Zookeeper killed by lions in front of visitors at Thai zoo after breaking safety rules

A zookeeper in Thailand was mauled to death by a group of lions, prompting officials to investigate the zoo’s possession of wild animals and safety rules.

The fatal attack on Wednesday, which was filmed by visitors, occurred at Safari World, a popular private zoo in Bangkok that regularly offers lion-feeding shows.

Witnesses said the zookeeper was dragged to the ground and attacked by at least three lions after he stepped out of his work vehicle in violation of safety regulations, according to the state-run Thai News Agency.

The victim, who was in his 50s, was later pronounced dead at the hospital after his colleagues managed to pull him away from the lions, which reportedly mauled him for about 15 minutes, TNA said.

The deceased staff member, who had worked with tigers and lions for over 20 years, was tasked with driving a pickup truck to help guide the animals within their designated areas, it added.

Wildlife officials have been dispatched to investigate whether the zoo legally possessed the lions and to evaluate the safety of the animal enclosures.

Safari World expressed its “deepest condolences” to the victim’s family and said it would provide them with “full care and support.” It said such an incident had never occurred before in over 40 years of operation and that all the animals were being monitored by a team of experts.

“The company will urgently review and strengthen safety measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents,” it said in a statement.

Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, a local NGO, said that to the best of its knowledge, the lion safety standards and record at Safari World were “in line with international standards.”

However, even with strong procedures, keeping dangerous wildlife in captivity “always carries serious risks” for both people and animals, the group said in a statement Wednesday.

“This incident should serve as a stark reminder,” it said, stressing that lions kept for private possession in coffee shops and entertainment parks “are tragedies waiting to happen.”

Fatal attacks by wild animals have been a longstanding issue in Thailand. Wild elephants caused at least 227 fatalities over 12 years, officials reported in 2024.

In January, a 22-year-old Spanish tourist died after an elephant gored her with its tusk while she bathed the animal.