A Thai zoo has temporarily closed its predator zone after lions mauled a zookeeper to death, wildlife officials said Friday, as scrutiny on the park's animal treatment intensified.

Safari World, which claims on its website to be one of Asia's largest open-air zoos, is controversial for its staged shows featuring kickboxing orangutans and hula-hooping elephants.

On Wednesday, a pack of lions mauled 58-year-old longtime zookeeper Jian Rangkarassamee to death when he stepped out of his vehicle.

An autopsy found he suffered multiple deep lacerations, a broken neck and ruptured arteries.

The five lions, apparently led by a 10-year-old male named Trump, have been confined to cages for close monitoring, and the park has closed off its big cat section until repairs and improvements are complet

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