A wolf attacked a young girl at a holiday destination in Greece, causing bite and scratch injuries on her back and leg. The incident took place in Neos Marmaras, Halkidiki peninsula. Fortunately, the child’s mother intervened, scaring off the wolf before serious harm occurred.
The victim, a five-year-old from Serbia, was playing on the beach when the wolf suddenly attacked her last Friday morning. She received medical treatment at a health center and was later discharged from the hospital as a precautionary measure. Authorities are now searching for the wolf, believed by wildlife experts to have developed an unusual relationship with humans.
According to Iason Bantios, a spokesperson for Callisto, the wolf’s behavior is concerning as it shows an unexpected familiarity with humans, which is atypical for wolves. Surveillance cameras have been installed in the area to locate the animal. Residents and tourists are advised to be cautious, especially with dogs and children, in the Halkidiki region known for wolves and jackals.
In response to the incident, drones are being used at night to track the wolf’s movements, and traps will be set up to capture the animal. Athanasios Mallinis, the Deputy Mayor of Sithonia, mentioned that this is the first recorded wolf attack on a human in Greece. Previously, only animal attacks had been reported.
This recent wolf encounter follows a similar incident in the Netherlands where a six-year-old child was attacked and dragged into the woods by a wolf. The child sustained severe bite wounds that required stitches. This attack is part of a series of wolf incidents in the area, with the wolf responsible for previous attacks on a girl and a toddler.