A woman in her 50s sustained a serious arm injury after being attacked by a lion at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia, on Saturday, July 5.
The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. in the zoo’s carnivore precinct, according to a statement shared by the zoo on Facebook. The woman — described as a frequent visitor and well-acquainted with safety protocols — was observing zookeepers when the attack happened.
“The animal grabbed her arm and inflicted severe damage,” the zoo said. She was airlifted to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, where she underwent surgery and is now reported to be in stable condition.
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Despite the severity of the injuries, which reportedly led to the amputation of her arm, the zoo emphasized that the lion never left its enclosure and that there was no threat to other staff or visitors at the time.
Darling Downs Zoo clarified that the injured woman is not a staff member or part of their immediate family. Authorities from Queensland Police and Workplace Health and Safety are actively investigating the incident.
In an update, the zoo confirmed the lion involved will not be euthanized or punished, stating: “At no stage was the public at risk, and the animal acted within its instinct.”
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“We are extremely grateful to QAS, QPS, and LifeFlight for their rapid response, and we thank everyone who has reached out to us with support,” the zoo added.
Darling Downs Zoo will remain temporarily closed and plans to reopen on Tuesday, July 8.
Both the zoo and Queensland Ambulance Service have not yet provided additional comments as of Sunday.
