Yorkshire Wildlife Park will remain closed on Monday, October 12, after a man was killed in a tiger pen over the weekend. Emergency services were contacted shortly after 1.30pm on October 9, when the man was attacked by a tiger. He was pronounced dead at the scene in Doncaster, according to South Yorkshire Police, who added that his family have now been informed.
Park statement and tiger's condition
In a statement, the wildlife park said it would remain closed for the whole of Monday as investigations continue into the death of the man who was attacked when he entered the enclosure on Saturday. The park previously said “many, many people” had contacted them about Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, and confirmed he is “safe and well” and will not be euthanised.
Park staff were “deeply affected” by the incident and received specialist support. The park was evacuated soon after the incident and remained closed on Sunday.
Online footage and police response
Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by Altai in the tiger enclosure. Another appears to have the voice of the as-yet-unidentified man asking people to take a photo of him with the tiger before the incident took place.
South Yorkshire Police said it is aware of the footage of the attack online and asked people not to share it. A police spokesperson said on Saturday: “At 1.35pm, we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.”
Background and emergency response
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with the Land of the Tigers attraction opening in 2011. The attraction is a purpose-built, two-acre reserve for Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild.
A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson said two land ambulances, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor attended the scene. Photos of the enclosure on the park’s website show a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam.
