A man accused of stabbing his female co-worker to death at a Canberra zoo has been charged.

During a bedside hearing on Tuesday, the 29-year-old zoo worker was charged with one count of murder and refused bail.

Emergency services were called to the National Zoo and Aquarium in central Canberra about 12.50pm on Monday after people heard loud screams.

When ACT police arrived, they found a 29-year-old woman dead with stab wounds in a store room out the back of a commercial kitchen.

A knife was found at the scene.

The man was taken to hospital under police guard with self-inflicted wounds.

While police are yet to release the name of the man or the woman involved, he has been widely identified in media reports as sous chef Jude Wijesinghe. He is reportedly a Bhutanese citizen.

News Ltd reported Wijesinghe worked at Jamala Wildlife Lodge, which is part of the National Zoo and Aquarium.

Metho Dema, the first secretary at the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Canberra, has told News that the dead woman was also from Bhutan.

ACT Policing said on Monday it was unknown if the pair were in a relationship.

“We know that they were co-workers at the National Zoo and Aquarium. We’re uncertain at this time whether there’s any further relationship between those co-workers,” Detective Superintendent Hall O’Meagher said on Tuesday.

“The deceased died as a result of stab wounds and a post-mortem examination will be conducted in the coming days. But at this stage it looks like she’s been stabbed to death with a knife.”

In a social media statement on Monday night, representatives from the zoo said the menagerie would be closed on Tuesday following the “incredibly sad events”. It will reopen on Wednesday.

“The National Zoo and Aquarium experienced a tragic event on Monday involving staff members,” the Facebook post read.

“We request that visitors and guests recognise the significant trauma that staff have experienced and that they respect their need for privacy on this matter.

“Our thoughts are with the families, along with those staff affected in one way or another.”

The wildlife lodge posted the same message to its social media.

All zoo staff have been offered access to trauma counselling though police do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.

The man will next appear in court on April 4.

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-with AAP