“Tiger King” star Carole Baskin is speaking out after a tiger fatally mauled a man at a British wildlife park, insisting the animal was simply following its natural instincts and should not be punished for the tragedy.
The outspoken animal rights activist defended the tiger after Saturday’s horrifying incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, England, where a man died after entering an enclosure housing endangered Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers.
“The tiger was not doing anything wrong by being a tiger. I am relieved to hear that the animal was not harmed,” Baskin told the New York Post in a written statement.
The tragedy unfolded on October 10, when South Yorkshire Police received reports of a man inside the tiger enclosure at approximately 1:35 p.m. local time.
The tiger attacked the man, leaving him with devastating injuries. Two ambulances, an air ambulance and a doctor responded, but emergency workers were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not publicly identified the victim or explained how he managed to enter the restricted area. His family has been notified and is receiving support from specially trained officers.
Baskin, who became a household name through Netflix’s hit documentary series “Tiger King,” expressed sympathy for the victim’s loved ones while urging the public not to blame the animal.
“My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the man who lost his life today at Yorkshire Wildlife Park,” she said.
She also warned against jumping to conclusions before investigators determine exactly what happened.
“We don’t yet know all the circumstances that led to this man’s death, and it would be wrong to speculate,” Baskin explained.
The 65-year-old animal advocate emphasized that even tigers accustomed to human activity remain dangerous predators whose instincts cannot simply be trained away.
The tiger involved in the attack has since been identified as Altai, a male Amur tiger living at the park.
In an important update Sunday, October 11, wildlife park officials confirmed that Altai was unharmed and would not be euthanized.
The park reassured concerned members of the public that the tiger was safe and well, putting an end to speculation about whether the animal might be put down following the fatal encounter.
The park was evacuated immediately after the attack and remained closed Sunday. Officials said employees affected by the incident would receive specialist support.
Police also confirmed there was no continuing danger to visitors because the tiger had remained inside its enclosure.
Disturbing videos of the incident circulated across social media, prompting South Yorkshire Police to ask the public not to share the footage out of respect for those involved.
The wildlife park, which opened in 2009, introduced its Land of the Tigers attraction in 2011. The exhibit features a specially designed, two-acre habitat for Amur tigers, one of the world’s most endangered big cats.
Baskin, who leads Florida-based animal welfare organization Big Cat Rescue, said the tragedy highlights the risks associated with keeping powerful wild animals in captivity.
She hopes the incident will encourage greater awareness of the dangers facing both people and captive wildlife.
Baskin became internationally famous in 2020 after appearing in Netflix’s “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” which documented her bitter feud with Oklahoma zoo operator Joe Exotic.
Exotic was later convicted in a federal murder-for-hire plot targeting Baskin, along with wildlife-related offenses. Their feud made Baskin one of the documentary’s most recognizable personalities.
Now, six years after the series became a worldwide sensation, Baskin is once again defending a big cat caught in the middle of a human tragedy.
For investigators, the central unanswered question remains how the man gained access to the enclosure in the first place.
While authorities continue examining the circumstances surrounding his death, wildlife park officials have made one decision clear: Altai will not lose his life over the attack.
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