Horrified zoo employee of 30 years was mauled by lions right in front of tourists in Bangkok

On September 10, Thai police said that Mr. Jian (58 years old), an employee of Khannayao District Zoo in Bangkok, was attacked and killed by a pride of lions. He had previously ignored the zoo's safety procedures.

Scene of a lion attacking a zoo employee in Khannayao district on September 10 - Photo: KHAOSOD

According to Khaosod newspaper, Mr. Jian has been taking care of lions and tigers at Khannayao District Zoo for 30 years. Colonel Niruchpon Yothamat from Khannayao District Police Station said the accident happened at 11:00 a.m. on September 10, when Mr. Jian got out of the car to pick up things.

One lion pounced on Mr Jian from about 10 metres away, as he was bending down to pick up something with his back turned to them. The lion wrestled him to the ground, before several others jumped in and mauled him.

The horrific scene lasted for 15 minutes, leaving the tourists - including Thai and foreign tourists - extremely scared. They only dared to honk and shout from inside the car in the hope of scaring the lions away.

Colonel Thawatchai Kanchanarin, a former surgeon at Phramongkutklao Hospital, witnessed the incident. He said people initially thought the lions were playing with the caretaker. "People thought the lions were trying to hug him, so no one went near the area," he explained.

The investigation found that Mr. Jian had been feeding the animals without following zoo safety procedures. Other zoo staff intervened and took him to hospital, but his injuries were too severe and he died shortly after arrival.

This is the first accident to occur in the history of Khannayao District Zoo.

Filial piety

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kinh-hoang-nhan-vien-vuon-thu-30-nam-bi-bay-su-tu-can-xe-ngay-truoc-mat-du-khach-o-bangkok-20250910173916329.htm