Emergency crews responded quickly to a terrifying situation at Darling Downs Zoo, which is located near Toowoomba in Australia.
Around 8:30AM on Sunday, July 5, reports came in that a woman in her 50s had been bitten by a lion while she was watching the zookeepers work in the carnivore section.
A woman in her 50s was attacked and injured severely by a lion at Darling Downs Zoo. Credit: Google Maps
“Inexplicably, at this stage, one animal grabbed her by one arm and caused severe damage to it. At no stage did this animal leave its enclosure, and there was no risk at all to staff members or members of the public.” the zoo explained in a statement reported by News.com.au.
The woman, who is well known to the team at the zoo, had apparently been in that area “many, many times”.
“This is something that she has done many, many times over the past 20 years.” the zoo added. “She is well-versed in safety protocols around potentially dangerous animals.”
The woman was flown by a LifeFlight helicopter to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital. She is currently stable, according to reports.
Queensland Ambulance and the Daily Mail noted that the attack led to her losing her arm. “At no stage did this animal leave its enclosure, and there was no risk at all to staff members or members of the public.” Darling Downs Zoo confirmed, as reported by PEOPLE.
In a follow-up statement, the zoo clarified that the woman “was not one of our immediate family nor a keeper” and also made it clear that the lion involved “will definitely not be put down or punished in any way”.
The zoo said the lion involved would “definitely not be put down or punished in any way”. Credit: Jonas Pattyn / Getty
Darling Downs Zoo has been operated by Steve and Stephanie Robinson for more than two decades and is home to several species of large cats. This includes lion cubs, cheetahs, Sumatran tigers, and leopards.
Recently, the zoo had been promoting up-close experiences with its lionesses. They stressed that the encounters were “strictly monitored to ensure their enjoyment of them and their wellbeing”.
After the incident, the zoo thanked the public for their support. “We are extremely grateful to the QAS, QPS, and LifeFlight for their prompt attendance and to all of the people and organizations who have rallied round us with messages of support.” the zoo said in a Facebook post.
Queensland Police and Workplace Health and Safety officials launched an investigation into the incident. Inspectors were present at the zoo throughout Sunday as they began gathering details, although a complete picture might not be possible until the woman has completed surgery.
Following the incident, the zoo was temporarily closed. It is expected to reopen for visitors on Tuesday, July 8.
