'Experienced' animal handler mauled by tiger in 'rare' attack at theme park

Tuesday, September 3, 2024 - An “experienced” animal handler has been left with serious injuries after a tiger mauled her in a “rare” attack at a theme park in Australia, zoo officials have said.

According to local Queensland Ambulance Service director Justin Payne, the woman, 47, was attacked by the tiger while she was working on Monday morning at Dreamworld, a major tourist attraction on Queensland’s Gold Coast that also includes a wildlife park.

“We were advised that at that location a 47-year-old female, an experienced handler, had been bitten by one of the tigers,” Payne said.

“The patient obviously had received some serious lacerations and puncture wounds from the animal. She was quite pale and feeling unwell, but generally well.”

Payne said an ambulance was called to Dreamworld just before 9 a.m. local time, an hour before the theme park opens to visitors.

The woman, whose identity was not released, was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition, Payne said.

It’s unclear what prompted the attack.

“She is one of the experienced and senior handlers there at Dreamworld… it’s good to see that she was able to be looked after by other support staff there,” Payne said.

The amusement park, which has rides as well as animal exhibits, described the attack in a statement as an “isolated and rare incident” that would be investigated.

“Dreamworld acknowledges an incident that occurred involving one of the park’s tigers and a trained tiger handler,” a spokesperson said.

“Dreamworld’s immediate focus is on the support of the team member. This was an isolated and rare incident, and we will conduct a thorough review accordingly.”