What will happen to tiger now as Yorkshire Wildlife Park give update on animal that fatally attacked man
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has revealed what will happen to Altai the tiger after it fatally attacked a visitor.
Emergency services were contacted after 1.30pm on Saturday when a man entered the enclosure and was attacked by the tiger at the park near Doncaster.
South Yorkshire Police said he died at the scene.
In a statement shared with LADbible, Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed that the park will remain closed today.
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"We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday's tragic incident," the statement read.
"Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of the man who tragically lost his life.
"The park will be closed today and the staff team who were deeply affected by events will 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."
It comes after Tiger King star Carole Baskin told The New York Post that the animal, in her view, 'was not doing anything wrong'.
“The tiger was not doing anything wrong by being a tiger. I am relieved to hear that the animal was not harmed,” she said.
“We don’t yet know all the circumstances that led to this man’s death, and it would be wrong to speculate,” she explained.
“What we do know is that a tiger is a powerful wild predator, and no amount of captivity, training, or familiarity can change that.
“My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the man who lost his life today at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.”
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson has said that the individual died of his injuries.
“At 1.35pm today (Saturday October 10) we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park,” they said yesterday.
“The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.
“Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The man’s family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.
“Regarding rumours surrounding the condition of the tiger, the animal was uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public.”
Alice, a woman who was at the park, told LADbible that it was all ‘very sudden’ with ‘a member of staff running around telling people to evacuate but wouldn't say anything about why’.
“It felt chaotic. People near us were saying how they'd been near the tiger enclosure when they'd seen a young man climbing the fence into the enclosure where he had provoked the tigers which then retaliated,” she said.
“Some saying the tigers were shot, others saying it was gas canisters to spook them into their enclosures.
“When we left we had to walk the length of the park and pass nearby the tiger enclosure and could see emergency services dealing with the scene from afar but not close enough to make out any casualties etc.
“I was with friends and their young children. Thankful we weren't in the area at the time.”
Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary and MP for Doncaster North, said he was 'deeply saddened' by the incident.
"I send my thoughts and deepest condolences to the family of the individual who died. I am very grateful to the emergency services and staff of the park who responded," he wrote in a social media post.
Anish Vij