Tigers, polar bears, dingoes: Inside race to protect theme park icons from cyclone

Gold Coast theme park staff have raced against the clock to move hundreds of animals out of Cyclone Alfred’s path – including tigers, polar bears, dingoes, horses and seals. But some will be forced to bunker down in the elements.

Gold Coast theme park staff have raced against the clock to move hundreds of animals out of Cyclone Alfred’s path – including tigers, polar bears, dingoes, horses and seals.

But some will be forced to bunker down in the elements.

While many will be safely secured in back-of-house shelters, other – more tricky to contain – animals will ride out the category two cyclone in their outdoor exhibits.

Dreamworld operations manager for life sciences Alana Legge said staff had tried to do as much advanced preparation as they could in case access to the park was cut for several days.

The animals have be stocked with plenty of food, provided extra comfortable bedding and given enrichment like wrapped up food to keep them occupied while holed up.

Dreamworld’s beloved Bengal and Sumatran tigers and dingoes have been moved to their secure back-of-house enclosures which are in buildings with mesh walls – providing shelter but with a view of the storm.

Dreamworld’s tigers have been moved back of house. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The outdoor koalas have been moved inside along with the Tasmanian devils and Wedge-tailed Eagle Goldie.

But the kangaroos and cassowaries – who are more difficult to wrangle in a confined space – will face the cyclone outside in their exhibit.

“We’re trying to make their enclosure as safe as possible by removing any items which could be dangerous in the winds,” said Ms Legge.

“The kangaroos are pretty good at finding a little spot to ride out the storm and the cassowaries are tucked away out of the wind.”

The koalas have been moved inside.

The resident crocodiles have had their pond levels dropped to account for the expected torrential rain but will otherwise happily ride out the wild weather.

Ms Legge said extra cameras had been set up to monitor the animals during the cyclone and staff were primed to get back into the park as soon as the imminent weather threat had passed.

“I’ll be up all night watching the nanny cams. It’ll get stressful as it gets closer but we are ready on standby as soon as we get the all clear,” she said.

Dreamworld sustained widespread damage during the 2023 Christmas night storm and the memory lingers for staff and animals, she said.

Dreamworld was smashed by the Christmas night storm of 2023.

“I think we’ve all got a bit of PTSD from the tornado, including the animals,” Ms Legge said.

“The wildlife have good intuition, they don’t need a weather forecast to know something is brewing, many have been more on guard, nervous and less chatty.

“The dingoes are a little bit nervous … they are sooky at the best of times and the Tassie Devils are just sulking because they’re back of house.”

The dingoes have required a bit more TLC in the lead up to the cyclone.

Meanwhile over at Village Roadshow Theme Parks, staff at Sea World, Australian Outback Spectacular and Paradise Country have also been working overtime.

VRTP Chief Operating Officer Bikash Randhawa said critical support teams have been stationed on-site at each of the locations with marine mammal specialists, veterinarians and engineering and water support teams staying at Sea World Resort.

The polar bears will spend the cyclone in their dens. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“These teams will continue to care for and monitor the animals and their environments throughout the period,” he said.

Polar bears, penguins and seals will remain in their indoor dens during the worst of the storm while water-levels in the dolphin lagoon system will be managed for potential flooding.

Paradise Country horses have been relocated to an agistment property further inland while Australian Outback Spectacular horses will be housed in their stables or cleared paddocks with equine specialists staying on-site.

Australian Outback Spectacular horses will be in their stables or paddocks.

Koalas, meerkats, marmosets, Tasmanian devils and wombats at Paradise Country will remain in their indoor dens during the storm and wildlife specialists and veterinarians will stay onsite at Paradise Country Farmstay.