I was the first visitor back inside Altai the tiger's UK zoo
I was among the very first visitors back through the gates of Yorkshire Wildlife Park as it reopened following the tragic death of William Chapman - but nothing prepared me for what I found inside. It was eerily silent at the entrance to the 150-acre zoo, near Doncaster, at 9.45am on Friday as the park finally reopened six days after schizophrenic Chapman, 24, climbed into the enclosure to confront Altai the Siberian tiger. Staff were polite and appeared thankful for the visit, maybe fearing that the tragedy's global spread—even sparking cruel memes by US President Donald Trump—would keep visitors away. As the sun baked the magnificently, modern and smart grounds, photographer Andy Stenning and I made the 10 minute trek to the tiger enclosure, nestled in the heart of the zoo.
TL;DR
- Yorkshire Wildlife Park reopened after William Chapman died in the Siberian tiger enclosure.
- Security guards were present at the tiger enclosure upon reopening.
- The article describes the enclosure's design, including a high walkway and a five-meter perimeter fence with an electrified strip, suggesting a possible method of entry.
- Visitor numbers were low on the reopening day.
- US President Donald Trump was criticized for insensitive social media posts about the incident.