Wolf Attack in Hamburg Shopping Area
A woman was bitten by a wolf in a prominent shopping street in Hamburg, German authorities reported.
The unusual incident occurred on Monday evening in the busy Grosse Bergstrasse in Hamburg Altona, close to an inner-city Ikea store.
According to local reports, the woman appeared to try to lead the confused animal away from the shopping area. The wolf then bit her in the face before fleeing the scene.
The injured woman was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.
First Known Wolf Attack Since Reintroduction
This is believed to be the first recorded case of a person being attacked by a wolf since wolves began to reestablish themselves in Germany decades ago.
"There has not been a case like this since the reintroduction began in 1998,"
a spokeswoman for the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation told the German press agency dpa.
Wolf Spotted and Captured Later
Later on Monday night, the wolf was seen in the Binnenalster lake in Hamburg. Police managed to pull the animal out of the water using a rope.
The wolf resisted capture, and police equipped with shields reportedly spent about an hour attempting to catch it.
Wolf's Condition and Future Plans
Matthias Hilge, a spokesperson for Hamburg's Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (Bukea), informed the BBC that several sightings of the wolf had occurred in recent days in the western part of the city.
He confirmed the wolf was safe and receiving veterinary care.
"Bukea will decide on the animal's future arrangements in the near future, following close consultation with experts,"
he said.
Background on Wolves in Germany
Wolves began returning to Germany only after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, following a 150-year absence.
Initially, a few wolves returned via Poland, and today, they inhabit forests across many German states.
New Legislation on Wolf Management
Last week, Germany's Upper House, the Bundesrat, approved parliamentary measures permitting wolves to be hunted.
Under the Federal Hunting Law, hunting wolves will be allowed to manage their populations and protect sheep and other livestock.
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said wolves "must be allowed to stay".
"It is not a question of driving the wolf away again, but of finding viable ways to live peacefully alongside it,"
he added.
The wolf hunting season is scheduled to run from 1 July to 31 October.
