A man has died after being attacked by an Amur tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster. Zookeepers did "all they could" to stop the attack, discharging gas-powered acoustic guns into the air to scare the tiger off. The animal withdrew to an adjacent shelter, where it was promptly secured, and was unharmed.
Attack details
The attack happened at around 1.35pm on Saturday, October 10. Visitors reported that the man had "jumped into the enclosure" where the tiger, named Altai, was. The man suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The park was immediately shut down and remains closed today, Sunday, October 11. In an update from South Yorkshire Police, issued at 6.10pm, the force confirmed the man had died after suffering serious injuries.
Witness accounts
Images of the incident, published on Facebook, showed the man sitting on the grass with his arms folded and legs crossed as he appeared to play with the tiger. One source told the Manchester Evening News: "From start to end, the incident was over within minutes. The keepers did everything they could. It's horrific."
Amy, of Wakefield, recounted seeing police officers alongside three female keepers who were seated on the ground in the aftermath, and "one had her head in her hands". The two-acre enclosure is surrounded by a five-metre-high fence, and it is believed the man leapt from a viewing platform positioned atop the fence at one of its corners.
Eyewitness reports
An eyewitness alleged that the man had posed for a photograph with the big cat visible in the background prior to the incident, and had been dancing and "happily enjoying seeing the tiger" on the bridge overlooking the enclosure. A separate eyewitness also alleged that the man appeared to "psyche himself up" by performing a "dance" in the viewing area before crossing into the enclosure, all while listening to music through his earphones.
Marie wrote on Facebook: "He obviously wasn't with anyone and he asked a total stranger to take a picture of him with the tiger in the background. Probably the last photo on his phone. I'm not sure if he was with a carer or family member but I honestly do think he just wanted to play with the tiger. Tragic for the family. Tragic for the staff who were brilliant but in shock. Thankfully the tiger survived."
Further zoo visitors claimed they made attempts to stop him from breaching the enclosure, with one woman heard on video footage crying out: "I tried to stop him."
Ongoing investigation
Officers have urged members of the public to refrain from sharing the deeply distressing footage of the incident, which has been widely circulated across social media platforms. The park remains closed while investigations are ongoing.
A Yorkshire Wildlife Park spokesperson said: "Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services are currently attending the scene. The park will be closed today whilst we are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority."
