Lion cub bites tourist at Chiang Mai cafe

A Chinese tourist sustained facial injuries after being bitten by a lion cub at a cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The incident occurred on August 28 when the man reportedly disregarded safety protocols by touching and lifting the cub, then bringing his face close to the animal.

Following the attack, the victim received first aid from cafe staff and was transported to Central Chiang Mai Memorial Hospital, where he received treatment and vaccinations for tetanus and rabies. The cafe provided a full refund and a compensation payment of 4,000 baht to the victim.

Wildlife protection authorities conducted an inspection of the facility on September 3. While the cafe held a valid 30-day permit to temporarily house four controlled wild animals for displays and photography, officials issued a written warning because the establishment failed to report the incident within the required timeframe. Authorities have instructed the cafe to strictly manage access to the exhibition area and implement a total ban on tourists touching or holding the lions.