A man died on Saturday afternoon after climbing into the Amur tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster and being attacked by a tiger. South Yorkshire Police say he was visiting the park alone. The park remains closed while investigators work to establish how and why he entered the enclosure.
What Happened
Emergency services were called at around 1:30 p.m. BST after reports that a man had climbed down from a raised visitor walkway into the tiger habitat, South Yorkshire Police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The park immediately activated its emergency procedures and evacuated the tiger area, then the wider park.
Police have not released the man’s identity, and his family is being supported by specially assigned officers. “Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time,” the force said.
What Witnesses Saw
About 15 to 20 people were on the raised walkway above the enclosure when the incident began, according to one visitor’s estimate.
Ella Ford, 24, from Moreton in Wirral, had filmed the tiger shortly beforehand. She recalled seeing a man wearing headphones pacing near the enclosure, then climbing onto the barriers while a woman nearby spoke to him. She described him dropping into the habitat and lying down near where the tiger was resting. The tiger then approached and grabbed him, she said, and she heard him shout for help. Someone tried banging on the fence to distract the animal, but it made no difference.
Anthony Hunt, who was at the park on a date with his girlfriend, said they were photographing the tiger, named Altai, when its behaviour changed and its head turned. “We noticed the tiger’s behaviour change. Its eyes locked on to something in the enclosure. We thought maybe he’s getting fed,” he said. They then saw that a man had entered the enclosure. Hunt said bystanders were shouting at the man to “play dead”, but that the man did not seem to understand and was telling the tiger to “stop being naughty.” Another witness said the man had been dancing alone with headphones in shortly before.
Karmelle Pelham, 39, from Worksop, was on a family day out when staff told her the park was being evacuated. She saw an air ambulance overhead and a large black tarpaulin over the tiger enclosure. She praised the staff for a “very well organised” evacuation.
The Tiger Will Not Be Euthanised
Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed that Altai remains in his enclosure and will not be put down. The park said it had received many messages from the public worried about the animal and wanted to reassure them that he is safe and well. It also expressed “heartfelt sympathies” for the man’s family and said specialist support will be available to staff who witnessed the incident or took part in the emergency response.
Police Ask the Public Not to Share Video
South Yorkshire Police said they are aware that footage of the incident is circulating online and asked people not to share it, citing the distress it could cause the man’s family, witnesses and the wider public. Anyone with footage that may help the investigation is asked to give it directly to police rather than posting it.
Reaction
Ed Miliband, MP for Doncaster North, said he was deeply saddened by the incident and offered condolences to the man’s family, thanking the emergency services and park staff for their response. Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, called the events tragic and also thanked those who responded.
What Investigators Are Looking At
The investigation will examine how the man gained access to the enclosure and the full sequence of events. Police have not said why he entered, and the park has not indicated that any barrier or safety equipment failed. The park says it is working closely with the authorities.
About Yorkshire Wildlife Park
The park opened in 2009. Its Land of the Tigers area opened in 2011 and covers about two acres, home to Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies native to the Russian Far East and parts of northeastern Asia that is threatened by habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. Visitors view the tigers from a raised walkway, with fencing above the animals’ area.
The park has stayed closed since the incident.
