Woman Suffers Severe Arm Injuries after Being Attacked by a Lion at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland

A woman in her 50s was mauled by a lion at a private zoo in rural Australia

A 50-year-old woman sustained serious injuries to her arm after being attacked by a lion at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia, on Sunday morning. The incident occurred in the carnivore precinct of the zoo, located near the rural town of Pilton, south of Toowoomba.

The woman, who was not a staff member but described as a "much-loved member" of the zoo's extended family, was observing animal keepers before the zoo opened to the public when the attack occurred. According to a statement released by the zoo, the woman was “well-versed in safety protocols around potentially dangerous animals” and had frequently visited the facility over the past 20 years.

The Queensland zoo where a woman was attacked by a lion

"Inexplicably, one animal grabbed her by one arm and caused severe damage to it," the zoo said in its statement. The woman was immediately airlifted by helicopter to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she underwent surgery and is now in stable condition. Several reports indicate that she may have lost the arm due to the severity of the injuries.

The zoo emphasized that the lion did not leave its enclosure at any time and there was no risk to staff or the public. Following the incident, Darling Downs Zoo temporarily closed to allow for a full investigation by Queensland police and Workplace Health and Safety officers, who were onsite throughout Sunday.

The Queensland zoo where a woman was attacked by a lion

Zoo officials confirmed that the lion involved in the attack would not be euthanized or punished, stating: “The animal will definitely not be put down or punished in any way.”

Darling Downs Zoo, which spans 48 hectares (119 acres), is cooperating fully with authorities to determine the exact circumstances of the attack. Full details remain pending until investigators are able to interview the injured woman.

The woman was airlifted to hospital

The zoo is expected to reopen to the public on Tuesday.

This is not the first lion attack reported at an Australian zoo. In a separate incident five years ago, a zookeeper was critically injured after being mauled by two lions at Shoalhaven Zoo in New South Wales.