A wolf attacked a young girl at a vacation spot in Greece. The five-year-old, holidaying with her family in Neos Marmaras, Halkidiki peninsula, was bitten and scratched on the back and leg while playing on the beach. The mother intervened, scaring off the wolf before serious harm occurred.
The girl, a Serbian national, received medical treatment for her injuries and was later discharged from the hospital as a precaution. Authorities are now searching for the wolf, which is believed to have developed an unusual closeness to humans, according to Iason Bantios from the organization Callisto.
Surveillance cameras have been installed in the area to locate the wolf, as Halkidiki is known to be inhabited by wolves and jackals. Residents and tourists are advised to be cautious, especially with children and dogs, as the wolf has been observed roaming fearlessly in the village.
Athanasios Mallinis, the Deputy Mayor of Sithonia, mentioned that efforts including drone surveillance and traps are being implemented to capture the wolf. This incident marks the first recorded wolf attack on a human in Greece, contrasting with previous attacks on animals.
In a separate incident in the Netherlands, a six-year-old child was attacked by a wolf in a nature reserve near Austerlitz, sustaining severe bite wounds. The child was rescued by two men who fought off the animal using sticks. The wolf, known as GW3237m or “Bram,” has been involved in multiple attacks, including biting a girl and toppling a toddler.
This series of attacks underscores the need for vigilance in wolf-inhabited areas, with authorities and wildlife organizations working to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.