Police said in a statement that the "precise circumstances of the incident are the subject of an ongoing police investigation". The incident took place on Wednesday, before the park opened at 10:00 local time, according to German newspaper Bild, which reported that the girl may have been taking part in a special visit. German newspaper Bild also reported that the girl suffered head injuries and was attacked by at least one animal. The park, located in the town of Baruth/Mark, has been temporarily closed and is set to reopen on 2 November, according to its website, which gave no further details. Johannismühle keeps grey and arctic wolves, along with other animals including brown bears and lynx. The park offers small group tours that allow visitors to spend time with some animals, with its site mentioning feeding wolves or petting a llama. The attack comes amid a string of incidents at European zoos and wildlife parks. Earlier this week, a keeper at a Dutch zoo died after being mauled by a leopard, and a man was killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park earlier this month.
Eight-year-old girl seriously injured in wolf attack at German wildlife park
Police investigate incident at Johannismühle park as girl hospitalised with head injuries
An eight-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a wolf attack at a German wildlife park, police have said. The girl was inside an enclosure at Johannismühle park in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, with a staff member and two other children when the attack occurred. She was taken to hospital by helicopter; no one else was hurt.
The Daily Edition
The front page in your inbox each weekday morning: the lead, the picks, and why each one earned its place.
§
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The attack raises questions about the safety of close-encounter programmes at wildlife parks, especially those involving dangerous animals.
- It follows two other fatal animal attacks in Europe this month, putting renewed focus on zoo protocols and risk management.
- The incident in Germany could prompt calls for stricter regulations on visitor access to animal enclosures.
Background
Johannismühle is a wildlife park in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, which allows visitors to interact with some animals, including wolves, through guided tours. Recent incidents elsewhere in Europe, including a leopard mauling a keeper in the Netherlands and a tiger killing a visitor in England, have heightened scrutiny of safety measures at such facilities. The park has not commented beyond confirming its temporary closure.
Key Perspectives
What to Watch
- The outcome of the police investigation into how the girl entered the enclosure and the cause of the attack.
- Whether the park will modify its visitor policies before reopening.
- Possible legislative or regulatory responses to the recent string of zoo incidents across Europe.
Sources
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAn eight-year-old girl was seriously injured in a wolf attack at a German wildlife park.BBC News: “An eight-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a wolf attack at a German wildlife park.”
- SupportedPolice are investigating the incident.BBC News: “They said in a statement that the "precise circumstances of the incident are the subject of an ongoing police investigation".”
- SupportedThe girl was hospitalised with head injuries.BBC News: “The girl was taken to hospital by helicopter after the incident on Wednesday. ... The girl was injured by at least one animal and suffered head injuries, according to German newspaper Bild.”
- Partly supportedPolice said the girl had been seriously injured in the attack.BBC News: “An eight-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a wolf attack at a German wildlife park. She was inside an enclosure at the Johannismühle park in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, with a staff member and two other children when the attack happened, police said.”
- SupportedThe girl was inside an enclosure with a staff member and two other children when the attack happened.BBC News: “She was inside an enclosure at the Johannismühle park in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, with a staff member and two other children when the attack happened, police said.”
- SupportedThe girl was taken to hospital by helicopter.BBC News: “The girl was taken to hospital by helicopter after the incident on Wednesday.”
- SupportedNo one else was hurt.BBC News: “No one else was injured.”
- SupportedPolice said: “precise circumstances of the incident are the subject of an ongoing police investigation”.BBC News: “They said in a statement that the "precise circumstances of the incident are the subject of an ongoing police investigation".”
- SupportedThe incident happened on Wednesday before the park opened at 10:00 local time.BBC News: “It reported that the incident happened before the park opened at 10:00 local time (09:00 GMT)”
- SupportedBild reported that the girl may have been taking part in a special visit.BBC News: “It reported that the incident happened before the park opened at 10:00 local time (09:00 GMT) and that the girl could have been taking part in a special visit.”
- SupportedBild reported that the girl was injured by at least one animal.BBC News: “The girl was injured by at least one animal and suffered head injuries, according to German newspaper Bild.”
- SupportedThe park is temporarily closed and is set to reopen on 2 November.BBC News: “The park, in the town of Baruth/Mark, has been closed temporarily and is set to reopen on 2 November, according to its website, which did not give further details.”