Hamburg, April 7, 2026 – The wolf that caused a stir in Hamburg by attacking a woman in a shopping center in late March has been released back into the wild. Equipped with a GPS transmitter, the animal is now under cross-border surveillance as part of the European “LIFE Wild Wolf” project.
Wolf Returns to the Wild Under Strict Conditions
According to the Hamburg Authority for Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (BUKEA), the wolf’s location can be tracked at all times. This allows hunters to intervene quickly should the animal approach populated areas again. For animal welfare reasons, the exact release location has not been disclosed. The re-release is considered a measure “on probation” and was carried out under strict conditions.
Katharina Fegebank (Greens), Senator for Environment, described the decision as a “legally sound solution” that takes into account both public safety and animal welfare. The GPS tagging ensures immediate reaction in an emergency, for example, if the wolf moves towards built-up areas again.
Intense Deliberations Preceded Release
The decision to re-release the wolf followed an intensive review of various options. BUKEA consulted experts from across Germany and Europe. Permanent housing in a wildlife enclosure was deemed impossible for legal and practical reasons, and euthanasia was not considered an option.
The Incident: Wolf in a Shopping Arcade
The wolf was sighted multiple times in western Hamburg between March 28 and 30. BUKEA believes the animal was likely stressed by an external stimulus, such as a car or another animal, in Klein Flottbek, causing it to run through several city districts. On March 30, it became disoriented in a narrow shopping arcade on Große Bergstraße, where it encountered a passerby. The woman sustained injuries but was discharged from the hospital after outpatient treatment.
Conservationists, however, have cast doubt on whether the wolf actually bit the woman. They refer to a witness who claimed to have seen the wolf jump at the woman but not bite her. A textile merchant with a shop in the arcade told the “Hamburger Abendblatt” that it looked more like the wolf hit her in the face with its paw when it jumped. Conservationists also argue that it is unlikely the victim would have only required outpatient treatment for a wolf bite.
If the wolf did indeed bite the woman, it would be the first such attack in decades. “There has been no such case since the reintroduction of wolves in 1998,” a spokesperson for the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation told the German Press Agency.
“LIFE Wild Wolf” Project Aims for Coexistence
The “LIFE Wild Wolf” project, under which the animal is now monitored, aims for the long-term conservation of wolf populations in Europe. A key focus is on managing critical situations in human-dominated landscapes. The project seeks to better equip authorities to resolve and prevent future conflicts between humans and wolves.
Public Demonstrations for the Wolf’s Freedom
On Sunday afternoon, approximately 150 animal rights activists gathered at the Hamburg Jungfernstieg for a vigil, advocating for the wolf’s release. Observers estimated the number to be closer to 100. Some brought their dogs, while others carried signs with messages such as “Let him return to his freedom,” “I am not a trophy,” and “The wolf should stay.” The wolf had been rescued by police from the Binnenalster the previous Monday.
Senator Fegebank’s Concerns and Future Implications
Senator Fegebank expressed her concerns, stating on Tuesday, “He did it once, will he do it again?” She envisioned a scenario where the wolf might enter a schoolyard or a daycare center. “That is a situation I would not forgive myself for,” Fegebank said, emphasizing that “wolves are predators.” From her perspective, there were three options: re-release with the risk of the animal returning to a city, euthanasia, or bringing it to a wildlife park.
Wolf experts like Norman Stier from TU Dresden and Arne Vaubel, managing director of the Schwarze Berge Wildlife Park, considered the integration of the wolf into a pack in a wildlife park impossible. “There are experiences from hybrid captures from the early wolf re-settlement in Lusatia, where animals in very large enclosures still died a painful death,” said Stier.
Source: Hamburg Authority for Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (BUKEA), Hamburger Abendblatt, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation
