March 12, 2004
Rhino Training in Japan Zoo
A rampaging rhinoceros was seen running amok in a Tokyo zoo, leaving in its wake injured staff and visitors.
Luckily the tourists and school groups visiting the Ueno Zoo ran no real risk of being hurt by an enraged wild animal - the horned beast on the loose was nothing more than two zoo employees wearing a paper mache costume.
What visitors were witnessing was the zoo's annual drill of training staff in the art of capturing escaped animals - necessary in a country where large earthquakes are a threat.
During the drill costumed staff are instructed to do what they can to avoid the prods and nets wielded by their colleagues, some of whom pretend to be injured along the way. Eventually the animal gets shot with a fake stun gun and the show is over.
Posted by Dane at March 12, 2004 09:36 PM