VIENNA, May 18 — A 67-year-old hiker has died after being attacked by a herd of cows in Austria, authorities said, in the latest fatal incident involving livestock in the Alps, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
The woman was attacked by what police described as a “mid-double-digit number” of cows in a pasture in the alpine district of Lienz in East Tyrol on Sunday afternoon.
Her 65-year-old husband was also seriously injured.
Authorities said the reasons for the animals’ aggressive behaviour remain unclear.
The couple were not accompanied by a dog at the time, police added.
Cows sometimes react to the presence of dogs – particularly when they are protecting their calves – by attacking the animal.
In light of such incidents, authorities and farmers repeatedly advise caution when hiking in Alpine regions.
In September 2025, an 85-year-old man died following a cow attack while walking with his wife and a dog in the Ramsau am Dachstein area of the Austrian Alps. — Bernama-dpa