“I’m not sure how she entered the restricted area,” a zoo employee contemplated as news of a wolf attack on a human at an animal park near Paris spread.
On June 24, the BBC, The Guardian, and the local French press reported that the accident happened at Thoiry Park.
The park is about 25 miles (40 km) west of Paris and is known for its guided drive-thru safari tours. After visiting the park the day before and spending the night at a nearby accommodation, the victim, a 36-year-old woman, was bitten by a wolf during her early morning jog.
“The woman who was involved in the accident was attacked by three Arctic wolves in the safari area,” the BBC reported. “Staff who heard the woman’s screams went to her rescue.” The woman was brought to a hospital for treatment after suffering bites to her neck, back, and legs from the wolves. She is reportedly in critical condition.
“The woman’s accommodation is separated from the safari area by multiple layers of defense, including electric fences and ditches,” the local police commented. “How she crossed into the safari region where the animals reside is unclear.”
Opened in 1968, the Thoiry park houses more than 800 animals in its safari area, including Arctic wolves. Known to be among the largest wolf species, Arctic wolves inhabit the Arctic regions of North America, including Canada.
Known as polar wolves or white wolves due to their white fur, they are considered top predators in the Arctic region, along with polar bears.
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