Wildlife park closed for third day after tiger attack

Yorkshire Wildlife Park remains closed for a third day as investigations continue into the death of a man who was attacked by a tiger when he entered its enclosure.

The park near Doncaster was closed over the weekend after reports of a man climbing down into the enclosure from a walkway on Saturday afternoon.

An eyewitness described seeing the man wearing headphones and "pacing around" near the enclosure before he went in and was attacked.

A park spokesperson said: "Due to the events over the weekend, the park will remain closed today. Thank you for your understanding."

South Yorkshire Police said the man died at the scene and his family were being supported by officers. "Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time," the force said.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park said the rare Amur tiger, called Altai, remained in the enclosure and would not be euthanised.

Cars could be seen coming and going from the park earlier, but there were no visitors.

Dr Campbell Murn, a previous member of the government's zoo expert committee and lecturer at the University of Reading, said while it was a tragic incident, determined people could get inside zoo enclosures.

"I view it in the same way a determined thief will get into somebody's house or somebody's car and despite the best security systems and enclosures sometimes these things happen," he said.

"One of the fundamental approaches of a modern zoo is to give people a wildlife experience and keep them safe so they can learn and they can enjoy being near the animals, but keeping a safety distance that is relevant but not making it too heavy handed."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Murn said public safety was an "enormous consideration" for zoo standards in the UK.