2 weeks ago
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The woman suffered horrific injuries in the attack when the big cat went for her arm.
By Richard Ashmore, Senior News Reporter
12:49, Mon, Jul 7, 2025 | UPDATED: 12:52, Mon, Jul 7, 2025
The Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia (Image: Sky News )
A woman has lost her arm after she was attacked by a lion at a zoo in Australia. The 50-year-old was reportedly watching keepers working with the big cats before opening hours on Sunday morning when she was mauled. The horrific incident happened at the Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland close to the rural town of Pilton.
Local media reports the woman was airlifted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in the state capital of Brisbane where she underwent emergency surgery for her injuries. She is now in a stable condition. However, medics were unable to save her limb. The zoo said the woman was not a staff member but a “much loved member” of the zoo’s "family".
Despite being in captivity and used to being around humans big cats are still highly dangerous, in the UK last year a zoo worker was accidentally locked inside an area with the animals, and in India a member of the public died after climbing into a lion enclosure.
The Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia (Image: Sky News )
A statement said the horror moment unfolded when the woman was watching keepers at work in the carnivore precinct. It read: “This is something that she has done many, many times over the past 20 years.
"Inexplicably, at this stage, one animal grabbed her by one arm and caused severe damage to it.
"She is well-versed in safety protocols around potentially dangerous animals."
Darling Downs Zoo said staff were working with government workplace safety investigators to determine how the incident happened. The state government confirmed an investigation was underway.
It added: “At no stage did this animal leave its enclosure and there was no risk at all to staff members or members of the public.
A lioness seen from the air at The Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland (Image: Sky News )
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Staff at the 119-acre zoo declined media interviews on Monday. The zoo said it planned to reopen Tuesday for the first time since the attack.
The statement released the lion "will definitely not be put down or punished in any way".
Sky News reports Australian MP David Littleproud, said: "This is a horrific incident. It is a tragedy and a shock to not just staff at the zoo, but the entire community.
“I encourage locals to continue to visit and enjoy the zoo, which will need support from the community during this difficult time. I also wish the person involved in the attack all the very best with their recovery and offer support in any small way possible.”
Five years ago, two lions mauled and critically injured a keeper inside their enclosure at the Shoalhaven Zoo in the state of New South Wales.
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