Zookeeper mauled to death by lions at Bangkok's Safari World zoo in front of horrified tourists

A zookeeper at the Safari World zoo in Bangkok was mauled to death by lions after he reportedly broke safety rules, according to Khaosod English.

The incident, which took place at the popular tourist attraction on Sep. 10, took place in front of a crowd of horrified tourists.

The zookeeper of 20 years had exited his vehicle to retrieve an item he'd dropped.

While bending down, with his back turned to the lions, a lion approached from about 10 metres away and pounced on him.

Three to four lions later joined in the attack. It lasted for approximately 15 minutes.

Tourists watched

Confronted with the scene, tourists at the park honked from their vehicles and shouted to try and scare the lions away, but to no avail.

Some onlookers also thought that the lions were simply playing with the man, a witness said.

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

But he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Violated safety rules

The employee had reportedly gone to feed the animals without following the safety procedures, Khaosod English reported.

It did not specify what the violated procedures were.

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

It is a popular tourist destination for domestic and overseas visitors, particularly families.

Top image from Khaosod English