Further details have emerged after an eight-year-old was airlifted to hospital following an animal attack at a wildlife park in Germany.
Police confirmed the child was seriously injured following the incident on Wednesday (28 October), which occurred in front of other horrified children.
Emergency services had raced to Johannismühle Wildlife Park, which is situated near Berlin, where she is said to have suffered head injuries.
Wildpark Johannismühle has both grey and arctic wolves among the many animals kept there, which also includes a veritable menagerie of other wildlife including bears, bison, lynx, deer and llamas to name just a few.
Police responded at around 9.30am local time to calls that a child had been attacked by animals, with a rescue helicopter deployed, according to local reports.
Police said the girl was attacked at 9:30am, before the park’s official opening time (Wildpark Johannismühle/Instagram)
The attack happened before the 10am opening time, after reports that the group of children were actually booked onto an exclusive pre-opening session along with experienced staff.
Teltow-Fläming district officials said in a news release that the young girl was actually on a ‘zookeeper for the day’ experience.
They added that a quick-thinking zookeeper preveted two other children who were present from being harmed.
They added that four people, including three children, were being supported by officials.
Police are now looking into possible negligent bodily harm in relation to the incident.
Wolves at the wildlife park (der_wildpark__johannismuehle/Instagram)
A spokesperson told Bild: “I have been informed that the wildlife park is closed today. I am not permitted to, nor will I, comment on the reasons.”
The official wildlife park website also states it will remain closed ‘until November 2’, but does not state the reasons why.
An investigation into the circumstances of the animal attack is ongoing.
Officials from the local Veterinary and Food Safety Office will visit the park as soon as possible to ensure it is complying with animal welfare regulations.
A statement issued by the West Police Directorate said: “We received information this morning at 9:30 a.m. that a child was allegedly attacked and injured by one or more animals in the Baruth area.
“A rescue helicopter landed there. Investigators are on site.”
According to police, the child had been ‘attacked and seriously injured by at least one wild animal in an animal enclosure’.
LADbible Group has contacted Wildpark Johannismühle for further comment.
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