Man dies after entering tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

A man died on Saturday, October 10, 2026, after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster in northern England. South Yorkshire Police received reports at approximately 1:35 p.m. that the man had climbed into the enclosure housing Altai, a rare Amur tiger (also known as a Siberian tiger). Emergency services, including two road ambulances, an air ambulance, and a doctor, attended the scene. Despite medical efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The tiger remained uninjured and was not euthanized following the incident.

Witnesses provided accounts of the man's behaviour before the attack. Multiple eyewitnesses reported seeing him dancing and listening to music via AirPods near the enclosure in the minutes before he entered it. Some witnesses described him appearing to pose for a photograph with the tiger in the background before climbing down from a 300-meter raised viewing walkway into the enclosure. Once inside, witnesses reported the man appeared disoriented or "in a trace," at one point praying and bowing to the animal before the tiger attacked him. A woman attempted to pull the man back as he was about to jump into the enclosure, but he overpowered her. Eyewitnesses reported that shots were fired into the air by park staff to distract the tiger during the emergency response.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park spans 150 acres and features the "Land of the Tigers" attraction, a two-acre reserve with a 300-meter raised walkway designed for visitor viewing of the endangered Amur tigers in their woodland and grassland habitat. The park was immediately evacuated and closed following the incident. Police confirmed the man was visiting the park alone and urged the public not to share distressing footage circulating on social media.

City of Doncaster Council launched a health and safety investigation into the incident. Authorities confirmed there was no wider risk to the public and that all visitors had been safely evacuated. The park remained closed over the weekend as investigations continued. In a statement, the park said: "Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated" and confirmed Altai "is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident." The man's family was informed and provided support by specialist officers. The park began contacting ticket holders to reschedule bookings as it prepared to reopen.