Families looked on in shock after a man was fatally attacked 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.
Footage shared online appears to show the tiger, named Altai, circling the man on the grass before violently shaking him. The victim, believed to be in his 20s, could be heard shouting, “No, no,” during the attack.
Moments before the tiger attacked, the unidentified man was filmed kneeling with his arms stretched out to either side.
He reportedly pointed at the animal while repeatedly yelling, “Stop.” Visitors nearby then began shouting in a desperate attempt to draw the tiger’s attention away from him.
A woman can be heard saying, “I tried to stop him,” in the video. Keepers hurried into the area with gas-powered acoustic guns and fired five shotgun-like blasts near the tiger in an effort to make it retreat.
One witness told The Mail on Sunday that the man was carrying a mobile phone and wearing AirPods. He allegedly appeared to psych himself up with a “dance” in the viewing area before scaling the barrier.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service dispatched two road ambulances and an air ambulance. Paramedics equipped with blood transfusion kits were seen trying to save the man, but South Yorkshire Police later confirmed that he had died from his injuries.
Altai, the male Siberian tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, is pictured. Reports indicate he was involved in the fatal incident
Park staff evacuated visitors before closing the attraction for the rest of the day
The scene at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday after a man was attacked inside a tiger enclosure
Keepers were later seen placing black plastic sheeting around part of the enclosure to prevent visitors from seeing inside.
Police said they were alerted at 1.35pm to reports that a man had entered the enclosure. A statement 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 has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.”
Officers also appealed to the public not to circulate videos showing the attack.
The tiger was not hurt and remained inside its enclosure. Police said there was no continuing danger to the wider public.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, said it was cooperating with authorities as they worked to determine how the incident occurred.
The park was evacuated following the attack and is due to remain closed today. One witness praised staff for keeping calm as the emergency unfolded.
Altai was transferred to 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.
