A woman has been found dead at a zoo in Canberra and police have taken one of her co-workers into custody.

Emergency services were called to the National Zoo and Aquarium in central Canberra about 12.50pm on Monday after receiving reports of a disturbance.

When ACT Policing officers arrived, they found a woman dead in a commercial kitchen.

Police said a 29-year-old man has been arrested and taken to hospital under police guard as a person of interest. He is in a stable condition, with what police said appeared to be self-inflicted wounds.

A police spokesmen said the man and woman were known to each through being co-workers at the zoo. They said loud screams were heard shortly before the woman’s body was found, although there are not believed to be witnesses to an altercation.

The zoo has been closed, though police do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.

No charges have yet been laid.

The woman’s name is yet to be released, although police have spoken to her family.

-with AAP