Tiger That Fatally Mauled Visitor at Yorkshire Wildlife Park Will Not Be Euthanized

Tiger That Fatally Mauled Visitor at Yorkshire Wildlife Park Will Not Be Euthanized

A man died on October 10 after climbing into a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in northern England, where he was fatally mauled by a young male Siberian tiger. The park confirmed on October 11 that the tiger, named Altai, is safe and well and will not be euthanized as a result of the incident. The park remained closed on Sunday while staff received specialist support.

Man Climbed Into Enclosure Saturday Afternoon

South Yorkshire Police said they received reports at about 1:35 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, of a man entering a tiger enclosure at the park near Doncaster. Officers and paramedics attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The park said its emergency procedures were immediately activated and visitors were evacuated. The enclosure, known as "Land of the Tigers," is a purpose-built two-acre reserve for Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with roughly 500 remaining in the wild.

Altai Is Safe and Will Not Be Put Down

Altai, a five-year-old male Siberian tiger weighing about 420 pounds, was uninjured in the incident. He arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in February 2025 after traveling more than 1,100 miles from a zoo in Norway, joining an international breeding program to pair him with a female Siberian tiger named Tschuna. In a Sunday statement, the park said: "Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger. We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident." Rangers fired two warning shots from a shotgun to drive the tiger back into its pen.

Victim Had Asked a Stranger for a Photo

Before entering the enclosure, the unidentified man asked a visiting couple to take photographs of him with the tiger in the background, according to audio footage shared online. Video circulating on social media appears to show the man being grappled by Altai inside the enclosure, screaming "stop" as onlookers shouted to distract the animal. At one point the man is seen sitting opposite the tiger, wagging a finger at it, before the animal seized him by the neck and dragged him away. A witness told a British newspaper that people heard two gunshots in quick succession as rangers intervened.

Park Closed as Staff Get Counseling

The park announced it would stay closed through the weekend. In its statement, it extended "heartfelt sympathies" to the family and loved ones of the man who died, adding that its staff team was "deeply affected" and receiving specialist support. Ed Miliband, the Foreign Secretary and MP for Doncaster North, said he was deeply saddened and sent his condolences to the family while thanking the emergency services. Police said the man's family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers. The circumstances remain under investigation, and police say the tiger poses no wider risk to the public.