Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster remains closed after a man died in the tiger enclosure on Saturday.

Here’s what we know so far about the attack.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park was busy with visitors when the alarm was raised on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the park at about 13:30 BST to reports a man had climbed into the tiger enclosure from a high walkway.

Visitors were moved away from the area as the tiger attacked the man, who died a short time later.

The park confirmed the rare Amur tiger, called Altai, remained safely in the enclosure and would not be euthanised.

The park was closed on Saturday and has not yet reopened.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park spans 150 acres with 15 unique habitats featuring wide paths and raised viewing areas.

It focuses on large animal conservation, and counts species including lions, meerkats, lemurs, African penguins and sea lions among its residents.

The tigers are housed in the park’s Land of the Tigers, which has a 300m-long raised walkway so visitors can watch the animals from above.

The park’s website says people can witness the “majestic cats freely roaming their woodlands and grasslands or playing in their very own waterfall pool”.

The man has not been named, but eyewitnesses described seeing a man in his 20s on the walkway at the tiger enclosure, wearing headphones and “pacing around” minutes before the incident took place.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed he was visiting the park on his own.

Speaking to the BBC, Ella Ford, 24, from Wirral, said she saw the same man had climbed up onto the barriers and was spoken to by a woman before “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 man shouting for help and the tiger grabbed hold of him.

She estimates about 15 to 20 people were on the enclosure’s raised visitor walkway before staff quickly evacuated the area, and shortly afterwards, the park.

People nearby were confused, she said, and one man was “trying to bang on the fence to try and deter the tiger away, but it obviously wasn’t doing anything”.

Altai is a rare Amur tiger, also known as a Siberian tiger, the largest big cat in the world.

According to the park, the average weight for males is 160-190kg (25-30 stone), while females are smaller, at 110-130kg (17-20 stone).

Altai, now five years old, moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park from Dyreparken in Norway in February 2025.

The tiger was moved to Doncaster as part of the international EAZA European Endangered Species Programme for Amur tigers, to join the park’s resident tigress Tschuna.

Dyreparken biologist Helene Axelsen said: “We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park over the weekend.

“Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victim’s family, loved ones, and the entire team at Yorkshire Wildlife Park during this extremely difficult time.”

A spokesperson for the park thanked everyone who showed concern after the incident.

In a statement on Sunday, they said: “Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of the man who tragically lost his life.

“The park will be closed today and the staff team who were deeply affected by events will receive specialist support.

“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.”

Dr David Sands, a human-companion animal practitioner at the Animal Behavioural Clinic in Chorley, Lancashire, said tigers were predators that would naturally attack.

“The animal is just being the animal that a million years of evolution has produced,” he said.

“It is the top apex predator of its group of animals.

“I don’t think any blame could be put on the animal itself.”

He added: “Tigers are territorial. This is a male tiger and the incredible weight and power, there’s only one outcome because the tiger is in captivity – the enclosure is its territory and a male who can be scented becomes either competition or prey.

“We’re so used to seeing them on the small screen in wildlife documentaries.

“This is a very big animal that’s got the power to bite and break through bones.”

City of Doncaster Council confirmed a health and safety investigation had been launched into the death of the man in the enclosure.

Dan Swaine, the local authority’s executive director of place, said the council was “deeply saddened” by the incident and sent its “deepest sympathies” to the man’s family and those who were at the scene.

“As the relevant licensing authority for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I can confirm that, in line with our statutory duties, the council has launched a health and safety investigation,” he said.

“We are also working with multiple agencies, including the police and health agencies, and are supporting the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in response to the incident.”

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