A zoo has issued an update after a man was mauled to death by a tiger after entering its enclosure, with the incident prompting an investigation and the park remaining closed to visitors.
The fatal attack happened at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday, October 10, when a man entered the enclosure housing an endangered Amur tiger called Altai.
The incident led to the park being evacuated, while distressing footage began circulating on social media.
Witnesses have since described the moments before the attack, including claims that the man had been listening to music and had asked someone to take a photograph of him with the tiger in the background.
The tragedy has also raised questions about how the visitor managed to enter the enclosure and what happened in the moments before he was attacked.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has now addressed growing concerns about the animal’s welfare, while police have urged the public not to share footage of the incident online.
What happened at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
The incident took place at the park’s Land of the Tigers attraction, which houses Amur tigers in a purpose-built reserve, the BBC reports.
According to witness accounts reported by The Independent, the man appeared to be enjoying watching the animal shortly before entering the enclosure.
One visitor claimed he had been dancing while wearing AirPods and asked a stranger to take a photograph of him with the tiger visible in the background.
Other witnesses described the moments before he entered the enclosure, with some reporting that a woman attempted to stop him.
Anthony Hunt and his girlfriend, Scarlet Hogan, told The Telegraph that the woman tried to pull the man back as he attempted to enter the compound.
Hogan said the man appeared to approach the tiger with his arms outstretched.
She told the newspaper: “Up until he got attacked, it was like he was in a trance, not in reality at all.”
She also described the terrifying moment the attack unfolded, saying visitors were left frozen as they watched.
The man sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, South Yorkshire Police confirmed.
The park was evacuated as emergency services responded, with visitors subsequently describing hearing what sounded like gunshots and seeing helicopters overhead.
Witnesses have reported that shots were fired to distract the tiger, although the precise circumstances surrounding the emergency response remain subject to investigation.
Police have confirmed that the tiger was not injured.
Police issue warning over distressing footage
Following the incident, South Yorkshire Police confirmed they were aware of videos circulating online and urged people not to share the footage.
The force has also confirmed that the man’s family are being supported by officers.
The footage has attracted widespread attention, with reactions online prompting further discussion about the circumstances of the tragedy.
Angela Seivewright, 47, from Bawtry, visited the park on Monday to lay flowers in tribute to the man who died.
She told the BBC that she had found the footage distressing, but was also upset by the hostility directed towards the victim.
Seivewright, who has an annual pass to the park, said she had been surprised by the anger and hatred some people expressed when she said she hoped the man would be okay.
Her comments highlight the difficult conversations that have followed the incident, with some people focusing on the circumstances surrounding the man’s decision to enter the enclosure, while others have urged compassion for everyone affected.
Why was the man able to enter the tiger enclosure?
Investigations are continuing into how the man managed to get into the enclosure and what happened immediately before the attack.
The incident has prompted questions about the security measures in place at the attraction, particularly around the viewing areas.
Dr Campbell Murn, a former member of the government’s zoo expert committee and a lecturer at the University of Reading, told the BBC that determined individuals could sometimes breach even carefully designed enclosures.
He said public safety was a major consideration in UK zoo standards, while explaining that modern zoos also aim to allow visitors to experience wildlife without making the environment unnecessarily restrictive.
The Born Free Foundation, which campaigns for an end to keeping wild animals in zoos, has called for an urgent review of the incident.
Its co-founder, Will Travers, argued that keeping dangerous wild animals on public display creates risks, even when precautions are in place.
However, the full circumstances of the incident have yet to be established, and it remains unclear whether any changes to the park’s safety arrangements will follow.
Who is Altai, the tiger involved in the attack?
Altai is an Amur tiger, also known as a Siberian tiger, an endangered subspecies native to the Russian Far East and parts of north-east Asia.
The tiger arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in February 2025 after being transferred from Dyreparken in Norway as part of a European conservation breeding programme.
Biologist Helene Axelsen, from Dyreparken, confirmed that Altai was born at the Norwegian park in 2021.
Following the fatal incident, the Norwegian zoo expressed its sadness and offered condolences to the victim’s family and the Yorkshire Wildlife Park team.
Amur tigers face threats in the wild, including habitat loss and poaching. Conservation breeding programmes help maintain populations under human care and support wider efforts to protect the subspecies.
Altai had been living at Yorkshire Wildlife Park as part of its tiger programme, and the fatal encounter has drawn international attention to the animal and its future.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park remains closed
The park confirmed on Monday, October 12, that it would remain closed for a third day while investigations continued and staff received support following the incident.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Due to the events over the weekend, the park will remain closed today. Thank you for your understanding.”
Visitors with bookings for Monday were told they would be contacted within five working days with information about rescheduling.
The closure follows the evacuation on Saturday and the decision to shut the attraction over the weekend.
The incident has had a significant impact on visitors and staff, with the park offering support to employees affected by the events.
It remains unclear when Yorkshire Wildlife Park will reopen, with the investigation and the welfare of those affected continuing to be key considerations.
What will happen to the tiger after the fatal attack?
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed that Altai will not be euthanised as a result of the incident, per the New York Post.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the park addressed the many messages it had received from people concerned about the tiger’s welfare.
It said: “Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger. We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident.”
The statement also expressed the park’s sympathies for the man’s family and loved ones.
The decision means Altai is not being put down because of the fatal encounter, in which the man entered the tiger’s enclosure.
The animal remains in the enclosure and has been confirmed to be safe and well. There has been no announcement that he will be moved elsewhere following the attack.
The incident has also prompted public figures to speak out in defence of the tiger. Carole Baskin, known for her involvement in the Netflix series Tiger King, said the animal was not doing anything wrong by behaving as a tiger.
She cautioned against drawing conclusions before all the circumstances were known, while highlighting that a wild predator remains powerful and potentially dangerous even when living in captivity.
For now, the park’s position is clear: Altai will not be euthanised as a result of the incident. Investigations into the man’s death are continuing, while the park remains closed and police have asked the public not to circulate distressing footage of the attack.
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