A tragic incident at a wildlife park in Yorkshire has left a man dead after he entered a tiger enclosure — and now an experienced animal keeper has offered a chilling theory about what may have happened in the moments leading up to the fatal attack.
The unidentified man died on Saturday, October 10, after entering the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster. According to eyewitness accounts, he had reportedly asked for a photo to be taken with Altai, a roughly 200kg Amur tiger.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show Altai pawing at the man during the incident, which unfolded shortly after 1:30 p.m.
Emergency services rushed to the wildlife park, but despite efforts to save him, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A mother reportedly tried to intervene
Anthony Hunt and his girlfriend, Scarlet Hogan, were visiting the park on Saturday when they witnessed the incident. They told The Telegraph that a mother reportedly tried to intervene when she realized the man was attempting to enter the tiger enclosure.
According to Hunt, the woman ”desperately tried to pull back” the man as he attempted to get into the compound. She was reportedly at the park with her two children at the time, but was unable to stop him.
Hunt said the man overpowered her before jumping from a bridge and into the tiger enclosure.
What happened next left the witnesses stunned.
“The man started praying to the tiger, bowing down to it – the tiger looked a bit confused,” Hogan recalled. “Up until he got attacked, it was like he was in a trance, not in reality at all.”
She said the man then appeared to open his arms as the tiger approached.
“He had arms wide open ready for the tiger to attack him. It was quite bad. We were just stood there, frozen… the last thing we saw was the tiger’s jaw on his neck,” she added.
Animal keeper shares disturbing theory
Animal keeper Reece Oliver has shared his theory about Altai’s behavior, suggesting the tiger may not initially have understood what was happening.
“If it really wanted to kill him, it would have probably killed him within 10 seconds,” Oliver told Sky News.
“I don’t think it knew what he was going to do, because the only thing that goes into that enclosure normally would be enrichment toys or food.”
Oliver believes Altai’s predatory instincts may then have taken over, with what possibly began as curiosity or play ending in tragedy.
“So, I think he was probably just playing, using his predatory instinct, seeing what it was, what he was, and unfortunately it ended up being a fatal attack.”
South Yorkshire Police confirmed the incident in a statement released Saturday.
“At 1.35pm, we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
“Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.”
What will happen to the tiger?
Following the tragedy, Yorkshire Wildlife Park remained closed through Sunday as staff members affected by the incident were offered specialist support.
The park also addressed one of the biggest questions being raised in the aftermath: what would happen to Altai?
Officials confirmed that the tiger was unharmed and would not be euthanized because of the incident.
“We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday’s tragic incident,” the park said.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of the man who sadly lost his life.
“The park will be closed today while the staff team who were deeply affected by events receive specialist support.”
The statement continued: “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.”
Police said the man’s family had been informed and confirmed that Altai was “uninjured” and posed “no wider risk to the public.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park first opened in 2009, with its Land of the Tigers exhibit following in 2011. The purpose-built reserve covers around two acres and is home to Amur tigers, one of the world’s rarest big cats.
The investigation into the man’s death and the circumstances surrounding how he entered the enclosure continues.
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