Let the wild rumpus start

February 12, 2015 7:57 AM

"In some zoos in Japan and China, staff members perform regular security drills to practice their response to a large animal escape by using costumed zookeepers as the fugitive animals. Individuals in furry costumes or pairs in full-size mockups of larger animals run through zoo property, sometimes inflicting mock injuries, as fellow zookeepers work to surround, subdue, and recapture them." A photo essay in The Atlantic.
posted by moonmilk (33 comments total)

Oh my god. I saw one of these photos randomly yesterday on Twitter, but completely devoid of context and had no idea what was going on. Glad to know there was an explanation for it.
posted by mathowie at 8:05 AM on February 12, 2015 [5 favorites]

#FREETIGGER
posted by sparkletone at 8:08 AM on February 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

It's like a bunch of furries got together to cosplay the Ferguson riots....
posted by schmod at 8:09 AM on February 12, 2015 [9 favorites]

That was extremely disturbing, for some reason.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:11 AM on February 12, 2015

Some videos!

Polar bear
Rhino (2)
Gorilla
posted by moonmilk at 8:12 AM on February 12, 2015 [2 favorites]

There's a cartoon animal zoo in Tokyo!?! Why wasn't I told this before???
posted by jim in austin at 8:14 AM on February 12, 2015 [2 favorites]

Okay, #7: what the hell kind of simulated fire-monkey-dragon-dog escape do they have to practice for in Chinese zoos? And can I visit?
posted by The Bellman at 8:15 AM on February 12, 2015 [4 favorites]

Carnage of the Animals.
.
.
I can't think of a pun for Saint-Saens.
posted by alexordave at 8:16 AM on February 12, 2015

This is like the Easter Bunny equivalent of Rare Exports Inc.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:16 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

What on earth is the costume in photo 18 supposed to be? Is it perhaps a tauntaun?

Because if Japanese zoos have to practice the possibility of tauntaun escape, I want to visit there SO BAD.
posted by sciatrix at 8:18 AM on February 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

This story has all of the things.
More stories like this, please.
posted by phunniemee at 8:21 AM on February 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

Zebra video
posted by moonmilk at 8:24 AM on February 12, 2015

I too really like that fire-monkey-dragon-dog - but my local zoo has red pandas, which are almost as good.
posted by moonmilk at 8:26 AM on February 12, 2015

Didn't they accidentally tranquilize a human in one of these exercises recently?
posted by miyabo at 8:38 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

Does anyone remember Zoo Animals on Rollerskates?
posted by Oyéah at 8:39 AM on February 12, 2015

No, but you made me remember The Banana Splits.
posted by moonmilk at 8:43 AM on February 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

The cartoonish tigers and such are adorable, but that rhino must have been more than slightly disturbing for those schoolchildren.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:48 AM on February 12, 2015

BRB sharing this with all the furries I know.
posted by stubbehtail at 8:50 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

I'm not convinced from those photos that they would win against the rhino.
posted by instead of three wishes at 9:04 AM on February 12, 2015

moonmilk: No, but you made me remember The Banana Splits.

I remember seeing a Banana Splits cameo on this episode of the Brady Bunch filmed at Kings Island. Mike Brady fended off a wild Fleegle attack with his fabulous Afro.
posted by dr_dank at 9:06 AM on February 12, 2015

Hey, is metafilter's own kokogiak responsible for this wonderful yet disturbing photo essay? I think the answer is yes!
posted by moonmilk at 9:24 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

No, but you made me remember The Banana Splits

Man, I would pay real money to hunt and trap a wild Fleagle (With the Sour Grapes Bunch at my side to celebrate). Fleagle was an asshole.
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:31 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

Previously on Zoofilter
posted by Winnemac at 10:08 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

Almost exactly 3 years ago! This does feel like a second-week-of-February kind of story, doesn't it?
posted by moonmilk at 10:14 AM on February 12, 2015

The nets that are being held up by people don't seem like they'd be all that effective in restraining a gorilla..... That being said, this looks like the BEST DAY OF WORK EVER.
posted by Fig at 10:22 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

Is too much to ask for a Tigger warning on this post?
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:42 AM on February 12, 2015 [17 favorites]

"This is the moment we've feared, people. Many of you thought it would never happen, but I insisted we spend two hours every morning training for it. You all thought I was mad. Many of you requested to be transferred to another peanut factory. But now, we---"
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:25 AM on February 12, 2015 [4 favorites]

Thank you for providing some context for the endless number of baffling facebook photos I've seen posted over the last few weeks!
posted by biddeford at 11:41 AM on February 12, 2015

Almost exactly 3 years ago! This does feel like a second-week-of-February kind of story, doesn't it?


Previouslier, also in February.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 1:54 PM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

Great post title, moonmilk.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:27 PM on February 12, 2015

Kind of sad. Don't the furries ever get to escape the zoo?
posted by zompist at 6:26 PM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

I think #7 is supposed to be a lion.
posted by junques at 6:15 PM on February 13, 2015

everything about this is glorious.
posted by runincircles at 10:26 AM on February 17, 2015