Animals
“Bear alarm” in the Stuttgart Zoo
The “bear” was captured. photo
© Birger Meierjohann/Wilhelma Stuttgart/dpa
What to do when things get serious? For example, if a wild animal escapes? The outbreak was now simulated by a zoo employee in a bear costume.
The staff of the Wilhelma zoological and botanical garden in Stuttgart has rehearsed a bear’s escape. An employee dressed up as a bear. The alarm and emergency plans were tested, according to a statement. A new warning app for employees was also used. The employees received the warning and immediate instructions on their cell phones.
Part of the process is the immediate convening of a crisis team made up of animal keepers and veterinarians. The affected area of the Wilhelma had to be evacuated and cordoned off. The person in the bear costume was discovered and caught within a few minutes. In an emergency, the animal would have been anesthetized with an arrow from a blowgun.