Darling Downs Zoo owner reveals how keeper came to the rescue after sister-in-law was mauled by lioness

The owner of a regional Queensland zoo which was the scene of a horrific lion attack has revealed how a keeper came to the rescue after a woman’s arm was ripped off.

• Wild footage before attack

The quick-thinking heroics of a lion keeper has reportedly saved the life of a woman who was mauled by the big cat at a regional Queensland zoo.

The attack on the woman in her 50s happened at Darling Downs Zoo south of Toowoomba about 8.30am on Sunday.

The woman, confirmed to be the sister and sister-in-law of owners Steph and Steve Robinson, suffered significant arm injuries in the attack.

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics and the LifeFlight critical care team responded to the incident, and the woman was airlifted to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital where she remains in a stable condition after undergoing numerous operations.

A woman at the Darling Downs Zoo has had their arm seriously injured by a Lion, the handler was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. Picture: 7News

It has been confirmed that the woman has lost her arm in the attack.

The zoo was closed for Sunday and remained off-limits to the public Monday before reopening to crowds on Tuesday, who had gathered at the tourist attraction that has been open on the Darling Downs for 20 years.

Darling Downs Zoo owner Steve Robinson after his sister-in-law lost her arm in a lion attack.

Mr Robinson said an experienced lion keeper was the first to come to the aid of the woman who acted quickly to use Mrs Robinson’s belt as a tourniquet.

“She did save her life,” Mr Robinson said.

“Slightly further away, fortunately, was one of our keepers who was well-versed in first aid.

“She was the first responder in terms of first aid to the incident. She actually took my wife’s leather belt off and applied a tourniquet.

“Very quickly, the first aid kit was there, and we wrapped it up in a thermal blanket. The paramedics locally were here very, very quickly indeed. Police, of course, and the LifeFlight helicopter arrived and took her through to the hospital in Brisbane.”

The Toowoomba-based LifeFlight aeromedical crew today airlifted a woman to hospital after she was injured in an animal incident in the Toowoomba region. Photo: LifeFlight.

Mr Robinson said his sister in law, who often took photos at the zoo, was experienced with the animals despite not being an employee.

“This is a family member. She’s been doing this for 20 years,” he said.

“Our daughter used to go in there when she was little and she’s not a keeper.”

Mr Robinson urged people to stop jumping to conclusions as the zoo continued to look into how the incident occurred.

Stephanie Robinson with 10-week-old lion cub Caesar at Darling Downs Zoo, 22 October 2024. Photo: David Martinelli.

Mr Robinson said his family and the zoo were still reeling from the tragic incident and his sister-in-law remained in a stable condition in hospital.

“We’re still processing in our minds and coming to grips with not just what happened, but what happens next,” he said.

“We’ve now got a lovely lady, whose life has been altered.

“It is times like this when you wonder why you keep going.”

Mr Robinson said it had been an incredibly difficult time, and although his sister-in-law was in a stable condition it was taking an emotional toll.

“Emotionally, both her and my wife are on a roller coaster,” he said.

“It’s the great unknown at the moment.”

Steve, Steph and Madeline Robinson with Vicky the 4-year-old koala and her joey at Darling Downs Zoo. Pic Tara Croser.

The incident which happened on Sunday morning in an area closed to the general public did not raise any concerns for reopening the zoo.

Mr Robinson said they were not required to close by Workplace Health and Safety following thorough investigations.

“They’ve investigated it very, very thoroughly,” he said.

“It was an off-exhibit area, there were no risks to the public, no animals escaped or anything like that.

“Closing the zoo was our decision alone and obviously that was made in terms of our staff’s emotions and out of respect to the lady who has been injured.”

Sassy, a lion seen at the Darling Downs Zoo. Photo: Steve Pohlner

Mr Robinson said only trained people have access to the area and they are very cautious of who goes in.

He said from their assessments the zoo does not think it was a malicious attack and the lions were back on display today as normal.

“This is not a lion fault,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s anybody’s fault, we will find out as time goes by.

“The best we can come up with at this stage is the lion was just playing.

“How she was playing with a human in that circumstance is yet to be determined.”

The carpark for Darling Downs Zoo was full on Tuesday, July 8 when they reopened after a lion attack the Sunday prior. Photo: Bella Munro.

Mr Robinson said public viewing was open as normal but they would not be doing paid lion encounters this week, as staff were still recovering emotionally from the incident.

The Darling Downs Zoo celebrated its 20th year in June.

Mr Robinson said while he won’t be around for another 20 years, he believed the zoo still would be.

“All of those things but we are still here and we’re not going anywhere,” he said.

Tracy Arklay, who drove out from Brisbane on Tuesday, said she had already been planning a trip to the zoo for her grandson’s third birthday.

“Then that terrible thing happened the other day, but they’re still open so we’re happy to be here,” she said.

“They’re wild animals and I think we’ve got to be careful around all animals really, but its just so sad for the family and for the zoo.

“I think it’s lovely that the community is still supporting it.”

The carpark for Darling Downs Zoo was full on Tuesday, July 8 when they reopened after a lion attack the Sunday prior. Photo: Bella Munro.

Joanne Ashby, who was visiting from Bundaberg with her grandchildren, said she wasn’t turned off by the accident, and neither were the dozens of other families that filled the parking lot.

“There’s quite a lot of people here today,” she said.

Giles Burton and his family had been planning to come out to the Darling Downs zoo the day of the incident, so came back when they reopened on Tuesday, making the trip from Logan.

“We still thought we’d come and support a local Australian business,” he said.

Sheree Little who lives about an hour away from the zoo said both her kids have been there on school trips before and it was one of the things they wanted to do over their school holidays.

Some of the lionesses at Darling Downs Zoo include (clockwise from top left) Shenzi, Buffy, Sahara and Michiana.

When she heard about the incident she said she was shocked that it was so close to home, but was glad to see people still coming out to support.

“These things happen I guess when you are working with these animals,” she said.

“We actually had to park across the road because the car park was so full and I was glad to see that there were heaps of people coming out to support them still.

“I don’t think it has affected the reputation of the zoo.

“I think it’s important we still support them because it was so unfortunate.”

Originally published as Darling Downs Zoo owner reveals how keeper came to the rescue after sister-in-law was mauled by lioness