William Chapman was killed by an Amur tiger after entering its enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, prompting a police investigation and renewed questions about zoo safety.
The man, believed to be William Chapman, who was in his 20s, died at the scene after the incident on Saturday afternoon.
According to South Yorkshire Police, Chapman entered the enclosure at the wildlife park near Doncaster shortly after 13:30 BST. He was visiting the park alone.
Eyewitnesses reportedly saw him wearing headphones and “pacing around” near the enclosure before climbing down from a walkway and entering the restricted area.
Witnesses Describe The Moments Before The Attack
A video posted to a social media account believed to belong to Chapman reportedly showed him approaching the tiger, named Altai, as it sat on a wooden platform.
Shouts could be heard in the background, with people apparently urging him to get out. The footage ended before the attack, and the account has since been removed.
Police confirmed that Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed and is receiving support from specialist officers.
The park was evacuated following the incident and remained closed while investigations continued.
The Tiger Will Not Be Euthanised
Yorkshire Wildlife Park expressed its “thoughts and heartfelt sympathies” to Chapman’s family and confirmed that Altai would not be put down.
The City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation into the death, saying the inquiry was being conducted “in line with our statutory duties”.
The Born Free Foundation, which campaigns for the phasing out of zoos, called for an “urgent review” of how Chapman gained access to the enclosure and what happened afterward.
Zoo Expert Says Determined People Can Breach Enclosures
Dr Campbell Murn, a University of Reading lecturer and former member of the government’s zoo expert committee, described the incident as tragic while acknowledging the challenges of preventing people from entering restricted areas.
“I view it in the same way a determined thief will get into somebody’s house or somebody’s car and despite the best security systems and enclosures sometimes these things happen,” he said.
Investigators have yet to establish why Chapman entered the enclosure or whether changes to the park’s safety measures are necessary.
The tragedy has raised difficult questions about visitor safety and enclosure security, while Chapman’s family faces the devastating loss of a loved one.
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