Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
Victim, wearing headphones, was seen pacing and dancing before entering the enclosure; he was heard shouting "No!" and pointing at the animal during the attack
Victim, wearing headphones, was seen pacing and dancing before entering the enclosure; he was heard shouting "No!" and pointing at the animal during the attack
Victim, wearing headphones, was seen pacing and dancing before entering the enclosure; he was heard shouting "No!" and pointing at the animal during the attack
A man in his twenties died after climbing from a raised visitor walkway into the Amur tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday 10 October 2026, South Yorkshire Police confirmed. Emergency services were called at about 1.35pm after reports that he had entered the enclosure. Two ambulances, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor attended, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers; the man has not been publicly named, with reports that the family has requested this. Police stated he was visiting the park alone.
Witnesses described him wearing AirPods or headphones, pacing near the enclosure, and appearing to dance to music. One visitor said he asked a stranger to photograph him with a tiger in the background shortly beforehand. Accounts and circulating video indicate he climbed over barriers (with a woman reportedly trying unsuccessfully to pull him back), dropped into the enclosure (described in some accounts as around 12 feet), and crawled or lay in front of the Amur tiger Altai.
Victim, wearing headphones, was seen pacing and dancing before entering the enclosure; he was heard shouting "No!" and pointing at the animal during the attack
During the encounter he was heard repeatedly shouting “No!” and “Stop!” while raising or pointing a finger toward the animal before the attack. Park staff activated emergency procedures; visitors reported hearing shots, which police and the park indicated were fired to encourage the tiger to retreat so the enclosure could be secured. Altai was uninjured and remained in the enclosure.
The park has confirmed Altai is safe and well and will not be euthanised. Altai, an endangered Amur (Siberian) tiger, arrived at the park from Dyreparken in Norway in late February/early March 2025 (aged about three at the time) as part of the EAZA European Endangered Species Programme, to join the park’s resident tigress Tschuna.
The park remained closed over the weekend and stayed closed on Monday 12 October while investigations continued and staff received specialist support; ticket holders were told they would be contacted within five working days to reschedule. The Yorkshire Hive remained open. City of Doncaster Council (the licensing authority) has launched a health and safety investigation; the Health and Safety Executive is not investigating. There is no wider risk to the public, according to police, and inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing. Local MP Ed Miliband has expressed condolences.
The park’s website continued to carry a notice about the Saturday incident at the tiger enclosure and the ongoing closure while working with authorities. Floral tributes were left at the entrance. Investigations remain active as of the latest available reports.
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