An experienced animal handler has suffered serious injuries after being mauled by a tiger in a rare attack at a theme park in Australia, according to zoo officials.
The 47-year-old woman was attacked by the tiger while working at Dreamworld, a major tourist attraction on Queensland’s Gold Coast, on Monday morning.
Justin Payne, director of the local Queensland Ambulance Service, said: “We were advised that at that location a 47-year-old female, an experienced handler, had been bitten by one of the tigers. 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 added that an ambulance was called to Dreamworld just before 9 a.m., an hour before the park opens to visitors. The woman, whose identity has not been released, was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition.
The reason for the attack is unclear. “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 park, which features rides and animal exhibits, described the attack as an “isolated and rare incident” and said it will be thoroughly investigated.
A spokesperson for Dreamworld stated: “Dreamworld acknowledges an incident involving one of the park’s tigers and a trained tiger handler. Our immediate focus is on supporting the team member. This was an isolated and rare incident, and we will conduct a thorough review accordingly.”
