A wolf attacked a woman in Hamburg, Germany on Monday, marking the first confirmed wolf attack on a human in the country since the species’ reintroduction in 1998.
Wolf Attack and Capture in Hamburg
Police in Hamburg received reports from witnesses regarding the presence of a wolf in various parts of the city. On Monday, the animal attacked and injured a woman in the Altona district.
Authorities stated the circumstances of the incident are still under investigation.
Wolf Apprehended
The wolf was captured late in the evening in central Hamburg. Police officers extracted the animal from the water near Binnenalster using a loop.
The wolf was then transported and handed over to the appropriate authorities.
Further Actions and Rehabilitation
The environmental agency is leading further actions. The wolf has been transported to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Lower Saxony, after receiving veterinary care at the Klövensteen enclosure.
First Attack Since Reintroduction
According to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, this was the first wolf attack on a human in Germany since the full reintroduction of the species in 1998.
A spokesperson for the agency stated that no such case had been recorded since the re-population began in 1998.
Expert Opinion: Return to the Wild
Arne Vaubel, director of the Schwarze Berge wildlife park, believes the wolf should be released back into the wild, stating the animal did not attack intentionally but acted out of panic.
Previous Incident in Lower Saxony
In August 2023, an eight-year-old boy from Schleswig-Holstein was bitten in the chest by a wolf at Eschede Park near Celle in Lower Saxony during a family “animal encounter.” The wolf initially sniffed the child’s hand before biting.
The boy was hospitalized and later discharged after outpatient treatment.
Wolves and Human Contact
Wolf attacks on humans are rare, as the animals typically avoid contact. Wolves have been considered extinct in Germany for approximately 150 years, with single individuals beginning to return after the fall of the Berlin Wall, primarily through Poland.
Increasing Wolf Population and Urban Presence
Klaus Hacklaender, a wolf expert from the German Wildlife Foundation, noted that as the wolf population grows in Germany, the likelihood of them appearing in populated areas, including cities, also increases.
