HERSHEY, PA — The parents of a toddler who suffered minor injuries at a Pennsylvania Zoo after he slipped through a fence near a wolf enclosure and came into contact with one of the animals have been charged with child endangerment, police said.
Evidence showed that the parents walked 25 to 30 feet (7.6 meters to 9.1 meters) away from the child to a seating area with chairs and appeared to be paying attention to their cell phones when they noticed him. What was happening? Saturday at ZooAmerica in Hersheypark amusement park, police said in a news release.
Derry Township police said the child passed through a small hole in a wooden fence and entered a restricted area near the wolf exhibit. The child reached a basic metal fence and was injured after putting his hand through that fence.
“From the injuries sustained, it appears as if one of the wolves in the cage instinctively and naturally grabbed the child’s hand with its mouth. Several bystanders intervened and helped pull the child away,” police said in a statement.
The parents, from Lititz, Pennsylvania, were charged with a misdemeanor after a preliminary investigation and consultation with the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, police said. Both are awaiting a preliminary hearing on April 28, court records posted Monday showed. No lawyers were listed for them. The phone number associated with a parent was not working Tuesday.
The zoo is part of the Hershey entertainment complex, featuring a chocolate-themed amusement park. the Zoo website She says she has three gray wolves.
The zoo said in a statement that the wolf’s reaction was “consistent with normal animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression.”
“Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing. Guests are expected to remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times.”
The city of Hersheypark made headlines last summer when a lost boy wandered onto a monorail line above a crowd of people She was rescued by a park visitor Who climbed onto the building and jumped onto the rails. The child was not injured and was reunited with his family.