Latest on Man mauled to death by tiger at Yorkshire zoo ‘asked for photo moments before he climbed into enclosure’

By CAITLIN LENG and NICK CONSTABLE, REPORTER and TOM MIDLANE A man who was mauled to death by a tiger at a Yorkshire zoo is said to have asked for a picture with the animal moments before he climbed into its enclosure. The man, who has not been identified, tragically passed away after entering the cage at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday afternoon where he was attacked by a 30-stone Siberian tiger named Altai. Emergency services – including two land ambulances and a helicopter – rushed to the park, near Doncaster, at around 1.35pm but the man was sadly pronounced dead after sustaining serious injuries.

Video footage circulating online appears to show the man only moments before he was fatally attacked by Altai asking fellow parkgoers to 'grab' a picture of him with the animal. In a clip posted to X, the man can be heard saying 'Excuse me, can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?' while Altai lies in the background under a shaded tree playing with a fallen branch. Agreeing to take the picture, a woman says 'yeah' before the video goes silent and the man thanks her.

What we know

The man is then captured asking her for 'one more' picture three times, before finally thanking her again, saying: 'Thank you, lady.' It was only minutes later witnesses watched in horror as the man then climbed into the enclosure, where Altai circled him on the grass before shaking him like a ragdoll. He was also seen pointing his finger at the animal, repeatedly screaming 'stop', while visitors started shouting in a desperate a bid to distract the tiger. In further footage of the attack, a woman's voice can be heard saying: 'I tried to stop him.' Zoo keepers raced to the scene armed with gas-powered acoustic guns, firing five loud, shotgun-like blasts close to the predator in an attempt to drive it off.

A witness told The Mail on Sunday the man, who had a mobile phone and was wearing AirPods, appeared to 'psyche himself up' by performing a 'dance' in the spectator area before climbing the fence. Yorkshire Ambulance Service sent two road ambulances plus an air ambulance. Paramedics with blood transfusion kits were seen desperately trying to save the victim, but South Yorkshire Police later confirmed he had died from his injuries.

Key details

Keepers were later seen wrapping black plastic sheeting around a section of the enclosure to shield it from view. Police said they received reports at 1.35pm of a man entering the enclosure. A statement said: 'The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.

'Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Yorkshire Wildlife Park pictured on Sunday as it remains closed following the fatal tiger attack Altai arrived at the park in February 2025 from Dyreparken Zoo in Norway, where he was born Police officers at the scene of the park on Saturday An air ambulance and police van are seen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday afternoon 'The man's family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.' Officers urged people not to share footage of the attack.

Why it matters

The tiger was uninjured and remained in its enclosure, the force added, saying there was no wider risk to the public. The park, near Doncaster, said it was working closely with the authorities to establish exactly what happened. The attraction was evacuated after the attack and will remain shut today.

One witness praised staff for remaining calm during the incident. A Yorkshire Wildlife Park spokesman said on Saturday night: 'We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure. 'Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated and emergency services attended the scene.

'We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority. The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.' Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with the Land Of The Tigers area opening in 2011.

It is a purpose-built two-acre reserve for Siberian tigers, an endangered species with around 500 left in the wild. Photos show a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam. The attack comes only four months after a three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile pit by a man in Cambridgeshire.