(Michigan City, IN) - A zookeeper was still receiving medical attention for numerous bite wounds and other injuries suffered during a wolf attack at Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City.
The other zookeeper attacked has been released from the hospital with minor injuries to both arms.
Those are among the latest details released by the mayor’s office, which also revealed the two wolves involved in the Wednesday morning attack have been deemed healthy after examinations by a licensed veterinarian. The wolf exhibit at the lakefront zoo owned by the municipality has since reopened.
Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch expressed full support for the zookeepers and their families.
“This was a traumatic experience for everyone involved,” she said.
According to the mayor’s office, the attack came after a third wolf at the zoo her entire life, Echo, passed away from natural causes, specifically a ruptured spleen.
A police report shows the zookeepers Courtney Studniarz, 39, and Brianna Stantz, 34, entered the habitat to remove the dead 10-year old wolf. While attempting to remove the body, the surviving wolves, Koda and Nikos, became excited and began jumping on Studniarz then began attacking her, according to the police report.
At some point during the attack, police said one of the employees used a shovel to hit the wolves to try and get them to stop. Other employees were able to remove Studniarz from the exhibit and call 911. Stantz was still in the exhibit with one of the wolves when firefighters lowered a ladder she used to climb out.
Both zookeepers were taken to Franciscan Health, a hospital at Interstate 94 and U.S. 421 just outside the corporate boundaries of Michigan City
Police said the injuries to Studniarz included bite and tear wounds to her left ear and neck along with puncture wounds to her arms, legs and buttocks. She also had multiple lacerations from “head to toe,” police said.
Michigan City Park Department Assistant Superintendent William Walker described her condition as stable.
According to the Michigan City Zoological Society, the death of the wolf and presence of the zookeepers may have had something to do with the attack. The surviving wolves “instinctly became protective and agitated as wolves are deeply social animals with strong bonds to their pack,” the MCZS said in a statement.
According to the mayor’s office, the zoo is conducting a comprehensive review of the incident and habitat entry procedures as part of its standard commitment to employee safety and animal care.
“We have notified all appropriate regulatory agencies and are cooperating fully with their reviews,” the mayor’s office said.
