A zookeeper was fatally attacked by a group of lions in a brutal incident that lasted for 15 minutes, witnessed by shocked tourists.
The tragic event occurred at Safari World in Bangkok, Thailand on September 11. Jian Rangkharasamee, a 58-year-old supervisor, was attacked by a lion as he unknowingly walked into the lion enclosure. Within moments, the lion pounced on him and dragged him to the ground. Subsequently, four other lions joined in the attack while horrified tourists tried to scare the animals away by honking car horns and shouting.
The assault continued for a harrowing 15 minutes until another staff member managed to rescue the victim from the lions. An eyewitness, Tavatchai Kanchanarin, described the incident, mentioning that the victim did not scream during the attack.
According to reports, the zookeeper had worked at the zoo’s lion and tiger zones for nearly two decades. Footage of the incident led experts to believe that the lions, still in their pre-adolescent stage, may have been engaging in playful behavior that inadvertently led to fatal consequences due to their size.
The victim suffered severe injuries, including bite marks and claw scratches on his neck, abdomen, and right leg. The hospital staff confirmed the injuries and mentioned that an autopsy would be conducted before the body was released to the family.
Following the tragic event, Atthapol Charoenchansa, the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, instructed an investigation of Safari World. The zoo promptly closed the affected area for safety measures and ensured all lions were secured in cages.