BANGKOK, Sept 12 (TNA) – Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has temporarily closed the aggressive animal show zone at Safari World following a fatal lion attack on a zookeeper. The DNP has also ordered five other open zoos nationwide to be inspected to prevent similar tragedies.
DNP Director-General Attapol Charoenchansa stated the closure is in effect while the zoo and DNP staff draft stricter safety protocols. He believes the attack was a result of the lions’ natural predatory instincts. The five lions involved have been quarantined for behavioral modification.
Attapol highlighted the risk of “familiarity blindness” among zookeepers and stressed that the wild instincts of animals must never be underestimated. The DNP is expanding its inspections to all open zoos with dangerous animals to evaluate safety standards and ensure animal welfare.
Meanwhile, a police investigation is underway. Police Colonel Niruchpol Yotamat stated that while there is no CCTV footage of the incident, they are questioning witnesses and collecting forensic evidence. The DNP team is also at the scene, assessing the enclosures and the zoo’s emergency plan. The aggressive animal zone will remain closed until the zoo can prove it has adequate safety measures to protect both staff and visitors. -819 (TNA)
