Zoo death ‘shocking’ as incidents ‘extremely rare': expert

Yorkshire Wildlife Park remains closed following the death of a zoo visitor who was attacked by a tiger when he climbed into its enclosure.

Dr Campbell Murn, Programme Director for Zoology at the University of Reading and former member of Defra’s Zoos Expert Committee, said:

“Keeping visitors out of enclosures is one of the things zoos think about a lot when designing their exhibits most. UK zoo standards put public and animal safety and welfare at their core, and they affect almost every decision about how a zoo is designed and run.

“Animals such as big cats are in the highest risk category. They must always be behind secure primary barriers, with additional stand-off barriers to keep visitors at a safe distance. Zoos must also have emergency procedures for incidents involving dangerous animals, and staff are trained and regularly drilled in how to respond in such scenarios.

“No barrier can be made completely impossible to get past, but incidents like this are extremely rare in UK zoos. That is part of why they are so shocking when they happen.

“Zoos are trying to strike a balance. They want visitors to feel close to wild animals and learn about them, while making sure they stay safe and without fencing them off so heavily that the experience is lost. For most people, a zoo is the only chance they will ever have to see a tiger or other endangered species in person. That encounter can be powerful. If it inspires people to care about these animals, it can turn into support for protecting them in the wild."