The wolf that bit a woman in Hamburg has been released by the authorities. The Ministry of the Environment is monitoring the animal, which is wearing a transmitter.

A wolf that attacked a woman in Hamburg, Germany, last week, has been released into the wild, according to an announcement made by the regional Ministry of the Environment. The incident, considered a first in Germany after decades, occurred on March 30, when the wolf bit a 65-year-old woman in a shopping arcade. The victim suffered injuries to her mouth and cheeks.

The wolf, a young male, was captured after the attack and was fitted with a transmitter to be monitored. Authorities considered options such as euthanasia, but these were rejected for legal reasons. Environment Minister Katharina Fegebank stated that hunters will intervene if the wolf approaches inhabited areas.

Wolves disappeared from Germany in the 19th century, but began to reappear in the eastern part of the country after 1990. A recent study identified 219 wolf packs in Germany, and the government has approved measures to regulate the wolf population.