Caught On Camera: Tiger Attacks Indian Tourist At Thailand Zoo After He Cupped It for A Photo
An Indian tourist sustained minor injuries after being attacked by a tiger at the popular Tiger Kingdom in Phuket, Thailand. The man was reportedly trying to take a selfie with the wild animal when the incident occurred.
A 25-second video of the attack, shared on the social media platform X, has gone viral and sparked a debate over the safety protocols and animal welfare standards at such tourist attractions. In the video, the unidentified man is seen walking beside a tiger while a trainer attempts to control the animal with a stick. As the man leans in to take a photo, the tiger suddenly becomes aggressive and lunges at him. The man is heard screaming as the situation unfolds.
The person who posted the video later confirmed, "Yes, apparently, minor injuries" when asked if the tourist had survived the encounter.
Social media users expressed outrage and concern in the comments. Many questioned the practice of allowing close contact with wild animals for the sake of tourism. "Cats generally do not like being petted on the lower (back) body especially near butts. This man was petting the tiger continuously near above mentioned body area which must have frustrated the tiger. Final straw was when the man cupped it for a photo," the user added.
One of the users said, " That tiger was well behaved until the other man started beating it with that stick. And what’s ridiculous is thinking you can control a tiger with a lease. It’s not a small dog that you can control. It’s a big cat with powerful muscles. It’s physically way more powerful than any human."
This incident comes just weeks after a fatal tiger attack in India’s Madhya Pradesh, where a 50-year-old man named Prakash Pane was mauled to death by a tiger in Balaghat district. Pane was working on his farm in Kundwa village at around 5 AM when the tiger attacked. According to forest official BL Sirsam, the tiger had been roaming in the area for over a month. Villagers heard Pane’s cries and rushed to help, throwing stones to drive the tiger away.
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