Parents charged after toddler slips into wolf area and gets hurt at Hersheypark zoo
HERSHEY, Pennsylvania — The parents of a toddler who suffered a minor injury at a Pennsylvania zoo after slipping through a fence near a wolf enclosure and coming into contact with one of the animals have been charged with endangering the welfare of children, police said.
Evidence showed the parents both walked about 25 to 30 feet (7.6 meters to 9.1 meters) from the child to a seating area with benches and appeared to be paying attention to their cellphones when they noticed what was happening Saturday at ZooAmerica in the Hersheypark theme park, police said in a news release.
The child walked through a small opening in a wooden fence and entered a restricted area near the wolf exhibit, Derry Township police said. The child reached a main metal fence and was injured after reaching through the fence.
“Based on the injuries sustained, it appears that one of the wolves in the enclosure instinctively and naturally grabbed the child’s hand with its mouth. Several bystanders intervened and helped pull the child away,” police said in the release.
The parents, of Lititz, Pennsylvania, were charged with the crime after an initial investigation and consultation with the Dauphin County Prosecutor’s Office, police said. Court records released Monday show both are awaiting a preliminary hearing on April 28. No attorney was listed for them. A phone number associated with one of the parents was not working Tuesday.
The zoo is part of the Hershey Entertainment Complex, which features a chocolate-themed amusement park. The zoo’s website says it is home to three gray wolves.
The zoo said in a statement that the wolf’s response “is consistent with the animal’s natural behavior and is not a sign of aggression.”
“Our habitats are designed with multiple levels of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to ensure safe viewing. Guests must stay in designated areas and closely supervise children at all times,” it says.
Hersheypark made headlines last summer when a lost boy wandering on a monorail line above a crowd was rescued by a park visitor who climbed a building and jumped onto the tracks. The child is unhurt and has been reunited with his family.
