A man died on Saturday after being attacked by a tiger inside the enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. South Yorkshire Police confirmed the man entered the tiger enclosure shortly before officers were called at 1:35pm. He was attacked by a tiger and died at the scene. The animal was uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident.
Park closed after incident
The park was closed and was due to remain shut for the rest of the weekend. Police said the man's family were being supported by officers, while Yorkshire Wildlife Park said its “thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the family and loved ones of the person who has lost their life”.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said its emergency response procedures had been “immediately activated” and that it was working closely with the authorities to establish exactly what happened. Police have urged the public not to share videos circulating online of the incident.
Keepers' previous praise for tigers
Previous descriptions of the park's tigers by their keepers described them as "very calm". One of the park's notable residents is Altai, a male Amur tiger who arrived from Dyreparken in Norway in February 2025, when he was three years old.
In March 2025, Yorkshire Wildlife Park's director of animals, Charlotte MacDonald, said: “We are delighted with Altai. He is a beautiful, huge cat and very calm and receptive, his keepers at Dyreparken have clearly done a great job with him.” She added: “It will take him a while to settle in at the Park as it is a big change for him but hopefully he will be out in the Land of the Tiger in the coming weeks.” Altai was also described at the time as a “nice and calm tiger” who enjoyed training, eating and, in particular, playing in the water outside.
Conservation efforts at Land of the Tigers
The park is also home to Tschuna, a female tiger who arrived in 2013. She gave birth to three cubs in 2015, all of whom later moved to different parks around the world to take part in a breeding programme aimed at helping protect the species. When Altai arrived, there were hopes that he and Tschuna might eventually mate and contribute to international conservation efforts. MacDonald said: “We hope that Tschuna will enjoy the new company and that in time they can contribute to global conservation efforts to protect this incredible species.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park's Land of the Tigers opened in 2011, two years after the park itself welcomed its first visitors. The purpose-built, two-acre reserve is home to Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, which are among the largest of the world's big cats. Around 500 Amur tigers are estimated to remain in the wild, following a recovery supported by international conservation efforts. The species nevertheless remains endangered and continues to depend on measures designed to protect its future.
The Land of the Tigers features woodland, grassland and a waterfall pool, with a raised walkway allowing visitors to observe the animals from above. The habitat has been designed to give the tigers space to roam while allowing visitors to see them in surroundings intended to reflect aspects of their natural environment.
Following Saturday's incident, Foreign Secretary and Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband said he was “deeply saddened” and offered his “thoughts and deepest condolences to the family of the individual who died”. He also thanked the emergency services and park staff who responded. Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, also expressed his condolences and praised the emergency services for their response.
