ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- An animal keeper at the Detroit Zoo was hospitalized after an attack by a lion on Saturday.

The attack happened as the keeper transferred the lion from the outdoor habitat to the indoor facility at the end of the day.

Zoo spokesman, Scott Carter, said no one was ever at risk.

Carter said, “This happened at a time when the park was not open to visitors. The lion never left the secure area inside the building, so there was never any risk to visitors.”

The keeper fought off the lion with pepper spray.

He was bitten and scratched but did not suffer any life threatening injuries.

“He was conscious and reported what happened as he was being treated,” Carter said.

One visitor told Local 4, even though no visitors were at risk, it was very unsettling.

“They locked us in the train for about 45 minutes, “ Tammy Baez said. “We saw an ambulance, police cars, people running. I saw workers running and I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I was pretty scared.”

The Detroit Zoo said there is nothing to worry about because this doesn’t happen often.

“This is a very rare occurrence," Carter said. "I’m not aware of any other attacks like this since I have been at the zoo.”