An attendant at an Australian wildlife sanctuary is recovering after being mauled by a crocodile.

Renee Robertson, 25, had to have surgery on her arm after she was attacked by the beast, named Tipper, during a feeding show at the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville, Queensland.

Video of the incident, filmed by a visitor to the park, shows the 2.5m crocodile come out of the water and head towards Ms Robertson before snapping at her and attacking her.

As she cries for help, a second attendant races towards the pair and repeatedly hits the crocodile with a stick until it releases Ms Robertson and heads back to the water.

Reports of the incident said Ms Robertson had been taken to hospital with serious injuries to her arm.

She was taken to hospital where she underwent surgery.

Bob Flemming, the owner of the sanctuary, said told Australia's ABC: "She [Ms Robertson] had surgery and last report I heard she was sitting up in bed having an ice block. We're very fortunate that she's going to fully recover."

Mr Flemming said the sanctuary had not seen an attack for 20 years and that Tipper would not be euthanised.

A post on the Billabong Sanctuary Facebook page said that Ms Robertson's "furred and feathered friends" at the wildlife park were hoping for a "full and speedy recovery".