Man mauled to death by tiger at Yorkshire zoo 'made sign gesture for bad after entering enclosure' - as park confirms big cat won't be put down

A man who was mauled to death at a zoo is believed to have used a sign gesture meaning 'bad' to tell the big cat off moments after entering its enclosure.The man, who has not been identified, was attacked by a 30-stone Siberian tiger named Altai at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services including two ambulances and a helicopter rushed to the park near Doncaster at around 1.35pm but the man was pronounced dead after sustaining serious injuries.The man, believed to be in his 20s, was captured in video footage posted online being circled by Altai before the big cat pawed his back and shook him like a rag doll.In the moments during the attack, the man appeared to tell the tiger off by making a fist and wagging his little finger, leading to speculation he attempted to communicate with the animal using Makaton.Makaton, a unique language system distinct from British Sign Language, combines hand gestures, pictures and speech to communicate and is often used by those with difficulties expressing themselves.On X, users were quick to point out what the man's hand gesture could mean, with one user remarking the man was 'using Makaton there when pointing his little finger with a clenched fist to say "Bad"'.Another user agreed, writing: 'He's using Makaton signs in the video ie sticking his pinky up which means "bad", while one more user said the man's 'mannerisms and hand signals' resembled the communication system. A man who was mauled to death at a zoo is said to have used Makaton in an attempt to communicate with Altai, the male tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park The wildlife park, near Doncaster, has two Amur tigers – a 17-stone female called Tschuna and Altai, who only arrived in March last year Visitors were evacuated by staff before the park was closed for the remainder of the day The scene at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday after a tiger mauled a man who entered its enclosureOn Sunday, Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed Altai will not be put down following the incident. 'Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger,' the park said in an updated statement.'We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident. 'We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday's tragic incident.' It comes as video footage circulating online appeared to show the man moments before he was fatally attacked by Altai asking fellow parkgoers to take a picture of him with the animal. In a clip the man can be heard saying 'Excuse me, can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?' while Altai lies in the background under a shaded tree playing with a fallen branch.A woman says 'yeah' before the video goes silent and the man thanks her. The man is then captured asking her for 'one more' picture three times, before finally thanking her again, saying: 'Thank you, lady.' Altai arrived at the park in February 2025 from Dyreparken Zoo in Norway, where he was born Police officers at the scene of the park on Saturday An air ambulance and police van are seen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday afternoonOnly minutes later witnesses watched in horror as the man then climbed into the enclosure, where he was heard crying 'no, no' as the tiger launched his attack. In further footage, a woman's voice can be heard saying: 'I tried to stop him,' while zoo keepers raced to the scene armed with gas-powered acoustic guns, firing five loud, shotgun-like blasts close to the predator in an attempt to drive Altai off.A witness told The Mail on Sunday the man, who had a mobile phone and was wearing AirPods, appeared to 'psyche himself up' by performing a 'dance' in the spectator area before climbing the fence.Yorkshire Ambulance Service sent two road ambulances plus an air ambulance. Paramedics with blood transfusion kits were seen trying to save the victim but South Yorkshire Police later confirmed he had died from his injuries.Keepers were later seen wrapping black plastic sheeting around a section of the enclosure to shield it from view.Police said they received reports at 1.35pm of a man entering the enclosure. A statement said: 'The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.'Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.'The man's family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.'Officers urged people not to share footage of the attack.The tiger was uninjured and remained in its enclosure, the force added, saying there was no wider risk to the public. The park said it was working closely with the authorities to establish exactly what happened.The attraction was evacuated after the attack and will remain shut today. One witness praised staff for remaining calm during the incident.Altai arrived at the park in February last year from Dyreparken Zoo in Norway, where he was born.A Yorkshire Wildlife Park spokesman said on Saturday night: 'We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure. 'Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated and emergency services attended 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 area opening in 2011. It is a purpose-built two-acre reserve for Siberian tigers, an endangered species with around 500 left in the wild. Photos show a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam.The attack comes only four months after a three-year-old boy was thrown into a crocodile pit by a man in Cambridgeshire.Were you at Yorkshire Wildlife Park? Email caitlin.leng@dailymail.co.uk