The parents of a toddler who was injured after squeezing through a fence at ZooAmerica in Hersheypark, Pennsylvania, have been charged with endangering the welfare of children. Police say the couple were distracted by their mobile phones when the incident occurred on Saturday.
According to Derry Township police, the parents walked 25 to 30 feet away from their child to a seating area and appeared to be focused on their phones. The toddler then slipped through a small opening in a wooden perimeter fence into a restricted area near the wolf enclosure.
The child reached the primary metal fence and placed a hand through it, at which point a wolf grabbed the hand with its mouth, causing minor injuries. Police described the wolf’s reaction as “instinctive and natural”. Bystanders intervened and helped pull the child away.
The parents, a 43-year-old woman and a 61-year-old man from Lititz, Pennsylvania, face a misdemeanour charge of endangering the welfare of children. They are due to appear for a preliminary hearing on 28 April.
A spokesperson for Hersheypark confirmed the wolf remains on exhibit and is up to date with vaccinations, adding that the animal’s behaviour was “consistent with natural animal behaviour” and not a sign of aggression. The zoo said its habitats have multiple layers of protection and clear signage advising guests to supervise children.
