Wels attack on Lake Brombach: man injured, bath island torn down!
Wels attack on Lake Brombach: man injured, bath island torn down!
Brombachsee, Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Deutschland - Am Brombachsee in Middle Franconia has again caused excitement. A man was bitten by the Großfisch in his arm when he was near a bathing island. This incident occurred on July 6, 2025 and promptly led to the breakdown of the bathers near Absberg in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district. The water temperatures and the summer season had lured numerous bathers to the lake, but now there is a rethink in the leisure activities on the waters. Merkur reports that a similar incident took place at the end of June, in which at least five people serious injuries were added.
The police quickly reacted to the threat situation and blocked the entire bathing area. The aggressive Wels was shot to prevent further attacks. This happened against the background of a music festival that took place at the same time, which increased the urgency of the measure. Experts suspect that the fish, which is considered rather shy in the region, may defend his clutch, which could explain the aggressive behavior. Usually, catfishes stay in deeper water during the day and prefer the darkness. SPIEGEL
The debate about the action of the police
After the shot on the catfish, a heated debate emerged. The Fischwirt Christian Forster defended the use of the firearm because he recognizes the acute danger to the bathers. He emphasized that such a big catfish - like the over two meters of creature, which was first shot - was difficult to catch. In such situations, the police would act similarly to the threat of other dangerous animals. [BR] (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/nach-schuessen-auf-wels-im-badese-experte-getidigt-Polizei ,uovolet)
In contrast, the killing of the catfish was criticized by the German Animal Welfare Association as "completely disproportionate". The association proposed to lock the bank area to protect bathers without killing immediately. The experts agree that catfish only becomes aggressive when they feel threatened. Police spokesman Michael Petzold and the representative of the state fishing association confirm that it is extremely rare that these fish attack people.catfish in the region - a double sword
The reporting on the incidents on the Brombachsee also throws a shadow on the leisure facilities already considered a great. While the summer months attract many people, the risk of another WELS attack is an issue that cannot be ignored. The faster reaction of the authorities and the clarification of the visitors could be decisive in the future to avoid further incidents and at the same time protect the natural wildlife.
Whether the bathers will continue to choose the Brombachsee as their destination despite the incidents remains questionable. For those affected, it is clear: a relaxing day on the water can quickly result in a dangerous situation. The region is required to develop and implement suitable security concepts. It remains to be hoped that everyone involved will find a way to ensure both nature conservation and the safety of the bathers.
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| Ort | Brombachsee, Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen, Deutschland |
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