The man who was mauled to death by a tiger at a British wildlife park posed for a photo with the big cat behind him and was happily dancing moments before he entered its enclosure, according to a witness who is convinced he just “wanted to play” with the predator.

The parkgoer, who has not been publicly identified, asked a stranger to take a photo of him with the massive Siberian tiger, Altai, behind him at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, northern England, on Saturday.

“I’m not sure if he was with a carer or family member but I honestly do think he just wanted to play with the tiger,” she wrote.

“Tragic for his family. Tragic for the staff who were brilliant but in shock. Thankfully the tiger survived. Thankfully we didn’t see him jump.”

Footage showed the tiger biting and clawing at the man’s back as he sat on the grass and tried to fend off the attack, raising his finger toward the animal.

“The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury,” South Yorkshire Police said in a statement.

“Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Police confirmed the animal was uninjured and remained in its enclosure.

“The man’s family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time,” police added.

A black screen was placed around the enclosure after the attack, and the park closed for the remainder of the weekend.

“Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated,” Yorkshire Wildlife Park said in a statement.

“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 also confirmed that Altai is “safe and well and will not be euthanized as a result of this incident.”

Yorkshire Wildlife Park welcomed Altai from Norway’s Dyreparken zoo in February 2025 to join female Tschuna as part of a European endangered-species breeding program, according to the park’s official website.

Tschuna arrived in 2013 and gave birth to three cubs in 2015. The park’s two-acre “Land of the Tigers” habitat features woodland, grassland and a waterfall pool.