Emergency Drill at Japanese Zoo
Animal Costumed Actors Replace Predators
A zoo in Japan has attracted attention by conducting an 'escaped animal response drill.' The most important role of the escaped animal was played by an employee dressed in an 'animal costume.'
Japan's NHK recently reported that an emergency drill was conducted at a zoo in Saitama Prefecture. The drill scenario involved a white tiger escaping from its enclosure, and the staff had to quickly surround and capture the white tiger safely.
The problem was the most important 'escaped animal.' Since it was impossible to release a real white tiger from its enclosure, the zoo used an 'actor' wearing a white tiger hoodie as a substitute.
Throughout the drill, this actor demonstrated 'acting spirit' by mimicking a tiger's four-legged walk using both arms and legs. The white tiger actor roamed around various parts of the zoo.
Other staff members conducted the drill according to the emergency manual procedures. They asked visitors inside the zoo to evacuate to safe areas and set up barricades around the perimeter to prevent the white tiger from escaping outside the zoo.
Later, an employee riding in a truck fired a tranquilizer gun to stop the white tiger's movement. Subsequently, other staff surrounded the white tiger, tied its legs with ropes, or wrapped its body with a net to safely complete the capture procedure.
The most important element of this drill was said to be 'eye contact' among the staff. It was crucial that employees always kept each other in sight to prevent the predator from suddenly attacking a colleague. The zoo reportedly conducts this kind of drill annually.
The zoo director told NHK, "In an emergency, all staff must understand their positions and roles and respond accordingly," emphasizing the importance of this drill. He added, "We also ensure that customers can watch the drill with peace of mind and enjoy their visit."
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