chun
Tiger.
Jeff Corwin
And that's why we've come, to see some tigers in a very interesting situation.
Jeff Corwin
Hey, wait a minute. Excuse me, I've got a question. This isn't like Gladiator, is it? Because I'm kind of having the feeling, you know. Hey you guys, hey, wait a minute. Hey, should I have a stick?
Chun
Yeah.
Jeff Corwin
I should? Thanks. I'm getting a little nervous there. Oh, more tigers. So I'm just substitute, right, for the main gladiator. This wasn't in my contract, getting into a tiger pit.
Chun
Come here.
Jeff Corwin
Okay, he's saying come here. Okay, I've got my stick. Boy, he's got a lot of guts to grab a tiger by the tail. Yeah. Look at that guy over there. Do you have a high turnover rate here?
Chun
Yeah?
Jeff Corwin
Do you have a high turnover rate?
Chun
Yeah.
Jeff Corwin
Yeah, I would imagine so.
Jeff Corwin
Whoops, oh, uh-oh. See, they're just one big happy family here. It's a big family, right? Big family. Yeah, big family, except in this family, if you get a licking from your brother, you lose your arm, you know. These tigers, freed from inhumane captivity or orphaned by poachers, are unable to live in the wild. And they will spend the rest of their lives here at the monastery. Well, playtime is over, and it's time to head back to the main building, where the tigers sleep and are fed. The level trust and respect paid to the tigers is always apparent here.
Jeff Corwin
So, basically, what your monastery does is, when your tiger is sick, and someone has a tiger, they bring it to the monastery?
Chun
Yeah.
Jeff Corwin
And how many tigers do you have now?
Chun
We have ten now.
Jeff Corwin
Ten tigers. Are they a lot of work?
Chun
Yeah. Every day they eat a lot.
Jeff Corwin
They eat a lot?
Chun
Yeah.
Jeff Corwin
Yeah. While they may have shelter and people to look after them, these tigers are still wild animals, and they are by no means domesticated.
Chun
Oh, oh, no, no, we have, oh, no cows. No. No.
<here at the ending is where the oldest monk has a pretty hard time and has to grab hold of the collar to keep his tiger from chasing after a cow that is wandering about in the street -- It reminded me of an old man with a large German Shepherd that really really wants to chase a kitty.>
