Yorkshire Wildlife Park to remain closed after fatal tiger attack

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has said it will remain closed on Monday as investigations continue into the death of a man who was attacked by a tiger when he entered its enclosure on Saturday.

Emergency services were contacted shortly after 1.30pm on October 10 when the man entered the enclosure and was set upon by the tiger.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, South Yorkshire Police have said, adding that his family have been informed.

A sign at the entrance to Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA)

PA Wire

It was understood the wildlife park would reopen on Monday after it was evacuated following the incident and remained closed on Sunday.

But in a message sent to ticketholders on Monday morning, the park said: “Due to the serious incident that occurred at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, the 10th of October, unfortunately the park remains closed for the whole of Monday, the 12th October.

“Anyone with a booking for this date will be contacted within the next five working days with details of how to reschedule your booking.

“We apologise for the late notice any inconvenience caused.”

In a previous statement on social media, the wildlife park said “many, many people” had contacted them about Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, and it confirmed he is “safe and well” and will not be euthanised.

It added that members of park staff were “deeply affected” by the incident and receiving specialist support.

Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by Altai in the tiger enclosure at the park, near Doncaster.

In another, it appears the voice of the as-yet-unidentified man can be heard asking people to take a photo of him with the tiger before the incident took place.

South Yorkshire Police said it is aware of the footage of the attack online and asked people not to share it.

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

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

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