The youngster, said to be between six and eight, had been fiddling with the zipper of his jacket when the bird tried to pick him up "like a small animal"
The youngster, said to be between six and eight, had been fiddling with the zipper of his green hooded jacket when the bird tried to pick him up "like a small animal ", witnesses said.
Staff at the Alice Springs Desert Park in Central Australia managed to step in during the attack, which left the boy bleeding and with cuts to his face.
Christine O'Connell, from Horsham in Victoria state, had been visiting the nature reserve with her husband on July 6 when she captured the terrifying scene and shared the image on her Instagram.
"For some reason the wedge-tailed Eagle did not like it and instead of flying over to the log he is meant to for a photo opportunity he flew straight at the young boy and attacked him.
"The show was quickly cancelled and the boy taken off to first aid. Those talons are huge he was a very lucky young boy."
Keenan Lucas, who was in the crowd, told NT News the young boy's mother was "distraught" during the attack.
"We're at the bird show in the afternoon, having a great time and looking forward to seeing the wedge-tailed eagle come out for the finale," he said.
Alice Springs Desert Park released a statement, which read: "On Wednesday, 6 July, an incident occurred at the Alice Springs Desert Park where an eagle made contact with an audience member," according to the BBC .
"A thorough investigation regarding the circumstances behind this incident is under way and the eagle will be removed from the show while this investigation is ongoing."