Lion on the loose? Curious animals look on at Japanese zoo's escape drill

TOBE, Ehime -- A drill simulating the escape of a lion following a strong earthquake was held at Tobe Zoological Park in western Japan on June 22.

A worker dressed in a lion's costume to imitate the escaped lion and walked on two legs as real lions curiously looked on.

The drill was carried out during the zoo's open hours for the first time. After an announcement that a lion had escaped, staff members led visitors to safe areas and shut off corridors near the lions' enclosure with a net. The costumed lion appeared from behind a building and dashed toward a staff member who was holding the net.

The costumed creature was "shot" with a fake tranquilizer gun and laid on the ground in front of the real lions' enclosure before facility staff captured it.

(Japanese original by Ryoko Kijima, Matsuyama Bureau)