A woman who was mauled by a tiger in a terrifying attack at a popular theme park has been identified as a veteran carer.
Melissa Reynolds, 47, was rushed to hospital after the terrifying ordeal at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast an hour before the gates were set to open to visitors on Monday morning.
The veteran keeper was walking the five-year-old, 180kg tiger with another trainer when the animal bit and scratched her.
It has since been revealed that Ms Reynolds suffered injuries to her forearm and shoulder, including multiple deep cuts and lacerations.
She has worked at the theme park for at least 12 years and has been photographed by local publications several times posing with the tigers.
Dreamworld is home to several Sumatran and Bengal tigers, including three five-year-olds named Khan, Javi and Zakari.
It is not known which tiger attacked Ms Reynolds.
She previously appeared on Channel Nine’s Today Show alongside another handler and two young puppies.
Melissa Reynolds, 47 (pictured), has been identified as the veteran tiger keeper who was attacked by the creature at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast on Monday morning.
“It’s amazing, you get to spend time with them, feed them and play with them,” she told the show in 2012.
Ms. Reynolds remains in hospital in stable condition.
QAS acting district director Justin Payne said the biggest risk from Ms Reynolds’ injuries was the likelihood of her wounds becoming infected.
“She was quite pale and feeling unwell, but generally fine and was able to be taken to hospital,” he said.
‘Luckily, by the time they (the paramedics) arrived, the bleeding had been controlled very well by the first aid providers there at Dreamworld, which was great to see.
“We think she was well trained and it’s good to see that other support staff were able to care for her there.”
Dreamworld is providing support to Ms Reynolds.
“This was an isolated and rare incident and we will conduct a thorough investigation accordingly,” a spokesman said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dreamworld for further comment.
Police were previously seen at the theme park and then visitors.
WorkSafe Queensland has launched an investigation into the incident.
The veteran keeper was walking the five-year-old animal, which weighs 180kg, with another member of staff, when he was attacked (file image)
This is not the first incident at Dreamworld involving tigers.
In 2011, two staff members were rushed to hospital in separate incidents after being attacked by the same Bengal tiger.
The popular park offers viewing areas on ‘Tiger Island’ where people can get “so close they could feel a tiger’s breath.”
Visitors ages 13 and older can also choose to feed the tigers with tongs or watch them “leap, climb and swim” during daily presentations.
The wildlife park first opened almost 30 years ago and is one of only two interactive tiger exhibits in the world.
The incident comes after a malfunction on the Thunder River Rapids Ride at the theme park resulted in the deaths of four people in September 2016.
Cindy Low, Luke Dorsett, Roozi Araghi and Kate Goodchild died when a water pump failed and caused the raft they were on to capsize.
The latest incident comes after a malfunction on the Thunder River Rapids ride at the theme park left four people dead in September 2016 (file image)
Kieran Low, who was 10 at the time, was on the trip when his mother died, but miraculously only suffered minor injuries.
Dreamworld’s parent company, Ardent Leisure, was fined $3.6 million in 2020 after pleading guilty in a Brisbane court to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
By 2020, Ardent Leisure had reportedly paid out more than $5 million in compensation claims to victims’ families, witnesses and emergency personnel.
