A Chinese tourist was bitten on the face by a lion cub at Lion World Cafe on Chiang Mai's Chang Khlan Road on August 28, after picking up the animal and bringing his face close to it.

Wildlife officials have since inspected the cafe, which was given a written warning for not reporting the bite within the required timeframe. They said a further similar failure could bring action under relevant laws and regulations.

The incident happened at about 1.20pm while four Chinese tourists were at the cafe. Officials confirmed that four lion cubs had temporary approval to be displayed and photographed there between August 17 and September 16.

Tourist received hospital treatment

Lion World Cafe said visitors must wash and disinfect their hands, read the rules and follow staff instructions before entering the animal display area.

According to the cafe, the injured tourist ignored rules against direct contact by lifting a cub and placing his face near it. The animal then turned and bit him, leaving two fang marks on his face.

Staff separated the cub from the visitor, cleaned the wounds and gave first aid before taking him to hospital. He received further treatment, along with tetanus and rabies vaccinations.

Cafe disputes compensation reports

Cafe manager Siam said the business refunded the tourist's package in full and provided a further 4,000 baht.

He said the cafe paid directly for the first rabies injection. As the tourist intended to continue travelling and obtain the remaining four injections himself, the cafe gave him 3,200 baht towards vaccinations, calculated at 800 baht each, plus 800 baht for travel expenses.

Siam said the tourist accepted the arrangement and did not pursue further action against the cafe. He disputed Chinese media reports that described the 4,000 baht as compensation for the injury, saying it was intended to cover vaccination and travel costs.

The manager said the coverage had created misunderstandings about the case and had affected the business, with fewer foreign tourists visiting since the reports appeared.

No more lifting or hugging cubs

Officials ordered tighter controls in the display area, including a ban on visitors picking up, holding or directly touching lions and lion cubs. The measures are intended to protect both visitors and the animals.

Lion World Cafe has since strengthened its rules to stop customers lifting or hugging the cubs.

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

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5 September 2026

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Wildlife should not be treated as a toy. This practice ought to be banned.

"When a lion bites a man, that is not news, because it happens so often.

But if a man bites a lion, that is news."

You can't fix stupid.

Seems the lion bit the face that didn't,'t feed him !

One reason I teach my children not to put their faces close to any animals, unless it's a very well known member of the family, and even then, as many have been nipped in the face by their own pets, them looking at us as just another animal and the mood the animals is in matters.

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Why are these stupid and cruel animal Cafes 🍵 still allowed baffles me !

I can’t make up my mind if I should laugh, shake my head in amazement or be outraged.

Since when has Thailand permitted trade in exotic endangered species? Why is a lion cafe even allowed to publicly operate and charge money to tourists? "Officials" should be rescuing the abused lions, arresting owners, and shutting the place down. Instead they are giving "guidance" not to hug and kiss the animals. Thailand continues to be at the regional centre of illegal wildlife trade and animal abuse.

It appears there’s been a petition regarding this business circulating for several weeks.

https://www.change.org/p/end-lion-cub-exploitation-for-cafe-entertainment/

37 minutes ago, TopThai1964 said:

Why are these stupid and cruel animal Cafes 🍵 still allowed baffles me !

Because normal human beings like to pet animals.

If you don't like the idea, choose another place to go.

Don't blame the Lion Cub, it only wanted to taste Chinese take away

4 hours ago, pomchop said:

You can't fix stupid.

I'm not Lion if I said that it's not a good idea to kiss a lion.The cafe owner sure went into damage control offering to pay compenation / expenses to the Chinaman to appese the authorities.You don.t see that too often because they will usually deny liability and refuse to pay.

I think it's sad that the cafe paid anything to the stu**id chinaman who decided it's a good idea to pick up a LION cub and put his face next to it's mouth. I think immediate deportation for complete fools should be on the list the Gov't recently prepared.

What next? Tourist injured at Thailand UXB Cafe experience.

Stupid is as stupid does.

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

According to the cafe, the injured tourist ignored rules against direct contact by lifting a cub and placing his face near it. The animal then turned and bit him, leaving two fang marks on his face.

Typical Chinese tourist ignoring rules and basic common courtesy. I bet he pushed his way to the cub and grab it in the typical Chinese neurotic manner.

5 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

"When a lion bites a man, that is not news, because it happens so often.

But if a man bites a lion, that is news."

Not in China where they eat absolutely everything.

2 hours ago, Dibbler said:

Since when has Thailand permitted trade in exotic endangered species? Why is a lion cafe even allowed to publicly operate and charge money to tourists? "Officials" should be rescuing the abused lions, arresting owners, and shutting the place down. Instead they are giving "guidance" not to hug and kiss the animals. Thailand continues to be at the regional centre of illegal wildlife trade and animal abuse.

Thailand has permitted The possession of licensed and microchipped lions for a long time.

Why should a legal cafe not be permitted to charge it's customers?

Where was it reported that the lions are being abused? For what offence should the owners be arrested for?

2 hours ago, Dibbler said:

Since when has Thailand permitted trade in exotic endangered species?

Since 2016 it hasn't with the shutdown of the Tiger Temple (Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua) in Kanchanaburi by the government.

Raises the question of why the government has allowed these young lions in a public restaurant.

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The manager said the coverage had created misunderstandings about the case and had affected the business, with fewer foreign tourists visiting since the reports appeared.

hardly surprising really, I can't imagine many people want to be bitten by a wild animal when simply wishing to enjoy a cup of tea

As far as the Chinese tourist is concerned I Think "som nam nah" is the most appropriate response,

Unfortunately now that the beast has tasted human blood it can no longer be trusted, It has crossed a line and needs to be destroyed , in a few months time it would be big enough to kill a child , and just a little later a full grown adult will be seen as a potential meal

Just now, Bday Prang said:

As far as the Chinese tourist is concerned I Think "som nam nah" is the most appropriate response,

Unfortunately now that the beast has tasted human blood it can no longer be trusted, It has crossed a line and needs to be destroyed , in a few months time it would be big enough to kill a child , and just a little later a full grown adult will be seen as a potential meal

Should I dispose of two of my three rabbits that have tasted human blood?

Are they now looking on me as a potential meal?

2 hours ago, bubba said:

It appears there’s been a petition regarding this business circulating for several weeks.

https://www.change.org/p/end-lion-cub-exploitation-for-cafe-entertainment/

They will need additional paper now for all the extra signatures

9 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Since 2016 it hasn't with the shutdown of the Tiger Temple (Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua) in Kanchanaburi by the government.

Raises the question of why the government has allowed these young lions in a public restaurant.

Lions are not a species native to Thailand. I suppose that makes them exotic.

Lions are not an endangered species. They are listed as 'vulnerable' - but this is mainly due to habitat loss. Breeding captive lions is the best way to ensure the species survives.

Are you suggesting this cafe is trading in endangered species?

"Can I have an Americano, a Cappuccino and 2 lion cubs to go, please?"

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Wildlife officials have since inspected the cafe, which was given a written warning for not reporting the bite within the required timeframe.

But the geniuses at the Wildlife Department didn't shutter the place for keeping (probably) illegally poached wildlife specimens?

Someone on the take?

🤣

Edited Saturday at 04:48 AM2 days by Woke to Sounds
Clarity

Just now, BritManToo said:

Should I dispose of two of my three rabbits that have tasted human blood?

Are they now looking on me as a potential meal?

They are hardly lions , and what's more, as they are vegetarians they probably didn't like the taste of you, so they are unlikely to be looking at you as a potential meal ,but one never knows,!

If one did attack you, I imagine you could probably defend yourself, but it could be a different matter altogether if they joined forces and launched a coordinated attack , and if the third one joined in , well it would probably be game over for you

Where you deliberately feeding them human blood for a specific purpose? Or was it an unprovoked attack? That's how these things start, You are probably pretty safe but I hasten to add I am no expert , better safe than sorry

20 minutes ago, G Rex said:

Lions are not an endangered species. They are listed as 'vulnerable'

Not as vulnerable as those they attack though

Just now, Bday Prang said:

Not as vulnerable as those they attack though

Granted.

however. - in this case - a bite when some fool rubs his face on that of the lion can hardly be called an attack.

Was it like one of those seafood places where you pick the critter they're going to cook for you?