English
A wolf attacked an eight-year-old child at a wildlife park south of Berlin on Wednesday morning, leaving the child severely injured. The incident happened at the Johannismühle Wildlife Park during a special zookeeper day for children, before the park had opened to the general public.
Attack Occurs During Children’s Event
Staff were giving water to the wolves when the attack took place. Zoo workers responded quickly and stopped two other children from being harmed. Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after and treated the injured child on site.
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A rescue helicopter then transported the child to hospital. In addition to the injured child, four people in total — including three children — received care from emergency chaplaincy services.
Zoo Expresses Distress and Offers Support
The Johannismühle Wildlife Park said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident, which may have involved several wolves. “When a child is injured in this way, it deeply affects us,” the zoo stated. Officials added that the event must be “extremely distressing, especially for the family and those who witnessed it.”
The park also confirmed it would provide psychological support for everyone affected. A debriefing session with relevant authorities and security organizations, including a post-incident support team, is planned, though the zoo did not give a specific date.
The wildlife park closed immediately after the attack and will remain shut until further notice. Zoo officials said the focus is now on a thorough investigation of the incident.
Authorities Launch Investigation
Police will submit a report to the Lower Nature Conservation Authority and the Veterinary and Food Inspection Office. Those agencies will use the report to determine next steps. The Veterinary and Food Inspection Office will also visit the park soon to carry out an on-site inspection and check compliance with animal welfare regulations.
Authorities will also assess the health and behaviour of the wolf or wolves involved. The park holds legal permission to keep animals in a zoological facility, including polar wolves and standard wolves. During its most recent inspection in July 2025, officials found no safety defects in the fences or enclosures and identified no animal welfare violations. A new inspection will re-evaluate those findings.
Broader Context of Wolf Attacks in Germany
This attack is not the first wolf-related incident in Germany in 2026. Earlier this year, in March, a wolf bit a woman in a shopping area in Hamburg. Authorities described that as the first such attack since wolves returned to Germany in 1998.
Meanwhile, wolf attacks on livestock across Europe have concerned farmers for years. Last year, the European Parliament voted to downgrade the wolf’s status from “strictly protected” to simply “protected.” The change reflected growing pressure from farming communities across the continent.
Fatal wolf attacks remain rare. According to the International Wolf Center, only two fatal wolf attacks have occurred in North America since 2002 — one in Saskatchewan in 2005 and one in Alaska in 2010.
