A tragic incident occurred at Safari World in Bangkok, Thailand on September 11 when a 58-year-old zookeeper, Jian Rangkharasamee, was fatally attacked by a group of lions. The supervisor was inside the lion enclosure when one of the lions stealthily approached him from behind and swiftly launched an assault, dragging him to the ground. Subsequently, four more lions joined in the attack while horrified tourists witnessed the gruesome scene. Some guests attempted to intervene by honking car horns and shouting in a bid to scare the animals away.
The relentless attack lasted for about 15 minutes until another staff member managed to reach the victim and pull him to safety. An eyewitness described the harrowing event, stating that the zookeeper did not cry out for help during the attack. Despite several onlookers witnessing the incident, confusion prevailed as they initially believed the lion’s behavior towards the keeper was friendly, assuming a familiar relationship. The victim’s wife expressed shock over her husband’s tragic death, emphasizing his diligent safety measures at the zoo over the years.
Having dedicated nearly two decades to working in the lion and tiger zones of the zoo, it was suggested that the lions’ actions, though possibly playful due to their familiarity with the keeper, led to the fatal outcome due to their large size. The lions involved were not yet fully mature, being in their pre-adolescent stage, and their behavior may have been a result of experimental playful mauling.
The victim sustained severe injuries, including bite marks and claw scratches on his neck, abdomen, and right leg, as confirmed by medical staff at Intararat Hospital. The forensic institute announced plans for an autopsy before releasing the body to the family for funeral rites. Following the incident, Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, directed an investigation into Safari World by officials from the Wildlife Conservation Office. The Safari Zone Park Manager, Yutthana Phitaktha, declared the temporary closure of the area for safety reasons and ensured that all lions were securely confined in their cages.