A shocking video circulating on social media has captured the terrifying moment a tourist was mauled by a tiger at a popular animal park in Thailand. The incident has reignited fierce debates over wildlife tourism and the ethics of close human-animal interactions.

The viral clip, posted on X by user @sidhshuk on May 29, 2025, begins with three individuals walking together — a tourist reportedly from India, a chained tiger, and a man believed to be a trainer holding a stick. In what appeared to be a routine photo-op session, the tourist knelt beside the big cat, seemingly to pose for a photograph.

The moment quickly turned disastrous. As the visitor patted the tiger, the animal suddenly lunged at him. The footage becomes unstable, with the camera violently shaking amid screams and panic, capturing the chaos that unfolded.

The post was captioned, “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.?”

The current status of the individual seen in the video remains unclear. The video has already garnered over 1.4 million views. Some users have claimed that the man survived with minor injuries. Meanwhile, the incident has left many viewers shocked, with widespread concern for the man's safety.

One user criticised the man’s behaviour with the animal, “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.”

Others pointed to a larger issue concerning Indian tourists and their participation in such wildlife experiences. “My immediate reaction to this video was a chilling realisation: that could have been me! This chilling video exposes a dangerous trend: many Indian tourists are lured into risky photo-ops with tigers in Thailand, often due to relentless peer pressure. These wild animals are heavily drugged to appear docile, but their true nature cannot be tamed. As the sedation fades, a tiger can turn violent, posing a grave threat,” said another post.

Public reaction online has ranged from concern to outrage. Critics highlighted the irresponsibility of using wild animals as props for entertainment and the lack of adequate safety protocols at such establishments.

(Mathrubhumi English could not verify the authenticity of the post.)