Man dies after tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
South Yorkshire Police said it was called to reports of a man entering the tiger enclosure at the attraction near Doncaster. The park will stay closed on 11 October.
A man has died after being attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, South Yorkshire Police has said.
South Yorkshire Police said it was called at 13:35 BST on 10 October to reports of a man entering the tiger enclosure, BBC News reported. The tiger then attacked the man and he died at the scene, the force said.
Police said the man’s family had been informed and were being supported by officers.
The tiger was uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident, police said, adding that there had been no wider risk to the public. The park was evacuated and officers were still at the scene.
In a statement posted on its website, the park said a serious incident had occurred at the tiger enclosure and that its emergency response procedures were “immediately activated”. Emergency services attended, and the park said it was working with the authorities “to ascertain exactly what happened”.
A park spokesperson later said: “We are deeply saddened by today’s tragic incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the family and loved ones of the person who has lost their life.”
The spokesperson asked that the privacy of those affected be respected at what they called an “extremely difficult time”. The park said it would remain closed on 11 October.
South Yorkshire Police also said it was aware of videos circulating online and encouraged people not to share the footage.
The statements from police and the park do not say how the man came to be in the enclosure. The investigation is continuing.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, and its Land of the Tigers area opened in 2011. The two-acre reserve is home to Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild.
