Warning: This article contains content which some readers may find distressing.
Onlookers were horrified as they witnessed a zookeeper being ‘eaten alive’ by lions in a shocking attack.
This tragic incident occurred on Wednesday (September 10), when tourists at Safari World in Bangkok, Thailand, watched helplessly as a group of lions pounced on and killed a zookeeper.
The zookeeper, Jian Rangkasamee, was attacked around 11am when he left his jeep to remove debris from the floor inside the open enclosure.
Within moments of stepping out of his vehicle, the lions clawed at the 59-year-old, pinning him to the ground.
Witnesses reported that the lions consumed his flesh in the grisly attack, with distressing images showing Jian’s limbs protruding from beneath their bodies.
The attack was severely brutal, with the lions biting down to the bone and leaving a large pool of blood.
Panicked visitors were reportedly heard screaming helplessly during the traumatic event.
Other zoo staff attempted to deter the sub-Saharan predators using their horns, but their attempts were unsuccessful.
It soon became evident that Jian was unlikely to survive the attack.
Eventually, staff managed to drive the lions away by entering the enclosure with firearms.
The zoo immediately closed the drive-through area while Jian’s remains were examined at a nearby hospital.
Medical professionals indicated he suffered multiple broken bones and that ‘the majority of his flesh was damaged or missing’.
Dr. Tavatchai Kanchanarin, a witness to the attack, described the scene, noting that the first lion was ‘about 30 feet away’ before it ‘slowly approached and grabbed the zookeeper from behind, dragging him to the ground and biting him’.
“Three or four other lions then joined in biting the zookeeper,” he said, adding that he initially thought the lions were playing, as reported by The New York Post.
Since the incident, Safari World has kept the enclosure closed while authorities consider the possibility of euthanizing the lions.
The case is under investigation by local police and Thailand’s Department of National Parks, which oversees the country’s zoos.
Jian was said to have had over three decades of experience working with animals and had been employed at the Bangkok zoo since 2019.
Employees reportedly stated that park rules prohibit both visitors and staff from leaving their vehicles to ensure safety.
The zoo has yet to make a public statement on the incident but posted on Facebook that sections of the safari remain open to visitors.
“Safari World would like to inform all visitors that Safari Park and Marine Park remain open as usual,” the statement read.
“However, the Predator Zone (Lion/Tiger) will be temporarily closed for maintenance and animal safety measures.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your kind understanding and continued support.”
Safari World has been contacted for comment.