Woman attacked by eagle at Gold Coast wildlife sanctuary

A wedge-tailed eagle has attacked a female staff member at the Gold Coast's Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, leaving her with facial cuts.

The woman, believed to be in her 30s, was attacked just after 8.30am today and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

The sanctuary's senior vet, Dr Michael Payne, said she was an experienced staff member who had entered the eagle enclosure to "clean and feed".

"She suffered a lip injury and is currently undergoing treatment in hospital," he said.

It is understood that operations, including free flight shows featuring wedge- tail eagles, are proceeding as normal at the wildlife park.

The wingspan of a wedge-tailed eagle can be as much as 2.8m and their prey includes foxes, rabbits and small kangaroos.

The incident comes just two months after a boy was attacked at an Alice Springs wildlife park by a wedge-tailed eagle, with a picture of the incident making headlines around the world.

- AAP