A 17-month-old toddler suffered minor injuries after their hand was caught in a wolf’s mouth at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, as their parents were allegedly distracted by their smartphones
A toddler’s hand was caught in a wolf’s jaws after the youngster crawled into a forbidden zone at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania while their parents were reportedly distracted by their mobile phones.
The child squeezed through a tiny gap in a wooden fence and accessed a restricted zone near the wolf enclosure on Saturday, according to the Derry Township Police Department. The 17-month-old sustained injuries after reaching through the metal fencing, law enforcement confirmed.
Onlookers stepped in and dragged the toddler to safety while the child’s oblivious parents, Carrie Sortor, 43, and Stephen Wilson, 61, were reportedly staring at their phones on a bench some 25 to 30 feet away, Derry Township police told WGAL.
The pair remained completely unaware that their child was in peril and glanced up when they heard the disturbance emanating from the wolf enclosure, officers told the local outlet. The child sustained only minor injuries during the incident, ZooAmerica officials said.
“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,” ZooAmerica said.
There are three wolves housed at the 11-acre zoo – Twister, a male wolf, and two sisters, Hazel and Freya – according to the zoo’s website.
The zoo confirmed that a wolf had “approached and made contact with the child’s hand,” according to USA TODAY.
The zoo further clarified, according to the outlet, that this was in line with natural animal behaviour and not a sign of aggression. ZooAmerica confirmed that after reviewing the incident, it was established that the child had never been inside the wolf’s enclosure. The injuries sustained were described as minor, with neither the police nor the zoo providing any additional details regarding their nature.
Following the incident, ZooAmerica emphasised that their “highest priorities” were the safety and well-being of its visitors and families. However, the zoo also stated 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,” the zoo added.