A man has died after being attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, prompting an emergency response and the evacuation of the popular attraction. South Yorkshire Police said the man was seen entering the tiger enclosure shortly before officers were called at 1.35pm on Saturday. The animal attacked him, causing serious injuries. Despite efforts by medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man's family have been informed and are receiving support from specially trained officers, police confirmed. The tiger was not injured in the incident and remained inside its enclosure. Police said it posed no wider danger to the public. Yorkshire Wildlife Park said on Sunday that the tiger is “safe and well” and confirmed it will not be put down.

“Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger,” the park said. “We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident.”

Witnesses at the park on Saturday told the Mail on Sunday that the man who was killed appeared to “psyche himself up” listening to music and dancing in the spectator area before entering the enclosure.

The park was evacuated and closed for the remainder of the weekend as authorities began establishing the circumstances surrounding the death. In a statement issued earlier on Saturday, Yorkshire Wildlife Park said its emergency procedures had been put into action immediately, adding that it was working alongside the authorities to determine what had happened. The park also stressed that the welfare of its visitors, employees and animals remained its main priority.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed that two land ambulances, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor attended the scene.

Visitors who were at the park on Saturday have praised the way the staff managed the evacuation, with one describing the operation as ‘'very, very well organised’'.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who represents Doncaster North, said he was deeply saddened by the death and offered his condolences to the man's relatives. He also thanked the emergency services and park employees who responded to the incident.

Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme,said he was grateful for the speed and professionalism of those who attended.

In a statement shared to social media, he said he was "deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident that has taken place at Yorkshire Wildlife Park today".

"As ever, I offer my heartfelt thanks to the emergency services for their speed and professionalism, and I know I speak for everyone in Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme when I say our thoughts are with all of those affected by today's events."

Police said their thoughts remained with the man's family as they faced what officers described as an extremely distressing time.

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Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009 and has become a major visitor attraction, offering opportunities to see animals including lions, giraffes, leopards, black rhinos and tigers. Its Land of the Tigers section opened in 2011 and features a purpose-built reserve covering two acres. A raised walkway, measuring around 300 meters, allows visitors to view the animals moving through the habitat below. Images published by the park show elevated visitor access and fencing around areas where the tigers roam.

The enclosure houses Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with approximately 500 remaining in the wild. The park has not announced when it will reopen following the incident, confirming that it would remain closed for the rest of the weekend. Authorities are continuing to establish exactly what happened before the man entered the enclosure.