In 2009, a 32-year-old woman, Mandy K., jumped into the polar bear enclosure at Berlin Zoo during a feeding session. She swam toward the bears, and while most were distracted, one attacked her. Zoo staff rescued her with a life ring,
but she suffered serious injuries. Mandy, dealing with personal struggles, may have acted out of desperation. Zoo officials stated the bears acted on instinct and would not change security measures, as determined individuals can still bypass barriers. This was not the first such incident at the zoo.
