On Saturday, October 10, 2026, emergency services received reports of an incident at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park at 1.35 pm. A police spokesperson said that at that time they were told a man had entered a tiger enclosure at the park near Doncaster in northern England. The park, which opened to the public in 2009, was hosting visitors who could observe the animals from an elevated walkway that stretches 300 metres through the tiger habitat.
Shortly after the alert, the man was seen inside the enclosure where the tigers reside. Video footage that later circulated online showed him approaching the animal before the tiger reacted. According to police, "The tiger then attacked the man, which resulted in serious injuries." The tiger remained inside the enclosure after the attack and was not injured.
Responding quickly, two land ambulances, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor arrived on the scene. Despite their efforts, the police spokesperson reported that "Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene." The tiger stayed in the enclosure throughout the incident, and officers emphasized that there was no wider risk to the public, stating "The tiger remained in the enclosure after the incident and there is no wider risk to the public."
The exhibit includes a wooded area, a meadow and a basin with a waterfall, allowing the tigers to roam in a setting designed to resemble their natural environment.
The park was evacuated and closed for the rest of the weekend. A wildlife park spokesperson confirmed, "We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure." The park’s social media channels announced the closure.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park first opened its gates in 2009. Two years later, in 2011, the park launched its ‘Land of the Tigers’ attraction, which houses endangered Amur tigers. The exhibit includes a wooded area, a meadow and a basin with a waterfall, allowing the tigers to roam in a setting designed to resemble their natural environment.
Visitors to the tiger area can walk along a 300‑metre elevated walkway that offers views over the habitat. This walkway offers views over the habitat, which includes a wooded area, meadow and a basin with a waterfall. The attraction is specifically noted for featuring Siberian, or Amur, tigers, a subspecies highlighted in the park’s materials.
The park’s tiger residents belong to an endangered subspecies with around 500 individuals left in the wild. This low number underscores the importance of the park’s role in raising awareness and supporting conservation efforts for the Amur tiger, even as the tragic incident highlighted the risks inherent in close proximity to powerful predators.
In the aftermath, the man’s family has been informed and is receiving support from specialist officers. Authorities are investigating the incident. The park was evacuated and closed for the rest of the weekend, and the tiger involved in the attack has not been harmed and remains inside its enclosure.