Man seriously injured by tiger after entering enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
South Yorkshire Police said a man entered the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster at about 1.35pm on Saturday and was seriously injured. The park was evacuated and will not open on Sunday.
What happened
South Yorkshire Police said they received reports at 1.35pm on Saturday of a man entering the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, and that the tiger had attacked him, resulting in serious injury. Reports of the incident began circulating on social media on Saturday afternoon, and the park confirmed that emergency services were contacted after the man entered the enclosure and was "attacked" by the tiger shortly after 1.30pm. Videos circulating online appear to show a man in a black jumper being pawed at and grappled by a tiger. Police asked people not to share the footage. Shots were reportedly heard, according to inews, but the Yorkshire Post reported that the tiger had survived and remained in the enclosure.
- Reports of a man jumping into the tiger enclosure begin circulating on social media
- Man is attacked by the tiger after entering the enclosure, according to the park
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service is called to the park
- South Yorkshire Police receive reports of a man entering the tiger enclosure
Emergency response
The Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it was called at 1.33pm and sent two ambulances, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor to the scene. Authorities did not immediately release information about the victim's injuries. The park said in a statement posted on its website that its emergency response procedures were immediately activated and that it was working with the authorities to establish what happened.
We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened.
Police said the tiger remained in the enclosure after the incident and that officers were working to contact the man's family. They said no further details would be provided at that time.
The tiger remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public.
Evacuation and closure
Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated after the incident, and officers remained on scene carrying out inquiries, police said. A visitor told The Star that she and a friend were at the scene when the area was closed off, and that people nearby said they had heard a gunshot. The park said it had closed for the rest of Saturday and would not open on Sunday.
The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority.
About the park
Yorkshire Wildlife Park began operations in 2009, and its "Land of the Tigers" attraction opened in 2011. The attraction is a purpose-built two-acre reserve for endangered Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers. A 300-meter raised walkway allows visitors to watch the big cats roam through woodlands and grasslands or play in a waterfall pool, according to the park's website.
