Parents charged after toddler snuck into wolf enclosure at Pennsylvania zoo
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Parents of a toddler who squeezed through a fence near a wolf enclosure at ZooAmerica in Hersheypark, Pennsylvania, have been charged with endangering the welfare of children after the child sustained a minor injury from a wolf's bite.
- Police reported the parents were distracted by their cellphones and were about 25 to 30 feet away from the child when the incident occurred; bystanders intervened to pull the child away from the wolf.
- The zoo stated the wolf’s behavior was natural and investigatory rather than aggressive, emphasizing that multiple safety barriers and clear signage are in place to protect visitors.
- The parents, aged 43 and 61, await a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 28, with no attorneys listed for them as of the latest court records.
- Police have requested witnesses or anyone with video footage to come forward, highlighting concerns about parental supervision and the risks posed when parents are distracted by phones.
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