10-07-2025
Aussie influencer Al Perkins under fire for patting lions as he strolls next to them at African wildlife reserve
An Aussie influencer has come under fire over a clip of himself patting two lions on an African reserve, just days after a woman lost her arm at a Queensland zoo.
Joanne Cabban was attacked by a lioness while visiting her sister at Darling Downs Zoo on Sunday morning.
Cabban lost her arm in the horrific incident and remains in a stable but sedated condition at the Princess Alexandria Hospital, where she faces further surgery.
Despite that headline-making news, tradie turned reality TV star Al Perkins shared an Instagram clip of himself strolling along a path as he patted the backs of two lions.
'We are in Zambia ... with wild lions,' Perkins said. 'This is crazy.'
Zambia, a country in southern Africa bordered by the Congo, Tanzania, Malawai, Zimbabwe and Botswana, is known for its safaris with a network of protected areas where local wildlife roam.
Perkins simply captioned the clip Hakuna Matata — a Swahili phrase meaning 'no worries', made famous in the 1994 animated film The Lion King.
Far from being supportive, a number of Perkins' fans lashed out at him.
'Haven't (you) heard about the woman in Queensland who lost her arm to a lioness two days ago,' one follower wrote, clearly outraged.
'Meanwhile, in Queensland a lady had her arm eaten off,' another added.
'Luckily you survived! I wouldn't do this ever! They turn very quickly. You was (sic) very brave.'
However, other fans were a bit more relaxed about it all.
'Wow, incredible,' one person wrote.
'It's Simba and Nala,' another wrote in another reference to The Lion King.
'So awesome,' another added.
has reached out to Perkins for comment.
Under investigation
WorkSafe Queensland is investigating the Darling Downs Zoo incident.
The zoo reopened on Tuesday but its popular lion encounters have been suspended indefinitely.
A former staff member spoke to about the incident, saying .
'She was walking the dog past the lion enclosure and put her arm through to pat the lions — as the owners normally do,' the former employee told
Zoo and authorities respond to investigation
Darling Downs Zoo co-owner Steve Robinson defended the lions' temperament earlier this week, describing them as 'excellent' after being raised at the zoo from birth.
He said the best explanation they could offer was 'the lion was just playing'.
The zoo has confirmed the animal involved 'would not be put down or punished in any way'.
Despite the tragedy, Robinson said community support has been overwhelming, with visitors continuing to show support for the zoo and its staff.
Cabban, who had been taking photos for the zoo's yearly calendar, now faces a long road to recovery.
Darling Downs Zoo was put up for sale in March for $6 million, the second time the family has attempted to sell it since 2023.
