Man dies after entering tiger enclosure at UK wildlife park

Yorkshire, England, October 11, 2026 — A man has died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster in northern England, South Yorkshire Police said.

Police said they received reports of the man entering the enclosure at 1:35 p.m. local time on Saturday, October 10. Emergency services attended the scene, but the man was pronounced dead despite efforts by medical personnel.

The tiger was not injured and remained inside the enclosure after the incident. Authorities said there was no wider risk to the public.

The park was evacuated following the incident. Yorkshire Wildlife Park said it had immediately activated its emergency response procedures and was working with authorities to establish what had happened.

The park announced that it would remain closed for the rest of Saturday and on Sunday. In a statement, it expressed its sympathy to the family and loved ones of the man who died.

Police said the man's family had been informed and was receiving support from specialist officers. They also urged people not to share distressing videos of the incident circulating online.

Karmelle Pelham, 39, from Worksop, said she had been visiting the park with her family when staff informed them that the site was being evacuated. She said she heard sounds resembling gunshots and saw an air ambulance circling overhead. Pelham also described seeing a large black tarpaulin covering the tiger enclosure and praised the staff for managing the evacuation in an organised manner.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, while its Land of the Tigers area opened in 2011. The purpose-built, two-acre reserve houses Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 remaining in the wild.