The decision to remove the 137 cats followed accusations of wildlife trafficking and animal abuse, the BBC reported.

The Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Tiger Temple in western Thailand allows visitors to feed the animals and take photos for a fee, in spite of the fact that the temple is banned from charging admission fees or money.

The monks have denied all allegations, and initially resisted, but gave in after they were presented with a court order. Authorities said the tigers would be taken to animal refuges.

"We have a court warrant this time, unlike previous times when we only asked for the temple’s cooperation, which did not work," Adisorn Nuchdamrong, deputy director-general of the Department of National Parks told AFP.

Monks at the temple have been accused of illegally breeding tigers and animal trafficking.

A raid last year found jackals, hornbills and Asian bears were being kept at the sanctuary without the required permits.