THE tiger who killed a man that jumped into the enclosure will not be put down, Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed.

Cops and paramedics raced to the wildlife park just after 1.30pm following reports that a man had jumped into the apex predator’s pen.

The entrance sign for Yorkshire Wildlife Park Resort, made of thick wooden logs and a hanging mesh banner, set against a backdrop of trees and a cloudy sky.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park was shut yesterday after the tragedy Credit: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA Wire
An adult Amur tiger walks through a grassy enclosure in front of trees.
Siberian tiger Altai seen prowling in his enclosure is one of two at the park has been confirmed to be ‘safe and well’ Credit: Yorkshire Wildlife Park

It is thought he leapt from a viewing platform before big cat Altai dragged him away at Yorkshire Wildlife Park yesterday.

Moments later rangers fired two warning shots from a shotgun to scare the male tiger away before he retreated to his pen and was quickly secured.

at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Branton near .

And Yorkshire Wildlife Park have now confirmed that Altai is “safe and well”.

Two police vans parked outside the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Police were quick to respond to the horror and arrived at around 1.35pm Credit: © YappApp
Collage of an aerial view of an empty tiger enclosure with labels indicating where a man jumped and where a tiger rested, alongside a close-up photo of a tiger.

A statement today read: “We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday’s tragic incident.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of the main who sadly lost his life.

“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.”

The park will remain closed today.

A tiger standing on straw in an enclosure.
The young male tiger Altai was unharmed and returned safely to his pen
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The wildlife park was closed and people were told to leave Credit: YappApp

Altai was brought to the park to mate with their only other tiger, a female Siberian called Tschuna.

Their enclosure is set in two acres of reserve and contains woodlands and a waterfall pool.

The man who died has not yet been identified and it is not known why he entered the enclosure.

Other zoogoers are believed to have tried to stop the man from clambering into the enclosure, with one woman heard on the mauling video saying: “I tried to stop him.”

And one eyewitness claimed the tragedy.

Black screens were put up around the visitors’ path to prevent people from seeing the grisly scene as the park was evacuated.

An air ambulance was spotted circling before landing close to the “Land of the Tigers” enclosure.

It is surrounded by a five-metre-high fence. A viewing platform sat atop the fence at one corner has a metre-high “stand-off” fence, which it is thought the man climbed over.

Police said: “At 1.35pm on Saturday we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The tiger subsequently attacked the man.

“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.”