Wolf attacks 6‑year‑old girl in Noicattaro, Italy

Around 23:00 on 4 August, a six‑year‑old girl was attacked in a public garden in Noicattaro, near Bari. The animal dragged her about 15 metres, causing severe bleeding and injuries to her neck, head and arm. She was taken to the Policlinico of Bari, where surgeons repaired the wounds; she remains in intensive care, stable, and has received an anti‑rabies vaccination and DNA swabs for identification of the attacker.

Local authorities, including Mayor Raimondo Innamorato, have ruled out a stray dog and say the attack was likely carried out by a wolf that has been roaming the area. Wildlife experts who examined video footage identified the animal as an Italian wolf, noting characteristic black bands on its fore‑paws and typical summer coat. The same wolf was reportedly seen near a previous attack on another child ten days earlier. Police, forest rangers and health officials are conducting investigations, but no arrest or capture has been reported yet.