Snow leopard escapes from enclosure at Tokyo’s Tama Zoo in “real-life” drill

▲ Tokyo zoo conducts drill for escaped predator (Photo /http://www.japantoday.com/)

By Rita

What would you do if, while visiting the zoo, you spotted a leopard that had escaped from its enclosure and was roaming around? Tama Zoological Park in Hino City, Tokyo, prepared for this terrifying scenario with a drill.

According to Japan Today, during this drill, an employee enthusiastically wore a snow leopard costume and realistically dashed around the zoo grounds. What was originally an emergency exercise seemed to turn into a mini-theater, with onlookers thoroughly enjoying the spectacle and witnessing the process of the “snow leopard” being subdued and captured. The zoo conducts similar drills every year to remind staff to stay alert and maintain their emergency response capabilities.

Tama Zoological Park
Address: 7-1-1 Kashiwazaki, Hino City, Tokyo
Phone: 042-591-1611
Admission:
Adults (16–64): 600 yen
Seniors (65+): 300 yen
Teens (13–15): 200 yen
Children (0–12): Free