A shocking incident at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia, has left a woman without an arm after a lion attack on Sunday.
The victim, a member of the zoo owner’s family, is currently in a stable condition in hospital.
Alarming Footage Surfaces
In a disturbing video, a staff member at the zoo is seen putting her face and fingers through the fence of a lion enclosure, with the lion initially approaching her for scratches before suddenly growling and baring its teeth.
The footage, taken in 2023, appears to show Stephanie Robinson, the zoo’s owner, interacting with a male lion.
Zoo Confirms Incident
In a statement, the zoo confirmed that the woman was not an employee, keeper, or visitor, but a “much-loved member of the zoo owners’ family.”
The zoo also stated that they are still investigating the incident and have not been able to interview the woman yet, but she was not inside the lion’s enclosure when she was attacked.
Zoo to Reopen
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has completed a full investigation, and the zoo is set to reopen on Tuesday morning.
The zoo’s owners, Stephanie and Steve Robinson, have been breeding lions since 1997 and opened the zoo in 2005.
The zoo was put up for sale in March for $6 million, the second time the family has attempted to sell it since 2023.