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A toddler was injured after sticking their hand through the fence of a wolf enclosure at ZooAmerica, part of Hersheypark in Pennsylvania.
On Saturday, an unsupervised 18-month-old child climbed under an exterior fence surrounding the wolf habitat before sticking their hand through the primary metal fence closing off the enclosure.
A wolf inside the enclosure made contact with the child in a manner that is “consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression,” a spokesperson for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts told Fox 43.
The child sustained minor injuries from the incident, the spokesperson added, without specifying the type of injuries.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts said the safety of its guests and animals are its top priority.
“We are aware of an incident involving a young child at ZooAmerica the morning of Saturday, April 4, and are relieved that the child’s injuries were minor,” the company said in a statement.
“Based on our review, an unsupervised 18-month old child was able to crawl under an exterior perimeter fence, travel to the primary metal enclosure surrounding the wolf habitat, and put his hand through that fence,” the statement said.
“A wolf approached and made contact with the child’s hand,” according to Hershey.
“This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression,” the statement continued.
The child was never inside the wolf’s enclosure, the spokesperson added.
According to the zoo, there are three wolves in its pack: Twister, a male wolf born on April 30, 2015, and females Hazel and Freya, who arrived from Bear Country USA in Rapid City, South Dakota and born April 4, 2019.
“The safety of our guests and the well-being of our animals are always our highest priorities,” according to Hershey. “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 Independent has contacted Hershey Entertainment and Resorts for more information.
ZooAmerica is an 11-acre zoo for animals found in North America that is part of the Hersheypark amusement park in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is committed to the conservation of North American wildlife and habitats, according to its website.
