A man has sustained “serious injuries” after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife * Park*, police have said.
Emergency services were contacted after the man entered the enclosure and was “attacked” by the tiger shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday.
Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by a tiger in an enclosure at the park.
The man, who is wearing a black sweatshirt, kneels on the ground with his arms out as the tiger approaches from behind.
Despite his shouts of 'stop' the animal mauls him to the ground.
South Yorkshire Police (SYP) have said the tiger remained in the enclosure and the Wildlife * Park* was subsequently evacuated.
Lions in the enclosure at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park (Image: Freelance)
One witness, who was visiting with his child, said they saw the air ambulance and "a hell of a lot of police" shortly after being asked to leave.
Tia Hanson was at the park for a day out with a friend when the walkway between the tiger enclosure and the exit was closed, at around 2pm, she said.
She added: “It looks as if someone has jumped into the enclosure and they’ve had to shoot the tiger.
People leaving Yorkshire Wildlife Park this afternoon. (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)
"People are saying they heard a gunshot and they say someone either jumped in, or fell in.
“There was an air ambulance and police everywhere. We’ve all been made to leave.
“When you’re leaving you have to walk past the tiger enclosure and they’ve put up all sort of black tarpaulin so you couldn’t really see.
“But there were loads of police and ambulance people and a stretcher in the enclosure as well.
“It wasn’t nice - there were lots of people who looked really upset.”
The scene at Yorkshire Wildlife Park which has been evacuated and closed due to an ongoing emergency inciden (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)
A police spokesperson said: “At 1.35pm today (Saturday 10 October) we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife * Park*.
“The tiger has subsequently attacked the man and this has resulted in serious injury.
“Officers are working at pace to make contact with the man’s family and no further detail will be provided at this time.”
One of the park's tigers (Image: Yorks Wildlife Park)
A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson also confirmed that two land ambulances, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor attended the scene.
Reports say gas cannisters were fired to make the animal retreat. A black screen was erected where the incident took place.
A statement posted on the wildlife * park* social media reads: “We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure.
“Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated and emergency services are currently attending the scene.
“We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened.
“The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority. The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.”
Yorkshire Wildlife * Park* opened in 2009, with the “Land of the Tigers” attraction opening in 2011.
The attraction is on a purpose-built two-acre reserve for endangered Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild.
Photos of the enclosure on the park’s website shows a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam.
SYP have said they are aware of the footage online and have asked people not to share it.