BANGKOK — A zoo employee was killed by lions at a Bangkok safari park on Wednesday after violating company safety protocols, police revealed following their investigation into the tragic incident.
The victim, Jian, was a 58-year-old animal caretaker for lions and tigers who had worked at the zoo for 30 years. The attack occurred around 11:00 a.m. on September 10 when the experienced staff member exited his vehicle to retrieve an item he had dropped at the safari park located in Bangkok’s Khannayao district, according to Police Colonel Niruchpon Yothamat of Khannayao Police Station.
While bending down to pick up the object with his back turned to the lions, one of the animals approached from about 10 meters away and pounced on him from behind. The lion dragged the employee to the ground and began mauling him before three to four other lions joined the attack.
The assault continued for approximately 15 minutes while horrified tourists – both Thai and foreign visitors – watched helplessly from their vehicles, honking horns and shouting in attempts to scare the lions away.
Witness Account
Colonel Dr. Thawatchai Kanchanarin, a former surgeon at Phramongkutklao Hospital who witnessed the incident, said many people initially thought the lions were simply being playful with a familiar staff member. “People thought the lions might just be trying to embrace him, so no one approached the area,” he explained.
Dr. Thawatchai said he was surprised from the moment he saw the employee get out of the vehicle and stand motionless for about 2-3 minutes before the lions dragged him down while his back was turned. The victim never screamed or called for help.
Expert Analysis
A veterinarian from the Department of National Parks offered the opinion that, based on video footage, the lions’ behavior might have been playful due to their familiarity with the keeper. However, because of their size, this resulted in fatal injuries. The lions were not fully mature – in their pre-adolescent stage – so they were experimenting with hunting prey through playful mauling.
Medical Examination
Medical staff at Intararat Hospital confirmed that all of the victim’s organs remained intact, with only bite marks and claw scratches causing severe wounds, particularly around the neck, abdomen, and right leg. The Police Hospital’s Forensic Institute will conduct an autopsy before releasing the body to the family for religious ceremonies.
Official Response
Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said he immediately ordered officials from the Wildlife Conservation Office and CITES Office to inspect the Safari World area. The incident occurred in the drive-through safari tourism zone.
Initial findings show the safari legally operates with proper permits and houses 32 lions, all legally owned and mostly imported from Africa. However, it remains unclear why the lions attacked their keeper, as monthly safety inspections had never revealed any history of animals harming staff. Additional safety measures will be reviewed to prevent future emergencies.
Safari Management Statement
Yutthana Phitaktha, Safari Zone Park Manager of Safari World, said the zoo has temporarily closed the area for safety and secured all lions in cages. He emphasized that the zoo maintains safety measures exceeding 300% requirements and that in 40 years of operation, no such incident has ever occurred before.
Jian’s primary responsibility was driving to keep animals within designated road boundaries to prevent tourist vehicle collisions. He had never been complained about or violated any rules, and was known for his calm temperament. However, it’s unknown whether he had any mental health issues or depression. The zoo expressed condolences to the victim’s family and has measures to provide family support according to company regulations.
Family’s Grief
Ratanapa, the victim’s wife, said she was shocked and couldn’t accept what happened. Her husband had worked at Safari World since he was young and was approaching retirement. “He loved this job, loved animals, and was very calm and careful. Just two days ago, we talked about life after retirement – buying a small plot of land to become farmers. He was very strong, not stressed, had no family problems, and wasn’t suffering from depression.”
Colonel Dr. Thawatchai Kanchanarin, a former surgeon at Phramongkutklao Hospital who witnessed the incident, said many people initially thought the lions were simply being playful with a familiar staff member. “People thought the lions might just be trying to embrace him, so no one approached the area,” he explained.
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