Man dies after tiger attack at Yorkshire zoo

A man has died after entering a tiger enclosure and being attacked by the animal at a zoo in Yorkshire.

Emergency services were called to Yorkshire Wildlife Park shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday after the unnamed victim reportedly climbed into a compound housing two of the big cats.

He sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The man’s family have since been informed, South Yorkshire Police said.

“Regarding rumours surrounding the condition of the tiger, the animal was uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public,” the force added in a statement.

The wildlife park near Doncaster was evacuated and expected to remained closed for the remainder of the weekend, a spokesperson said.

Visitor Karmelle Pelham, from Worksop, told the BBC that she was with her family at the lemur enclosure when the zoo was evacuated.

She told the broadcaster they were told to leave, before being ushered “further and further into the park”. The family heard what sounded like several gunshots before seeing helicopters circling overhead.

Ms Pelham commended the staff for getting visitors out of the park safely without creating panic.

A spokesperson for the park told The Independent that emergency response procedures were activated immediately and that emergency services remained on the scene.

“We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened,” they said, adding: “The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority.”

“The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.”

Did you see what happened? Contact james.reynolds@independent.co.uk

A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson said that two land ambulances, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor attended the scene.

Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by a tiger in an enclosure at the park. Police said they were aware of the footage and have asked people not to share it.

Park guest Tia Hanson, told the Sheffield Star that she and a friend were at the scene at around 2pm when the walkway between the tiger enclosure and the exit was closed.

“It looks as if someone has jumped into the enclosure. People are saying they heard a gunshot and they say someone either jumped in, or fell in.”

“It wasn’t nice - there were lots of people who looked really upset,” she added.

Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said he was “deeply saddened to hear of the tragic incident that has taken place today at Yorkshire Wildlife Park”.

”My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved at this immensely difficult time,” he added.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with the “Land of the Tigers” attraction opening in 2011.

The attraction is on a purpose-built two-acre reserve for endangered Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has two Amur tigers, including a 17-stone tigress called Tschuna, who arrived in 2013, and a young male called Altai, who arrived last year.

Photos of the enclosure on the park’s website shows a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam.