Yorkshire Wildlife Park Keeps Tiger After Fatal Enclosure Attack

A man died after entering an Amur tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, on Saturday, prompting an emergency response and the park's closure while authorities investigate how the incident happened. South Yorkshire Police said emergency services were called at about 13:30 BST after reports that a man had climbed down from a visitor walkway into the enclosure. Police said the tiger subsequently attacked him, causing serious injury, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The wildlife park said the tiger, named Altai, remained in the enclosure and would not be euthanised. The park also said staff affected by the incident would receive specialist support.

"safe and well and will not be euthanised" was the park's confirmation about Altai, according to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park statement.

"Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family of the man who lost his life" the park said in its statement. The site remains closed following the incident. Visitor Ella Ford said she saw the man near the enclosure before he entered the restricted area. She described him as "pacing around" before later seeing him "climbed up onto the barriers".

Ford said she witnessed the man enter the enclosure area and described the moment as he moved toward the tiger. She said he "jumped in and crawled in front of the tiger, where the tiger was perched and just lay there". Ford said she then saw the attack begin and the man was "shouting for help". She estimated around 15 to 20 people were on the raised visitor walkway before staff evacuated the area.

Another visitor, Karmelle Pelham, said she heard what sounded like "gunshots" during the evacuation. She also described seeing "There was a big, black tarpaulin over the tiger enclosure." Pelham praised the response from park employees, describing the evacuation as "very, very well organised".

Emergency services, including an air ambulance, attended the scene. South Yorkshire Police said the man's family was being supported by specialist officers. The force urged people not to share online footage of the incident.

"We are aware of videos circulating online and we would encourage people not to share this footage" South Yorkshire Police said. The force said officers were supporting the family after the death.

Foreign Secretary and Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband expressed his reaction to the incident. He said he was "deeply saddened" by what happened. "I am very grateful to the emergency services and staff of the park who responded" Miliband said.

He also sent condolences to the family of the man who died. Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009 and its Land of the Tigers attraction opened in 2011. The two-acre reserve houses Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 remaining in the wild.