The United Workers Union is calling for Dreamworld to stop animal handlers entering tiger enclosures following yesterday's attack. A 47-year-old female animal handler was taken to hospital in a stable condition with serious cuts and puncture wounds after being bitten by a tiger at the theme park.
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00:00Experienced animal handler 47-year-old Melissa Reynolds suffered lacerations and puncture
00:07wounds to her arm and shoulder after she was bitten by a tiger on the Gold Coast's Dreamworld
00:12theme park yesterday morning.
00:14Theme park staff managed to control the bleeding and administer first aid before paramedics
00:18arrived and took Ms Reynolds to the Gold Coast University Hospital.
00:22The latest update we had was she was in a stable condition.
00:26The United Workers' Union official Callie Edwards, who represents animal handlers, says
00:31she was shocked by the incident.
00:33Most zoos and animal sanctuaries no longer allow animal handlers to enter the enclosure
00:38with the animals because they are highly territorial.
00:42The union is pushing for Dreamworld to adopt the practice.
00:46Global Animal Welfare Organisation, World Animal Protection Australia, called for an
00:50end to what it calls the exploitation of wildlife for entertainment purposes.
00:56In a statement yesterday, Dreamworld said it was an isolated and rare incident and a
01:00thorough investigation would be conducted.
01:03They are also providing support to the employee injured.
01:07This isn't the first time this has happened at the Dreamworld theme park.
01:10In 2011, two animal handlers were bitten by a tiger in separate incidences.
01:15Workplace health and safety officials attended the site yesterday and an investigation has
01:20been opened.
01:21It is unknown how the bite came to occur.