A guest at Thoiry zoo was seriously injured after being attacked by three wolves on Sunday 23 June. According to H24 MEDIA, confirming a report in Le Parisien, the woman was staying in one of the park’s accommodation facilities and ended up in an area normally off-limits to visitors by mistake

Christelle Bercheny, CEO of Wow Safari Thoiry, explained that the customer had apparently crossed the American reserve on foot, an area usually accessible only by car and protected by electrified plates designed to contain the animals. These plates do not affect humans but are used to secure the reserve.

The victim, a woman in her thirties temporarily residing in the park, was severely bitten by the wolves before being rushed to hospital by the park’s caretakers. She was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but her prognosis is no longer life-threatening.

An investigation has been opened to clarify the circumstances of the incident. The prosecutor indicated that it was still too early to determine whether the error was the fault of the customer or whether deficiencies in signalling may have played a role. A psychological unit has been set up for the park staff involved in this tragic event.

The wolves involved in the attack were temporarily isolated after the incident for safety reasons, then returned to their enclosure once the situation had been brought under control.