A zookeeper was killed by lions at Safari World in Bangkok on Wednesday after stepping out of a vehicle to remove rubbish from an open enclosure, authorities and eyewitnesses said. The attack was filmed by tourists, and park officials closed the facility as police and national park staff opened an investigation.
The victim was identified by local media and park employees as Jian Rangkasamee, 59, a veteran keeper who had worked with animals for three decades and had been employed at the Bangkok facility since 2019. According to eyewitnesses and hospital staff, Rangkasamee left a jeep early on Wednesday to clear trash from the floor of a lion enclosure when a lion approached and grabbed him from behind.
Professor Tavatchai Kanchanarin, a doctor at a Bangkok hospital who witnessed the incident, said one lion first seized the keeper and dragged him to the ground. "Three or four other lions then joined in biting the zookeeper," he said, adding that he initially thought the animals were playing. Visitors can be heard in video taken at the scene screaming and calling for help as the animals attacked.
Park colleagues attempted to scare the lions by sounding car horns and later used firearms to drive the animals away from the victim, officials said. By the time staff were able to separate the animals from Rangkasamee, hospital personnel reported he had suffered multiple broken bones and severe wounds. Officials said much of his flesh was damaged or missing; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Safari World temporarily shut the park following the incident. Park employees told reporters there is an existing rule barring customers and staff from exiting vehicles while in drive-through enclosures. Park ownership had not issued a public comment by Thursday morning, and the Department of National Parks, which oversees the country's zoos, said it had dispatched staff to investigate.
Local police said they were examining the scene and collecting evidence. Park officials said they were considering whether to euthanize the lions involved, a decision that would be made in consultation with veterinary and regulatory authorities and is subject to the outcomes of the investigation.
Authorities have not released a final account of the sequence of events leading to the attack. Investigators are expected to review the videos taken by tourists, interview staff and witnesses, and examine adherence to safety protocols at the facility.
The incident drew immediate attention because it was captured on video and because of questions about safety procedures in drive-through enclosures that allow visitors to remain in vehicles while animals roam. Thailand's Department of National Parks will report findings and any enforcement actions after its review.
Rangkasamee's death marks a rare but serious incident at a major animal park, and it prompted officials to emphasize the ongoing investigation. Police said they would announce any further developments, including whether criminal charges or regulatory sanctions would follow, after evidence collection and interviews were complete.