The council responsible for licensing the wildlife park where a man was killed by a tiger said it has launched a health and safety investigation into the incident.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park remained closed on Monday as investigations continue into the death of the man, who was attacked when he entered the animal’s enclosure on Saturday.
Dan Swaine, executive director of place at City of Doncaster Council, said: “As the relevant licensing authority for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I can confirm that, in line with our statutory duties, the council has launched a health and safety investigation.
“We are also working with multiple agencies, including the police and health agencies, and are supporting the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in response to the incident.
“At this time, we won’t be commenting further on the individual or the investigation and we ask that the privacy of those involved is respected at this difficult time.”
Mr Swaine also said: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred this weekend and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with everyone involved, including the family and loved ones of the person who tragically lost their life, those that witnessed the incident and the staff involved at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, as well as the emergency services who provided a swift response.”
Earlier on Monday a woman who lives near the wildlife park said she was concerned over reports the victim may have had additional needs and that people “seemed to care more about the tiger”.
Angela Seivewright, who went to lay flowers at the gate of the park, said she had previously seen adults with special needs in the park with carers who appeared to be “a bit distracted” and felt “sad” at much of the reaction to the man’s death.
Ms Seivewright said: “I believe that the person who was killed had additional needs.
“And, when I looked at social media over the weekend, when I said I hoped the person was OK, I got really bullied a lot – saying that he deserved to die.
“I have a special needs child and I think he was doing sign language to the tiger.
“So, it just felt it was really unfair that people were almost wishing him to die as opposed to not wanting anybody to be hurt.
“So it was really upsetting. My daughter goes to school next door and we live around the corner. And I just thought there would be way more flowers here.”
Flowers left at the entrance of Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, where a man died after suffering serious injuries in a tiger enclosure (Dave Higgens/PA)
PA Wire
Ms Seivewright said she had a season ticket to the park, but added: “I don’t know if I would support them again.
“I just don’t know if they took every opportunity to save him, his life, as opposed to maybe doing something to the tiger.
“I think it’s a bit of an indictment on the community in terms that people seem to care more about the tiger.
“It just feels a bit sad that his death is not mourned more.”
Ms Seivewright said: “It just seems that making additional needs a priority – it’s a bit of a tick-box exercise.
“What mitigations did they have in place if they saw somebody with additional needs on his own near a dangerous animal?”
A sign at the entrance to Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA)
PA Wire
Councillor Steve Cox, who represents the Finningley ward covering the wildlife park, told the Press Association: “I really feel for the staff, they’ve got protocols they have to go through.
“It’s really sad, but I’m sure everybody did what they could.”
Doncaster’s deputy civic mayor councillor Nick Allen, who represents a nearby ward, said: “We don’t know all the circumstances yet and the speculation online is obviously upsetting and unneeded.”
He said he had been “really shocked about the tragic incident”.
Emergency services were contacted shortly after 1.30pm on October 10 when the man entered the enclosure.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, South Yorkshire Police said, adding that his family have been informed.
In a previous statement on social media, the wildlife park said “many, many people” had contacted them about Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, and it confirmed he is “safe and well” and will not be euthanised.
It added that members of park staff were “deeply affected” by the incident and receiving specialist support.
Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by Altai in the tiger enclosure at the park.
In another, it appears the voice of the as-yet-unidentified man can be heard asking people to take a photo of him with the tiger before the incident took place.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with the Land of the Tigers attraction opening in 2011.