Families looked on in horror after a man was fatally mauled by a 30-stone Siberian tiger when he entered its enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
A witness said the “agitated” man was seized by the throat within seconds of climbing over a fence at the wildlife attraction.
Videos shared online appear to show the tiger, named Altai, circling the man on the grass before attacking him. The victim, believed to be in his 20s, could be heard repeatedly crying, “No, no.”
Before the attack, the unidentified man was filmed kneeling with his arms spread wide as he faced the animal.
He also pointed at the tiger and repeatedly shouted, “Stop,” while visitors yelled in a desperate attempt to distract the predator.
A woman’s voice can be heard on the footage saying, “I tried to stop him.” Keepers rushed to the enclosure with gas-powered acoustic guns and fired five loud, shotgun-like blasts in an effort to drive the tiger away.
One witness told The Mail on Sunday that the man, who had a mobile phone and was wearing AirPods, appeared to psych himself up by performing a “dance” in the viewing area before scaling the fence.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service dispatched two road ambulances and an air ambulance. Paramedics carrying blood transfusion equipment tried to save the man, but South Yorkshire Police later confirmed that he had died from his injuries.
Altai, the male tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, is pictured. Reports indicate he was involved in the incident
Staff evacuated visitors before closing the park for the rest of the day
The scene at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday after a man was mauled inside a tiger enclosure
Keepers later placed black plastic sheeting around part of the enclosure to shield the area from public view.
Police said they received a report at 1.35pm that a man had entered the enclosure. In a statement, the force said: “The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.
“Emergency services attended and, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The man’s family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.”
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Officers appealed to the public not to share video footage of the attack.
The tiger was not injured and remained inside its enclosure. Police said there was no ongoing danger to the wider public.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, said it was working closely with authorities as they investigated the circumstances of the incident.
The park was evacuated following the attack and will remain closed today. One witness praised staff for staying calm throughout the emergency.
Altai arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in February 2025 from Norway’s Dyreparken Zoo, where he was born.
Altai arrived at the park in February 2025 from Dyreparken Zoo in Norway, where he was born
Police officers at the scene of the park on Saturday
An air ambulance and police van are seen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday afternoon
A Yorkshire Wildlife Park spokesman said on Saturday night: ‘We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure.
‘Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated and emergency services attended the scene.
‘We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority. The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.’
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with the Land Of The Tigers area opening in 2011.
It is a purpose-built two-acre reserve for Siberian tigers, an endangered species with around 500 left in the wild. Photos show a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam.
The attack comes only four months after a three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile pit by a man in Cambridgeshire.
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