Tiger attacks man in Thailand during selfie attempt: Viral video sparks safety concerns

In a shocking incident, an Indian man was mauled by a tiger at a popular tourist attraction in Phuket, Thailand. As per reports, the tourist suffered some injuries after being attacked by a tiger at Tiger Kingdom. It is a famous theme park that allows visitors to interact with big cats in safe enclosures.The video of the incident quickly went viral after being posted on the social media platform X. It's a video that shows the tourist walking with the tiger holding his chain. But while attempting to take a selfie, the tiger attacks the tourist. The video also shows a caretaker at the tiger kingdom trying to save the tourist but it’s mostly voices of shouting. A trainer is seen using a stick to signal the tiger to sit. But within moments, the animal attacks the man, prompting screams and chaos.Although the tourist’s injuries were reportedly not severe, the incident has reignited debates online about the safety measures in place at such wildlife facilities. Many social media users expressed concerns for the victim and explanations too. One of the theories that was being extensively discussed online suggested that it was the man’s actions that might 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.”Giving an explanation for what might have gone wrong, another user wrote, “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.”A number of people were concerned about the man’s well being. One X user asked “did the man survive?” To which one user replied, “yes, apparently, minor injuries.”The latest incident comes just weeks after a fatal tiger attack in India’s Madhya Pradesh, where a 50-year-old farmer was killed by a tiger in Balaghat district. According to BL Sirsam, Sub-Divisional Officer of Forests, the incident took place around 5 AM.