Man dies after entering tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

A man has died after being attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, South Yorkshire Police confirmed. Officers were called at 13:35 BST to reports of a man entering the tiger enclosure at the attraction. The tiger then attacked the man and he died at the scene, the force said. His family had been informed and were being supported by officers.bbc.co.uk

The death matters because it occurred inside a purpose-built tiger reserve designed for public viewing, and it has closed a family attraction that draws visitors to see an endangered subspecies. What is new is that a member of the public reached the animal area itself, rather than viewing from the raised walkway provided. Police said the tiger was uninjured, stayed in the enclosure, and there was no wider risk to the public.

What police confirmed

South Yorkshire Police said the park was evacuated and officers remained at the scene. The force added that it was aware of videos circulating online and encouraged people not to share the footage. The victim's injuries were not immediately released by authorities. The Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it dispatched two ambulances, an air ambulance and a doctor to attend the scene.

The park said its emergency response procedures had been immediately activated and that it was working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. A park spokesperson said the organisation was deeply saddened by the incident and that thoughts and sympathies were with the family and loved ones of the person who died.

The park said it would remain closed the following day, and management said the site was closed for the remainder of the weekend. Yorkshire Wildlife Park said the safety and wellbeing of visitors, staff and animals remained its highest priority. Police said the family was being supported by specialist officers, and the park asked that the privacy of those affected be respected.abc.net.au

How the park responded

Karmelle Pelham, 39, from Worksop, was on a family day out when park staff told them the site was being evacuated. She said she had heard what sounded like gunshots and that an air ambulance had circled above. Pelham said there was a big, black tarpaulin over the tiger enclosure, and she praised park staff, saying the response had been very, very well organised.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with its Land of the Tigers area opening in 2011. The purpose-built reserve is home to Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild. The reserve is described as two acres, or 0.4 hectares, according to the park's website. The enclosure includes a 300-metre raised walkway that allows visitors to watch the big cats roam through woodlands and grasslands or play in a waterfall pool, the park says on its website. Photos on the park's website show a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam. Amur tigers are also known as Siberian tigers.abcnews.com

What the enclosure looks like

Police said officers remained at the scene as they investigated on the evening of 10 October. Authorities did not immediately release information about the victim's injuries. The park said it was working with the authorities to ascertain what had happened, and police said they were aware of videos circulating online.

The park will remain closed the following day, management said, and the site was closed for the remainder of the weekend. South Yorkshire Police said the tiger remained in the enclosure and there had been no wider risk to the public. The investigation into exactly what happened was continuing, with officers at the scene.