MELBOURNE, Australia -- A woman has sustained severe injuries to an arm when she was attacked by a lion at an Australian zoo. The Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland state said the 50-year-old woman was watching animal keepers working in the zoo’s carnivore precinct before opening hours Sunday morning when she was attacked.

A woman who lost her arm after being attacked by a lion in a Queensland zoo had worked with the animal for more than 20 years.

Scores of loyal park patrons have spoken out in support of Darling Downs Zoo after a zoo employee tragically lost their arm in a lion attack.