Man Killed by Amur Tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park as Investigations Continue

Yorkshire Wildlife Park remains closed for a third day as investigations continue into the death of a man attacked by a tiger after he entered its enclosure. The park near Doncaster shut over the weekend following reports that a man climbed down into the enclosure from a walkway on Saturday afternoon. An eyewitness described seeing the man, who was wearing headphones, "pacing around" near the enclosure before he went in and was attacked.

A park spokesperson said: "Due to the events over the weekend, the park will remain closed today. Thank you for your understanding." South Yorkshire Police said the man died at the scene and his family were being supported by officers. "Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time," the force said. Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed that the rare Amur tiger, named Altai, remained in the enclosure and would not be euthanised. Cars could be seen coming and going from the park on Monday, but there were no visitors. Ticket holders will be contacted within five days to reschedule, the park said.

Angela Seivewright, 47, from Bawtry, laid flowers outside the gates in tribute to the dead man. She said she held an annual pass and had visited many times with her two children. "My daughter was unfortunately sent the video and she's a teenager," she said. "I found it very distressing, but I think what I've found more distressing is the reaction of the public that I received when I said I hope the human is OK. I was surprised at the amount of anger and hatred the people seemed to have towards the gentleman."

On Saturday evening, police said they were aware of videos circulating online and urged people not to share the footage. Dr Campbell Murn, a former member of the government's zoo expert committee and a lecturer at the University of Reading, said that while the incident was tragic, determined people could get inside zoo enclosures. "I view it in the same way a determined thief will get into somebody's house or somebody's car and despite the best security systems and enclosures sometimes these things happen," he said. He added that a fundamental aim of the modern zoo was to offer a wildlife experience while keeping visitors safe at an appropriate distance, without being too heavy-handed. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Murn said public safety was an "enormous consideration" for zoo standards in the UK.

A spokesperson for the Born Free Foundation, which campaigns to phase out zoos, called for an "urgent review" into how the man managed to enter the enclosure and what happened afterwards. Born Free's co-founder Will Travers said: "Putting dangerous wild animals on public display in zoos and safari parks creates a false relationship with humans. Visitors are encouraged to get up close and personal—that is a deeply unnatural situation and not without risk."

The tiger has been at Yorkshire Wildlife Park since it was moved from Dyreparken in Norway in February 2025 as part of the international EAZA European Endangered Species Programme for Amur tigers. Dyreparken biologist Helene Axelsen said Altai was born at the site in 2021. "We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park over the weekend," she said. "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."