Tiger bites handler in Gold Coast

Tiger bites handler in Gold Coast

A tiger has bitten a handler at Dreamworld in Australia's Gold Coast, with paramedics treating the man for five deep puncture wounds to his thigh and upper calf.

The Bengal tiger, named "Kato", was being led to the Tiger World natural habitat at the theme park on the Gold Coast when he lunged at the handler.

File picture of Kato the tiger with a handler in 2003 Photo Credit: Adam Ward/news.com.auStaff at the park, popular with overseas tourists, said it was just "a nip" and the handler should be back at work in a few days.

"The handler's taken a bit longer than the tiger would have liked and has given him just a little nip on the thigh," Dreamworld spokeswoman Melinda Lloyd said.

"The tiger's just nipped, but because of the natural bite force of a tiger it's gone through his skin and muscle there.

"If the tiger wanted to attack the handler, it would have been a lot worse. This is just the tiger saying 'let's move things along'."

The amusement park will conduct an internal investigation into the incident.

"Kato", who was born in captivity, has been at Dreamworld for 10 years.
Source: ninemsn.com.au

Published May 22 2011