Lions attack zoo keeper Jennifer Brown at Shoalhaven Zoo in NSW

Shocked NSW emergency workers have described the ‘absolutely harrowing’ attack on zoo keeper Jennifer Brown, 35, by two male lions.

Zoo keeper Jennifer Brown, 35, was working in the lion enclosure at the North Nowra park when she was “viciously” attacked by the animals just before 10.30am.

A popular zoo on the NSW south coast is now at the centre of a police investigation after an experienced female zookeeper was critically injured when she was mauled by two male lions in an “extremely vicious” attack inside the animals’ enclosure.

Jennifer Brown, 35, suffered traumatic injuries to her head and neck in an incident shocked emergency crews have described as “absolutely harrowing.”

Emergency services were called to Shoalhaven Zoo in North Nowra about 10.30am on Friday, following reports a lion had bitten the 35-year-old woman on the head and neck.

“This is one of the worst jobs I have ever experienced — I have never come across a job like this in my career,” said NSW Ambulance duty operations manager, Faye Stockmen. “The attack was extremely vicious and paramedics found the woman with severe injuries.”

Ms Brown is in a critical condition in hospital.

“Being the first to walk into the enclosure was one of the most frightening experiences — we literally had to walk into a lions’ den.”

The keeper had been cleaning the lion’s enclosure when the animals pounced. She was found unconscious by two staff members, who managed to secure the animals in a safe location following the attack.

Ms Brown was airlifted to St George Hospital in Sydney and remains in a critical condition.

Detective Superintendent Greg Moore said NSW Police would commence an investigation into the incident and would be working alongside SafeWork NSW and zoo authorities to determine what had happened.

The zookeeper is loaded onto a helictoper to be taken to hospital. Picture: Sam Strong

Asked if the lions would be put down, Superintendent Moore said it was too early to pre-empt an outcome of that investigation.

“Fortunately, lion attacks are rare in this part of the world,” he said. “It’s had a big impact on the staff,” he said. “It’s a small zoo and the staff are very tight-knit.”

The zoo boasts on its website that visitors can handfeed the facility’s six adult lions, including two male white lions named Jabari and Kibwana.

“Come face-to-face with our roarsome foursome and get to feed the King of the Savannah,” an advertisement on the zoo’s website reads. “Feel their power and majesty as you get to feed them with the help of one of our keepers.”

Ain investigation is underway at the zoo. Picture: News Corp/Simon Bullard

The “Lion Feeding Encounter” costs punters $80 per person while a maximum of 10 people are allowed to partake in the activity at any one time.

Photos and videos posted on the zoo’s Facebook and Instagram pages show multiple visitors feeding adult lions pieces of meat through gaps in the animals cages.

In one photo, a young girl in a school uniform can be seen holding a pair of tongs while feeding a piece of meat to an adult male lion through the animal’s cage.

This is not the first time a zookeeper has been attacked by an animal at Shoalhaven Zoo.

In 2014, animal handler Trent Burton was dragged into a pond by a 3.7 metre saltwater crocodile.

Mr Burton had been trying to lure the reptile out of its enclosure with a piece of meat when it latched onto his hand and dragged him into the water in front of 60 spectators. Mr Burton managed to escape and sustained non-life threatening injuries to both hands.

Shoalhaven Zoo declined to comment.

The zoo has been closed to the public because of COVID-19.