An eight-year-old girl has been seriously injured after being attacked by at least one wolf inside an enclosure at a wildlife park south of Berlin, with officials describing the incident as "extremely distressing" for the family and those who witnessed it.

The attack took place on Wednesday local time at the Johannismühle Wildlife Park, located in the Teltow-Fläming district. The girl was airlifted to hospital by emergency helicopter following the incident. Two other girls were also inside the Arctic wolf enclosure at the time, but a zookeeper intervened before they could be harmed. The wolves had been given water when the attack occurred.

Special children's event turns to tragedy

The attack happened during a special event for children being held at the park. District officials confirmed the details in a formal statement, noting the severity of the girl's injuries and the circumstances that led to the intervention.

Björn Christian Paterok, Deputy District Administrator of Teltow-Fläming, expressed deep concern for those affected. "When a child is injured in this way, it deeply affects us," he said. "The incident must be extremely distressing, especially for the family and those who witnessed it. Our thoughts are with them. We sincerely hope the child recovers soon and wish all those affected strength to cope with what they have experienced."

The Johannismühle Wildlife Park has been closed until further notice while an investigation into the attack is carried out.

Part of a broader wave of captive animal attacks

The wolf attack is the latest in a series of serious incidents involving captive animals to make international headlines in recent months.

  • A zookeeper in the Netherlands died after being mauled by a leopard at a safari park where she worked, having been attacked three days before her death.
  • Earlier in October, a man in the United Kingdom was killed by a tiger after entering the animal's enclosure at a wildlife park.
  • Earlier this year, a wolf bit a woman in a shopping area in the German city of Hamburg, in what is believed to be the first such attack since wolves returned to the country in 1998.

The Johannismühle incident raises renewed questions about safety protocols at wildlife parks that allow public access to animal enclosures, particularly during events involving young children. Authorities have not yet indicated whether any charges or regulatory action are being considered pending the outcome of the investigation.

For families with young children, incidents in which children suffer serious physical injuries in supervised settings can have lasting psychological effects on those involved, as well as on broader public trust in such facilities.