An 8-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in an encounter with a wild animal at a wildlife park in Germany, prompting officials to close the park temporarily.
The incident occurred Wednesday, October 28, at Wildpark Johannismühle in Baruth/Mark, a town south of Berlin, according to German media outlet Bild.
Police were alerted at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time after receiving reports that a child had been attacked by an animal. Emergency crews responded to the scene, and a rescue helicopter transported the girl to a hospital.
Authorities said the child was with two other children and a staff member when the attack took place inside an animal enclosure. Police described her injuries as serious, while Bild reported that she sustained severe head injuries.
Investigators are now working to establish exactly what happened, including why the children were inside the enclosure before the wildlife park officially opened to visitors.
Wildlife park closes as authorities investigate
Wildpark Johannismühle has announced a temporary closure while the investigation continues. According to their website, the park will remain closed through November 2.
The facility is home to numerous animal species, including both gray wolves and Arctic wolves. Its other residents include bears, bison, lynx, deer and llamas.
Although the precise circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s incident remain unclear, the presence of children inside the enclosure is a key part of the ongoing investigation.
Rescue personnel and wildlife park employees are also reportedly receiving support following the attack.
The park’s regular opening time is 10 a.m., meaning police were called approximately 30 minutes before visitors would ordinarily have been admitted.
Questions remain about how the attack happened
Officials have not publicly established all the circumstances that led to the girl being injured. It also remains unclear from the available reports exactly how she came into contact with the wolf.
The investigation will seek to clarify what happened inside the enclosure and why the children were there before the park’s scheduled opening time.
For now, the wildlife park is expected to remain closed until November 2 as authorities continue their work.
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