PARIS: A 37-year-old woman was critically injured after being attacked by three wolves at Thoiry zoo, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) outside Paris, according to sources familiar with the incident and local prosecutors.
The woman sustained bites “on the neck, calf, and back,” reported AFP.
Maryvonne Caillibotte, chief prosecutor in Versailles, indicated that the woman’s life was at risk.
Allegedly, the woman had gone jogging alone after spending the night with her family in a safari-style lodge at the zoo, where accommodations range from 220 to 760 euros ($235-810) per night, according to the zoo’s website.
Promotional materials for the lodges in the wolf zone promise “peace, relaxation, and disconnection,” offering guests “a unique and intimate experience with Arctic wolves visible from the living room.”
Caillibotte noted that the woman “found herself in the safari area, which is restricted to vehicles. It was there that she was attacked by three wolves,” raising questions about whether she had made an error or if the trail markings were inadequate.
Emergency responders arrived promptly, and the wolves were initially relocated before being returned to their enclosure, confirmed Caillibotte.
Previously, a source familiar with the case suggested that the woman likely breached “security systems, a moat, and an electric fence intended to contain the animals.” Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
Established in 1968 by Paul de la Panouse, owner of a local chateau dating back to the 16th century, Thoiry zoo originally housed 120 animals imported from Kenya aboard a ship. De la Panouse sold the zoo to a consortium of investors in 2018.
