Yorkshire Wildlife Park: Tiger Altai’s fate revealed after fatal attack on man who scaled Doncaster zoo fence

The fate of a tiger that fatally attacked a man at a UK zoo has been revealed as more details about the terrifying incident emerge.

On Saturday afternoon, a man, believed to be in his 20s, was killed by a Siberian tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster.

Moments before the horrific incident, a woman was asked to take the man’s photo.

Del Taylor told The Sun he approached her while she was watching the tiger, named Altai, from a viewing platform.

“He was completely alone,” she said.

“At first he was dancing on the bridge overlooking the enclosure. He ended up standing next to me.

“My partner was recording the tiger and you can hear me having this interaction.

“You can hear him asking for a photo. I took a couple of him with his back towards the enclosure.

“I positioned the camera so I could get Altai in it with him.”

A short time later, he scaled the fence of the animal’s enclosure and jumped in.

It is understood that the man was dancing with earphones in his ears before scaling the fence.

Confronting footage circulating online appeared to show the 190kg tiger circling the man on the grass before attacking him and shaking him violently.

The victim, who has not yet been identified, could be heard yelling ”no, no” during the terrifying ordeal.

Zoo keepers desperately tried to intervene as police and ambulance crews raced to scene.

Despite the efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene, and his family have since been informed, South Yorkshire Police (SYP) said.

In a social media post, Yorkshire Wildlife Park spokesperson said they were “deeply saddened” by the “tragic incident”.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the family and loved ones of the person who has lost their life,” they said.

“We are working closely with the police and relevant authorities and would ask that the privacy of those affected is respected at this extremely difficult time.”

The staff at the wildlife park have been praised for their swift response.

An update from the park later confirmed that the tiger would not be euthanised over the incident.

“We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday’s tragic incident,” a spokesperson 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.

“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.”

Staff member Charlotte Pywell, who was not at the park at the time, told The Mirror her colleagues were “distraught”.

“It was not the tiger’s fault at all,” she said.

“It was just something else to play with.

“The keepers are all distraught. It was not a very nice day.”

Altai has been at the park since March, 2025.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with the “Land of the Tigers” attraction opening in 2011.

The attraction is on a purpose-built two-acre reserve for endangered Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild.

Photos of the enclosure on the park’s website shows a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam.

- With PA.