Man killed by tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park - everything we know
A man attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has died
A man was killed after being mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, it has been revealed this evening.
Shocking video of the horrifying incident circulating online captured the man on the grass in the Land of the Tigers enclosure, with one of the tigers appearing to have him in a hold.
Onlookers screamed as the tiger circled and then attacked.
Visitors were evacuated from the park and said they could hear a number of shots being fired.
Black screens were erected around the enclosure in the aftermath of the incident.
Police, paramedics and a doctor raced to the scene and an air ambulance was also deployed.
It has been revealed by South Yorkshire Police that the attack proved fatal but the tiger survived.
The wildlife park will be closed tomorrow while the investigation into the tiger attack and circumstances leading to it continues.
SYP said: “At 1.35pm today (Saturday 10 October) we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
“The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.
“Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The man's family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.
“Regarding rumours surrounding the condition of the tiger, the animal was uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public.
“Following the incident, Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated and officers remain on scene carrying out enquiries.
“We are aware of videos circulating online and we would encourage people not to share this footage.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said: “We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure.
“Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services are currently attending 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.”
A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “I can confirm we were called at 13.33 on Saturday 10 October, 2026, to an incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster.
“We sent a number of resources, including two land ambulances, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor.
“Any further enquiries should be directed to South Yorkshire Police.”
Tia Hanson was at the park for a day out with a pal when at around 2pm the walkway between the tiger enclosure and the exit was closed, she said.
She added: “It looks as if someone has jumped into the enclosure and they’ve had to shoot the tiger. People are saying they heard a gunshot and they say someone either jumped in, or fell in.
“There was an air ambulance and police everywhere. We’ve all been made to leave.
“When you’re leaving you have to walk past the tiger enclosure and they’ve put up all sort of black tarpaulin so you couldn’t really see.
“But there were loads of police and ambulance people and a stretcher in the enclosure as well.
“It wasn’t nice - there were lots of people who looked really upset.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park describes the The Land of the Tigers enclosure as an area where “magnificent big cats” can freely roam the woodlands and grasslands or play in their very own waterfall pool.
It is a two acre complex of reserves.
In March last year Yorkshire Wildlife Park welcomed a new Amur Tiger as part of global conservation efforts to protect the endangered species.
The young male tiger travelled over 1.135 miles from Norway to join YWP’s resident tigress Tschuna at the park.
Tschuna arrived at the park in 2013 and gave birth to three cubs two years later.
All three of her cubs moved to different parks round the world to be part of the vital species breeding programme. One has joined the American programme and is a father at the Cleveland Zoo, Ohio.
Amur Tigers, more commonly known as Siberian Tigers, are the largest big cats in the world. The average weight for males is 160-190kg, while females are smaller, at 110-130kg.
In the last 100 years the world has lost three subspecies of Tiger, with Amur Tiger numbers dropping to around 50 individuals several decades ago. International awareness and conservation initiatives have helped to push their numbers back.