Boy hospitalised in Thailand after attack by escaped lion

A lion kept astatine a backstage location successful Thailand got escaped and attacked a young boy, leaving him successful hospital, the wildlife section said Sunday.

The lion attacked the child, who was hospitalised with unspecified injuries, portion helium was walking connected a nationalist roadworthy Saturday nighttime successful occidental Kanchanaburi province, astir a two-hour thrust from the superior Bangkok, the section said successful a statement.

Local media said the lad was connected his mode location from playing with different children erstwhile the large feline pounced connected him.

Lion ownership is ineligible successful Thailand, wherever the captive colonisation has exploded successful caller years, with astir 500 registered successful zoos, breeding farms, petting cafes and homes.

But experts person warned the inclination endangers animals and humans, and apt fuels illicit commercialized domestically and abroad.

The lion’s owner, who the wildlife section identified lone arsenic Parinya, was charged with violating wildlife extortion laws, and faces up to six months successful situation and a 50,000 baht ($1,500) good if convicted.

The lion was seized by authorities, the section said, adding that a wildlife breeding centre had prepared a caller location for it.

Parinya told section TV he was “shocked” erstwhile helium learned of the attack, saying the pistillate lion got escaped aft it was removed from its cage portion it was being renovated.

“I apologise for what happened, it was an accident,” helium said, adding that helium volition wage compensation and for the boy’s aesculapian treatment.

In its statement, the wildlife section urged radical who “keep chaotic animals to beryllium alert of the imaginable dangers, arsenic each animals person a ferocious instinct”.

“Any unforeseen incidental that affects the beingness and spot of others volition beryllium punished and prosecuted to the fullest grade of the law,” it added.

Since 2022, Thai instrumentality has required owners to registry and microchip lions, and pass authorities earlier moving them, but determination are fewer enclosure oregon payment requirements.

Last month, a zookeeper was mauled to decease by respective lions astatine a safari parkland connected the outskirts of Bangkok, raising scrutiny of the facility, which offers lion- and tiger-feeding trips for astir $40 per person.

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