An Indian tourist was attacked by a tiger at the Tiger Kingdom in Phuket, Thailand, while attempting to take a selfie with the animal.
The incident, caught on video, has gone viral and reignited widespread criticism of wildlife tourism and the ethics behind close encounters with wild animals.
The tourist, whose identity has not been disclosed, was seen walking alongside the tiger, which had a chain around its neck. A trainer, walking beside them, reportedly encouraged the man to kneel and take a selfie with the big cat. Moments after he crouched near the animal, the tiger suddenly lunged, pinning him to the ground.
The person filming the scene rushed to help, but the video ends with the tourist’s screams, leaving the aftermath unclear.
Online reactions have largely sided with the tiger, condemning the conditions and practices of wildlife tourism.
One user on X commented, “Glad the tiger got a good meal. Hopefully, this forces the authorities to crack down on these places. It’s plain cruelty.”
Another user added, “What is meant to be wild should stay in the wild.”
Several viewers speculated on what may have provoked the tiger. “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,” said one comment.
Others criticised the trainer’s actions.
“They were fine until the trainer started poking at it with the guide stick. It’s probably an indication the animal has been treated roughly with that exact tool in hand. Go figure,” said another user.
Tiger Kingdom Phuket is a tourist attraction known for allowing visitors to interact closely with tigers of various sizes. The facility operates legally under Thai law but has faced longstanding allegations of drugging the animals to subdue them—accusations it denies.
According to their website, “Our animals are never chained, sedated, declawed or defanged. Daily human contact helps to create a bond between tiger and keeper and makes our big cats responsive to positive reinforcement training. Our tigers have no fear of humans and do not see us as prey, as such they do not feel any aggression towards people and are very relaxed around us.”
However, global animal welfare organisations have strongly criticised such practices.
World Animal Protection has labeled tiger selfie tourism in Thailand as abusive and unethical. A 2016 report revealed disturbing conditions, including tiger cubs being separated from their mothers just weeks after birth and subjected to frequent handling by tourists, often resulting in stress and injury. Aggressive tigers, the report claims, are punished through starvation or other methods, and many are confined to small, barren cages with limited access to clean water.