A jaguar who attacked a woman at an Arizona zoo after she climbed over a barrier to get a better photo will not be put down.

Witnesses said the woman was trying to take a selfie with the jaguar on Saturday when it lashed out at the Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix.

She had climbed over a barricade to get closer to the jaguar's enclosure when the animal reached out and swiped at her.

Although there were fears the jaguar would be euthanized over the incident, the zoo's bosses confirmed on Twitter she would not be put down after the attack.

A jaguar who attacked this woman at the Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix on Saturday after she climbed over a barrier to get a better photo will not be put down

Although there were fears the jaguar would be euthanized over the incident, the zoo's bosses confirmed on Twitter she would not be put down after the attack

They said: 'We can promise you nothing will happen to our jaguar.

'She's a wild animal and there were proper barriers in place to keep our guests safe- not a wild animals fault when barriers are crossed. Still sending prayers to (the woman) and her family.'

The woman suffered severe lacerations to her arm and was bleeding heavily.

Footage shot by a witness showed the woman lying on the floor crying in pain as she nursed her injured arm.

The video also showed a deep gash on the woman's arm.

The woman suffered severe lacerations to her arm after the jaguar swiped at her from inside the enclosure

The woman had climbed over a barricade to get closer to the jaguar's enclosure when the animal reached out and swiped at her. The zoo said at no time was jaguar out of its enclosure

Zoo officials acknowledged the woman had climbed over the barricade and said they were investigating.

'We regret to inform that this evening, before closing there was an incident reported involving a guest, who crossed over the barrier to get a photo, according to eye witnesses,' Wildlife World Zoo said in a statement.

'The visitor sustained non-life threatening injuries to their arm from one of our female jaguars. At the request of the family, paramedics were called. At no time was the animal out of its enclosure. The incident is being fully investigated.'

Zoo director Mickey Ollson said it is the second time in a month that the jaguar has swiped at a visitor.