A longtime zookeeper in Thailand was mauled to death by a pack of lions in front of tourists at Safari World Bangkok .

The fatal attack took place on Sept. 10 at about 11 a.m. local time when an employee stepped out of his vehicle. He was mauled for about 15 minutes, according to Thai News Agency .

Sadudee Punpugdee, wildlife protection director of the Department of National Parks, told AFP that the employee, identified as Jian Rangkarassamee, 58, was “a zoo staff member who usually fed the lions.”

Punpugdee added that the staff member was “mauled by six or seven of the big cats when he stepped out of his car.”

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

The zoo has now temporarily closed its predator zone, where

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