On May 28, the 13-year-old Mai Van Chien, a pupil from Quang Phu Commune Secondary School, visited the neighbouring commune of Xuan Tin along with his friend Pham Khac Chung.
The tiger farm at Xuan Tin Commune where the accident happened
During the time at Xuan Tin Commune, the two boys came to a local tiger farm owned by Le Thi Hong. While climbing up a wall to see the tigers, Chien was suddenly attacked, causing deep cuts in his leg calf with profuse bleeding.
After being given the first aid, the boy was taken to Thanh Hoa Province’s General Hospital for the treatment. However, due to the complicated condition, he was then moved to the National Institute of Burns for surgeries. He is now recovering from his injuries.
Hong’s family was licenced to raise tigers in 2012. The five-year license expired on May 22 this year. Her family is still waiting for being re-licensed. The farm now has 11 tigers with each weighing 150-170 kilos.
Hong’s husband, Nguyen Mau Chien, raised tigers since 2006, but, in late 2012 he was arrested for the illegal trading of wild animals. So, since then, the farm ownership was authorised through his wife, Le Thi Hong.