The lions that mauled a zookeeper to death will be secluded in a restricted zone for “behavioural adjustment” and will not be returning to the open area, said a senior official from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
Attapol Charoenchansa, the department’s director-general, said the five lions must not be allowed in open areas near people, as they have a history of attacking humans.
He added that Safari World Zoo, in the Khlong Sam Wa district of Bangkok, has been ordered to close its predator animal section, following the fatal attack on zookeeper Jian Rungkasemrasamee, 58, pending adjustments to its safety protocols.
Zoos must not allow tourists to take close-up pictures with dangerous animals, such as lions, tigers or elephants, he warned, stressing that their instincts and temperaments cannot be controlled.
Currently, Thailand has 620 lions in captivity, owned by 85 permit holders, 75 zoos and 10 general breeders. The highest concentration is in Chachoengsao province, where 119 lions are registered.
A video clip from the zoo shows the victim standing near a vehicle in an open zone, with his back turned on a group of lions. One lion approached and mauled him from behind, after which the other lions joined in. In the footage, he appeared not to struggle. Jian reportedly had no pulse upon arrival at the hospital.
Police are still investigating why Jian violated safety protocols, by stopping and stepping out of the vehicle in the restricted zone.
Initial examination of the CCTV footage shows that, before stopping at the site of attack, he had stopped and appeared to be searching for something inside while sitting in the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Wirun Supasingsiripricha, head of the Forensic Medicine Institute, said the autopsy reveals that Jian died from a broken neck, which left him unable to move or defend himself, a torn artery and vein in the thigh, which caused massive bleeding, and a trachea injury that prevented him from calling for help.
The lions did not consume any part of the victim’s body and all the organs remained intact, refuting viral speculation that the animals had eaten him out of hunger.
Toxicology tests for drugs, alcohol and medications are still pending, with results expected within three days, Wirun added.
The victim’s wife, Rattanaporn Jitprukdee, 57, told reporters that her husband had worked at Safari World for decades and was close to retirement. She said he loved animals and was known for his patience and caution. Just two days earlier, they had spoken about retiring together to a small plot of farmland.
