Toddler injured after sticking hand into wolf habitat at ZooAmerica

A child was injured after crawling under a fence and sticking his hand into a wolf enclosure at the ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Pennsylvania, the zoo said.

USA TODAY

The incident occurred on Saturday, April 4, a spokesperson for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company confirmed to USA TODAY. The unsupervised 18-month-old crawled under an exterior perimeter fence and headed to the primary metal enclosure of the wolf habitat, where the child put his hand through the fence, according to the spokesperson.

"A wolf approached and made contact with the child's hand," the zoo added. "This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression."

<p style=Every year, USA TODAY Network photojournalists find beauty in wildlife within their local communities. Their visuals are both stunning and informative, allowing viewers an up-close look into the natural world, the challenges facing us and the humans who are attempting to conserve life on Earth. See USA TODAY'S Pictures of the Year 2025, beginning here
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Following a review by the zoo, the spokesperson said that at no point during the incident was the child inside the wolf's enclosure. No other details on the incident were provided, and ZooAmerica did not identify the child or their family, but described the child's injuries as minor.

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ZooAmerica said the safety of its visitors and the well-being of their animals are "always our highest priorities," but noted 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," according to the statement.

ZooAmerica is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, about 95 miles west of Philadelphia. The zoo is part of Hersheypark, an about 121-acre family amusement park that features over 70 rides and attractions, and a water park.

The zoo covers about 11 acres and is home to more than 200 animals native to North America, including three gray wolves, according to the zoo's website. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Child injured after sticking hand into wolf enclosure at ZooAmerica

byAlex Forten
in
April 05, 2026

Toddler injured after sticking hand into wolf habitat at ZooAmerica

A child was injured after crawling under a fence and sticking his hand into a wolf enclosure at the ZooAmerica North Amer...
Read More
Backpacks full of explosives found near Serbia-Hungary gas pipeline, leaders say

Two backpacks containing explosives were found near a pipeline in Serbia near the Hungarian border carrying Russian gas, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday.

CNN Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic pictured during a press conference in his office in Belgrade, Serbia, October 9, 2025. - Marko Djurica/Reuters

Both Serbia and Hungary are stillheavily reliant on Russian energysupplies, putting them odds with other European countries seeking to reduce their reliance on Russian supplies.

The backpacks, containing "two large packages of explosives with detonators," were found in Kanjiza, in northern Serbia, "a few hundred meters from the gas pipeline," Vucic said.

Video and images in Serbian media show an extensive police presence in the area, along with roadblocks and helicopters above.

Vucic said he had informed Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban "of the initial results of the investigation by our military and police authorities into the threat to the critical gas infrastructure."

Orban, who is in the midst of a bitter election campaign ahead of a national vote next weekend, said onXthat he would convene an emergency defense council meeting later Sunday.

As to the origin of the explosives, Vucic said there were "certain traces" he could not discuss immediately.

He added that the explosives could have "endangered many lives" and caused significant damage to the pipeline.

Close ties

Vucic and Orban both have strong relations with Moscow. Last month, Serbia secured a further three months of gas imports from Russia following talks between Vucic and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

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Orban has frequentlycomplainedthat Ukraine has blocked its oil supplies through a Russian pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory.

On Saturday, the Hungarian Prime Ministerposted a videowarning that a "severe energy crisis is approaching, accelerating day by day," because of the war in the Middle East, and demanded that the European Union suspend sanctions on the import of Russian energy.

Hungary has used its own exemption from the EU sanctions to deepen its dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin speak during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, November 28, 2025. Orban is considered to have strong relations with Russia. - Alexander Nemenov/Pool/Reuters

Orban has long clashed with the European Union over relations with Russia, support for Ukraine and immigration.

He has also been an outspoken ally of US President Donald Trump and received vocal support from Trump administration officials.

In the last week of Hungary's election campaign, US Vice President JD Vance will visit Budapest to meet Orban. In February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said relations between Washington and Budapest had entered a "golden age" andtold Orbanat a news conference that "your success is our success."

Orban faces the biggest challenge to his rule in 16 years,according to analysts.

Two polls published last week showed Hungary's center-right Tisza party widening its lead over Orban's ruling Fidesz party ahead of the April 12 parliamentary election, although a large share of voters remained undecided.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byAlex Forten
in
April 05, 2026

Backpacks full of explosives found near Serbia-Hungary gas pipeline, leaders say

Two backpacks containing explosives were found near a pipeline in Serbia near the Hungarian border carrying Russian gas, ...
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The Masters: Ranking all 10 LIV Golfers in 2026 field

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Ninety-one players are scheduled to tee off at Augusta National in the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament on Thursday, but the final field includes only 10 members of LIV Golf.

Field Level Media

The Saudi-backed league already had its fewest number of qualified players before Phil Mickelson withdrew last week due to a family health matter. The number has declined each year since LIV Golf's inaugural 2022 season, with 18 of the league's players qualifying for the Masters in 2023.

There were 13 players at Augusta in 2024 and 12 last year. The number has dwindled to 10 in 2026, directly impacted by the recent LIV Golf departures of Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed. Joaquin Niemann did not receive an invitation after being offered a special invite each of the past two years.

However, there are two LIV players among the top five pre-tournament favorites and five former champions among their ranks at this year's Masters. At least two LIV Golf players have finished in the top 10 of the Masters each of the past three years.

We rank each of their chances to don the green jacket come next Sunday.

BUBBA WATSON (+60000 at DraftKings)

Qualified By: Past Champion (2012, '14)

Watson has plummeted to 702nd in the Official World Golf Ranking due to a decline in play followed by finger surgery last October that ended his 2025 competitive season. The 47-year-old RangeGoats captain hasn't finished better than T28 through the first five LIV events this year and is 48th in the points standings.

The two-time Masters champion can never be fully discounted at Augusta, where he finished T14 last year thanks to a final-round 68. But Watson missed the cut the previous year and has largely been a non-factor outside of LIV Golf events since being one of the league's first signings in 2022.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL (+60000)

Qualified By: Past Champion (2011)

The South African rebounded from missing the cut two years ago to finish T36 at Augusta in 2025. Schwartzel, 41, did finish T10 at the International Series Morocco and T12 in the Philippines last year, but only played five events outside of LIV.

He rarely plays against elite fields these days, with the Masters being his lone major appearances over the past two years. Schwartzel's best LIV finish so far in 2026 was a T17 in Adelaide.

DUSTIN JOHNSON (+24000)

Qualified By: Past Champion (2020)

After missing the cut in three of four majors and failing to win a LIV event last year, Johnson has begun to string together more positive results of late. That includes three finishes of T17 or better through five LIV events in 2026, although he still sits 26th in the points standings.

Now 41, Johnson has become one of the poster children for critics who claim elite players lured by lucrative contracts from the Saudis now lack the drive to remain at the top of the game (see: Cameron Smith, below). Johnson also missed the Masters cut in 2024 and hasn't finished better than T23 while missing the cut in six of the past nine majors overall.

SERGIO GARCIA (+22500)

Qualified By: Past Champion (2017)

Garcia will be making his 103rd career start in a major, although there is little to suggest that he'll be a real threat at Augusta. He has missed the Masters cut each of the past three years and has a lone top-15 finish on LIV this year.

The Fireballs GC captain finished T4 at the Bahrain Championship to begin 2026, but otherwise has rarely been a factor outside of LIV Golf over the past three years.

CARLOS ORTIZ (+26000)

Qualified By: Top 4 in 2025 U.S. Open (T4)

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Ortiz has yet to find a podium on LIV Golf this year, but he has been solid with four finishes of T21 or better highlighted by a solo sixth in Hong Kong. This will mark only his second start at the Masters, where he missed the cut in 2021.

Ortiz, 34, tied for fourth at last year's U.S. Open to punch his Augusta ticket for 2026. The Mexican star also won the International Series Macau in March 2025 and closed out last year with a T8 at the Australian Open.

TOM MCKIBBIN (+28000)

Qualified By: 2025 Hong Kong Open Champion

The former Rory McIlroy protege will make his Masters debut thanks to his seven-shot victory in Hong Kong last year. McKibbin is off to a slow LIV start, with his best finish a T17 at the season-opening Riyadh event, but the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland is considered one of the top young talents in the game.

McKibbin's best major finish to date was a T41 at the 2024 U.S. Open and he likely needs some course knowledge before becoming a true threat to win at Augusta. But he also showed world-class form with his dominant win in Hong Kong, which followed a solo fourth on the DP World Tour in Spain.

CAMERON SMITH (+10000)

Qualified By: 2022 U.S. Open Champion

The good? Smith has five top-10 finishes in his past eight Masters starts. The bad? He missed the cut at Augusta for the first time last year. The ugly? The former World No. 2 missed seven consecutive cuts in non-LIV events -- including all four majors -- before claiming a runner-up finish in his native Australia in 2025.

Smith has shown an improvement in form with a pair of T8s on LIV this year, but he's still a far cry from the player who finished T6 at Augusta just two years ago.

TYRRELL HATTON (+6900)

Qualified By: Top 4 in 2024 U.S. Open (T4)

The fiery Englishman's famous lack of patience with himself on the course wouldn't appear to suit Augusta, but Hatton has plenty of game to be a serious factor if he can put four solid rounds together. His best previous Masters finish was a T9 in 2024, when he closed with a 69.

Hatton, 34, has a past top-10 finish in each of the majors, with his best result to date being a T4 at the 2025 U.S. Open. His T14 at Augusta last year would have been significantly better if not for a 75 on Saturday that dropped him out of serious contention, and Hatton regularly seems to play some of his best golf on the world's most challenging courses.

JON RAHM (+850)

Qualified By: Past Champion (2023)

The captain of Legion XII that includes Hatton and McKibbin, Rahm already has a win, three runners-up and another top-5 on LIV in 2026. The Spaniard shot a final-round 69 at Augusta in 2023 to beat Koepka and Mickelson by four shots to claim his second major victory.

Rahm, 31, has consistently risen to the major challenge since bolting for LIV Golf in 2024. That includes three top-15 major finishes in 2025, topped by a T7 at the U.S. Open after a T8 at the PGA Championship.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU (+1100)

Qualified By: 2024 U.S. Open Champion

DeChambeau, 32, is the hottest player on the LIV circuit, having won consecutive events in dramatic playoffs while also posting a T3 in Adelaide. That followed a 2025 in which he posted top-10s in every major outside of his missed cut at the U.S. Open.

He shared the 36-hole lead at Augusta in 2024 before finishing sixth, and held the 54-hole lead last year before settling for a T5. That's DeChambeau's best Masters finish to date, but his prodigious length off the tee and increasing knowledge of Augusta's nuances make him one of the clear favorites entering the week.

--Derek Harper, Field Level Media

byAlex Forten
in
April 05, 2026

The Masters: Ranking all 10 LIV Golfers in 2026 field

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Ninety-one players are scheduled to tee off at Augusta National in the 90th edition of the Masters Tourna...
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