South Yorkshire Police have urged the public not to share distressing footage of a man being mauled to death by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, as officers continue to investigate the horror incident. Videos of the fatal attack began circulating online following the man's death at the wildlife attraction near Doncaster on Saturday afternoon.
Incident Details
The man entered an enclosure housing a tiger at around 1.35pm, prompting an emergency response. The animal attacked him, leaving him with serious injuries. Despite desperate efforts by medical personnel to save him, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
In an update, a police statement said: “We are aware of videos circulating online and we would encourage people not to share this footage.”
Police Reassurance on Tiger
The force has also moved to reassure the public over the condition of the tiger, after rumours circulated following the attack. Police said the animal was uninjured and remained inside its enclosure after the incident. They added there was “no wider risk to the public”.
The man's family has been informed of his death and is being supported by specialist officers. Police said: “The man's family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.”
Witness Accounts and Response
Footage shared online appeared to show the man being attacked by the large cat in front of visitors. Witness accounts reported by the media described families watching in horror as the incident unfolded. One account said the man had climbed into the enclosure before being attacked. The circumstances surrounding his entry, and what happened in the moments before the attack, remain under investigation.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed that two road ambulances, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor attended the scene. Keepers were also reported to have tried to drive the tiger away from the man using gas-powered acoustic guns, firing loud blasts in an attempt to distract the animal.
Park Closure and Background
The incident took place in the park's Land of the Tigers area, which opened in 2011 and features a purpose-built, two-acre reserve for Siberian tigers. The species, also known as Amur tigers, is endangered, with around 500 believed to remain in the wild.
The tiger involved in Saturday's attack, named Altai, arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in February 2025 from Dyreparken Zoo in Norway, where he was born. The park confirmed on Saturday that a serious incident had occurred at the tiger enclosure and said its emergency response procedures had been activated. It said it was working closely with the authorities to establish exactly what had happened, adding that the safety and wellbeing of visitors, staff and animals remained its highest priority.
The attraction closed following the incident and said it would remain shut on Sunday as enquiries continued.
