Woman who lost arm in lion attack at Darling Downs Zoo undergoing surgery
The woman in her 50s suffered a severe injury while watching keepers working in the carnivore enclosure at the Darling Downs Zoo, south of Toowoomba, on Sunday.
Emergency services were called to the zoo around 8:30am and the woman was transported to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital in a stable condition.
It is understood the woman has lost an arm.
Zoo owner Steve Robinson said he had not yet spoken to the woman, but would provide an update once she had undergone surgery.
In a statement, Darling Downs Zoo said the woman was well versed in safety protocols around potentially dangerous animals.
"This is something that she has done many, many times over the past 20 years," it said.
The statement said the animal involved would "definitely not be put down or punished in any way".
A spokesperson for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said its inspectors were investigating.
Darling Downs Zoo said it was working with authorities to establish how the incident occurred.
"We are extremely grateful to the QAS, QPS and LifeFlight for their prompt attendance and to all of the people and organisations who have rallied round us with messages of support," the statement said.
Darling Downs Zoo was closed on Sunday and is expected to reopen on Tuesday.
The zoo, which is a two-hour drive from Brisbane, is home to several species of big cats including lions, tigers and leopards.
Maranoa MP David Littleproud said the attack would have been an enormous shock to staff at the "much-loved animal park".
The business, which is spread across a 48-hectare property on the Darling Downs, was listed for sale for around $6 million in 2023 but was taken off the market last year.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
31 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Better luck next time': Taggers flee police after spraying train
A pair of vandals has been caught on video chasing down a train, spray-painting one of its carriages, and then fleeing from police by scaling a fence. The footage, which has circulated widely on social media, has prompted a police investigation. The video, filmed by a passenger on board the train, was uploaded to social media pages under the name Logan Graffiti, titled: 'Better luck next time.' It shows two individuals, their faces covered and carrying what appear to be spray paint cans, running alongside the moving train. Both can be seen glancing over their shoulders as they sprint. When the train comes to a stop, one of the pair tags the side of a carriage while also appearing to film the act on their phone. Moments later, the duo scrambles over a fence as three police officers arrive in pursuit. The officers stop short of climbing the fence. Passengers on board the train can be heard reacting to the incident, with some chanting 'trespassers, trespassers.' 'Get outa here,' one woman yells. The pair is then seen running across a road and into a nearby residential area. The Queensland Police Service has confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway. 'Queensland Police are investigating a graffiti and trespassing incident at Newmarket last week,' a spokesperson said. 'As the train stopped, two suspects have graffitied the left side of the train, before jumping over a nearby fence upon being challenged by police. 'They then ran across Newmarket Road and fled through a number of properties.' The Logan Graffiti social media pages frequently post photos and videos of graffiti on trains, railway infrastructure, and nearby walls.

News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Charge dropped after Greens candidate injured in protest scuffle
Police have dropped one of the charges against former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas after it was found officers should not have used a rare emergency power introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots. Ms Thomas was severely injured during a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney's southwest on June 27 that was attended by about 60 people, and left her with a bloody and battered eye. NSW Police said the protest was not authorised and attempted to disperse the group. 'Five people have been arrested following an unauthorised protest in Sydney's west this morning,' a statement at the time read. 'About 5.35am Friday, officers attached to Campsie Police Area Command attended Lakemba Street, Belmore. Police issued a move-on direction to a group of about 60 protesters, who allegedly attempted to block pedestrian access to the business. 'A 26-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were subsequently arrested after allegedly failing to comply with the direction. During the 35-year-old woman's arrest, she sustained facial injuries and was taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.' Ms Thomas shared a picture of a swollen eye and streaks of blood rushing down her cheek, revealing she may lose her right eye after a second round of surgery, which she will undergo this week. Last week, Ms Thomas was charged with resisting arrest and refusing or failing to comply with a direction to disperse. Four others were also charged with a variety of offences. 'As police attempted to arrest the protesters who were not complying with the directions, a scuffle ensued between police and protesters,' a police statement read. Ms Thomas was additionally charged with a rarely used emergency anti-riot power under 6A of the Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibilities Act (LEPRA). The powers are in place to deal with 'large-scale public disorder', were introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots and must be signed off by senior officers. On Monday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden confirmed police had dropped the charge after reviewing the incident. He said 'police will seek to withdraw the alternative charge' at the next court appearance. Following the incident last month, Ms Thomas said she may lose her vision permanently and blamed 'draconian anti-protest laws' brought in by the Minns government. 'I don't want to get into too much detail about the traumatic events on Friday, but I'm five foot one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest, and my interactions with NSW Police have left me potentially without vision in my right eye permanently,' she said in a clip shared by MP Sue Higginson. She is set to face Bankstown Local Court on August 12.

ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Paraglider dies after fall at Mena Creek near Innisfail
A man has died after a paragliding incident near Innisfail in Far North Queensland. Emergency services were called to the site at Mena Creek on Monday, just before 5:40pm. Paramedics said a 63-year-old man from Utchee Creek was using a motorised parachute and fell about 20 metres, sustaining multiple serious leg injuries. He was airlifted to Cairns Hospital but died during transit. Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and would prepare a report for the coroner.