Berlin Zoo

Shocking attack: A woman was mauled by a bear after jumping into a enclosure at Berlin Zoo yesterday

 
 

The brave keepers eventually managed to push the bear away and pull the woman to safety.

She was bitten by one of the four older polar bears in the enclosure and not by the famous Knut, who took Germany by storm as a cub after he was hand-raised by a keeper.

 
Enlarge   Polar bear

Build-up to the attack: The woman swims towards a polar bear

 
Polar bear
Still under attack, the woman swims for and then finally grabs a rope hanging down by rescuers
 

Still under attack, the woman swims for and then finally grabs a rope hanging down by rescuers

 
She finally escapes the bears and is rushed off to hospital for treatment

She finally escapes the bears and is rushed off to hospital for treatment

 

 

It is not known why the woman pulled the dangerous stunt but she initially appeared to be elated as she swam towards a bear in the enclosure. 

 

It is not easy to access the enclosure, which is surrounded by a fence, a line of prickly hedges and a wall.

 
polar bear

The woman's cardigan hangs from the polar bear's jaws after the attack