Overview

• On June 20 at Brombachsee in Bavaria, a two-meter-long, 90-kilogram Wels catfish bit at least five swimmers near a floating island.
• Bavarian Water Guard and Red Cross crews treated swimmers’ bite and flesh wounds as police cordoned off the bathing area to prevent further attacks.
• A police officer shot the aggressive fish with his service pistol after repeated incidents, and two anglers later hauled the carcass from the water.
• Experts say Wels catfish are typically non-aggressive but can defend nests during their May-June breeding season, explaining the rare attack.
• Organizers of upcoming music festivals and peak bathing periods are coordinating with police to evaluate enhanced monitoring and warning signage around known fish habitats.