He just wanted a selfie — a moment of thrill, a snapshot to impress friends back home. But within seconds, the trip of a lifetime turned into a nightmare, as a powerful tiger lashed out at an unsuspecting tourist. The video, now viral across social media, shows a horrifying moment at a wildlife park in Thailand where an Indian man was attacked while trying to pose with the wild animal.

The clip begins with laughter and casual chatter in the background. The man, dressed in shorts and a white t-shirt, inches closer to the tiger, held by handlers on chains. With his phone extended, he crouches just a bit too close. In a heartbeat, the tiger turns — ears back, eyes fixed, and then… chaos. With a growl, the big cat swipes its massive paw at the man, who falls to the ground screaming as the handlers rush in.

Witnesses were frozen in shock. “It was like watching a horror movie in real life,” said a fellow tourist who had just taken her own photo with the same tiger minutes earlier. “We all thought it was safe. The staff said it was trained.”

The incident occurred at a well-known tiger park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a popular destination for animal selfies, especially among foreign tourists. The park had previously come under fire for allowing close physical interaction with tigers — often sedated, critics say — to draw in tourists and their money.

The injured man, reportedly in his early 30s, was quickly taken to a nearby hospital. According to local reports, he suffered deep cuts on his back and arms but is now in stable condition. He has not yet spoken publicly about the ordeal, but family members say he’s traumatized and “still trying to process what happened.”

This isn’t the first time a tourist attraction has crossed a dangerous line in the name of Instagram-worthy content. Animal rights activists were quick to condemn the park, calling the incident “entirely preventable.” One activist posted: “Tigers are not props. These animals are wild, powerful, and unpredictable. This man is lucky to be alive.”

The park, meanwhile, released a brief statement claiming the tiger “was startled” and that “appropriate safety measures were in place.” However, the video tells a different story. The handlers appear overwhelmed and slow to react. The tiger was clearly agitated, swaying its head and twitching its tail long before the attack — signs any expert would recognize as stress.

Outrage is growing online. Hashtags like #BanTigerSelfies and #ThailandTigerPark have trended on Twitter and Instagram, as users share the disturbing footage and demand action. “We have to stop pretending these interactions are harmless,” wrote one user. “This man could’ve died for a photo.”

Several travel influencers have also spoken out, admitting that they’ve participated in similar experiences without understanding the full ethical implications. “I didn’t realize how much these animals suffer,” said a British vlogger. “Seeing that video woke me up.”

Thailand is no stranger to controversy over its wildlife tourism industry. From elephant rides to photo ops with exotic cats, many of these experiences are marketed as once-in-a-lifetime adventures. But behind the curtain, stories of abuse, overwork, and sedation are disturbingly common. Organizations like World Animal Protection have repeatedly called for the government to impose stricter regulations and shut down unethical parks.

This latest attack is likely to reignite that conversation, especially as the video continues to spread. Experts say that while some parks claim their tigers are bred in captivity and trained, they remain wild animals — capable of extreme aggression at any moment.

“People forget that even a chained tiger can kill,” said wildlife behaviorist Dr. Ananya Preecha. “You cannot predict how a stressed predator will react. These parks give a false sense of security.”

For the injured man, what was supposed to be a lighthearted moment has become a painful lesson. His trip to Thailand may have given him a viral video, but at a terrifying cost — physically and emotionally. His story now serves as a grim reminder of the risks we take for fleeting fame.

The park remains open as of now, though Thai officials say an investigation is underway. Whether that results in real change remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — no one who’s watched the video can easily forget the raw force of that tiger’s paw, or the haunting scream that followed.

Sometimes, a single photo can cost more than it’s worth.