Furtastic Series Banner

Lions are not impressed with Japan zoo's mock lion escape drill, but we are

They DGAF. We do.
By Sasha Lekach  on 
Lions are not impressed with Japan zoo's mock lion escape drill, but we are
Lions just can't be bothered. Credit: JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP/Getty Images

To prepare for the worst, the Tobe Zoo in Japan put a staff member in a lion suit.

In the event of an earthquake or some other incident that leads to lions escaping their enclosure, the zoo is prepared to handle the situation, according to a translated article from the local news agency Mainichi News Group. Using nets and an air gun (it'd be a tranquilizer gun in a real escape), the zoo held a mock lion escape Saturday with a person in a lion costume running around trying to get out. It caused quite the scene.

Meanwhile, the real lions at the zoo were mildly concerned -- if at all -- with the silly humans re-enacting their potential great escape.

The Spoon & Tamago Twitter account posted the local new's agency's video of the drill, much to the internet's amusement.

The Tobe Zoo recently added a male lion to its den, so maybe his arrival is what prompted the lion suit drill.

The video seems to be resonating with viewers since we are all those lions, the actual big cats, blithely glancing at all the fuss.

Topics Animals

Mashable Image
Sasha Lekach

Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.


More from Furtastic

Recommended For You
How to delete your Tinder account
tinder logo on iphone in front of backdrop of tinder fire emblem

Dating culture has become selfish. How do we fix it?
A young woman of color looking for love on an online dating app.

How to set boundaries in the early stages of dating
A stop road sign on an orange background.

A beginner's guide to sexting
Woman looking at phone

Women's health app launches massive survey on female orgasms
two white hands grasping on maroon bed sheet

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 19
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for April 19
a phone displaying Wordle

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for April 18
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'


How to watch the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix online for free
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 F1 W14 during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!