Tiger Island (Dreamworld)


Tiger Island is a wildlife attraction in the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. 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.

History

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 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. 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. 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".
In 2015, two litters were born to Raja and Nika. On July 25, Kai, a male cub, was born, while two female cubs were born on November 29, to the same parents. 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. The 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 September 18 2016, with designs by Jamie Durie.

Former tigers

This section shows a list of tigers that were present at the park, but are no longer there.
NameSpeciesDate of birthSexColourWeightOther informationMeaning of nameNotes
MelatiSumatran24 January 2018FGolden with dark stripesThe sister of Mya, Melati was transferred with her sister to the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra in early September 2018.Jasmine Flower
MyaSumatran24 January 2018FGolden with dark stripesThe sister of Melati, Mya was transferred with her sister to the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra in early September 2018."Beloved" or "Great"
IndahSumatran31 March 2006FGolden with dark stripesIndah was one of the first litter of Sumatran tiger cubs born at Dreamworld. The sister of Rahni, her father is Raja. Indah was transferred to Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.Beautiful
KatoSumatran24 October 2001MGolden with dark stripes160Kato was born in a wildlife park in Sydney and was transferred less than a month later. He was transferred to Symbio Zoo, Sydney.Pure
RahniSumatran31 March 2006FGolden with dark stripes080Rahni was one of the first litter of Sumatran tiger cubs born at Dreamworld. The sister of Indah, her father is Raja. She now lives at the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra.Brave
SaliSumatran11 April 2008FGolden with dark stripes070Sali was born in captivity at Perth Zoo.Steadfast
SultanBengal23 October 1998MGolden with dark stripes200The son of Mohan and Samara, and the brother of Rama, Sita and Taj, Sultan was part of the Awesome Pawsome born at Dreamworld. He died on 16 January 2016.Sultan means "Ruler."
SitaBengal1998-10-2323 October 1998FGolden with light stripes135The daughter of Mohan and Samara, and the sister of Rama, Sultan and Taj, Sita was part of the Awesome Pawsome born at Dreamworld. She died on 30 May 2017.Goddess of the Land
TajBengal23 October 1998MWhite with light stripes195The son of Mohan and Samara, and the brother of Rama, Sita and Sultan, Taj was part of the Awesome Pawsome born at Dreamworld. He died in 2013.Crown
RamaBengal1998-10-2323 October 1998MGolden with light stripes180The son of Mohan and Samara, and the brother of Sultan, Sita and Taj, Rama was part of the Awesome Pawsome born at Dreamworld. He died in December 2017.Kindly God
IncaCougar4 July 1995FFawnBetween and.Inca was born in New South Wales and moved to Dreamworld when she was three weeks old, along with her sister, Sierra. Off-public exhibit, but still alive as of July 2016.Abundance
SierraCougar4 July 1995FFawnBetween and.Sierra was born in New South Wales and moved to Dreamworld when she was three weeks old, along with her sister, Inca. Off-public exhibit, but still alive as of July 2016.Mountains
BaruBengal2 March 2012MGolden with dark stripes165 kgBaru is the brother of Ravi. Born in a wildlife park in Sydney, he was transferred less than a month later. He was transferred to the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra.
NdariSumatran9 June 2007FGolden with dark stripes70 kgNdari was born with two sisters, Shanti and Jaya. She has since been transferred to the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra.Full Moon
RaviBengal2 March 2013MGolden with dark stripes165 kgRavi is the brother of Baru. Born in a wildlife park in Sydney, he was transferred less than a month later. He was transferred to the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra.
MohanBengal2 November 1994MWhite with light stripes180 kgThe father of Sultan, Sita, Rama and Taj, Mohan was one of the original tigers when Tiger Island first opened in 1995. He died on 20 June 2012.Charming
SamaraBengal1994FGolden with dark stripesThe mother of Sultan, Sita, Rama and Taj, Samara was one of the original tigers when Tiger Island first opened in 1995. She was moved to the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra, where she died in 2004.
BakkarBengal30 December 1994MGolden with dark stripesBakkar was one of the original tigers when Tiger Island first opened in 1995. He was moved to Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo, and later to the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra, where he died in June 2016.
RakkhanBengal22 December 1994MGolden with dark stripes150 kgRakkhan was one of the original tigers when Tiger Island first opened in 1995.
KylaBengal1994FWhite with dark stripesKyla was one of the original tigers when Tiger Island first opened in 1995. She died in late 1996.
JaiBengal1994FWhite with dark stripesJai was one of the original tigers when Tiger Island first opened in 1995.
KaashaBengal24 October 2001FGolden with dark stripesKaasha was born in a wildlife park in Sydney and was transferred less than a month later. The sister of Kato, she died less than a year after arriving at Dreamworld.
SorayaSumatran9 June 2002FGolden with dark stripes85 kgSoraya had five cubs in two litters with Raja. She was moved to Mogo Zoo to breed with another male.Princess

Tiger presentations

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 trees and jump up to into the air. In 2013, Cub College featured some of the younger tigers' performances.

Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation

In 1997, Dreamworld established 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 Dreamworld's guests and the wider community.
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.

Shopping and dining

Overlooking the tiger exhibit are retail facilities for tiger merchandise at Tiger Bazaar and a dining outlet called Island Noodle Hut.