A 32-year-old woman, identified as Mandy K., was severely injured on Friday after jumping into the polar bear enclosure at the Berlin Zoo during feeding time. Mandy scaled a fence, navigated through a line of hedges, and climbed over a wall to enter the bear’s territory, putting herself directly in harm’s way.

Upon entering the enclosure, one of the bears quickly attacked her, causing severe injuries to her arms, legs, and back. Despite the immediate response from six zookeepers, who attempted to distract the four bears, one bear continued to “repeatedly bite the victim on the arms and legs.” After a tense few moments, the zookeepers were able to successfully scare the bear away and pull Mandy to safety.

Following the attack, Mandy was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent surgery to treat her injuries. Zoo officials expressed deep concern over the incident, highlighting both the dangerous nature of her actions and the difficult rescue that zookeepers had to perform.

Further investigation into the incident revealed that Mandy, who works as a teacher, had been struggling emotionally due to her inability to find a job, which had reportedly driven her to a state of despair. The episode has sparked a broader conversation about mental health and the immense pressure that individuals face during difficult and stressful times.

In response to the incident, Berlin Zoo officials are now reviewing their security protocols to ensure similar events don’t happen in the future. They are also reminding visitors to respect zoo barriers and to be mindful of the inherent risks involved when interacting with wild animals.