BANGKOK, Oct 5 — An 11-year-old boy and a 43-year-old man were injured when a lion escaped from the home of a social media influencer in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, The Nation reported today.
Bor Ploy district chief Surasit Chan-utha said the incident occurred at around 9.40pm yesterday in Moo 8 village of Tambon Nong Koom.
The boy sustained severe injuries to his right hip after being pawed and bitten, and remains hospitalised.
The adult, identified as Sarawut, received four stitches to his left arm at the scene.
The lion’s owner, 32-year-old social media influencer Parinya Parkpoom, managed to recapture the animal and return it to its cage.
Parinya has gained a large following on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok by posting videos about raising the lion.
Private ownership of exotic animals in Thailand is legal under strict regulations, but incidents involving large predators have raised concerns over safety.
Experts warn that even well-trained animals can act unpredictably, particularly in residential areas.
Authorities are investigating how the lion escaped from its enclosure and whether proper safety measures were in place.
