Yorkshire Wildlife Park Keeps Tiger After Fatal Enclosure Incident

A man died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, where the animal Altai attacked him before emergency services arrived. South Yorkshire Police said the incident caused serious injuries and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police were called at 1.35pm on Saturday after the man was seen inside the enclosure, according to South Yorkshire Police. The force said the man's family had been informed and was being supported by specialist officers.

South Yorkshire Police described the animal's actions after officers arrived: "subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury" South Yorkshire Police said.

The wildlife park said it remained focused on supporting staff and responding to the incident. It thanked those who had expressed concern after what it called a "tragic incident".

The park said its sympathies remained with the victim's family, describing its response with the phrase "thoughts and heartfelt sympathies".

The park also confirmed Altai's condition and future after the incident: "safe and well and will not be euthanised" the wildlife park said.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park said the site was closed for the day and staff affected by the event would receive specialist support. The park opened in 2009, while its Land of the Tigers attraction began operating in 2011.

The attraction is a purpose-built 2-acre reserve for Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with about 500 remaining in the wild, according to information provided by the park.

Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary and MP for Doncaster North, responded to the death by expressing his reaction and offering condolences.

"deeply saddened" Ed Miliband said.

Miliband also thanked those who responded to the emergency. He said: "thoughts and deepest condolences to the family of the individual who died".

The MP added: "I am very grateful to the emergency services and staff of the park who responded," Miliband said.

Visitor Marie Miller described seeing the man before the incident in a Facebook post. She said he appeared to be enjoying his visit and had asked another visitor to take a photograph.

Miller wrote that the visitor was "happily enjoying" the experience.

She described what she saw before the incident: "The man who I saw on the bridge with his earpods in dancing was happily enjoying seeing the tiger," Miller wrote.

Miller added: "He asked a total stranger to take a picture of him with the tiger in the background."

Another visitor, who did not want to be identified, described the evacuation process after the incident. The visitor told the South West News Service it was "frightening and confusing".

The visitor explained the evacuation: "At first, we were all scared and confused because we had no idea what was going on. Different routes had been closed off, and staff were positioned around the park directing visitors where to go. The scariest part was not knowing what was happening."

The unidentified visitor also described seeing police activity near the enclosure: "As we walked past the police near the tiger enclosure, we saw officers surrounding a young man in the tiger enclosure. We saw an air ambulance outside the park, although, from what we observed, it didn’t take anyone away."