Wolf attacks woman in central Hamburg

On Monday, March 30, 2026, a woman was bitten in the face by a wolf in a busy shopping area near the Altona station in Hamburg, specifically on Grosse Bergstrasse. This incident is considered the first wolf attack on a human in Germany since the species' reintroduction in 1998. Reports regarding the woman's condition are contradictory, with some sources claiming her status was initially unknown and others stating she has been discharged from the hospital. The wolf was later located in the Binnenalster lake, where authorities captured it after an hour-long operation involving officers with shields. The animal has been moved to a fenced facility for veterinary care. Experts believe the wolf is a young animal that accidentally wandered into the urban environment. This event follows recent reports of a wolf sighting in the Blankenese district and coincides with a decision by the German upper house to authorize wolf hunting between July and October to control populations.