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Unprecedented wolf attack in Hamburg
German authorities confirmed a woman was bitten by a wolf on a busy shopping street in Hamburg on Monday evening, marking the first recorded attack of its kind since wolves returned to Germany.
Incident details
The attack occurred in Grosse Bergstrasse, a bustling retail area in Hamburg Altona, near an IKEA store. Witnesses reported the woman attempted to guide the disoriented animal away from pedestrians before it bit her face. The wolf then fled the scene.
The victim was treated at a hospital and later discharged. Authorities described the incident as highly unusual, given the wolf's presence in an urban environment.
Wolf's capture and condition
The animal was spotted later that night in Hamburg's Binnenalster lake. Police used a rope to pull it from the water after an hour-long struggle involving officers with shields. The wolf was taken into custody and is now receiving veterinary care.
"Bukea will determine the wolf's future arrangements in consultation with experts," said Matthias Hilge, spokesperson for Hamburg's Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (Bukea).
Matthias Hilge, Bukea
Recent sightings and broader context
Hilge noted multiple recent wolf sightings in western Hamburg, suggesting the animal may have been in the area for days. Wolves began repopulating Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, migrating from Poland after a 150-year absence. Today, they are present in forests across many German states.
Last week, Germany's Bundesrat approved new measures to permit wolf hunting under the Federal Hunting Law, aiming to manage populations and protect livestock. The hunting season is set to run from July 1 to October 31.
Government stance on wolf coexistence
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider emphasized the need for balanced coexistence, stating wolves "must be allowed to stay."
"The goal is not to eradicate wolves but to find sustainable ways to live alongside them," Schneider said.
A spokeswoman for the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation told German press agency dpa that no similar attacks had been recorded since wolves' reintroduction began in 1998.
