A woman in her 50s was seriously injured after being bitten by an animal at Darling Downs zoo in Queensland on Sunday morning. The attack occurred while she was watching keepers work with big cats, including lions, tigers, and leopards.
The woman suffered a significant arm injury and was rushed to the Princess Alexandra hospital where she is currently undergoing treatment. A Life Flight rescue helicopter brought her to the hospital from the scene of the incident.
According to the zoo’s spokesperson, the woman had been watching keepers work in the carnivore precinct for many years and knew safety protocols around potentially dangerous animals. However, at some point during her visit, an animal grabbed her arm, causing severe damage.
The zoo has closed its doors on Sunday and will reopen on Monday, with police and workplace health and safety personnel investigating the incident. The zoo has denied that any of its staff or visitors were at risk during the attack.
A spokesperson for the zoo said that the injured woman was not a family member or keeper, and that the animal involved was not an endangered species. They also stated that the animal would not be put down as punishment.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/06/queensland-zoo-employee-suffers-significant-arm-injury-after-being-mauled-by-animal