Overview
- A wolf in the polar‑wolf enclosure at Wildpark Johannismühle attacked an eight‑year‑old girl during a booked 'Tierpflegertag' program, and the child was flown to a Berlin hospital with serious head injuries.
- The attack took place during the animals' watering (Tränkung) on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, while the girl was inside the enclosure with two other children and a park keeper.
- An on‑site female keeper intervened and is credited with preventing further harm to the two other children; emergency pastoral care also supported witnesses and staff at the scene.
- Police have opened inquiries to establish how the attack occurred and whether negligence applies, and the county's veterinary office will carry out tierschutz inspections of the park's enclosures and procedures.
- Wildpark Johannismühle, a privately run facility that houses grey and polar wolves, remains closed pending authority clearance despite recent inspections that found no safety defects, and authorities say reopening depends on the outcome of the investigations and veterinary checks.