Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, has confirmed it will remain closed for a third straight day following Saturday’s fatal tiger enclosure incident, as new witness accounts describe the final minutes before the attack — including one woman who says the victim asked her to photograph him beside the tiger just before he climbed in.
Witness Says She Took the Man’s Final Photos
Del Taylor told The Sun she was watching the tiger from a viewing platform overlooking the enclosure when the man approached her. “Excuse me, can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?” he asked. Taylor said she took several photos of him posing with Altai visible in the background, after he asked three separate times for “one more” shot. He thanked her afterward, saying “thank you, lady.”
Taylor described him as “completely alone” and said that before approaching her, he had been “dancing on the bridge overlooking the enclosure.” Separately, a video circulating on social media appears to capture the unidentified man’s voice asking bystanders to photograph him with the tiger, shortly before the incident.
What Other Witnesses Saw
Anthony Hunt, 22, a university graduate, and Scarlet Hogan, 21, a pharmacy worker, told reporters they first noticed the man while parking at the zoo, where he was “dancing as he was walking with AirPods in.” Hunt and Hogan said they “thought he might have special needs, so we forgot about it” at the time. They later spotted him again near the enclosure, still dancing and behaving erratically, several other visitors separately describing him as acting “strangely” and speculating — without confirmation — that he may have had learning difficulties or a mental health condition.
According to witnesses, the man scaled the large fence surrounding the enclosure before dropping roughly 12 feet to the ground and walking in “nonchalantly.” One separate account says a woman attempted to pull him back as he climbed off the side of the bridge but “wasn’t strong enough” to stop him.
Hogan said the tiger’s demeanor changed immediately, going into what she described as “stalk mode.” Witnesses say the man appeared to take selfies before getting down on the floor and beginning to pray.
“It looked like a performance,” Hunt said. “He got down where everyone could see him in the main viewing area. He had his arms wide open like he was saying: ‘Come here, tiger. Kill me.’ Then the tiger came and started to attack him. He started to fight back and screamed. It was like he was just detached from reality. The last thing we saw was the tiger on his neck.”
Hogan added: “It is very bizarre and weird. He was speaking in a different language while he was praying.” The pair said the man seemed to be “on a mission,” and that what he was doing near the tiger appeared, to them, to resemble a religious ritual. Other witnesses say the man was “praying and bowing” on all fours, screamed “stop” several times during the attack, and at one point made a fist with his little finger raised — a gesture some observers identified as resembling the sign for “bad” in Makaton, a sign language system used to support communication for people with learning or communication difficulties.
None of the speculation about the man’s mental state, communication needs, or intentions has been confirmed by police, the park, or any medical authority. He has not been publicly identified.
The Attack and Emergency Response
Footage circulating online shows Altai, a roughly 200kg Amur tiger, clawing at and “ragdolling” the man as the park moved quickly to evacuate visitors once emergency services were alerted. Two ambulances and a helicopter were dispatched to the park at 1:35 p.m., and a black screen was erected around the enclosure while paramedics attempted life-saving treatment. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
One visitor said she saw three female zookeepers sitting on the ground in the aftermath, one with her head in her hands.
South Yorkshire Police said it is aware that footage of the attack is being shared online and has asked the public not to circulate it.
The Park’s Response and Closure
The park remained closed Sunday and had been expected to reopen Monday, but confirmed Monday morning it would stay shut for a third day while investigations continue. In a message to ticket holders, the park said: “Due to the serious incident that occurred at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, the 10th of October, unfortunately the park remains closed for the whole of Monday, the 12th October. Anyone with a booking for this date will be contacted within the next five working days with details of how to reschedule your booking. We apologise for the late notice and any inconvenience caused.”
Flowers have been laid at the park entrance since the weekend.
Will the Tiger Be Put Down?
No. The park confirmed Altai will not be euthanized. Zookeepers reportedly did “everything they could” to drive the tiger away from the man, including firing five loud acoustic blasts to try to scare him off.
In a statement, the park said: “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. We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday’s tragic incident.”
An animal keeper told Sky News the tiger was likely “just playing” when it first pawed at the man, and could have “probably killed him within 10 seconds… if it really wanted to kill him.” Reece Oliver said Altai would have relied on “his predatory instinct, seeing what it was, what he was, and unfortunately it ended up being a fatal attack,” noting that under normal circumstances, the only things entering the enclosure are enrichment toys or food.
Animal ranger Charlotte Pywell said: “It was not the tiger’s fault at all. It was just something else to play with. The keepers are all distraught. It was not a very nice day.”
About the Enclosure
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with its Land of the Tigers attraction following in 2011. The enclosure is a purpose-built, two-acre reserve for Amur tigers — an endangered subspecies with an estimated 500 individuals left in the wild — featuring a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the area where the tigers roam, according to photos on the park’s website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the victim been identified? No. He is believed to have been in his 20s, but police have not released his name publicly.
Will Altai the tiger be euthanized? No. The park has confirmed he is safe, well, and will remain at the park.
When will the park reopen? It remains closed as of Monday, the third consecutive day, with investigations ongoing. Ticket holders with bookings for the closed dates are being contacted to reschedule.
If this story raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available. In the UK, Samaritans can be reached free, any time, at 116 123.
Sources: South Yorkshire Police; The Sun (Del Taylor interview); Sky News (Reece Oliver interview); ITV News; CBS News/AP; CNN; ABC News (Australia); Yorkshire Wildlife Park statements.
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