Zoo where Siberian tiger mauled mentally-ill man to death reopens

Oct. 16 (UPI) — A British zoo reopened to the public Friday, six days after a man was killed by a Siberian tiger after climbing into the big cat’s enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park Resort near the city of Doncaster.

The park was evacuated and shuttered after William Chapman, 24, was mauled to death on Saturday by a rare male Amur, the largest subspecies of tiger on Earth, in view of other visitors after climbing two fences to get into an enclosure.

The park said the decision to reopen had been in consultation “with the relevant authorities.”

The BBC reported the presence Friday of “several hundred” cars at the park, which is the subject of a formal health and safety investigation by Doncaster City Council that will be passed to the coroner.

A police investigation is also ongoing.

“We continue to assist South Yorkshire Police and other relevant agencies with their ongoing inquiries into the circumstances of this tragic incident. As we welcome visitors back, we would ask everyone to be understanding and respectful towards our staff team, who have shown tremendous professionalism and dedication during an exceptionally difficult time,” YWPR said.

“We are providing specialist trauma support and ongoing care for those affected,” it added.

On Thursday, the opening of the inquest heard Chapman died from “multiple traumatic injuries” and had a history of mental illness, a schizophrenia diagnosis and was under the care of Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust, which has also mounted an internal investigation.

However, the inquest was told that Chapman was “highly functioning and independent with no care requirements.”

Nicola Mundy, senior coroner for South Yorkshire’s eastern district, adjourned the inquest until March 18.

Altai, a five-year-old male, was born in Dyreparken, Norway, and transferred to Doncaster in 2025 as part of an endangered species program for Amur tigers run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park Resort has said Altai will not be destroyed.

In 2012, another Siberian tiger named Altai escaped through a gate that had not been closed properly at a zoo in Cologne, Germany and killed a female keeper before being shot dead.