A man has died after being attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, the popular animal attraction near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. The park closed its doors to visitors on Sunday while police and park staff work to establish exactly what happened.
South Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the scene at 13:35 BST after reports that a man had got into the tiger enclosure. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his family has been informed and is being supported by officers. The force has asked people not to share video footage of the incident that has been circulating online.
The park says its emergency response procedures kicked in immediately and that it is cooperating fully with the authorities. In a statement, it offered its sympathies to the man's family and loved ones. Police confirmed that the tiger was unharmed and stayed within its enclosure, and that there is no wider risk to the public. The key question — how the man ended up inside the enclosure in the first place — remains under investigation.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park is one of northern England's best-known wildlife attractions. It opened in 2009 and launched its Land of the Tigers habitat in 2011: a purpose-built, two-acre reserve housing Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies from the Russian Far East and north-eastern China. The park draws large family crowds year-round and is a fixture of many South Yorkshire day-trip itineraries.
For travellers with trips booked to the park, the immediate takeaway is simple: check the park's website or social channels before setting out, as it remained closed on Sunday and reopening will likely depend on the progress of the police investigation. Anyone who has seen footage of the incident is asked to respect the family's privacy rather than share it.
