A Yorkshire Wildlife Park in the United Kingdom has had to temporarily close following the death of a man who went into a tiger enclosure there. According to the park, the fight with a tiger on its property will not result in the animal’s death.
A man had been spotted inside the enclosure at approximately 1am on Saturday and South Yorkshire Police received a report at around 1:35pm. The tiger then attacked this man and seriously injured him.
Emergency personnel responded to the scene and while attempts to revive him were made by medical staff, he remained dead. At the time of the first police statement his name was not released online.
Several videos of the Incident Circulate Online
The videos, which have been shared on social media, show the man sitting on the grass inside the enclosure as a tiger gets closer and growls at him. The video seems to capture his effort to evade the attack, while the animal pounces.
The videos have garnered much attention through the Internet. But it has not been fully apparent what factors lead the man into the enclosure in the hearts-hape information which has been released so far.
The police report that the tiger stayed in its enclosure after the incident, and isn’t a threat to the public in general.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Closes After Incident
There was a subsequent park closure, with any man in the park evacuated after the incident and Yorkshire Wildlife Park was closed to visitors. The attraction was closed on Sunday while it was being dealt with.
The park said in a statement Saturday that it is heartened of condolences offered to the deceased man’s loved ones and family.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the family/or the loved ones of the person who has lost their life.
This was not the euthanasia of the tiger that had captured attention, rather, the decision not to euthanize the Tiger attracted the focus following his fatal bite.
As investigations continue, details into what happened will be expected to be provided by authorities. The incident highlights the need for enclosures to be secure and for visitors to feel safe at wildlife facilities.