A 35-year-old zookeeper has been critically injured after being attacked by two lions at Shoalhaven Zoo in New South Wales, Australia. The incident occurred on Tuesday while the woman was cleaning an enclosure.
The victim sustained severe facial and neck injuries, including bites and lacerations. Paramedics found her unconscious at the scene. New South Wales Ambulance Inspector Faye Stockmen described the attack as 'extremely vicious' and noted that responders 'literally had to walk into a lion's den' after the animals were restrained.
The zookeeper was airlifted to a Sydney hospital in critical condition. Police are investigating the incident, and the zoo has pledged to cooperate fully while providing support to staff.
Shoalhaven Zoo has been closed to the public since 25 March due to coronavirus lockdown measures. This is not the first serious animal incident at the zoo; in 2014, a handler was dragged into water by a crocodile during a presentation, sustaining hand injuries.
