A 58-year-old man was killed by lions at Bangkok’s Safari World yesterday, September 10, in what a doctor suspects may have been a deliberate act. The victim, identified as Jian, stepped out of his vehicle inside the lion enclosure around 11:30 a.m., moments before the attack, while tourists watched in shock.
Dr. Thawatchai Kanchanarin, a former professor and surgeon, witnessed the incident from his car. “He just got out and stood motionless, back to the lions. I honked the horn, others did too, but he didn’t respond,” he said.
Thawatchai noted that the man was in the enclosure alone, without protective gear, unlike usual feeding procedures that use barred vehicles. One lion approached from behind and attacked, with others joining in. The mauling reportedly lasted about 15 minutes before more staff arrived.
Witnesses questioned the delayed response of Safari World staff, suggesting possible negligence. Thawatchai also called for testing staff for drugs or alcohol.
Safari World released a statement expressing condolences and confirmed it was the first such incident in over 40 years. They assured that all animals are under expert monitoring and pledged to review and strengthen safety protocols, reminding visitors never to leave their vehicles in dangerous zones.
