A man who was mauled to death by a tiger at a British wildlife park posed for a photo with the big cat and was happily dancing moments before he entered its enclosure, according to a witness.
Marie Miller recalled seeing the parkgoer, who has not been publicly identified, wearing Apple EarPods while watching the massive Siberian tiger, Altai, at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, northern England, on Saturday.
Miller said the man appeared to be enjoying the sight of the animal before asking a stranger to photograph him with the tiger in the background.
“20 minutes before today’s tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park this tiger was sat in the sunshine,” Miller wrote on Facebook Saturday.
“The man who I saw on the bridge with his EarPods in dancing was happily enjoying seeing the tiger.
“He obviously wasn’t with anyone and he asked a total stranger to take a picture of him with the tiger in the background. Probably the last photo on his phone.”
Police and paramedics were called to the park at about 1:35 p.m. after reports that the man had entered the “Land of the Tigers” exhibit, where the big cat attacked him.
Miller said she did not know whether the man was accompanied by a caregiver or family member, adding that she believed he may have wanted to play with the animal.
“I’m not sure if he was with a carer or family member but I honestly do think he just wanted to play with the tiger,” she wrote.
“Tragic for his family. Tragic for the staff who were brilliant but in shock. Thankfully the tiger survived. Thankfully we didn’t see him jump.”
Footage showed the tiger biting and clawing at the man’s back as he sat on the grass and tried to fend off the attack, raising his finger toward the animal.
“The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury,” South Yorkshire Police said in a statement.
“Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Police confirmed the animal was uninjured and remained in its enclosure.
“The man’s family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time,” police added.
A black screen was placed around the enclosure after the attack, and the park closed for the remainder of the weekend.
“Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated,” Yorkshire Wildlife Park said in a statement.
“We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority.”
The park also confirmed that Altai is “safe and well and will not be euthanized as a result of this incident.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park welcomed Altai from Norway’s Dyreparken zoo in February 2025 to join female Tschuna as part of a European endangered-species breeding program, according to the park’s official website.
Tschuna arrived in 2013 and gave birth to three cubs in 2015. The park’s two-acre “Land of the Tigers” habitat features woodland, grassland and a waterfall pool.
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