The man killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster has been identified as William Chapman, who was in his 20s. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when Mr. Chapman entered the enclosure housing a rare Amur tiger. South Yorkshire Police confirmed he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The park was evacuated following the attack and has remained closed as investigations by both the police and the City of Doncaster Council are ongoing. The council stated its investigation is in line with its statutory duties.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Mr. Chapman, who was visiting the park alone, pacing near the enclosure with headphones on before he entered it. Some witnesses attempted to distract the tiger during the attack but were unsuccessful. A video believed to be filmed by Mr. Chapman shortly before the incident appears to show him approaching the tiger inside its enclosure.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park expressed its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased. The tiger involved, an Amur tiger named Altai, remains in its enclosure and will not be euthanized. The park confirmed that its thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the man's family.

Ella Ford, an eyewitness, described the scene, stating she saw Mr. Chapman climb over the barriers and enter the enclosure before the tiger attacked him. She noted that other visitors tried to intervene. The incident led to the swift evacuation of the park.

Conservation charity the Born Free Foundation has called for an urgent review into how Mr. Chapman gained access to the enclosure. Dr. Campbell Murn, a lecturer at the University of Reading and former member of the government's zoo expert committee, commented that determined individuals can breach zoo enclosures, comparing it to a determined thief breaking into a property, stating that even the best security systems can sometimes be overcome.

Floral tributes have been laid at the entrance to the park. South Yorkshire Police have stated that Mr. Chapman's family is aware of his death and is being supported by specialist officers. The circumstances leading to Mr. Chapman entering the tiger enclosure remain under investigation.

This tragic event raises questions about zoo security protocols and visitor behavior. The ongoing investigations by South Yorkshire Police and the City of Doncaster Council are expected to provide further details on how the security breach occurred and what measures might be implemented to prevent future incidents.