A man has been seriously injured after being attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, police have said. Source: bbc.co.uk.
What Happened
South Yorkshire Police said it was called to reports of a man entering the tiger enclosure at the attraction near Doncaster.
Police confirmed the tiger attacked the man, resulting in serious injury. The tiger remained in the enclosure following the incident.
The park was evacuated following the incident and officers remain at the scene.
Emergency Response
The park said its emergency response procedures had been ‘immediately activated’ and it was working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened.
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed it had deployed an air ambulance, two land ambulances and a doctor.
- Police added there is no wider risk to the public.
- Officers remain at the scene.
Visitor Account
Karmelle Pelham, 39, from Worksop, said she was on a family day out when staff told her the park was being evacuated.
She described being ushered further into the park, then hearing what sounded like gunshots. A helicopter soon circled the area, prompting her to realize something serious had occurred.
She noted a large black tarpaulin covered the tiger enclosure.
“Nobody was really panicked,” she said. “It was all very, very well organised. They did a great job of getting us out without panicking anyone.”
Background of the Park
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in April 2009. Its tiger enclosure, known as ‘Land of the Tigers,’ opened in 2011.
The area allows tigers to roam through woodlands and grasslands and play in a waterfall pool.
The park also houses lions, leopards, cheetahs, polar bears, brown bears, and sea lions.
Current Status
The park remains closed for the remainder of the weekend.
Management is working closely with authorities to determine exactly what happened.
Public Safety Message
South Yorkshire Police have urged people not to share ‘distressing footage’ of the incident.
They emphasized that the tiger remained within its enclosure and there is no wider risk to the public.
The BBC has contacted the park for further details.
Source: BBC News article
For more on the park, visit the original report.
Related topics: Zoos and Zoology, Doncaster
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