A woman was bitten by a wolf on a shopping street in Hamburg, Germany on Monday evening, according to local reports.

The incident occurred near an Ikea store on Grosse Bergstrasse, close to Altona station in the western part of the city center. The woman sustained bite injuries to her face during the encounter.

The attack appears to be unprecedented in Germany's recent history with wolves. The animals began reestablishing themselves in the country several decades ago after being locally extinct, and this incident is believed to be the first documented wolf attack on a human since their return.

German authorities have been monitoring the gradual return of wolf populations to the country as part of natural wildlife recovery. The species had been absent from Germany for many years before beginning to migrate back from neighboring countries and establish new territories.

Local police and wildlife officials are likely investigating the circumstances surrounding the unusual urban encounter. Wolves typically avoid human contact and attacks on people are extremely rare even in areas where wolf populations are established.