PETA says ‘no one should be surprised’ in defence of tiger following wildlife park death

Former child actor William Chapman, 23, was fatally attacked by a tiger when he entered the enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday

The largest animal rights organisation in the world has said what it thinks should happen to Altai the tiger following the fatal attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

William Chapman, 23, was mauled to death after he entered the tiger enclosure on Saturday (10 October).

In a statement shared with LADbible, PETA said that ‘captivity does not extinguish a tiger's natural instincts and so when someone suddenly invades their home turf, no one should be surprised that these powerful, territorial animals attack’.

“The park has rightly confirmed that Altai will not be euthanised for behaving like a tiger and acting on his instincts,” PETA’s Vice President of Programmes, Elisa Allen, said.

“But this tragedy is a reminder that tigers belong in their wild homeland forests, where they can be free to live on their own terms.”

Allen said that it's not right that tigers are 'confined to enclosures thousands of miles from their natural habitats and put on display for human amusement is an indictment of the human species'.

On Tuesday, Chapman’s family said in a statement that the former child actor had suffered from ‘significant mental illness over a number of years’.

“The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened,” his loved ones said.

“The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time. We ask people to stop doing this.

“The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their upmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did.”

They added: “William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back.

“Sadly, William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication.

“It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death.

“We would ask everybody to respect that process.”

As a child, Chapman appeared in ITV’s May Contain Nuts and in the BBC’s True Stories series, according to IMDB.

He previously attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which said in a statement that they are ‘deeply saddened’ by the loss.

Jackie Palmer Stage School said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our former student, William Chapman.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with William’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

“We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us.

“It was a privilege to be part of his journey, and he will be remembered with great fondness by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.

“William will be truly missed, and he will always hold a special place in our hearts. Rest in peace, William.”

If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ – family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

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