Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, England, confirmed on 11/10 that a tiger named Altai attacked and killed a man who had intentionally entered its enclosure. Witnesses described the man's deliberate entry into the tiger habitat, despite attempts to stop him, leading to his fatal mauling. The park stated that Altai would not be euthanized following the tragic incident.
Witnesses Anthony Hunt and his girlfriend, Scarlet Hogan, recounted seeing the incident unfold while photographing Altai. Hogan stated, "We followed the tiger's gaze and saw the man walking past the enclosure in the far corner. The tiger became alert, shifting into hunting mode. It swiftly descended from a high platform and moved towards the man."
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The man entered the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, England, on 10/10. Photo: CNN
Hogan observed the man's unusual behavior as the tiger approached. "He clasped his hands in prayer and bowed to the animal," she said, adding that he appeared to be in an abnormal state even during the attack. "He spread his arms as if ready for the tiger to attack him. We just stood there, frozen."
Another witness reported that before entering the enclosure, the man had posed for photos with the tiger. As he attempted to jump into the habitat, a nearby woman tried to restrain him, but her efforts were unsuccessful. Hunt and Hogan stated, "The man was too strong, so she couldn't prevent him from jumping into the tiger enclosure right in front of two children."
Emergency services arrived at the scene at 1:35 PM, but the man had already died. Officials have not yet released his identity.
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The tiger Altai at the moment the man began to jump into the enclosure. Photo: Telegraph
Local officials confirmed that Altai was unharmed, remained within its enclosure, and posed no threat to public safety. A police spokesperson urged the public not to share graphic images of the attack. The zoo issued a statement saying, "Many people contacted us inquiring about Altai, the tiger involved in the incident. We assure everyone that the tiger is safe, healthy, and will not be euthanized."
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park's "Land of the Tigers" exhibit features a 300-meter elevated walkway, allowing visitors to observe its resident Amur tigers. Also known as Siberian tigers, Amur tigers primarily inhabit the Sikhote-Alin mountain range in Russia's Primorsky region. Males weigh 170-220 kg, while females average 117 kg. With approximately 500 individuals remaining in the wild, they are classified as endangered.
By Ngoc Anh (Sources: Telegraph, UPI)
