Full Breakdown
Man Attacks Tiger Enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
On October 10, a man entered the “Land of the Tigers” enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. Witnesses said the tiger grappled the man and that five gunshots were heard inside the pen. Emergency services arrived shortly after 1:30 pm. The park was evacuated and closed for the weekend.
Official Statements & Responses
- South Yorkshire Police reported that at 1:35 pm they received the call, confirming the tiger “subsequently attacked the man” and that he sustained serious injury. Officers are contacting the man’s family and declined further detail. Police asked the public not to share distressing footage circulating online.
- Yorkshire Wildlife Park issued a statement confirming a “serious incident,” noting that emergency response procedures were activated, emergency services were on scene, and the tiger remained in the enclosure with no wider public risk. The park announced it would remain closed for the remainder of the weekend.
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed dispatch of two land ambulances, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and a doctor after the call at 1:33 pm.
Background & Context
The “Land of the Tigers” attraction opened in 2011 on a two-acre reserve for endangered Amur tigers, a subspecies with roughly 500 individuals remaining in the wild. Visitors normally walk a 300-metre raised walkway above the tigers’ habitat. The incident follows a recent zoo safety case in June, when a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after entering a crocodile enclosure at Johnson’s Zoo in Cambridgeshire.
Data & Statistics
- Emergency response included two land ambulances, one air ambulance, and a medical doctor.
- The tiger was unharmed; the man sustained serious injuries.
- The park will remain closed the following day.
Verbatim Quotes
- “People are saying they heard a gunshot and they say someone either jumped in, or fell in,” — Tia Hanson