Zooamerica Toddler Injured After Crawling Under Fence Near Wolf Enclosure
An 18-month-old suffered minor injuries Saturday morning at Zooamerica in Hershey, Pennsylvania, after crawling under an exterior fence and reaching toward a wolf enclosure. Zooamerica said the child was unsupervised and never entered the enclosure. The incident is under review, and Zooamerica said the child’s injuries were minor.
What happened at Zooamerica
Zooamerica said the child breached the park’s perimeter fencing and made it to the primary metal enclosure surrounding the wolf habitat. The child then put a hand through the barrier, and a wolf approached and made contact with the child’s hand.
The zoo said that response was consistent with natural animal behavior and was not a sign of aggression. Zooamerica also said at no point was the toddler inside the wolf enclosure.
Zooamerica has not identified the child or the family. Details on the injuries were not provided beyond the description that they were minor.
Zooamerica response and safety message
Zooamerica said visitor safety remains a top priority, but it also stressed that guests are expected to remain in designated areas and closely supervise children at all times. The zoo said its habitats are built with multiple layers of protection, and that clear signage and barriers are in place to help keep viewing areas safe.
In its statement, Zooamerica also said, “Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing. ” The zoo said the child and family were not identified.
Zooamerica is part of the Hersheypark amusement park in Hershey and is described as an 11-acre zoo focused on animals found in North America. A statement on behalf of Zooamerica said the facility is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and participates in the Species Survival Plan program.
Zooamerica in the wider Hersheypark setting
Zooamerica sits inside the broader Hersheypark entertainment campus in Pennsylvania, alongside the park and boardwalk. The incident places Zooamerica back in the spotlight as the park’s safety procedures come under attention after the child’s brief contact with the wolf enclosure.
Zooamerica said the child was never inside the wolf enclosure, and that point is central to the current account of what happened. Zooamerica has not said whether any additional steps will follow, but the review will likely focus on the exterior fence, the child’s movement through the area, and the layers of protection already in place at Zooamerica.
