Wolf Bites Woman, incident is first wolf attack against a human in Germany in decades
Willy Mobilo
A woman in Hamburg experienced a rare and alarming encounter with a wild animal when she was bitten by a wolf. German police reported Monday that the incident occurred near an Ikea store about 2.5 miles from the city center. Federal conservation officials described the attack as the first confirmed wolf assault on a person in Germany since the species returned to the country in the late 1990s, according to Deutsche Welle. Local reports indicate that the woman was bitten in the face after trying to assist the wolf, which appeared disoriented and repeatedly collided with a glass wall, per Politico.
Authorities later located the wolf near the Binnenalster lake, where it entered the water and was captured using a snare, DW reported. Officials believe the animal was a juvenile that had recently left its pack and had been wandering through Hamburg for several days, with multiple sightings reported across the city. Experts suggest the wolf became confused by the urban environment and was attempting to escape, a stressful situation for a wild predator, according to regional government statements cited by the AP.
The wolf has been moved to a wildlife park, and the woman received medical treatment, including stitches, at a local hospital before being released.
The attack comes amid ongoing discussions in Germany over how to handle the nation’s increasing wolf population. The upper house of parliament recently approved more relaxed hunting regulations for wolves, while the European Union has downgraded the animals’ protection status. Researchers emphasize that attacks on humans are extremely rare and usually involve provocation, disease, or wolves that have lost their natural fear of people.
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