A trained tiger handler has been hospitalised after being attacked by one of the animals at the Dreamworld theme park in Queensland, Australia. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of interactive wildlife exhibits.
According to the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), the woman in her 40s sustained cuts and scratches to her arm during the attack at the theme park’s Tiger Island attraction. She was immediately taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition.
QAS acting district director Justin Payne described the handler as an “experienced and senior” staff member, and noted that she was “quite pale and feeling unwell” following the incident, but was able to be transported to the hospital.
Dreamworld, which is home to nine Sumatran and Bengal tigers, acknowledged the attack as an “isolated and rare incident” and stated that the company would conduct a thorough review.
The Tiger Island attraction, which has been open for almost three decades, is known for its interactive shows where visitors can observe the tigers “glide underwater” and be present during the animals’ feeding times.
This is not the first time the Tiger Island enclosure has been the site of an incident. In 2011, a then-nine-year-old male Bengal tiger named Kato bit two handlers, according to local media reports.
The attack has raised concerns about the safety of interactive wildlife exhibits, where animals are in close proximity to visitors and staff. While these types of attractions can be educational and entertaining, they also come with inherent risks that must be carefully managed.
Melissa Enoch
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