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Wild animal attack and capture in Thessaloniki

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-19 10:38 UTC → 2026-08-19 13:15 UTC · added removed

In late July 2026, a wild animal, identified by witnesses as a jackal, attacked a 4-year-old girl in the Polichni district of Thessaloniki. The animal bit the child and dragged her several metres before being forced to retreat by bystanders and the child's parents. The girl was treated at Genna-tás Hospital for facial wounds and released in good health. Following the incident, the Ministry of Environment and Energy authorized the use of specialized traps due to the animal's dangerous behavior near residential areas. On the night of August 13, authorities successfully captured a 24.5-kilogram female wolf in the area. The capture was a collaborative effort involving the Thessaloniki Forestry Service, environmental organizations Callisto and Arcturus, and the Management Unit of Protected Areas of Central Macedonia (OFYPEKA). The wolf was found to be in extremely poor health, appearing malnourished and bearing scars from previous injuries, including a partially amputated rear left limb with an open, bleeding wound. Officials noted the animal had developed a “problematic familiarity with human presence” due to searching for food in residential areas. The wolf has been transferred to a specialized protection center for veterinary care and genetic testing under the supervision of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki's Veterinary School. As of August 19, the wolf has been moved to a protection center near Florina under the care of the organization Arcturus. To confirm if this specific animal was responsible for the July attack, scientists from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki will conduct genetic testing by comparing blood samples from the wolf with DNA recovered from the child's clothing.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-19 13:15 UTC Wild animal attack and capture in Thessaloniki
  2. 2026-08-19 10:38 UTC Wild animal attack and capture in Thessaloniki
  3. 2026-08-19 10:16 UTC Wild animal attack and capture in Thessaloniki

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