A family day at Bangkok’s Safari World turned into a scene of pure horror when a veteran zookeeper was mauled and eaten alive by a pride of lions in front of stunned tourists. The victim, identified as Jian Rangkharasamee, 58, had worked with lions for over three decades, but his long experience offered no shield against the brutal attack that unfolded in broad daylight.
According to People’s report, Rangkharasamee exited his jeep in the drive-through lion enclosure to pick up debris — a violation of strict park safety protocols. Within seconds, one lion crept up behind him and pounced. Others joined, pulling him down as cars filled with tourists blared horns and screamed in panic.
The Independent wrote that terrified families watched helplessly as the lions clawed and bit the man for nearly fifteen minutes. Some tried to distract the animals by shouting and honking, but nothing stopped the frenzy. Eyewitness accounts described children crying inside vehicles as their parents shielded their eyes from the carnage.
“He stepped out of the jeep. Within seconds, lions had him. People screamed, honked — nothing worked. It was horrific.”— @WitnessBangkok
By the time another keeper, Phanom Sitsaeng, managed to scare the lions off, it was too late. Rangkharasamee was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. His widow, Ratanaporn Jitpakdee, said through tears that her husband’s death was preventable and that the zoo had failed to protect him despite years of dedicated service.
Safari World, one of Thailand’s most visited attractions, allows tourists to drive through its lion zone under strict instructions to remain inside vehicles at all times. According to CBS News, signs and warnings are displayed prominently. Officials are now investigating how a keeper — of all people — ended up outside his jeep inside the predator zone.
“This wasn’t just a tragedy. It was a failure. A veteran keeper should never have been exposed like this.”— @TouristBangkok
Thailand’s Department of National Parks quickly ordered the lion exhibit shut down pending investigation. Conservationists interviewed by NDTV stressed that the attack underscores the inherent danger of keeping apex predators in captivity, no matter how familiar they are with human caretakers.
Witnesses described the lions as calm only moments before the violence. A surgeon visiting the park, Dr. Tavatchai Kanchanarin, told reporters he saw the zookeeper lean down to pick something up when the first lion struck. “It was silent, fast, and terrifying,” he said. “The attack happened before anyone could react.”
“We brought our kids to see lions. Instead we watched a man die. That image will haunt us forever.”— @EyeWitnessBangkok
Animal rights groups including PETA have renewed calls to rethink human-animal interactions at zoos. “These tragedies are inevitable when humans place themselves in close proximity to wild animals for entertainment,” a spokesperson said. Reports from LiveMint confirmed that videos of the incident, recorded by horrified tourists, have already gone viral, sparking outrage across Thailand and beyond.
For Bangkok, the memory lingers — tourists still trembling, children traumatized, and a widow left to grieve a man who gave 30 years of his life to the lions that ultimately ended it. At Safari World, the blood has been washed away, but the scars on those who witnessed it are permanent.
