Tiger Attacks Animal Handler at Australian Theme Park, Causing Arm and Shoulder Injuries
An animal handler at Dreamworld, a popular theme park on Queensland’s Gold Coast in Australia, was injured on Monday morning after being attacked by a tiger. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. at the park's wildlife section, Tiger Island, which is home to Sumatran and Bengal tigers.
The handler, a woman in her 40s, sustained injuries to her arm and shoulder and was transported to Gold Coast University Hospital, where she is reported to be in stable condition. The attack happened while she was working with the tiger, which park officials described as a “rare and isolated incident.”
Dreamworld released a statement acknowledging the incident and emphasized that their immediate focus is on supporting the injured handler. “This was an isolated and rare incident, and we will conduct a thorough review accordingly,” a spokesperson for the park said.
Justin Payne of the Queensland Ambulance Service commended the park's first aid team for their quick response, noting that they managed the bleeding effectively. He added, “She was quite pale and feeling unwell, but in general well and was able to be transported to hospital.”
The handler is one of the park's senior and experienced staff members, according to Payne.
Dreamworld’s Tiger Island is a popular attraction where visitors can view tigers up close through special tunnels and even participate in a feeding experience with the big cats. The park has nine Sumatran and Bengal tigers in its care. In 2011, a Bengal tiger named Kato bit two handlers in separate incidents at the park.
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