Chiang Mai – Officials from Forest Conservation Office 16 inspected a lion cafe after a Chinese tourist was bitten on the face by a lion cub. They issued a formal warning since the incident occurred during a display but was not reported to authorities within 24 hours. They also strictly prohibited tourists or outsiders from directly holding or touching the lions or lion cubs.
On 3 Sep 2026 GMT+7, wildlife conservation officers from Forest Conservation Office 16 (Chiang Mai) inspected a lion cafe in Mueang Chiang Mai district after learning from social media that a Chinese male tourist was bitten on the face by a lion, causing facial injuries. The incident was widely shared across social media platforms.
Upon investigation, it was found that the lion cub had been authorized by Forest Conservation Office 2 (Sriracha) to be relocated and transferred from Chonburi province to Chiang Mai province to be displayed at this cafe from 17 Aug 2026 GMT+7 to 16 Sep 2026 GMT+7.
Reports stated that a Chinese tourist surnamed Liang purchased a 1,299 baht package to interact with two lions aged about 4-6 months. During the activity, the lions roared several times, but the tourist did not anticipate any danger. When he brought his face close to one lion, it suddenly turned and bit him, causing two wounds on his face. The cafe initially cleaned the wounds and claimed the lions were vaccinated, but the tourist insisted on going to the hospital for tetanus and rabies vaccinations. After negotiations, the cafe refunded the full package fee and paid an additional 4,000 baht in compensation.
During the inspection, officials issued a written warning regarding the incident caused by the display without notifying the authorities within 24 hours as required. They strictly prohibited tourists or outsiders from holding or touching the lions or lion cubs directly to prevent further harm. They also recommended the cafe enhance supervision measures and establish strict protocols for entering and exiting the controlled wildlife display area.
If negligence or failure to comply with these measures is found, legal action will be taken immediately.