A Siberian tiger that mauled a visitor to death at a wildlife park in England will not be euthanised, the park has confirmed, after the animal killed the man who entered its enclosure. The decision comes amid public concern over the fate of the tiger following Saturday’s fatal attack, the New York Post reported.
The tiger, named Altai, is safe and well and will not be put down as a result of the incident, Yorkshire Wildlife Park said. The park also expressed its condolences to the victim’s family and thanked people who had reached out with concerns about the animal.
Altai was uninjured in the incident and remains in its enclosure. Police said there was no wider risk to the public following the attack.
According to the New York Post, park rangers fired two warning shots from a shotgun in an attempt to drive the tiger back into its pen after it attacked the man. The park was evacuated following the incident and remained closed on Sunday.
MAN ASKED STRANGERS TO PHOTOGRAPH HIM WITH TIGER BEFORE ENTERING ENCLOSURE
The man was seen posing for photographs with the tiger in the background shortly before entering its enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. Witnesses told the New York Post that he was dancing with his AirPods in and appeared to be psyching himself up before climbing into the habitat.
One witness said the man had approached them and asked, “Excuse me, can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?” He was later seen entering the enclosure. It remains unclear why he decided to approach the animal.
South Yorkshire Police said they received a report at around 1.35 pm on Saturday that a man had entered the tiger enclosure. He suffered fatal injuries in the attack and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the man’s family has been informed and is receiving support from specialist officers. The force is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and has urged the public not to share footage of the incident circulating online.
The man is believed to have climbed over a barrier separating visitors from the tiger habitat. The viewing platform has a three-foot stand-off fence, while the wider enclosure is surrounded by a 16-foot fence, the New York Post reported.
TIGER HOUSED AT PARK AS PART OF BREEDING PROGRAMME
Altai, weighing around 420 pounds, lives with a female tiger named Tschuna. The pair were brought together as part of a breeding programme for the endangered species.
Their two-acre habitat features woodland and a pool with a waterfall, providing space for the animals to roam while visitors observe them from a designated viewing area.
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