Berlin - A 32-year old woman who was attacked by a polar bear after she had jumped into the polar bear enclosure at Berlin Zoo was in intensive care Sunday, where she was being treated for bites and cuts to her arm, back and legs. The woman had climbed over an embankment then jumped into the water of the polar bears' enclosure during feeding time on Friday.

One of the bears immediately spotted her and swam across, then bit the woman several times in the arms and legs before zoo attendants were able to shoo the animal away and pull her from the water.

Berlin Zoo biologist Heiner Kloes criticised the "completely irresponsible behaviour" of some visitors, saying that the behaviour of the woman "endangered the employees and the animals."

Kloes said in an emergency the zoo had guns which they would have used to shoot the bear, to prevent further injury to the woman.

However the biologist, who was also the duty officer in charge during Friday's incident, showed sympathy for the animal.

"The polar bear behaved correctly," Kloes said, adding, "It was curious, nibbled a bit, felt and had a look to see what else would happen."

He said the zoo's security system had worked well. Staff arrived on the scene immediately and hit the bear on the nose with poles to distract him, so they could save the woman.

The woman is now under observation in intensive care. While her injuries were not considered life threatening, there was a high risk of infection from the cuts and bites, daily Berliner Kurier reported.

Berlin Zoo is the home of polar bear Knut, who achieved global fame when a keeper hand-reared the cub for 108 days.

The zoo confirmed that the bear involved in Friday's attack was not Knut, nor his mother. (dpa)