Berlin, Germany – June 19, 2026 

A female polar bear named Tonja was shot and killed this morning at Tierpark Berlin after she attacked a zookeeper during routine care, triggering an immediate and intense public debate reminiscent of the 2016 Harambe gorilla incident. According to an official statement from Zoo Berlin posted on its verified X account @zooberlin, the incident occurred shortly after morning feeding in the polar bear enclosure at Tierpark Berlin, the larger sister facility to the historic Zoo Berlin.

The official @zooberlin tweet stated:

 “We are deeply saddened to confirm that this morning at Tierpark Berlin, polar bear Tonja attacked a zookeeper. Despite immediate medical intervention, the keeper sustained severe injuries and is currently in critical condition in the hospital. Tragically, Tonja had to be shot by emergency services to stop the attack. Our thoughts are with the keeper and his family. Further information will follow.”

Tonja, born in 2009, was a long-term resident and mother to the popular polar bear Hertha (born 2018). She had never previously shown aggression toward staff.

Zoo Berlin and Tierpark Berlin Background

Zoo Berlin (Zoologischer Garten Berlin), Germany’s oldest zoo founded in 1844, is one of the world’s most famous and species-rich zoological gardens, home to over 20,000 animals. It gained global fame with hand-raised polar bear Knut in 2006–2011 and currently houses celebrities such as the world’s oldest gorilla Fatou and Germany’s only giant pandas. Polar bears, however, are housed at the larger, more naturalistic Tierpark Berlin in Friedrichsfelde.

Growing Controversy: “She Wasn’t Really Attacking”

The decision to shoot Tonja has already sparked fierce backlash online, with many comparing the case directly to the Harambe incident at Cincinnati Zoo in 2016, where a silverback gorilla was shot after a child entered his enclosure.Critics argue:

  • Tonja may have been reacting out of surprise or protectiveness rather than launching a deliberate lethal attack.
  • Tranquilizers should have been attempted first, as the bear was inside her own enclosure with a trained keeper.
  • Zoo protocols may have failed, and lethal force was used too quickly.

Animal rights groups and thousands of commenters claim the bear was “just being a bear” and that the incident highlights broader issues with keeping large predators in captivity. Some eyewitness accounts (unverified) circulating online suggest the keeper slipped or made a sudden movement that startled Tonja, and that she was not mauling him continuously when shots were fired.

Zoo officials have defended the decision, stating that with a 400–600 kg polar bear, any perceived threat to human life requires immediate lethal action because tranquilizers can take 10–20 minutes to work and may agitate the animal further.

The 34-year-old male zookeeper remains in critical but stable condition at a Berlin trauma center. An independent investigation has been launched into the circumstances, enclosure safety, and response protocols.

Tierpark Berlin’s polar bear habitat has been closed indefinitely.

This developing story is already dominating German and international headlines, with many calling it “Berlin’s Harambe moment” — a tragic and highly emotional event that raises difficult questions about zoo animal management, human safety, and the ethics of captive wildlife.

JS Bin