A trained tiger handler has been hospitalised with injuries to her arm after being attacked by one of the animals at an Australian theme park.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) says the woman, who is in her 40s, is in a stable condition after sustaining cuts and scratches while working at Dreamworld in Queensland's Gold Coast.
“This was an isolated and rare incident, and we will conduct a thorough review accordingly,” the company said in a statement.
The popular theme park - which is visited by almost two million people every year - is home to nine Sumatran and Bengal tigers.
QAS said medics were called to the scene at 09:01 local time on Monday (23:01 GMT on Sunday) “following an incident with a tiger” and that the woman was immediately taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where she remains.
"She was quite pale and feeling unwell, but in general well and was able to be transported," QAS acting district director Justin Payne told ABC News.
"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," he added.
Dreamworld’s Tiger Island attraction is one of only a handful of interactive tiger exhibits in the world, according to the theme park.
It opened almost three decades ago and hosts two shows a day in which onlookers are invited to watch the animals "glide underwater" in a splash pool, and eat their daily meals during feeding time.
According to local media reports, there have been a string of incidents in the enclosure over the years - including when a then-nine-year-old male Bengal tiger, Kato, bit two handlers back in 2011.
A Dreamworld spokesperson said that the company’s focus now was to provide the employee involved in Monday’s attack with immediate support.
Latest Stories
-
Election 2024: NPP advised to be mindful of the reasons being ascribed to their election lost
11 minutes -
GNFS urges Ghanaians to prevent fires during yuletide
12 minutes -
Report tobacco users who smoke publicly – FDA advises
40 minutes -
Abdallah Ali-Nakyea elevated to Associate Professor at UG School of Law
1 hour -
Kick2build commissions 5 libraries in Klo Agogo, donates school supplies
1 hour -
Slim and Fit Ghana donates to kids at Motherly Love Orphanage in Kwabenya
1 hour -
We’ll be reorganising ourselves for the battles of tomorrow – NPP
2 hours -
Ghanaian teacher Morkporkpor Fiador’s GWR Read-A-Thon attempt postponed
2 hours -
Revocation of licences of UT, Capital banks were strict requirements from IMF – Dr. Addison
2 hours -
MP Cynthia Morrison among 280 members expelled by Agona West NPP
2 hours -
NPP to set up committee to investigate 2024 election defeat – Stephen Ntim
2 hours -
New Juaben North NDC executives intercept 24k bags of fertiliser at Koforidua
3 hours -
Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murdering healthcare CEO
3 hours -
GhLA opens applications for 2nd Edition of Youth Advocacy Challenge
3 hours -
Remote Work in Africa; the Doballi solution
3 hours