Queensland lion attack: What we know so far

Sydney Morning Herald

5 hours ago

The zoo said on Sunday the injured woman was 'not one of our immediate family, nor a keeper', and confirmed on Monday that the woman involved was not one of the zoo's owners.
'The lady involved in the incident is still in a stable condition in hospital and is surrounded by members of our extended family,' the zoo posted late Monday afternoon.
'She has lost her arm. She is not an employee, a keeper or a zoo visitor. She is 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.'
The woman was not in the enclosure with the lioness, the zoo said.
A Metro South Health Services spokeswoman said the woman remained in a stable condition on Monday.
The investigation
After closing on Sunday and Monday, the spokesperson said in a statement it would reopen from Tuesday.
Police and Workplace Health and Safety personnel arrived at the zoo on Sunday to begin investigations.
'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,' the Darling Downs Zoo spokesperson said.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said investigations were continuing on Monday, but could not provide more detail.
The zoo said it would not euthanise or otherwise punish the animal involved.
What is the Darling Downs Zoo
The Darling Downs Zoo is a two-hour drive from Brisbane, sitting 100 kilometres to the south-west. It is owned and managed by Stephanie and Steve Robinson, who purchased the 49-hectare property in 2001.
Locals from nearby communities in Allora and Clifton – which boast populations of about 1500 each – said the zoo was particularly popular with people from Toowoomba, the nearest major town that sits about 40 kilometres directly north of the zoo.
It has partnered with a number of local business and schools, who declined to comment.
The Robinsons moved their animal collection to the property in 2022 and began building the zoo. They opened the zoo in 2005, but ran successful breeding programs for years beforehand.
In recognition of its breeding programs working with vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered native species, which have been returned to the wild in partnership with release programs across the country, the Australian government listed the zoo as charity in June this year.
The zoo's big cats
The zoo houses several (asked for exact amount) big cats, including white and tawny African lions, tigers and leopards, and several species of small cats, such as cheetahs, caracals, and servals.
The cats are bred at the zoo, but its website says the animals in its breeding programs are not on display for visitors.
It began its lion breeding program in 1997, and its social media pages say managing director Steve Robinson has almost five decades of experience specifically dealing with African lions.
Some of the oldest lions at the zoo are almost 15 years old, which is approaching the natural lifespan of an African lion, but the oldest lion bred at the zoo is 24 years old, and now resides at the Mansfield Zoo, in north-eastern Victoria.
The zoo currently boasts a handful of cubs, including a set of female cubs born in mid-May and a male cub, Caesar, born in August last year.
Up-close encounters
The zoo offers several 'strictly monitored' close encounter experiences with the lions, tigers and leopards for $150 per person, which are used to help fund conservation programs.
Encounters are limited to four people per encounter, with two encounter offered per day. The zoo's website offers guests 'the thrill of a lifetime' with the opportunity to feed one of the zoo's big cats through the fence with tongs.
Guests are offered '15 minutes of big cat time', alongside educational talks and photo opportunities with all three big cat species.
Cubs are brought into the public-facing part of the zoo for tours at 10am each day.
A statement from the zoo on Sunday said the lion involved in the attack was not currently 'cubbing' – raising young – which can make big cats more aggressive.
How many big cats are in captivity in Queensland
We asked the Department of Primary Industries this very question.
Six hours later, the department provided a list of about 150 people and organisations with a current 'exhibited animal authority' that allows them to keep animals. There was no information regarding the actual animals.
If DPI knows, they aren't sharing.
Animal attacks at Queensland zoos
Last September, a 47-year-old Gold Coast tiger handler was mauled while she was walking the animal at Dreamworld, suffering serious lacerations and puncture wounds.
Also at Dreamworld, in 2011, a Bengal named Kato bit two Dreamworld tiger handlers – one in May and one in September.
Kato was transferred to Symbio Wildlife Park in NSW the following year, where he died in 2018 aged 16.
There were also a string of tiger-related injuries at Australia Zoo, on the Sunshine Coast, last decade.
In November 2013, 120-kilogram Sumatran tiger Ranu bit 33-year-old handler Dave Style on the neck and shoulder in front of horrified onlookers during a public show at the popular attraction, made famous by the late Steve Irwin.
The following July, another tiger, Juma, bit Australia Zoo handler Mark Turner on the calf during a routine walk.
And in 2016, Che Woolcott received deep scratches to his arm and head after Ranu swatted at him with his paw.
Monday's attack at Dreamworld came two days after a female pedestrian was taken to hospital with a potentially life-threatening injury after she was struck by a vehicle on the road approaching the theme park.