Dreamworld to end human interaction with theme park tigers

Dreamworld has made a huge decision regarding their hugely popular Tiger Island, one which could leave the animals stressed and depressed.

Dreamworld has moved to end contact between humans and tigers for good at the Gold Coast theme park, after a handler was attacked by one of the venue’s resident big cats.

Dreamworld is installing a series of fences and gates which will allow the apex predators to move between the Tiger Island attraction and areas back-of-house without having to come into direct contact with humans.

Visitor encounters including photos and walks with members of the public were scrapped several years ago while the proposal to “phase out” tiger-handler interactions was first floated two years ago, but seems to now be close to becoming official.

The latest move comes after a handler was bitten by a tiger at the theme park in September and taken to hospital suffering “serious lacerations and puncture wounds” to her arm and shoulder.

Such incidents have been rare, with two handlers taken to hospital after being injured in 2011.

Tiger handlers at Dreamworld have interacted with the big cats for decades but those days are now over following a move by the theme park. Picture: Nigel Hallett

After the September incident, Dreamworld promised a full review, and management has since decided to phase out human interaction with the park’s tigers.

It follows similar moves away from animal encounters at other attractions, with Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary this year scrapping the iconic koala cuddle photo opp with visitors.

In a statement, a Dreamworld spokesperson said the park had been planning the transition for some time and had “invested significantly” in upgrading its tiger habitats and

facilities to enable this transition.

“The safety of team members, guests and animals are Dreamworld’s highest priority,” the spokesperson said.

“As a result, Dreamworld has now transitioned its tiger program to a non-handled operation.

“Tigers remain a critical part of the experience at Dreamworld and for Dreamworld Wildlife

Foundation, which has contributed over $2.2 million in funding for tiger conservation projects in the field via Wildcats Conservation Alliance since 2012.

“Guests will continue seeing tigers on exhibit, and in time, will receive a re-imagined educational presentation at Tiger Island about the importance of tiger conservation.”

Tigers have been delighting visitors and staff at Dreamworld for almost 30 years. Picture: Nigel Hallett

However, some industry sources have expressed concerns over the move, saying hand-reared tigers who had known human contact for their entire lives may struggle with the changes.

“All they have ever known is to be around handlers and this sudden cessation could have an impact on their welfare,” an insider said.

During lockdowns at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, studies showed Dreamworld tigers exhibited signs of stress and depression due to the lack of human interaction.

It eventually saw staffers spend their breaks at the Tiger Island attraction to give the tigers a greater human presence.

But a leading wildlife conservation group has backed Dreamworld’s move.

Suzanne Milthorpe, head of campaigns at World Animal Protection Australia, said the move to end “unnatural interactions” was welcomed.

“It’s good to see such a major tourism venue in Queensland move further away from these unnatural interactions,” she said.

“This is just another reminder of what we already know, which is that public sentiment is continuing to shift away from outdated, direct interactions with captive wildlife.

“World Animal Protection has been advocating for an end to Dreamworld’s tiger interactions since the launch of our ‘Too Close for Comfort’ report in 2022.

“Dreamworld’s previous presentation of these tigers – which included being handfed milk from a bottle and posing during choreographed shows — did not illustrate their natural behaviours or treat these apex predators with dignity.”

She also called on Dreamworld to follow the lead of Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and cease some of their other animal encounters.

“We look forward to Dreamworld assessing their other direct wildlife interactions, including their koala cuddles, which Lone Pine Sanctuary banned earlier this year,” she said.

“The future of wildlife tourism is seeing wild animals in the wild where they belong. Our research shows tourists are increasingly wanting to see a move away from these cruel direct encounters.

“After a year of wins for captive wildlife, from koala cuddles to tiger interactions, it’s clear the broader Queensland tourism industry needs to modernise their practices now.”

Handlers and tigers at Dreamworld often formed close bonds after spending years together but the theme park is moving away from that practice. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Tiger Island has been one of the world’s most acclaimed tiger attractions since its opening almost 30 years ago, with the centre stimulating donations to wildlife projects and helping to diversify the gene pool for tigers in captivity through successful breeding programs.

However, in recent years several long-term staff members have moved on.

Another industry insider described the move as “the end of an era”.