- In a theme park setting, a tiger launches an assault on its nurse.
A seasoned animal handler got into trouble at the Australian amusement park, Dreamworld. The incident involved a voracious tiger, leaving the 47-year-old woman with significant damage to her arm and shoulder. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported, quoting emergency services, that she sustained profound wounds and scrapes. She is currently receiving medical attention in a hospital.
Justin Payne, representing the Queensland Ambulance Service, shared, "She appeared rather pale and wasn't feeling great, but she managed to be transported to the hospital."
Reason behind the tiger's attack remains unclear
A representative from Dreamworld acknowledged, "We can confirm an incident where one of our tigers attacked a skilled animal handler." The details behind the animal's aggression are still a mystery, but it was described as an unusual and uncommon occurrence. They are conducting an extensive investigation to uncover the reasons.
This amusement park, nestled in the Gold Coast's tourist area on the east coast, houses nine Sumatra tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) on "Tiger Island." Two shows are offered daily to visitors, who are informed, "Our tigers serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts while we strive to safeguard the species." Both species are critically endangered in the wild.
Eight-year anniversary marked by a tragic accident
As the largest theme park in Australia with a plethora of attractions and shows, Dreamworld gained notoriety in 2016. A water ride malfunction caused four individuals to be ejected from their raft, ending in their tragic deaths. The park, in operation since 1981, was temporarily shut down following the incident, and the faulty ride was eventually destroyed.
The animal care worker involved in the incident was a skilled handler at Dreamworld, known for looking after the park's tigers. Subsequently, the management stated that they will delve deeper into why their animal care worker, who is an expert in tiger handling, encountered such an aggressive response from one of the tigers.
