Lions mauled a zookeeper to death in a safari park in Thailand, as horrified tourists witnessed the attack.
The incident occurred at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Safari World Bangkok, a zoo that people can explore on foot or in their cars, where Jian Rangkharasamee, 58, had worked for about three decades, according to The Independent.
The deceased was an experienced zookeeper who usually fed the lions, according to reports.
A report by People states that the attack happened after Rangkharasamee stepped out of his car at the drive-through area of the zoo and bent down to retrieve something from the ground. He stood there for about three minutes with his back turned to the lions.
That is when a lion pounced on him from roughly 32 feet away and dragged him to the ground and mauled him. Later, other lions joined in. The attack continued for about 15 minutes, Khaosod English reported.
A co-worker then came for help and pulled the victim to safety. Rangkharasamee was taken to the hospital but was declared dead, according to the Bangkok Post.
The tourists “tried to help by honking their car horns and shouting for assistance in an effort to get the lions to release their victim”, per Nation Thailand.
As the victim “never called or screamed for help”, tourists thought that it must be the zookeeper’s playful encounter with the lions.
“People thought the lions might just be trying to embrace him, so no one approached the area,” Col. Thawatchai Kanchanarin, who witnessed the incident, said. “A lot of people saw what was happening but didn’t know how to help.”
Attapol Charoenchansa, director general of the Department of National Parks, said that “one of them was not in a good mood” and attacked the victim, referring to the lions. The attack seemingly happened during feeding time.
Khaosod English also reported that the tragic accident was a first for the zoo.
The victim’s wife, Ratanaporn Jitpakdee, said that he was the sole breadwinner of the family and loved caring for the animals at the park, per The Independent. She also mentioned that her husband had never been attacked before.
Investigations are currently underway by Khan Na Yao Police and the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. The park has been closed temporarily.