Thai tiger temple monk caught fleeing with skins, fangs

epa05277757 A picture made available 26 April 2016 shows a Buddhist monk walking with a tiger at the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand, 24 April 2016. The site known in Thai as 'Wat Pa Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno' has been the focus of a dispute with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) after the DNP asked in 2015 that the temple hands over its 147 tigers since it was not licensed to keep them. The temple has requested for a zoo license according to its managing director. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

BANGKOK: Thai authorities uncovered a trove of animal parts and intercepted a monk trying to leave a controversial “tiger temple” with skins and fangs Thursday, the latest discovery to fuel accusations that the zoo is involved in the illegal wildlife trade.

Dozens of police and park officials have been stationed at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple in western Kanchanaburi province since Monday after receiving a court order to remove over 100 adult cats from the complex.