A social media influencer is to face legal action after a lion he raised escaped from his residence in Kanchanaburi’s Bo Phloi district on Saturday and attacked two people, including an 11-year-old boy.
The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department will take the lion into state care and charge the influencer, Parinya, with allowing a controlled wild animal to escape and injure people.
The department’s director-general, Attapol Charoenchansa, said officials have already been assigned to inspect Parinya’s house and the lion’s enclosure.
He said the lion is classified as a controlled wild and dangerous animal, under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2562 (2019), adding that “Allowing such an animal to escape without a valid reason is an offence punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to 50,000 baht, or both.”
The department’s regional office had sent a written notice on October 3, one day before the lion escaped, instructing the owner to strengthen the lion’s cage.
Investigators are now determining how the lion escaped, whether it broke free from its cage, slipped its leash or was left unrestrained.
The Bueng Chawak Wildlife Breeding Centre, in Suphan Buri province, has been instructed to prepare a facility to house the animal, with all costs to be borne by the owner, Attapol said.
Meanwhile, Mana Permpoon, regional director of the department, said officials inspected the house and found the lion chained-up in one of the rooms. Negotiations are underway for the owner to formally surrender the animal to the department.
The injured boy, identified as Arthit, sustained claw and bite wounds, especially to his right hip, and is being treated at Surasi Military Camp Hospital. His condition is stable.
Another victim, Sarawut, 43, suffered scratches to his leg requiring four stitches and has since returned home.
Parinya, 32, is a social media influencer with a large following across several platforms, posting videos featuring his pet lions, including the one that escaped.
