Man dies after entering tiger enclosure at UK zoo

In short:

A man has died after being attacked by a tiger at a UK wildlife park.

The man entered the enclosure and was attacked.

The zoo was evacuated and will remain closed until Sunday.

A man has died after being attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, police have confirmed.

Police said the man died on Saturday after he entered a tiger enclosure at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, 260 kilometres north of London, near Doncaster.

South Yorkshire Police said officers were called at 1:35pm, local time, following reports a man had entered the facility's tiger enclosure.

The man died at the scene.

Police said the park's tigers remained inside the enclosure and there was no wider risk to the public.

"The man's family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time," the police said in a statement.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it dispatched two ambulances, an air ambulance and a doctor to attend the scene.

Authorities did not immediately release information about the victim's injuries.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park said it had closed after a "serious incident" at the tiger enclosure and was working with authorities to ascertain what had happened.

The zoo will remain closed until Sunday.

"The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority," it said in a statement on its website.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park began operations in 2009, with its Land of the Tigers attraction opening in 2011.

The attraction is a purpose-built 0.4 hectare reserve for endangered Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers.

The enclosure includes a 300-metre raised walkway that allows visitors to watch the big cats, according to the park's website.

Reuters/AP