At least 150 zookeepers participated in a staged drill at Ueno Zoo as part of a training exercise in what to do in the case of one of the animals escapes, with one of the zookeepers dressing up as a giant zebra.
The assignment covered all scenarios of what might happen if an animal breaks out of its enclosure, along with what actions need to be taken at a particular time. This includes cornering the animal, staging tranquilliser shots and covering it in a net, before lifting it safely into the back of a truck. Previous drills have been known to feature an employee being attacked by the animal that has "escaped".
A zookeeper dressed as a zebra is surrounded by colleagues during a drill to practise what to do in the event of an animal escape at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, JapanKazuhiro Nogi/ AFPZookeepers hold a net to capture a zookeeper dressed as zebra during the drill at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, JapanKazuhiro Nogi/ AFPZookeepers hold up a large net barricade to capture a zoo staff member dressed as a zebra at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, JapanChristopher Jue/ Getty ImagesA zookeeper uses a stick to check a zoo staff member dressed as a zebra after pretending to be tranquilised at Ueno Zoo Christopher Jue/ Getty ImagesA member of staff who works at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, walks around dressed as a zebra during the drill of what to do when an animal escapesKazuhiro Nogi/ AFPZookeepers capture a zookeeper dressed as zebra, during a drill to practise what to do in the event of an animal escape at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, JapanKazuhiro Nogi/ AFPZookeepers capture a zoo staff member dressed as a zebra at Ueno Zoo during a emergency drill in Tokyo, JapanChristopher Jue/ Getty ImagesZookeepers carry a zookeeper dressed as a zebra during a drill to practice what to do in the event of an animal escape at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, JapanKazuhiro Nogi/ AFP
Located in Taitō, Tokyo, Ueno Zoo is the oldest in Japan, opening in for the first time in 1882. It has been conducting training sessions such as this for over a decade. Tama zoo, which was originally part of Ueno, also puts on similar training sessions.
A keeper checks if a mock zebra is unconscious after it was shot with a 'tranquilliser dart' at Tama Zoo in 2013Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP
A zookeeper aims a tranquilliser gun at a keeper dressed in a gorilla costume at the Ueno zoo in 2014Kazuhiro Nogi/AFPZookeepers hold a net to capture a keeper dressed as a gorilla at the Ueno zoo in 2014Kazuhiro Nogi/AFPA real zebra watches as a fake zebra runs past its enclosure at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo in 2008Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFPA (very) fake zebra makes a break for freedom during the annual exercise for runaway animals at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on February 20, 2008Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFPA warden protects visitors from an employee dressed as an escaped gorilla during a drill at Ueno Zoo in 2006Koichi Kamoshida/Getty ImagesA Ueno Zoo employee dressed as an escaped gorilla is captured during a training exercise in 2006Koichi Kamoshida/Getty ImagesChildren run away from Ueno Zoo employees in a rhinoceros costume in 2004Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images
