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Zookeeper eaten alive by pack of lions as tourists watch on in horror for 15 minutes
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: A Thai zookeeper has been mauled to death by a pack of lions in a 15-minute attack, as helpless tourists watched on from their vehicles at a safari park in Bangkok
A zookeeper has been mauled to death by a pride of lions as helpless tourists watched on for 15 minutes in Thailand. 58-year-old Jian Rangkharasamee was on shift at Safari World Bangkok on Wednesday when the attack happened at around 11am local time (5am BST).
He exited his jeep in the enclosure before one lion crept up behind him and pounced, witnesses have said. Others immediately joined in and Rangkharasamee was quickly mauled to death.
The helpless visitors, who were watching on from their vehicles, honked their horns and shouted to try and scare off the big cats but were powerless to do anything to stop the horror that was unfolding.
It was a full 15 minutes before the ordeal was over and staff were able to reach the victim, according to onlooking local doctor Professor Tavatchai Kanchanarin.
He said: "The lion attacked the zookeeper while he was getting out of his car. It was about 10 metres away, then slowly approached and grabbed the zookeeper from behind, dragging him to the ground and biting him.
"Three or four other lions then joined in with biting the zookeeper. Many people witnessed the incident but didn't know how to help. They honked their own car horns and shouted for help."
Rangkharasamee, who had 30 years' experience working with lions, was rushed to Intrarat Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival, according to Nation Thailand.
The drive-through zone has a strict no-exit policy and police believe that the keeper broke this safety protocol.
Pol Col Niruchphon Yothamat of Khannayao Police Station said: “Normally, he would stay in the vehicle, and the lion would move away once the engine was started, but in this case, the vehicle's door was still open.”
The safari zone has been temporarily closed under the orders of The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) while further safety checks and investigations are carried out.
A Safari World official insisted that all 32 lions at the park are licensed and that rules are repeatedly followed when dealing with dangerous animals.
The park is now coming under scrutiny from conservation groups who are claiming that the animals and workers have been put at risk.
Animal rights group PETA said: “Safari World must relocate the lions, who have done nothing wrong other than exhibit their natural behaviours, to a sanctuary.
While Edwin Wiek of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand said: “This incident should serve as a stark reminder that these animals, even when raised by humans from birth, still pose a serious threat to human life that can be triggered without warning.”
The tragedy comes only months after another incident, when a rare white Bengal tigress killed a zookeeper at Mariupol Zoo in Ukraine. In April, Alexey Melnikov died instantly after the tigress, named Lucy, attacked him and bit his head.
Daily Star Sunday
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: A Thai zookeeper has been mauled to death by a pack of lions in a 15-minute attack, as helpless tourists watched on from their vehicles at a safari park in Bangkok
A zookeeper has been mauled to death by a pride of lions as helpless tourists watched on for 15 minutes in Thailand. 58-year-old Jian Rangkharasamee was on shift at Safari World Bangkok on Wednesday when the attack happened at around 11am local time (5am BST).
He exited his jeep in the enclosure before one lion crept up behind him and pounced, witnesses have said. Others immediately joined in and Rangkharasamee was quickly mauled to death.
The helpless visitors, who were watching on from their vehicles, honked their horns and shouted to try and scare off the big cats but were powerless to do anything to stop the horror that was unfolding.
It was a full 15 minutes before the ordeal was over and staff were able to reach the victim, according to onlooking local doctor Professor Tavatchai Kanchanarin.
He said: "The lion attacked the zookeeper while he was getting out of his car. It was about 10 metres away, then slowly approached and grabbed the zookeeper from behind, dragging him to the ground and biting him.
"Three or four other lions then joined in with biting the zookeeper. Many people witnessed the incident but didn't know how to help. They honked their own car horns and shouted for help."
Rangkharasamee, who had 30 years' experience working with lions, was rushed to Intrarat Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival, according to Nation Thailand.
The drive-through zone has a strict no-exit policy and police believe that the keeper broke this safety protocol.
Pol Col Niruchphon Yothamat of Khannayao Police Station said: “Normally, he would stay in the vehicle, and the lion would move away once the engine was started, but in this case, the vehicle's door was still open.”
The safari zone has been temporarily closed under the orders of The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) while further safety checks and investigations are carried out.
A Safari World official insisted that all 32 lions at the park are licensed and that rules are repeatedly followed when dealing with dangerous animals.
The park is now coming under scrutiny from conservation groups who are claiming that the animals and workers have been put at risk.
Animal rights group PETA said: “Safari World must relocate the lions, who have done nothing wrong other than exhibit their natural behaviours, to a sanctuary.
While Edwin Wiek of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand said: “This incident should serve as a stark reminder that these animals, even when raised by humans from birth, still pose a serious threat to human life that can be triggered without warning.”
The tragedy comes only months after another incident, when a rare white Bengal tigress killed a zookeeper at Mariupol Zoo in Ukraine. In April, Alexey Melnikov died instantly after the tigress, named Lucy, attacked him and bit his head.
Daily Star Sunday