A man was attacked Saturday afternoon after entering a tiger enclosure at a wildlife park in northern England, prompting an emergency response and the immediate evacuation of visitors.
First responders and officers from South Yorkshire Police were summoned to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park near the city of Doncaster at approximately 1:35 p.m. following reports that an individual had gotten into the big cat exhibit.
Reports differed on the outcome of the incident. According to Al Jazeera and ABC News, South Yorkshire Police confirmed that the man was attacked by one of the animals and died at the scene. Earlier accounts from CBS News and the New York Post reported that police stated the man sustained serious injuries, with authorities not immediately detailing the extent of the harm.
Park Evacuated and Response Mobilized
The Yorkshire Ambulance Service dispatched two land ambulances, an air ambulance and a physician to the facility, according to CBS News. The animal involved remained inside the enclosure throughout the incident and was not harmed, law enforcement said, emphasizing that there was no wider danger to the public.
Park officials evacuated guests shortly after the attack occurred. South Yorkshire Police noted that investigators remained on the property on Saturday evening to determine how the breach took place.
“The man’s family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers,” police said in a statement quoted by Al Jazeera. “Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.”
Investigators also acknowledged that video clips appearing to show the visitor inside the habitat shortly before the mauling were circulating on social media platforms. Law enforcement urged members of the public not to share the distressing recordings, Al Jazeera reported.
Inquiry Underway at Doncaster Facility
Yorkshire Wildlife Park announced on its website that the attraction would remain shut through Sunday while investigators review the incident.
“We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened,” the park said in an online statement, adding that the safety of guests, workers and animals remains its highest priority.
The park opened in 2009, and its Land of the Tigers habitat debuted two years later in 2011. The attraction is a custom-built two-acre reserve designed for endangered Amur tigers, which are also known as Siberian tigers. The enclosure features a raised walkway stretching 300 meters, allowing guests to observe the predators roaming through woodlands and grasslands or playing in a waterfall pool.
Authorities have not yet released the man’s identity or explained how he managed to access the secured habitat. Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the breach remain ongoing.
