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Married At First Sight star under fire for shocking act with lions after woman lost her arm in QLD mauling

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On a worrying note, Al Perkins, a reality TV personality from Married At First Sight, caused alarm on Wednesday after posting a video of himself interacting intimately with lions while in Zambia.

In a video shot at a wildlife reserve, viewers were taken aback when they swiftly recognized the similarity to last weekend’s tragic incident involving a Queensland woman who suffered a lion attack resulting in the loss of her arm.

46-year-old Jo Cabban, an educator hailing from New South Wales, had to be airlifted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane following an attack at the Darling Downs Zoo in Pilton, which is situated close to Toowoomba.

However, it appeared as though Perkins, at 28 years old, held no worry, as he casually strolled along an African wildlife path, accompanied by two lions on each side.

In Zambia, among the untamed lions, he exclaimed, “This is incredible!” His face split wide with joy, he gently stroked one of these magnificent beasts, its tail swishing behind it.

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Supporters of Perkins rushed to comment, some expressing concern by saying, “Didn’t you hear? A woman in Queensland recently lost her arm due to a lioness just two days ago.

‘What the f*** are you doing!!!!’ wrote another.

Someone else chimed in, ‘Simultaneously in Queensland, a woman lost an arm,’ while another commented, ‘Messing around with fire, it seems.’

However, while some expressed worry for the Love Island celebrity’s wellbeing, others applauded Perkins for undertaking such a thrilling journey.

Or:

While certain individuals were anxious about the safety of the Love Island personality, others commended Perkins for embarking on a bold expedition.

‘Awesome! Looks like a dream trip,’ said one.

‘So sick tho AL,’ another commented.

‘BROOOOO THIS IS SICK!!!!’ someone else enthused.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Perkins for comment.    

Steve Robinson, a co-owner of the Darling Downs Zoo, verified that his sister-in-law was the victim who tragically lost her arm during the recent lion attack.

Cabban is currently in stable condition in the hospital.

Robinson told media the victim is ‘a lovely lady whose life has been altered’.

The incident left the employees and the neighborhood community taken aback, as this family-run business has been a part of the local scene since 2005.

Robinson, co-owner of the zoo with his wife (who is also Stephanie Robinson’s sister), stated that it’s still in a very unprocessed state,” or simply, “He explained that things are still quite fresh at the zoo.

Over the last twenty years during school breaks, Cabban frequently visited the zoo, functioning as a photographer on multiple occasions.

Robinson mentioned that even though zoo employees were close by, no one observed the quick attack happening near the holding pen as it transpired in an instant.

He emphatically stated that she wasn’t inside the fenced area. It’s forbidden for anyone to enter the enclosures when there are adult lions present.

In the aftermath of the incident, an attendant on the spot swiftly employed a belt as a makeshift tourniquet. This heroic action, as stated by Robinson, was instrumental in saving his sister-in-law’s life.

Robinson refused to describe his sister-in-law’s injuries, saying they were: ‘Too macabre.’

The incident occurred in a private, employee-only section of the zoo, distinct from the areas accessible to the general public. This area didn’t have barriers for stand-offs since it was used by the animal caretakers.

According to The Courier Mail, the incident involving Cabban occurred around 8:30 am on Sunday morning. This took place inside the cleaning area where she was with her sister and a caretaker. Remarkably, this happened approximately thirty minutes prior to the scheduled opening of the zoo.

Robinson also said he was not sure why the attack happened.

‘The best we can come up with, at this stage, is the lion was just playing,’ Robinson said.

In that specific situation, it’s still unclear if she was interacting with a human. However, let me clarify, this doesn’t imply any blame towards the lion. Lions, by nature, behave as lions do. That’s just their character.

Previously, the zoo stated that the victim was observing the animal caretakers carry out their duties within the carnivore enclosure at the time of the incident. Moreover, she was well-versed in the safety guidelines pertaining to the area.

Queensland workplace health and safety authorities are investigating the incident.

At Darling Downs Zoo, they assured via Facebook that the lion will under no circumstances face euthanasia or punishment whatsoever.

The animal park reopened to the public on Tuesday.

Nationals leader David Littleproud encouraged locals to continue to attend the much-loved zoo.

‘Littleproud offered heartfelt sympathy to the woman affected by the incidents at Darling Downs Zoo.’

This event is truly devastating. Not only does it leave the zoo’s personnel stunned, but it also shocks the entire local community as well.

‘He suggested that residents should keep coming to the zoo for fun, as it relies on local support particularly during these challenging times.’

The main zoological park in the regional area of Queensland is home to tawny lions and white lions, which are indigenous to South Africa.

Or more casually:

The regional Queensland zoo has got tawny and white lions from South Africa! These guys are native species there.

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2025-07-11 03:38

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