Heartbreaking Yorkshire Wildlife Park tiger incident is tragic for everyone affected: The Yorkshire Post says

Investigations into the tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday which resulted in the death of a man who entered a tiger enclosure are still in their early stages.

Details of exactly what happened are still being established but witnesses report seeing the man appearing happy, excited and asking for photographs in front of the enclosure in the minutes before the incident.

One witness said: “I’m not sure if he was with a carer or family member but I honestly do think he just wanted to play with the tiger.”

The authorities and the park will be working hard to establish the facts surrounding exactly what happened.

What can be said with certainty at this stage is what a tragic moment this is for all those connected to what happened; from the family of the man, to the park keepers and the medical personnel who attended the scene but were unable to save the person’s life, despite their best efforts.

Those who were in the park on the day and witnessed what unfolded will also be deeply shocked; as will the many others who have enjoyed visits in the past.

The park is greatly loved by millions of people, receiving hundreds of thousands of visitors of all ages each year.

It has become one of Yorkshire’s top tourist attractions since opening in 2009 and has played an important role in animal conservation since then. To give just one example, in 2010 the park was responsible for rescuing 13 lions from living in very poor conditions in a dilapidated Romanian zoo and giving them a new life in a newly built 10-acre enclosure.