A British wildlife park has confirmed a tiger that mauled to death a man who entered its enclosure will not be euthanised.

A man, who has not yet been named, was seen entering the tiger’s at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, on Saturday afternoon (local time).

South Yorkshire police said the tiger “subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury”. Despite the efforts of emergency services, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement on Sunday, the wildlife park thanked those who had expressed concern after the “tragic incident” and said their “thoughts and heartfelt sympathies” remained with the family of the man who lost his life.

“The park will be closed today and the staff team who were deeply affected by events will receive specialist support,” the statement read.

The park also confirmed that the tiger, named Altai, was “safe and well and will not be euthanised” after the incident.

Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by a tiger in an enclosure at the park.

Altai was uninjured and has remained in the enclosure since the incident. Police said the wildlife park was subsequently evacuated.

“At 1.35pm today (Saturday, October 10) we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park,” a police spokesperson said.

“The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.

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

Park visitor Marie Miller wrote on social media that she saw the the man before the incident and he was “happily enjoying” his visit. Miller said the man asked a stranger to take a picture of him.

“The man who I saw on the bridge with his earpods in dancing was happily enjoying seeing the tiger,” her post read.

“He asked a total stranger to take a picture of him with the tiger in the background.”

Police said the man’s family had been informed of the incident and was being supported by specialist officers.

“Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time,” they said.

“Regarding rumours surrounding the condition of the tiger, the animal was uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public.”

A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson also confirmed that two land ambulances, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor attended the scene.

The wildlife park confirmed the incident in a statement to social media.

“We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure,” it said.

“Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated and emergency services are currently attending the scene.

“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 is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.”

Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009.

Its “Land of the Tigers” attraction opened two years later. It is on a purpose-built 0.8-hectare reserve for endangered Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild.

Photos of the enclosure on the park’s website shows a high walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the tigers can roam.

The park has said it is aware of the footage online and has asked people not to share it.

-with AAP