A man fatally mauled at a Yorkshire zoo may have used a hand gesture associated with the word “bad” in Makaton while trying to deter the tiger shortly after entering its enclosure.
The unidentified man died after climbing into the enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday afternoon, where he was attacked by Altai, a 30-stone Siberian tiger.
Emergency crews, including two ambulances and a helicopter, were sent to the park near Doncaster at about 1.35pm. However, the man was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering severe injuries.
Video footage later shared online appears to show the man, believed to be in his 20s, being circled by Altai. The tiger then pawed at his back and shook him violently.
During the attack, the man appeared to admonish the animal by forming a fist and moving his little finger. The gesture prompted speculation that he was attempting to communicate with the tiger using Makaton.
Makaton is a communication system separate from British Sign Language (BSL). It combines hand signs, symbols and speech and is commonly used by people who have difficulty expressing themselves.
Users on X quickly identified a possible meaning behind the hand movement. One wrote that the man appeared to be “using Makaton there” by pointing his little finger with a clenched fist to indicate “bad”.
Another user agreed, saying the raised pinky was a Makaton sign for “bad”. A third added that the man’s “mannerisms and hand signals” appeared consistent with the communication system.
A man who was mauled to death at a Yorkshire zoo is said to have used Makaton in an attempt to communicate with the tiger moments after he climbed into its enclosure (Pictured: Altai, the male tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, believed to have been involved in the incident)
Altai, the male tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, is pictured. Reports suggest he was the tiger involved in the incident
Visitors were evacuated by staff before the park was closed for the remainder of the day
The scene at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday after a tiger mauled a man who entered its enclosure
Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed on Sunday that Altai would not be put down following the fatal incident.
“Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger,” the park said in an updated statement.
“We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident.
“We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday’s tragic incident.”
The development came as footage circulating online appeared to show the man asking fellow visitors to take a photograph of him with Altai shortly before the fatal attack.
In a clip posted to X, the man can be heard saying: “Excuse me, can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?” Altai is visible in the background, lying beneath a shaded tree and playing with a fallen branch.
A woman agrees to take the picture, replying “yeah”, before the footage falls silent and the man thanks her.
He then asks for “one more” picture three times before thanking her again, saying: “Thank you, lady.”
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
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An air ambulance and police van are seen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday afternoon
It was only minutes later witnesses watched in horror as the man then climbed into the enclosure, where he was heard crying ‘no, no’ as the tiger launched his attack.
In further footage, a woman’s voice can be heard saying: ‘I tried to stop him’, while zoo keepers raced to the scene armed with gas-powered acoustic guns, firing five loud, shotgun-like blasts close to the predator in an attempt to drive Altai off.
A witness told The Mail on Sunday the man, who had a mobile phone and was wearing AirPods, appeared to ‘psyche himself up’ by performing a ‘dance’ in the spectator area before climbing the fence.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service sent two road ambulances plus an air ambulance. Paramedics with blood transfusion kits were seen desperately trying to save the victim, but South Yorkshire Police later confirmed he had died from his injuries.
Keepers were later seen wrapping black plastic sheeting around a section of the enclosure to shield it from view.
Police said they received reports at 1.35pm of a man entering the enclosure. A statement said: ‘The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.
‘Emergency services attended and sadly, 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.’
Officers urged people not to share footage of the attack.
The tiger was uninjured and remained in its enclosure, the force added, saying there was no wider risk to the public.
The park, near Doncaster, said it was working closely with the authorities to establish exactly what happened.
The attraction was evacuated after the attack and will remain shut today. One witness praised staff for remaining calm during the incident.
Altai arrived at the park in February 2025 from Dyreparken Zoo in Norway, where he was born.
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.
Were YOU at Yorkshire Wildlife Park? Email caitlin.leng@dailymail.co.uk
