Toddler injured by wolf after climbing into enclosure while ‘parents were on their phones’
A toddler’s hand was grabbed by a wolf after the child slipped into a restricted area at a US zoo while their parents were allegedly distracted by their phones.
The 17-month-old infant squeezed through a small opening in a wooden barrier at ZooAmerica in Hersheypark, Pennsylvania, and entered a restricted area near the wolf exhibit, according to the Derry Township Police Department.
The child was injured after they placed their hand through the metal fencing.
One of the wolves in the enclosure ‘instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child’s hand with its mouth’, law enforcement said.
(Picture: Yelp)
Several Zoo visitors then rushed to pull the child away from the predator.
Carrie B. Sortor, 43, and Stephen J. B. Wilson, 61, of Lititz were charged Sunday with one count each of misdemeanor endangering the welfare of children.
Police said the couple both walked about 25 to 30 feet away from the child to a bench area and appeared to be focused on their cellphones.
The zoo confirmed a ‘wolf approached and made contact with the child’s hand.
They stressed: ‘This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression.’
The zoo said a review had confirmed that the child was not inside the wolf enclosure at any point.
The child’s injuries were described as minor.
ZooAmerica said the safety of its visitors and the well-being of their animals are ‘always our highest priorities,’ but noted that visitors are expected to ‘remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times.’
‘Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing,’ according to the statement.
(Picture: ZooAmerica/Facebook)
ZooAmerica is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, about 95 miles west of Philadelphia.
It is part of Hersheypark, a family amusement park with over 70 rides and attractions, as well as a water park.
The zoo covers about 100 acres and houses more than 200 animals native to North America.
This includes three gray wolves, acording to the zoo’s website.
The pack consists of one male, Twister, born in 2015, and two sisters, Hazel and Freya, born four years later.
Gray wolves are carnivores with a diet including elk, deer, bison, and moose, and caribou.
They also eat smaller animals including beavers and rabbits.
ZooAmerica say on their website that the three wolves can be difficult for visitors to spot.
‘Our wolves are well–camouflaged and you might mistake a wolf for a rock,’ they explain.
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