A woman in her 50s suffered a severe arm injury after being attacked by a lion at an Australian zoo on Sunday morning, as per authorities and reports. The incident occurred at the Darling Downs Zoo near Toowoomba in Queensland, where the woman, a frequent visitor, was observing zookeepers tending to the lion.
The zoo released a statement explaining that the woman, who they referred to as a cherished member of their community, was watching the keepers work in the carnivore area. She had been doing this for over two decades and was well-acquainted with the safety measures required around potentially dangerous animals. However, for reasons yet unknown, one of the lions grabbed her arm, causing severe damage.
The exact location of the woman at the time of the attack remains unclear. Following the incident, she was airlifted to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, where she underwent surgery for her significant arm injury. She was reported to be in stable condition.
Reports suggest that the woman may have lost her arm due to the severity of the injury inflicted by the lion. The zoo emphasized that the lion remained within its enclosure throughout the incident.
The Daily Mail reported that the lion involved in the attack will not be euthanized. The zoo has not released any further information about the incident or the woman’s current condition.