Tiger Park Phuket — Attraction in Chalong

Oh, the joy of visiting this little slice of ethical nightmare! If you're looking for a place where you can witness firsthand the exploitation of majestic creatures, then congratulations, you've hit the jackpot with this Tiger Zoo!

First off, let's talk about the "play and pet tigers" experience. What a laugh! The only thing these tigers are playing is the dead animal version of "statues" - they didn’t even blink, let alone move. It’s like watching an animal version of 'The Walking Dead', except here, the zombies are the tigers, thanks to what I can only assume was a cocktail of sedatives. But hey, you get to touch a "wild" tiger, right? Never mind that the poor thing was probably dreaming of running free in the South African savannah instead of being dragged here at six months old to live a life as a cash cow - or should I say, a cash tiger.

And the ticket policy? Oh, that’s just the cherry on top of this disaster sundae. Fancy buying your tickets online? Think again! They'll cancel your ticket faster than you can say "animal rights" if you dare show up within two hours of purchase. But, oh no, it’s not their fault - it’s the travel agency's problem, according to the Indian girl at the ticket counter, who was evidently schooled in the art of corporate blame-shifting. Clearly, this place cares more about squeezing out extra bucks than honoring any form of customer service or integrity.

As a zoologist myself, who's supposedly spent a decade studying animal behavior (I mean, who even checks these credentials?), I can assure you, these tigers aren't drugged because they're happy - they're drugged so they won't rip your arm off when you try to pet them. It's like watching a horror movie where the only twist is that the animals are the ones suffering for our entertainment.

Does your heart flutter at the thought of tigers, dolphins, elephants, and monkeys performing tricks or being paraded for selfies? Well, then, this place is your dream come true. Just remember, every photo you snap is another moment these creatures are robbed of their natural life. But hey, who cares about that when you’ve got a new profile pic, right?

If you genuinely care about animals, avoid this place like the plague it is. Go see them in their natural habitat or at sanctuaries where they’re not forced to endure a life of misery for human amusement. But if you’re after that quick thrill and don't mind contributing to animal cruelty, then by all means, come here and enjoy your five minutes of fame on social media.

In 2024, it’s just refreshing to see that some places still haven't evolved past the dark ages of animal exploitation. Bravo, tiger zoo - you've managed to turn my heart into an iceberg with your cold-hearted business model.

One of these enclosures at Tiger Kingdom has already been closed by the government because almost a hundred tigers died in agony within just two weeks. Since then, Tiger Kingdom has been under investigation by the government. This should make it clear to you that you should avoid this place.

A visit here is nothing short of cruel and barbaric. If you go there, you make your choice to support their suffering. Unfortunately, the way we treat our precious animals also says a lot about us. Here, a lack of education and understanding seems to be the norm.

You should know that there is no such thing as ‘species-appropriate husbandry’. This is an idea from the past that has been disproved many times over. No cage is ‘species-appropriate’. Species-appropriate is the great outdoors, the wilderness, where there are no humans to harm the animals. But animals in small, dirty enclosures that cause them severe mental and physical suffering are simply barbaric. Additionally, sedating tigers or lions is incredibly cruel. I have seen this strategy of propping up animals and the loud denial in so many places allover Southeast Asia. The fact is that tigers are wild animals, and they don't lie around dead naturally. They need space; they need to move and run; they have acres of territory in the wild. And people who force them to pose for Instagram photos with violence and blows to the face are complicit in their abuse and suffering.

What kind of person would want to visit such a place, knowing full well that their money only serves to further promote this crime and suffering? By visiting such ‘attractions’, you are actively supporting the suffering of hundreds of animals that are not only beautiful, but also rare and threatened with extinction. Going to Tiger Kingdom/Tiger Park or any similar place just contributes to their overbreeding, the capture and extraction of tigers and lions from the wild and the painful deaths they suffer in dirty, small cages due to illnesses they catch.

This is honestly one of the only reviews you need to read about Tiger Park. First off, most of the 1-star reviews are from people who clearly have never been here, or who don’t understand cats at all. I know exactly what a sedated animal looks like, and there are absolutely no signs of that here. Tigers are just oversized house cats—they sleep most of the day, but when something catches their attention, they’re instantly alert and wide-eyed. Everything we saw matched how a healthy cat should behave: relaxed, chilled, and natural.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still intimidating. We chose the “small tiger” experience, but they were massive. We met two—one male and one female—and got to sit behind them and give them pats. It was unforgettable.

If I had to critique anything, I’d say the tigers’ tourist area could use more space, greenery, and enrichment—mostly for the visitors’ sense of it looking natural. The truth is, the tigers don’t care much; they sleep through the day anyway. Outside the interaction zone, we saw their main enclosures, which were huge, and it was clear the animals were well looked after.

We also spoke to a former staff member who now works at an ethical elephant rescue we visited earlier. She worked here for five years and assured us there’s no funny business—the tigers are properly cared for, and she encouraged us to support the park.

Overall, I’d give it a solid 4 stars. Part of me wants to bump it to 5 just to balance out the people leaving misleading reviews, but 4 feels fair. It’s a safe, thrilling, and very special experience with these incredible animals.