Tiger King star Carole Baskin has called on authorities to spare the life of a tiger that mauled a man who entered its enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, insisting the animal “was not doing anything wrong.”
The prominent big-cat activist offered her heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family following the distressing incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, while maintaining that the tiger was not to blame for the tragedy.
Baskin’s statement on the tiger
“The tiger was not doing anything wrong by being a tiger. I am relieved to hear that the animal was not harmed,” Baskin told The New York Post in a written statement.
“We don’t yet know all the circumstances that led to this man’s death, and it would be wrong to speculate. What we do know is that a tiger is a powerful wild predator, and no amount of captivity, training, or familiarity can change that.”
Baskin also expressed her sympathies to the family of the deceased. “My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the man who lost his life today at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. No family should have to endure such a devastating loss, and my thoughts are also with those who witnessed this tragedy,” reports Yorkshire Live.
Details of the incident
The tiger involved in the attack, known as Altai, arrived at the Doncaster-based attraction from Norway in February 2025. He had been described as “very calm and receptive.” Baskin serves as CEO of Big Cat Rescue, a Tampa-based non-profit organisation dedicated to ending the exploitation of big cats in captivity.
“Tragedies like this remind us why that work matters,” Baskin said. “My hope is that this terrible loss will lead to meaningful reflection about our relationship with wild animals, and a future where both people and tigers are safer because we have chosen to protect wild cats where they belong: in the wild.”
The devastating attack took place on Saturday afternoon when the unnamed victim somehow gained access to the enclosure and was swiftly set upon by the enormous Siberian tiger. Officers were dispatched to the scene following reports of a man inside the enclosure at 1:35 pm on Saturday, October 10.
Police and park response
“The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury,” South Yorkshire Police confirmed in a statement. “Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Police confirmed that the tiger poses no threat to the public, stating that the animal was “uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident.”
Witnesses have spoken of the moment they were “not strong enough” to pull the man back from the railings before he scaled 12ft into the enclosure. Zookeepers were subsequently praised for their courage as further details continue to emerge.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park closed its gates over the weekend and on Monday following the devastating incident. The park subsequently issued a statement confirming that the big cat would not be put down following the fatal mauling.
“We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure,” the park stated, adding, “The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.”
It remains unclear how the man gained access to the enclosure.
“Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” is a 2020 Netflix true-crime docuseries chronicling Joe Exotic, an eccentric, gun-toting polygamist who operated an Oklahoma roadside zoo housing numerous big cats. His downfall began after Baskin secured a 1m dollar lawsuit against him, which ultimately drove him to attempt hiring a hitman to kill her.
