Eight-year-old girl mauled by wolves at German wildlife park

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 03:45 · Archive

An eight-year-old girl was seriously injured in a wolf attack at Johannismühle wildlife park in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, on Wednesday morning. She was inside a wolf enclosure with two other children and a professional staff member when wolves set upon her. Emergency services were called at 9.30am, and the girl was airlifted by rescue helicopter to a trauma centre in Marzahn.

The attack took place before the park opened to the public at 10am, during an exclusive pre-opening session as part of a special 'zookeeper for a day' programme that allows visitors to shadow staff and feed animals. The Daily Mail reports that it is unclear why the child was inside the enclosure. The other two children escaped physical injury but were treated for severe shock.

The girl suffered severe head injuries and is in serious condition, though The Mirror reports she is in a serious but not currently life-threatening condition. She was taken to the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin in Marzahn. No other injuries were reported.

Johannismühle wildlife park, located 28 miles from Berlin, is home to grey and arctic wolves, as well as birds, deer, wildcats, lynxes and brown bears. The park has been closed following the incident. According to the BBC, it is scheduled to reopen on 2 November. The Mirror reports that cordon tape was visible at the entrance with a sign citing 'technical reasons' for the closure.

Police and the Teltow-Fläming district administration have launched investigations into how and why children were permitted inside an enclosure containing wolves, and whether safety protocols were violated. Police said the precise circumstances remain the subject of an ongoing investigation.

How it is being reported

• Girl seriously injured in wolf attack at German wildlife parkAn eight-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a wolf attack at a wildlife park in Germany.Sky News · 29 Oct, 02:03
• Girl seriously injured in wolf attack at German wildlife parkThe eight-year-old was in an enclosure with other children and a staff member when she was attacked.BBC News · 28 Oct, 22:08
• Girl, 8, mauled by wolves during 'zookeeper for a day' experience in GermanyAn eight-year-old girl has been left with serious injuries after being attacked by wolves during a 'zookeeper for a day' session at Johannismühle Wildlife Park in Baruth, Brandenburg, GermanyThe Mirror · 28 Oct, 21:27
• Child 'is mauled by wolf' at German wildlife parkA child is in critical condition after being mauled by a wolf at a German wildlife park.Daily Mail · 28 Oct, 12:26

In this story: Johannismühle wildlife park · Brandenburg · Berlin · Baruth · Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin Marzahn · Teltow-Fläming

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log