An eight-year-old girl has been hospitalised with severe injuries following a wolf attack during a "zookeeper for a day" experience. The frightening incident took place on Wednesday morning at Johannismühle Wildlife Park in Baruth, Germany. The park was not open to the public at the time, with the attack occurring during an exclusive session in which only three children were scheduled to shadow staff members.
According to reports, the girl entered the wolf enclosure accompanied by two other children and a professional guide. While inside the compound, wolves attacked the child, inflicting serious injuries before the situation was brought back under control.
Emergency services were summoned to the location, and the girl was transported to hospital. She is understood to have sustained serious, though not presently life-threatening, injuries.
The remaining two children escaped physical harm but received treatment for severe shock, Bild reported. A spokesperson for the West Police Directorate confirmed officers were alerted at 9.30am.
The girl was airlifted by rescue helicopter to the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin in Marzahn. She is also understood to have sustained significant head injuries.
The park has been closed while investigations commence. At the entrance, cordon tape was visible, and a notice on the door cited "technical reasons" for the shutdown.
However, local district officials confirmed that the wildlife park would remain closed "until further notice" following the incident, with reopening dependent on approval from the relevant authority.
Police alongside the Teltow-Fläming district administration have reportedly initiated a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that permitted children to enter an enclosure housing apex predators - and whether critical safety protocols were violated.
According to a park map, grey wolves and polar wolves reside at the facility, alongside brown bears and lynx. The park's website also promotes exclusive animal encounters for children, including the statement: "Maybe you would like to feed wolves .."
A local resident from Klasdorf told reporters: "You always felt safe there, even with the children. I can't explain how this could have happened."