Dreamworld Dreamworld News

I visited the Twilight Trail today. I was a bit disappointed at how little was changed after almost a year of renovations. But I'm glad that the nocturnal house has been reopened & there's a good selection of species.

Bold = unseen
1. Barn Owl
2. Tawny Frogmouth, Squirrel Glider, Rufous Bettong
3. Stick-Insects (Goliath, Spiny)
4. Cane Toad
5. Rainforest Scorpion
6. Rainforest Scorpion
7. Northern Carpet-Python
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
@OskarGC Are the birds back in the main walkthrough aviary?
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No. There are still some birds in the small side aviary, doves (Bar-Shouldered & Pacific Emerald-) & White-Browed Woodswallow. It's also signed for Regent Bowerbird which I haven't seen the last few times I've visited & no longer signed for Tawny Frogmouth due to the nocturnal house reopening.
 
Dreamworld are seemingly moving their Bilbies into the old store beside the saltie enclosure

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(photo taken from Dreamworld new Bilby Discovery Centre)
 
A few pieces of news reported by the Gold Coast Theme Parks FB page:
  • the new bilby discovery centre has now been opened at Dreamworld with a new exhibit space for the Greater Bilbies. Apparently some additional reptiles/amphibians will be joining the bilbies soon along with a Black-headed Python that is already housed there now.
  • the former bilby enclosure near the old eagle has been converted for Spinifex Hopping-Mice and named the 'hopping mouse house'.
  • Central Bearded Dragon has been added to the desert reptile enclosures near the viewing windows for the dingo and the red kangaroo/emu.
 
Akasha is transferring to Ballarat:

As reported on Ballarat’s socials, Akasha (hybrid tigress) will be leaving Dreamworld shortly.

Dreamworld has always had a high turnover of tigers, transferring out several over the years; but with the move to protected contact, I anticipate we’ll see a downsizing of their holdings in the coming years.

Akasha’s departure will leave them with 4.5 tigers:

Sumatran tiger:

0.1 Jaya (09/06/2008) Raja x Soraya
0.1 Shanti (09/06/2008) Raja x Soraya

Hybrid tiger:

1.0 Pi (19/07/2010) Orange (dark stripes) Hari x Louise
0.1 Kali (02/11/2015) White (dark stripes) Imported 2016
0.1 Kiko (02/11/2015) White (dark stripes) Imported 2016
0.1 Adira (29/11/2015) Orange (dark stripes) Raja x Nika
1.0 Javi (26/04/2019) Orange (dark stripes) Pi x Adira
1.0 Zakari (26/04/2019) Orange (dark stripes) Pi x Adira
1.0 Kahn (26/05/2019) Orange (dark stripes) Raja x Nika
 
Zoofan15 said:
Dreamworld has always had a high turnover of tigers, transferring out several over the years; but with the move to protected contact, I anticipate we’ll see a downsizing of their holdings in the coming years.
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Possibly related to a downsizing in population (and, congruently/hopefully, additional space for it's remaining occupants), Dreamworld has supposedly filed a tender for a contactless-focused Tiger Island redevelopment project. I couldn't find the tender itself, but someone who evidently has found it has posted pictures of it here. Supposedly, it's labelled as 'Phase One', and mainly focuses on general refurbs, as well as specific improvements to the adjacent 'Rock' yard, with the most notable inclusion being an overhead walkway.
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Tricoart said:
Possibly related to a downsizing in population (and, congruently/hopefully, additional space for it's remaining occupants), Dreamworld has supposedly filed a tender for a contactless-focused Tiger Island redevelopment project. I couldn't find the tender itself, but someone who evidently has found it has posted pictures of it here. Supposedly, it's labelled as 'Phase One', and mainly focuses on refurbs & improvements to the adjacent 'Rock' yard
View attachment 659573
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Great find! It looks like they can accomodate up to four groupings of tigers if the dens/yard configurations are anything to go by - the three small day yards indicating they’d be suitable for a pair or single tiger compared to the larger main exhibit.

I believe current social groupings are as follows:

Sumatran tiger:

0.1 Jaya (09/06/2008) Raja x Soraya
0.1 Shanti (09/06/2008) Raja x Soraya

Hybrid tiger:

1.0 Pi (19/07/2010) Orange (dark stripes) Hari x Louise
0.1 Adira (29/11/2015) Orange (dark stripes) Raja x Nika

0.1 Kali (02/11/2015) White (dark stripes) Imported 2016
0.1 Kiko (02/11/2015) White (dark stripes) Imported 2016

1.0 Javi (26/04/2019) Orange (dark stripes) Pi x Adira
1.0 Zakari (26/04/2019) Orange (dark stripes) Pi x Adira
1.0 Kahn (26/05/2019) Orange (dark stripes) Raja x Nika
 
Hopefully the keeper makes a quick recovery, and hopefully there isn’t a lot of fear-mongering about this, as it could easily be an isolated incident (like mentioned) caused by having the direct contact they’re well into the process of turning away from. I’ve already seen comparisons to River Rapids, even though these 2 incidents are in no way comparable and took place under 2 different management teams, with this one seeming much more stringent when it comes to safety measures (both evidenced by being the first iROC certified park in Australia, and their push to switch over to protected contact, as well as many other likely behind-the-scenes changes)
 
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kelvin said:
Tiger handler in her 30s mauled by a tiger at Dreamworld.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/02/tiger-mauls-woman-dreamworld-gold-coast-qld-queensland-australia
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This is distressing news, hopefully the keeper makes a swift and full recovery. I haven't seen so far in the reporting whether this occurred in full or protected contact (even protected contact is not zero risk) - strangely enough I was just talking with a relative, who works closeby to Dreamworld, about the shift towards protected contact.
 
kelvin said:
Tiger handler in her 30s mauled by a tiger at Dreamworld.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/02/tiger-mauls-woman-dreamworld-gold-coast-qld-queensland-australia
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Tricoart said:
Hopefully the keeper makes a quick recovery, and hopefully there isn’t a lot of fear-mongering about this, as it could easily be an isolated incident (like mentioned) caused by having the direct contact they’re well into the process of turning away from. I’ve already seen comparisons to River Rapids, even though these 2 incidents are in no way comparable and took place under 2 different management teams, with this one seeming much more stringent when it comes to safety measures (both evidenced by being the first iROC certified park in Australia, and their push to switch over to protected contact, as well as many other likely behind-the-scenes changes)
Click to expand...

Abbey said:
This is distressing news, hopefully the keeper makes a swift and full recovery. I haven't seen so far in the reporting whether this occurred in full or protected contact (even protected contact is not zero risk) - strangely enough I was just talking with a relative, who works closeby to Dreamworld, about the shift towards protected contact.
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It’s unfortunate that even minor incidents attract significant interest, which inevitably leads to speculation and comparisons with more serious incidents.

From initial reports, it appears the injuries sustained are non-life threatening (though distressing nonetheless). Hopefully the staff member involves makes a full recovery.

I had assumed Dreamworld had already completed their move to PC; but acknowledge this will require significant moderations to their operations and that these things take time. Ultimately it seems like the best decision given the inherent risks of free contact, no matter what procedures they have in place.
 
Abbey said:
This is distressing news, hopefully the keeper makes a swift and full recovery. I haven't seen so far in the reporting whether this occurred in full or protected contact (even protected contact is not zero risk) - strangely enough I was just talking with a relative, who works closeby to Dreamworld, about the shift towards protected contact.
Click to expand...

Zoofan15 said:
It’s unfortunate that even minor incidents attract significant interest, which inevitably leads to speculation and comparisons with more serious incidents.

From initial reports, it appears the injuries sustained are non-life threatening (though distressing nonetheless). Hopefully the staff member involves makes a full recovery.

I had assumed Dreamworld had already completed their move to PC; but acknowledge this will require significant moderations to their operations and that these things take time. Ultimately it seems like the best decision given the inherent risks of free contact, no matter what procedures they have in place.
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According to later reports, the incident took place when she and another keeper were walking the tiger. So I assume the complete to PC hasn't taken place yet.
 
I have seen some news reports saying that the Tiger involved was 5 years old, which would make them either Zakari, Javi or Kahn. The keeper involved has also been identified as 47 year old Melissa Reynolds, who has worked with the Tigers at DreamWorld for more than a decade and has been caring for the aforementioned 2019 cubs since they were born.
 
From the Gold Coast Theme Park’s page:

“Throughout this year Dreamworld have been refurbishing and upgrading the habitats and back-of-house areas of Tiger Island to further improve the facilities for the tigers and the guest experience. The Lair habitat at the entrance to the land is receiving a tiger aerial bridge!

Inspired by the Tiger habitat at Auckland Zoo, this mesh covered aerial bridges will be 3m above ground with a special fibreglass reinforced plastic non-stick finish that will ensure the tigers’ paws are protected.

These upgrades are expected to be finished by the end of the year, so be sure to check out these new up-close encounters with the tigers on your next visit to Dreamworld.”
 
A nice development. Dreamworld is building a new, larger enclosure for their Lumholtz's Tree-Kangaroos. The new enclosure is situated near the cassowaries. It remains to be seen what will happen with their original enclosure in the former aviary - reported on the Gold Coast Theme Park's FB page with the images coming from their page.

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