Zookeeper mauled to death by lions in Safari World Bangkok didn't scream or call for help: Thai media

The veteran zookeeper who was mauled to death at Bangkok's Safari World zoo on Sep. 10 was silent throughout the assault, reported Thai media.

Jian Rangkharasamee, 58, had alighted from his vehicle with his back turned to the animals, when a lion pounced on him from 10 metres away.

Four other lions soon joined in, in an attack that lasted approximately 15 minutes.

During the assault, horrified tourists honked from their vehicles and shouted at the lions in a vain attempt to scare them away.

But Jian himself never screamed or called for help, a witness claimed, speaking to Khaosod English. 

Might've been attempting to play

A witness, Thawatchai Kanchanarin, said people initially thought the lions were simply being playful with the victim.

He was surprised from the moment he saw the employee alight from the vehicle. The zookeeper stood motionless there for about two to three minutes before the lions attacked, Thawatchai said.

Other zoo staff eventually intervened, and Jian was rushed to the hospital.

But he died from his injuries, Bangkok Post reported.

According to medical staff, his organs remained intact with his wounds having come from bite marks and claw scratches.

A veterinarian from the Department of National Parks also posited that the lions might have been attempting to play with the keeper, but ended up hurting him due to their size.

Footage of the incident showed that they were not fully mature and in the pre-adolescent stage, the vet said according to Khaosod English.

Unclear if he suffered from mental illness

Jian, a longtime zoo employee who'd worked there for around 30 years, was known for his calm temperament, said the zoo management in a statement.

He had never complained about or violated any rules. But the zoo said they did not know if he suffered from mental illness.

However, his wife, 57-year-old Ratanaporn Jitpakdee, denied that he might have suffered from depression and said she was shocked by the incident.

He was the breadwinner of the family who loved his job very much, and was preparing for retirement, she said.

“He loved this job, loved animals, and was very calm and careful. Just two days ago, we talked about life after retirement — buying a small plot of land to become farmers. He was very strong, not stressed, had no family problems, and wasn’t suffering from depression," she said.

She added that her husband had always taken precautions, and never been attacked by any animal there.

Partial closure

The drive-through lion and tiger zones have since been closed for "maintenance and animal safety measures", Bangkok Post reported.

The five lions involved in the attack will also be confined for behavioural training before being released back onto zoo property.

This is to prevent their behaviour from becoming "habitual".

According to the director-general of the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, safety inspections will be conducted across the entire zoo.

But he said that it was likely a case of negligence as the lions were fed regularly, and the animals likely attacked on instinct, he said according to Nation Thailand.

Safari World Bangkok is famous for its safari-style park, in which visitors drive through enclosures in cars or coaches, while animals wander freely.

In the safari zone, employees and visitors are both prohibited from leaving their vehicles, a staff member told Nation Thailand.

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Top image from Khaosod English and Nation Thailand