Man dies after entering tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
In short
A man died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday 10 October, South Yorkshire Police said, according to CNN. The park was evacuated and announced it would close for the rest of Saturday and Sunday.
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A man died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster in northern England on Saturday 10 October, CNN reported, citing South Yorkshire Police. Police said he suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by medical personnel. [ 1 ]
Police said they received reports of a man entering the enclosure at 1:35 p.m. Emergency services attended. The Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it dispatched two ambulances, an air ambulance and a doctor. The Associated Press and CBS News reports described the man as seriously injured; neither supplied report included confirmation of his death. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The park was evacuated after the incident. Yorkshire Wildlife Park said its emergency response procedures were immediately activated and announced that it would remain shut for the rest of Saturday and Sunday. The park said it was working closely with authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Police said the tiger was uninjured, remained in the enclosure and posed no wider risk to the public. They said the man's family had been informed and was receiving support from specialist officers. Police also encouraged people not to share distressing footage circulating online of the man being attacked. [ 1 ]
Yorkshire Wildlife Park began operations in 2009, and its Land of the Tigers attraction opened in 2011, AP reported. The attraction is a purpose-built two-acre reserve for endangered Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers. According to the park's website, cited by AP, a raised walkway allows visitors to watch the animals in woodland and grassland and at a waterfall pool. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The incident caused the park to evacuate visitors and close for two days. Police said the tiger remained in its enclosure and there was no wider risk to the public.
Key facts
- Police received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at 13:35 on 10 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- CNN reported that police said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. [ 1 ]
- The park was evacuated and announced a closure for the rest of Saturday and Sunday. [ 1 ]
- Authorities said the tigers remained inside the enclosure and posed no danger to the wider public. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The man's death was reported by CNN. The supplied AP and CBS reports describe serious injuries but do not report his death.
- How the man entered the enclosure and why he did so. The documents do not explain the circumstances; the park said it was working with authorities to establish what happened.