A routine family trip to a Pennsylvania zoo turned into a criminal case after a 1-year-old boy slipped through a perimeter fence and was injured by a wolf — and his parents now face misdemeanor charges.
The incident at ZooAmerica, located inside Hersheypark in Hershey, is raising sharp questions about supervision at animal attractions and what happens when a momentary lapse puts a child in a wild animal’s space.
What Happened
The encounter occurred just before noon on Saturday, according to Associated Press. Police said the toddler passed through a small opening in a wooden perimeter fence and entered a restricted area near the wolf exhibit.
Once inside, the child reached a chain-link enclosure and placed their hand through the fence. A wolf approached and made contact with the child’s hand…