Woman loses her arm after horrifying lion attack at popular zoo

A woman has lost her arm in a horrifying animal attack at a popular zoo in Australia.

The woman was left severely injured after she was attacked by a lion at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia on Saturday (July 5).

The unnamed victim, who visited the carnivore precinct at around 8.30am, was brutally 'grabbed' by the arm by the animal which caused 'severe damage'.

According to a release by the zoo, the woman was a frequent visitor and 'much loved member' who was watching keepers as they worked when the incident unfolded.

The zoo added she had done this 'many, many times over the past 20 years' and is 'well versed in safety protocols around potentially dangerous animals'.

"Inexplicably, at this stage, one animal grabbed her by one arm and caused severe damage to it. At no stage did this animal leave it’s enclosure and there was no risk at all to staff members or members of the public," the statement continued.

The owner Stephanie Robinson pictured with a big cat (Darlingdownszoo.com.au)

The zoo later confirmed it was a lioness that attacked her. The woman was then lifted to Princess Alexandria Hospital in Brisbane by air ambulance where she was deemed stable but was raced into surgery.

Tragically, she lost her arm as a result of the attack the zoo confirmed, and local police and workplace health and safety personnel are investigating the circumstances that led up to the incident.

"The zoo is working with them to establish how this incident occurred but the full details will not be known until our family member can be interviewed," Darling Downs Zoo continued.

An air ambulance raced to the scene (ABC News Australia)

The zoo reasserted that the woman, believed to be in her 50s, is not an employee, keeper or zoo visitor but rather a 'much loved member of the zoo owners' family'.

"It has still not been possible to interview her to establish what led to this tragic incident," it continued.

According to The Daily Mail, the woman had known and worked alongside the lioness for decades.

It has further been reported by News.com.au that the victim is the sister of the owner, Stephanie Robinson, who alongside her husband, Steve, have been breeding lions since 1997 before relocating their animal collection and opening the zoo in 2002.

Putting speculation about the welfare of the animal to bed, it added: "We can confirm that she was attacked by a lioness. She was not in it’s enclosure. It was not hungry, skinny, taunted or tortured – it is a lion.

"It comes from a long line of captive born lions in Australia but it is still a lion – not a pet. It will NOT be put down."

The zoo stressed the lioness will not be put down (ABC News Australia)

Stressing the point in a follow-up, bosses added: "The injured person was not one of our immediate family nor a keeper.

"The animal involved was not an animal which has recently cubbed. The animal will definitely not be put down or punished in any way.

"A full investigation has been carried out by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

"We are extremely grateful to the QAS, QPS and LifeFlight for their prompt attendance and to all of the people and organisations who have rallied round us with messages of support."

The Darling Downs Zoo then said would reopen 9am on Tuesday (July 8) as usual, with a 'full program of free photo ops, educational talks and paid encounters available'.

As per its website, the zoo offers visitors over the age of 10 the chance to purchase personal 'encounters' with the animals, including getting 'up close and personal' with the lions.