Yorkshire Wildlife Park reopened on 16 October 2026, six days after William Chapman died inside its Land of the Tigers enclosure. The park confirmed that the Amur tiger involved, a five-year-old male named Altai, was safe and well, had sustained no injuries, and would not be euthanised. In statements released on social media the park said many people had contacted them about the animal and that his ongoing welfare remained a priority for the experienced animal-care team. Staff expressed heartfelt sympathies to Chapman’s family and stated that the safety and wellbeing of visitors, staff and animals continued to be the highest priority. The attraction had been evacuated and closed immediately after the incident on 10 October.
City of Doncaster Council, which holds the licensing responsibility, began a health-and-safety investigation and indicated it would share its findings with the coroner. An inquest opening on 15 October heard that Chapman, then 24, had climbed two fences at about 1.30pm, entered the enclosure, and been approached by the tiger, sustaining multiple traumatic injuries that rapidly caused his dєatᩚh. He was pronounced ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at the scene. The provisional post-mortem cause was recorded as multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction.
Chapman had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and previous episodes of psychosis; he was under adult mєntal health services yet described as highly functioning and independent. His family had raised concerns about the contact he had received and chose not to attend the opening hearing. The full inquest was listed for 18 March 2027. When the park reopened, early visitors reported seeing Altai in one of the enclosures, eating while lying on a wooden platform. A raised walkway allowed people to view him. Flowers that had been left at the main entrance were moved to a temporary memorial inside the site.
South Yorkshire Police had supported the family with specialist officers and collected witness statements. The Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust launched an investigation into the mєntal-health care provided. Yorkshire Ambulance Service separately examined two instances in which members of staff may have accessed or attempted to access Chapman’s records without legitimate reason; the Health Secretary later stated that any staff found to have done so improperly should be sacked. The public record therefore shows a large-carnivore enclosure that remained operational after the dєatᩚh of a visitor who had deliberately entered it, an animal that was unharmed and retained, concurrent regulatory and medical inquiries, and a park that resumed trading while the longer inquest process continued.
