Man Killed by Tiger After Entering Enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

A man has died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, prompting the facility to remain closed as investigations continue. The incident occurred around lunchtime on Saturday when the man, believed to be in his 20s, climbed into the habitat of Altai, a 200kg Amur tiger.

Witnesses reported seeing the man behaving strangely before he scaled a fence and dropped approximately 12 feet into the enclosure. One visitor, Del Taylor, stated she took photos of the man moments before the attack after he asked her to capture him with the tiger in the background. Taylor told The Sun that the man was alone and initially appeared to be dancing on a bridge overlooking the enclosure.

Another witness, Anthony Hunt, described the man as "dancing as he was walking with AirPods in" upon arrival at the park. He later observed the man near the enclosure, behaving erratically. Hunt stated the man appeared to be "on a mission" and that his actions near the tiger looked "like a performance," with the man seemingly inviting the tiger's approach.

During the attack, footage circulating online reportedly shows the tiger clawing and "ragdolling" the man. Visitors also reported hearing the man scream "stop" several times. Some witnesses suggested the man may have had learning difficulties or mental health problems, noting he made gestures that resembled the Makaton sign for "bad."

Park staff attempted to intervene by firing five loud acoustic gun blasts to scare the tiger away. Emergency services, including two ambulances and a helicopter, arrived at the scene, and a screen was erected around the enclosure while lifesaving treatment was administered. The man was later pronounced dead.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed in a statement that the tiger, Altai, is safe and will not be euthanized as a result of the incident. Zoo staff expressed distress over the event, with one animal ranger stating, "It was not the tiger's fault at all. It was just something else to play with."

South Yorkshire Police are aware of the footage of the attack and have requested that people refrain from sharing it. Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which opened in 2009 and features a two-acre reserve for Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies, remained closed on Sunday and Monday as investigations proceed.