'Unsupervised' child at Hersheypark zoo injured by wolf after crawling under safety barrier

The parents, from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, were charged Sunday by police with one count each of misdemeanor child endangerment, according to multiple reports. 

Police say the parents moved about 25 to 30 feet away from the toddler toward a seating area and were looking at their cellphones at the time of the incident, reports say. Fox News Digital reached out to the Derry Township Police Department for more details. 

"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," ZooAmerica said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital, in response to a query about the incident.

"The child was never inside the wolf's enclosure, and we are relieved the injuries were minor," the zoo said. 

Officials have not identified which wolf was involved in the incident.

"Most zoos do their utmost to keep the public safe," Jami LoVullo, founder and president of the Animal Protection Agency and based in California, told Fox News Digital.

Zoos typically require young children to be closely supervised at all times - and many make this an explicit rule. 

"There are generally all kinds of signs warning of any danger and asking for the public not to enter these areas. It would be up to the parents to follow them," LoVullo added. 

"The safety of our guests and the wellbeing of our animals at ZooAmerica are always our highest priorities," said ZooAmerica. 

"Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing."