In a shocking incident at the popular Tiger Kingdom in Phuket, Thailand, an Indian tourist was attacked by a tiger while attempting to take a selfie with the canine. A video of the shocking moment has gone viral on social media, garnering widespread reactions and reigniting the debate over animal cruelty and the ethics of wildlife tourism.
The incident reportedly took place as the man, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, was seen walking alongside a tiger in an enclosure in Thailand. As he casually strolled with the full-grown cat, he bent down beside it to pose for a photo. A trainer nearby used a stick to prompt the tiger to sit down, but instead, the tiger suddenly turned and attacked the man.
The horrifying video was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by user @sidhshuk on May 29, 2025. In the caption, the user wrote, “Apparently an Indian man attacked by a tiger in Thailand. This is one of those places where they keep tigers like pets and people can take selfies, feed them etc, etc.”
Reactions pour in
Many users expressed concern for the man’s condition, with the immediate question being, “Is he alive?” Others commented on what they perceived as the consequences of mistreating wild animals. A few pointed out the behaviour of the tourist, suggesting it may have provoked the tiger.
One user remarked, “Cats generally do not like being petted on the lower (back) body especially near butts. This man was petting the tiger continuously near [the] above mentioned body area which must have frustrated the tiger. Final straw was when the man cupped it for a photo.”
Another user, Ummrit, who claims to have visited the same facility, shared his own concerns: “Been there. It’s Tiger Kingdom in Phuket. They sedate the tigers just enough that they don’t have the will to attack. Always feared this could happen.”
One theory that sparked discussion came from another commenter who suggested that the man’s actions may have been interpreted as a threat by the tiger: “Eye contact, kneeling down to tiger level like challenging him and I feel trigger point is when this guy touched tiger's belly which is [the] most sensitive part of them and same like cat they won't allow stranger to touch it.”
Lewis Tan added a sharp and memorable take: “Never spank a tiger.”
Some users saw the event as a wake-up call about the treatment of animals in captivity. Karnik Shah condemned the practice, saying, “Glad the tiger got a good meal. Hopefully, this forces the authorities to crack down on these places. It’s plain cruelty.”
A closer look at the tiger kingdom
Tiger Kingdom in Phuket has long been criticised for allowing tourists to interact closely with sedated tigers. Visitors often pay to walk, pet, and pose for selfies with the animals, but many have raised questions about the ethics and safety of such practices.
While incidents like this are rare, they highlight the risks of treating wild animals as tame entertainment props. Calls are growing for authorities to investigate and regulate these wildlife tourism operations more strictly
The incident reportedly took place as the man, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, was seen walking alongside a tiger in an enclosure in Thailand. As he casually strolled with the full-grown cat, he bent down beside it to pose for a photo. A trainer nearby used a stick to prompt the tiger to sit down, but instead, the tiger suddenly turned and attacked the man.
The horrifying video was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by user @sidhshuk on May 29, 2025. In the caption, the user wrote, “Apparently an Indian man attacked by a tiger in Thailand. This is one of those places where they keep tigers like pets and people can take selfies, feed them etc, etc.”
Within hours of being posted, the video had amassed over 1.4 million views and more than 5,000 likes, drawing shocked reactions and fierce debates online.Apparently an Indian man attacked by a tiger in Thailand.
— Sidharth Shukla (@sidhshuk) May 29, 2025
This is one of those paces where they keep tigers like pets and people can take selfies, feed them etc etc.#Indians #tigers #thailand #AnimalAbuse pic.twitter.com/7Scx5eOSB4
Reactions pour in
Many users expressed concern for the man’s condition, with the immediate question being, “Is he alive?” Others commented on what they perceived as the consequences of mistreating wild animals. A few pointed out the behaviour of the tourist, suggesting it may have provoked the tiger.
One user remarked, “Cats generally do not like being petted on the lower (back) body especially near butts. This man was petting the tiger continuously near [the] above mentioned body area which must have frustrated the tiger. Final straw was when the man cupped it for a photo.”
Another user, Ummrit, who claims to have visited the same facility, shared his own concerns: “Been there. It’s Tiger Kingdom in Phuket. They sedate the tigers just enough that they don’t have the will to attack. Always feared this could happen.”
One theory that sparked discussion came from another commenter who suggested that the man’s actions may have been interpreted as a threat by the tiger: “Eye contact, kneeling down to tiger level like challenging him and I feel trigger point is when this guy touched tiger's belly which is [the] most sensitive part of them and same like cat they won't allow stranger to touch it.”
Lewis Tan added a sharp and memorable take: “Never spank a tiger.”
Some users saw the event as a wake-up call about the treatment of animals in captivity. Karnik Shah condemned the practice, saying, “Glad the tiger got a good meal. Hopefully, this forces the authorities to crack down on these places. It’s plain cruelty.”
A closer look at the tiger kingdom
Tiger Kingdom in Phuket has long been criticised for allowing tourists to interact closely with sedated tigers. Visitors often pay to walk, pet, and pose for selfies with the animals, but many have raised questions about the ethics and safety of such practices.
While incidents like this are rare, they highlight the risks of treating wild animals as tame entertainment props. Calls are growing for authorities to investigate and regulate these wildlife tourism operations more strictly
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