Suspected rabid jackals attack campers, leaving 11 injured including child bitten on face

Pack of jackals attacks Sea of Galilee vacationers, sending 11 to hospital

Jackal populations are growing in cities and parks as rabies cases rise across Israel; officials urge the public not to feed wildlife and to seek immediate treatment after any bite or scratch

Suspected rabid jackals attack campers, leaving 11 injured including child bitten on face

"My daughter Alice screamed, ‘It hurts! It hurts!’ I quickly turned on the light, and her entire face was covered in blood. I was terrified,” said Elena, the mother of a child injured in the attack.

Suspected rabid jackals attack 11 campers at Sea of Galilee

An unusual overnight incident on Saturday at the Sea of Galilee left 11 campers injured after being attacked and bitten by jackals near Duga Beach. Magen David Adom (MDA) said it received a call at 2:52 a.m. and dispatched medical teams to the scene. Several of the injured patients, including a 12-year-old girl, two men...

11 campers injured in overnight jackal attack in Israel

11 campers injured in overnight jackal attack in Israel

Nightmare at the Kinneret: Jackals Attack Campers, Leaving 11 Injured

What began as a relaxing family vacation at the Kinneret turned into a frightening ordeal after a series of jackal attacks left 11 people injured, including a 12-year-old girl who was attacked while sleeping in her tent. The incident occurred at Duga Beach, where Alice, 12, was camping with her family. According to reports, a jackal entered the tent during the night and attacked her while she slept. Speaking to Ynet, Alice recounted that her family had spent the day enjoying the lake and vacationing together. During the night, she was awakened when an animal entered the tent. Because it was dark, she initially believed it was the family’s dog and began petting it, only to discover moments later that it was a jackal. Alice’s grandmother, Mira Ganin of Rishon LeZion, who was sleeping in the tent with her, said she awoke to the girl’s screams. After turning on a light, family members realized that Alice had suffered injuries to her face and immediately sought medical assistance. She was later transported to a hospital for treatment. Family members said that while they were waiting for help to arrive, other campers emerged from nearby tents reporting that they too had been attacked or injured by jackals roaming through the campsite. The injured victims were taken to the Galilee Medical Center in Tiveriah for evaluation and treatment. According to her grandmother, Alice received medical care and will now be required to undergo a course of anti-rabies treatment through the Health Ministry. The family said the young girl is also coping with concerns about facial injuries and possible scarring just weeks before her upcoming bas mitzvah celebration. Alice’s aunt described hearing a loud scream coming from the tent before family members noticed jackals running between the campsites. She said what had begun as a joyful family getaway quickly turned into a terrifying scene, ending with multiple injuries and emergency trips to the hospital. Authorities have not yet indicated what caused the unusual series of attacks, though the incident has raised concerns among visitors and officials regarding the presence of wild animals near popular camping areas around the Kinneret. {Matzav.com}