Zoo Owner's Family Member Loses Arm in Lion Attack

A woman in her 50s, later identified as a long-standing family member of the Darling Downs Zoo owners rather than an employee or keeper, lost her arm after being attacked by a lioness before opening hours in the carnivore precinct at the Queensland, Australia zoo. Emergency services responded swiftly, and she remains in stable condition after surgery. The incident prompted an investigation by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, which resulted in compliance notices being issued to the zoo. The zoo has since reopened, expressing regret over initial media misreporting and reaffirming its safety protocols. Officials emphasized the lioness never left its enclosure and will not be euthanized. The attack has renewed debate about the dangers of human-animal interactions in private zoos.