Wildlife park fatal tiger attack - what we know so far

Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster remains closed after a man died in the tiger enclosure on Saturday.

Here's what we know so far about the attack.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park was busy with visitors when the alarm was raised on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the park at about 13:30 BST to reports a man had climbed into the tiger enclosure from a high walkway.

Visitors were moved away from the area as the tiger attacked the man, who died a short time later.

The park confirmed the rare Amur tiger, called Altai, remained safely in the enclosure and would not be euthanised.

The park was closed on Saturday and has not yet reopened.

The man who was fatally attacked has been identified as William Chapman, the BBC understands.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed he was visiting the park on his own.

Eyewitnesses had described seeing a man in his 20s on the walkway at the tiger enclosure, wearing headphones and "pacing around" minutes before the incident took place.

Speaking to the BBC, Ella Ford, 24, from Wirral, said the man later "climbed up onto the barriers".

A woman was close by talking to him, she said, before "he jumped in and crawled in front of the tiger, where the tiger was perched and just lay there".

Ford said she then witnessed the tiger grab hold of him, and he was "shouting for help".

She estimates around 15 to 20 people were on the enclosure's raised visitor walkway before staff quickly evacuated the area, and shortly afterwards, the park.

A video posted on a social media account believed to be Chapman's appears to show the moments before the attack.

In the footage, shot on a mobile phone, the inside of the enclosure can be seen as he approaches the tiger - perched on a wooden platform - across a patch of grass.

Shouts of concern, urging him to get out, can be heard.

The video ends, and the account has now been removed.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park spans 150 acres with 15 unique habitats featuring wide paths and raised viewing areas.

It focuses on large animal conservation, and counts species including lions, meerkats, lemurs, African penguins and sea lions among its residents.

The tigers are housed in the park's Land of the Tigers, which has a 300m-long raised walkway so visitors can watch the animals from above.

The park's website says people can witness the "majestic cats freely roaming their woodlands and grasslands or playing in their very own waterfall pool".

Altai is a rare Amur tiger, also known as a Siberian tiger, the largest big cat in the world.

According to the park, the average weight for males is 160-190kg (25-30 stone), while females are smaller, at 110-130kg (17-20 stone).

Altai, now five years old, moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park from Dyreparken in Norway in February 2025.

The tiger was moved to Doncaster as part of the international EAZA European Endangered Species Programme for Amur tigers, to join the park's resident tigress Tschuna.

Dyreparken biologist Helene Axelsen said: "We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park over the weekend.

"Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victim's family, loved ones, and the entire team at Yorkshire Wildlife Park during this extremely difficult time."

A spokesperson for the park thanked everyone who showed concern after the incident.

In a statement on Sunday, they said: "Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of the man who tragically lost his life.

"The park will be closed today and the staff team who were deeply affected by events will receive specialist support.

"Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger.

"We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident."

Dr David Sands, a human-companion animal practitioner at the Animal Behavioural Clinic in Chorley, Lancashire, said tigers were predators that would naturally attack.

"The animal is just being the animal that a million years of evolution has produced," he said.

"It is the top apex predator of its group of animals.

"I don't think any blame could be put on the animal itself."

He added: "Tigers are territorial. This is a male tiger and the incredible weight and power, there's only one outcome because the tiger is in captivity - the enclosure is its territory and a male who can be scented becomes either competition or prey.

"We're so used to seeing them on the small screen in wildlife documentaries.

"This is a very big animal that's got the power to bite and break through bones."

City of Doncaster Council confirmed a health and safety investigation had been launched into the death of the man in the enclosure.

Dan Swaine, the local authority's executive director of place, said the council was "deeply saddened" by the incident and sent its "deepest sympathies" to the man's family and those who were at the scene.

"As the relevant licensing authority for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I can confirm that, in line with our statutory duties, the council has launched a health and safety investigation," he said.

"We are also working with multiple agencies, including the police and health agencies, and are supporting the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in response to the incident."

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