This story has been updated to add new information.
MICHIGAN CITY — Two zookeepers at Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City were taken to a hospital after being attacked by wolves on the zoo grounds Wednesday, June 3.
The most seriously hurt victim, a 39-year-old woman, suffered numerous injuries across her entire body, said Michigan City Police Capt. Kevin Urbanczyk.
Michigan City Fire Department training officer William Sonntag helped treat her wounds before she was transported to Franciscan Health hospital.
“She was alert and conscious but, as you can imagine, in a great amount of pain,” he said. “Happy to be alive.”
The other female zookeeper suffered a bite wound to one of her arms, Sonntag said.
Emergency responders were called to the zoo at the city’s lakefront about 8 a.m. and found two wolves secured in small cages and howling in different areas of the exhibit.
The most seriously injured woman had already made her way out of the exhibit and was on the floor.
The other zookeeper was still in the exhibit with a third howling wolf, Sonntag said.
Two firefighters rescued her by climbing on the roof of an adjacent building and lowering a ladder into the exhibit.
“As soon as the ladder touched the ground, she was climbing up,” he said.
What exactly led up to the attack remains under investigation.
It happened after one the zookeepers doing something inside the exhibit asked the other woman to come in and help,” he said.
“Things went downhill from there,” he said.
The attack happened after a wolf at the zoo passed away Tuesday night from natural causes, said Michigan City Park Department Assistant Superintendent William Walker.
Zoo staff and veterinary personnel also responded to the attack, he said.
“We are grateful for the coordinated efforts to ensure the safety and care of everyone involved,” he said.
Walker said the zoo remains open but the main wolf exhibit will be closed while staff continue to monitor the animals and assess the situation.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Zookeeper hospitalized after wolf attack at Michigan City zoo
Reporting by Stan Maddux, Special to The Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Stan Maddux, Special to The Tribune | USA TODAY Network
