A drill preparing workers at a zoo in Ehima, Japan for an escaped lion has become the laughingstock of the internet over the weekend.
Like other parks in the country, Tobe Zoo, located in the Iyo District, had someone dress in a full animal costume to play the part — and real lions were not so thrilled.
In a now-viral video, staff members are seen setting up large nets to catch the escaped “lion,” which then “attacks” and knocks one down.
The “lion,” which continues to wander across the park, is ultimately stopped with what appears to be a tranquilizer dart.
The fake beast lays motionless on the ground as workers rush to secure and return it to its enclosure.
As seen in the video, real lions watched the drill, seemingly unimpressed at the unfolding of events.
Johnny Waldman, founder of the Japanese culture blog “Spoon & Tamago,” shared the clip on Twitter, which has since gone viral with over 84,000 likes and 36,000 comments.
“Tobe Zoo in Aichi conducted a lion escape drill today. Note the expression on the actual lions faces,” Waldman tweeted.
Tobe Zoo in Aichi conducted a lion escape drill today.
Note the expression on the actual lions faces.
pic.twitter.com/azuJYQhLCw— Spoon & Tamago (@Johnny_suputama) June 22, 2019
Just last month, Tobe Zoo added a male lion to its den, so his arrival may have prompted the drill.
Judging from the video, it’s unclear how effective the drill actually is, so it’s best to hope that such an escape never happens.
新しい仲間がやってきました！
2019年5月13日(月)に、姫路セントラルパークからライオンのネオ(♂)がやってきました。
一般公開は決まり次第お知らせします。お楽しみに♪#とべ動物園 #アフリカストリート #ライオン #ネオ #姫路セントラルパーク #姫セン pic.twitter.com/QULuWCcKx1— 愛媛県立とべ動物園【公式】 (@tobezooofficial) May 13, 2019
Netizens chimed in with their own memes and similar experiences:
Lions are like “what in the hell is this?” pic.twitter.com/NFiI1RNkpb
— Angie Baer (@angiebaermn) June 22, 2019
“Are they mocking us, Martha”
— barefootGal (@barefoot_cas) June 22, 2019
“My man would put up a fight before getting caught. This is insulting!”
— JackCarter99 (@viktorjack68) June 22, 2019
I worked in a zoo and can confirm they do these drills like this 😂 one time they did a rhino drill and very slowly drove a golf cart around with a rhino label on it lmao
— la_schwab (@la_schwab) June 22, 2019
— Professor* Harbinger (@profharbinger) June 22, 2019
Those lions were like pic.twitter.com/0VlcPQHRmD
— Rowan Crook (@RoowanCrook) June 22, 2019
— VERO (@CruzakaVero) June 22, 2019
Others pointed out that the lions may have actually taken down notes from the scene.
They’ve just taught the lions their emergency plan. I’m not sure that’s the smartest move.
— 🧱House🏳️🌈 (@architek2ra) June 22, 2019
Lion leader: “So we jump at the people holding the net, trap them under their own net, and keep going. Any questions?”
— Cameron Bennett (@Cameroneous) June 22, 2019
They are picking up intel.
— Hootville (@Hootville) June 22, 2019
Featured Images via Twitter / @tobezooofficial (Left, Right) and YouTube (Screenshot) / The Mainichi (Center)
