A woman in her 50s has sustained significant injuries after being bitten by an animal at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia. The incident occurred at approximately 8:32 am local time on Sunday while she was observing keepers working in the carnivore precinct.
Queensland Ambulance Service reported that the woman suffered a 'significant arm injury'. She was airlifted by Life Flight rescue helicopter to Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she is reported to be in a stable condition.
The zoo stated in a Facebook post that the woman had been watching keepers work, a routine she had performed many times over the past 20 years. 'Inexplicably, at this stage, one animal grabbed her by one arm and caused severe damage to it. At no stage did this animal leave [its] enclosure and there was no risk at all to staff members or members of the public,' the statement read.
The zoo confirmed that the woman is not a family member nor a keeper, and that the animal involved will not be euthanised or punished. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating the incident. The zoo was closed on Sunday but is set to reopen on Monday.
Darling Downs Zoo, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, houses big cats including African lions, a Sumatran tiger, and Sri Lankan leopards. It specialises in breeding endangered species.
