A lion bit off a woman's arm in an Australian zoo (4 photos + 1 video)

A woman in her 50s was taken to hospital after being attacked by a lion at Darling Downs Zoo, near Toowoomba, Queensland. The victim lost an arm. She remained in a stable condition and underwent surgery on Sunday.





Darling Downs Zoo officials said a regular visitor was watching keepers at work when the attack happened.

"It's something she's done many, many times over the last 20 years. She knows the safety rules for handling potentially dangerous animals. Inexplicably, the lion grabbed her arm and caused serious injuries."



The zoo claims that the lion did not leave the enclosure and had not previously shown aggression. The predator will not be euthanized.

Steve Robinson, the director of the institution, together with his wife Stephanie, has been keeping African lions for almost half a century. He breeds them, providing decent living conditions. In 2002, they began building a zoo in the Darling Downs area, located west of Brisbane.





The park is home to African lions, white lions, as well as Sumatran tigers, cheetahs, and leopards. Visitors can pay $150 to get up close and personal with the animals. The site says a trained staff member will escort guests to an enclosure where they can feed the big cats meat using tongs. The experience is described as "an unforgettable experience."



Two weeks ago, caretakers assured the public that the lionesses "enjoy interacting with people."

"Every day at 10 a.m. we show our charges to visitors. We also have individual meetings," the statement said.

Police and occupational safety specialists are investigating the scene.