| Tiger Island | |
| Theme: | Asian rainforests |
| Rides: | 1 |
| Shows: | 1 |
| Park1: | Dreamworld |
| Coordinates1: | -27.8647°N 153.3178°W |
| Status1: | Operating |
Tiger Island is a wildlife attraction in the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[1] This exhibit houses for both the Bengal and Sumatran tiger species. The tigers have been raised within the compound and are free to roam and interact with the visitors in the amusement park.[2]
Tiger Island opened in 1995 as one of only two interactive tiger exhibits in the world. The exhibit featured various locations for the tigers to live, swim and play. Three years later, in October of 1998, Dreamworld welcomed their first litter of four Bengal tiger cubs consisting of Rama, Sita, Sultan and Taj. In 2006, the first litter of Sumatran tiger cubs was born featuring Indah and Rahni.[3] A nursery and smaller tiger enclosure were constructed to showcase the younger tigers before being released into the main exhibit.
On June 20, 2012, Mohan, one of Dreamworld's original Bengal tigers, died after a battle with kidney disease.[4] [5] Mohan was born on November 2, 1994, in the United States before being transferred to Dreamworld for the opening of Tiger Island. When he arrived he was known as the "King of Tiger Island".[6]
In 2015, two litters were born to Raja (father) and Nika (mother). On July 25, Kai, a male cub, was born, while two female cubs were born on November 29, to the same mother and father. Later during a competition in conjunction with Channel 7's Sunrise Morning Show, the two female cubs were named Akasha and Adira.
On February 19, 2016, two white tiger cubs were put on public display in a temporary quarantine enclosure, found in Ocean Parade, in front of Zombie Evilution. These two cubs, who were later to be named Kiko and Kali, were flown in from Japan under Dreamworld's partnership arrangement with Hirakawa Zoo in Kagoshima City.
On February 29, 2016, the Tiger Island area closed for refurbishment. It re-opened on Sunday, September 18, 2016, with designs by Jamie Durie.[7]
| Name | Species | Date of Birth | Sex | Colour | Weight | OtherInformation | Meaning of name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javi | Sumatran/Siberian | 26 April 2019 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | Javi was born to Adira and Pi and is a brother of Zakari. | Victorious | [8] | ||
| Jaya | Sumatran | 9 June 2007 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | 70kg (150lb) | Jaya was born with two sisters Shanti and Ndari. | Victorious | [9] | |
| Kai | Sumatran/Siberian | 25 July 2015 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | 25kg (55lb) | A male cub born to Nika and Raja, big brother to the two female cubs born on 29 November 2015 | Strong and Unbreakable | [10] | |
| Khan | Sumatran/Siberian | 26 May 2019 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | Khan was born to Nika and Raja and was the only cub of his litter. | Leader who focuses on important issues | |||
| Nika | Bengal/Siberian | 15 April 2006 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | 160kg (350lb) | Born in Poland, Nika was transferred to Dreamworld in 2013. Her genetics are an important addition to the Tiger Island program. Nika has not been hand-reared and cannot be handled by Tiger Island staff. | Belongs to God | [11] | |
| Pi | Bengal/Sumatran | 19 July 2010 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | Born at Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve, Pi was mis-mothered and transferred to Dreamworld to be hand-reared by Dreamworld's experienced tiger handlers. The transfer has given Pi the opportunity to socialise with the other big cats. | The main character in the book "Life of Pi" | |||
| Raja | Sumatran | 25 December 2003 | Golden with dark stripes | Due to not being hand-raised, Raja cannot be handled by Tiger Island staff and lives in a purpose build exhibit in the back of house. | King | [12] | |||
| Zakari | Sumatran/Siberian | 26 April 2019 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | Zakari was born to Adira and Pi and is the older brother of Javi by 35 minutes. | Those who desire to inspire others, to a higher cause | |||
| Shanti | Sumatran | 9 June 2007 | Golden with dark stripes | Shanti was born with two sisters Jaya and Ndari. | Inner Peace | [13] | |||
| Akasha | Sumatran/Siberian | 29 November 2015 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | One of two sisters born to Nika and Raja, part of the second litter in 2015. | Akasha is of Indian origin where tigers are still able to be found in the wild | |||
| Adira | Sumatran/Siberian | 29 November 2015 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | The second of two sisters born to Nika and Raja. | Adira means strong and noble, reflecting the majestic nature of tigers. | |||
| Kiko | Bengal | 2 November 2015 | ♀ | White with dark stripes | One of two female white tiger cubs flown in from Hirakawa Zoo in Japan to be part of Dreamworld's breeding program. | [14] | |||
| Kali | Bengal | 2 November 2015 | ♀ | White with dark stripes | One of two female white tiger cubs flown in from Hirakawa Zoo in Japan to be part of Dreamworld's breeding program. |
This section shows a list of tigers that were present at the park, but are no longer there.
| Name | Species | Date of Birth | Sex | Colour | Weight | OtherInformation | Meaning of name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melati | Samutran | 24 January 2018 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | Sister to Mya, Melati was transferred with her sister to the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra in early September 2018. | Jasmine Flower | |||
| Mya | Sumatran | 24 January 2018 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | Sister to Melati, Mya was transferred with her sister to the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra in early September 2018 | "Beloved" or "Great" | |||
| Indah | Sumatran | 31 March 2006 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | One of the first litter of Sumatran tiger cubs born at Dreamworld. Her father is Raja. Sister to Rahni. Indah was transferred to Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo | Beautiful | |||
| Kato | Sumatran | 24 October 2001 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | Born in a wildlife park in Sydney and was transferred less than a month later. Kato was later transferred to Symbio Zoo, Sydney | Pure | |||
| Rahni | Sumatran | 31 March 2006 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | One of the first litter of Sumatran tiger cubs born at Dreamworld. Her father is Raja. Sister to Indah. Now lives at National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra | Brave | [15] | ||
| Sali | Sumatran | 11 April 2008 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | Born in captivity at Perth Zoo. | Steadfast | [16] | ||
| Sultan | Bengal | 23 October 1998 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | Son of Mohan and Samara, and brother to Rama, Sita and Taj. Part of the Awesome Pawsome born at Dreamworld. Died on 16 January 2016. | Sultan means "Ruler." | [17] [18] | ||
| Sita | Bengal | 23 October 1998 | Golden with light stripes | Daughter of Mohan and Samara, and sister to Rama, Sultan and Taj. Part of the Awesome Pawsome born at Dreamworld. Died on 30 May 2017. | Goddess of the Land | [19] [20] | |||
| Taj | Bengal | 23 October 1998 | ♂ | White with light stripes | Son of Mohan and Samara, and brother to Rama, Sita and Sultan. Part of the Awesome Pawsome born at Dreamworld. Died in 2013. | Crown | [21] | ||
| Rama | Bengal | 23 October 1998 | Golden with light stripes | Son of Mohan and Samara, and brother to Sultan, Sita and Taj. Part of the Awesome Pawsome born at Dreamworld. Died in December 2017.[22] | Kindly God | [23] | |||
| Inca | Cougar | 4 July 1995 | ♀ | Fawn | Between and . | Born in New South Wales and moved to Dreamworld three weeks after birth with her sister Sierra. Off public exhibit, but still alive as at July 2016. | Abundance | [24] | |
| Sierra | Cougar | 4 July 1995 | ♀ | Fawn | Between and . | Born in New South Wales and moved to Dreamworld three weeks after birth with her sister Inca. Off public exhibit, but still alive as at July 2016. | Mountains | [25] | |
| Baru | Bengal | 2 March 2012 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | 165 kg | Brother to Ravi. Born in a wildlife park in Sydney and was transferred less than a month later. Has now been transferred to National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra | |||
| Ndari | Sumatran | 9 June 2007 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | 70 kg | Ndari was born with two sisters Shanti and Jaya. Has now been transferred to National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra | Full Moon | ||
| Ravi | Bengal | 2 March 2013 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | 165 kg | Brother to Baru. Born in a wildlife park in Sydney and was transferred less than a month later. Has now been transferred to National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra | |||
| Mohan | Bengal | 2 November 1994 | ♂ | White with light stripes | 180 kg | One of the original tigers when Tiger Island opened in 1995. Died in 2012. Father of Sultan, Sita, Rama and Taj. Died on 20 June 2012. | Charming | [26] | |
| Samara | Bengal | 1994 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | One of the original tigers when Tiger Island opened in 1995. Moved to the National Zoo in Canberra where she died in 2004. Mother of Sultan, Sita, Rama and Taj. | ||||
| Bakkar | Bengal | 30 December 1994 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | One of the original tigers when Tiger Island opened in 1995. Moved to Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo, Then to the National Zoo in Canberra where he died in June 2016. | [27] | |||
| Rakkhan | Bengal | 22 December 1994 | ♂ | Golden with dark stripes | 150 kg | One of the original tigers when Tiger Island opened in 1995. | |||
| Kyla | Bengal | 1994 | ♀ | White with dark stripes | One of the original tigers when Tiger Island opened in 1995. Died in late 1996. | [28] | |||
| Jai | Bengal | 1994 | ♀ | White with dark stripes | One of the original tigers when Tiger Island opened in 1995. | ||||
| Kaasha | Bengal | 24 October 2001 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | Born in a wildlife park in Sydney and was transferred less than a month later. Sister of Kato, died less than a year after arriving at Dreamworld. | ||||
| Soraya | Sumatran | 9 June 2002 | ♀ | Golden with dark stripes | 85 kg | Had 5 cubs in two litters with Raja. Was moved to Mogo Zoo to breed with another male. | Princess |
Tiger presentations are performed twice daily in the main exhibit. Guests can watch as the tigers perform feats which showcase their agility. During the presentation, the tigers climb 20feet trees and jump up to 10feet into the air.[29] [30] In 2013, Cub College featured some of the younger tigers' performances.[31]
See main article: Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation. In 1997 Dreamworld created the Dreamworld Tiger Fund which aimed to support various projects to help save tigers in the wild. The fund contributed over a million dollars to this cause. The fund used a percentage of profits from merchandise sales, tiger walks and tiger photos as well as donations from the Dreamworld's guests and the wider community.[32]
In March 2012, the DWF was established, collaborating with existing wildlife conservation groups to bring substantial financial support to the conservation movement on a global scale.
An internationally recognized fund committed to the protection, education, and conservation of the earth's most magnificent creatures and habitats, crucial to their survival. Through this initiative individuals may adopt some of the species of animals found in the Dreamworld Corroboree, such as Tasmanian devils, crocodiles, red kangaroos, and cassowaries, alongside the Tiger Island tigers.[33]
Overlooking the tiger exhibit are retail facilities for tiger merchandise at Tiger Bazaar and a dining outlet called Island Noodle Hut.[34]