A woman has suffered significant injuries after being bitten by an animal at a Queensland zoo.

The woman, in her 50s, was attacked at Darling Downs zoo, in Pilton, about 50km south of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, at about 8.32am on Sunday.

The woman, an employee, was reportedly cleaning the enclosure when she was attacked. The Guardian understands she lost an arm in the attack. The zoo is home to big cats including lions, tigers and leopards.

A spokesperson for Queensland ambulance said the woman suffered a “significant arm injury”.

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The Life Flight rescue helicopter flew her to the Princess Alexandra hospital where she is reportedly in a stable condition.

A spokesperson from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said they had been notified of the incident.

“WHSQ Inspectors are onsite and making inquiries. No further comment can be made at this time.”

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Darling Downs Zoo said that “due to unforeseen circumstances, the zoo will be closed all day today”.

The zoo has African lions, including white lions from the Greater Timbavati and Southern Kruger Park region of South Africa. It also has other big cats including a Sumatran tiger and a breeding pair of Sri Lankan leopards, according to its website.

The zoo turns 20 this year and has appointed a “restructuring practitioner” to help “make our commercial structure more fit for purpose” according to the website.

“The zoo specialises in the captive husbandry and breeding of many critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species from around the world,” the website says.