Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has ordered the retraining of five lions that fatally mauled a veteran zookeeper at Safari World in Bangkok.
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The case has since prompted the closure of the park’s predator zone and sparked a review of safety practices at wildlife attractions across Thailand.
Jian Rangkharasamee, a 58-year-old keeper who had worked with lions and tigers for two decades, was killed on Wednesday after reportedly stepping out of his vehicle in the open-range safari zone. Authorities say the attack was triggered by predator instinct, with one lion biting the back of the keeper’s neck before others joined in.
“Most importantly, the five lions must be confined. They may have to be caged. Their behaviours must be gradually changed,” DNP Director General Attapol Charoenchansa said during a press briefing on Thursday, as quoted by the Bangkok Post.
Photos published by local media the following day showed the lions – named Trump, Bite, Aon, Ai and Yao – already confined. All are about 10 years old, according to officials. Two additional lions from the same area were also placed in enclosures as a precaution.
Dr Thawatchai Kanchanarin, a retired army doctor who was among the tourists who witnessed the attack, told Thai PBS that Jian drove into the safari zone alone.