Man in gorilla costume mistakenly shot with tranquilliser dart at Spanish zoo

Updated
Man in gorilla suit mistakenly shot with tranquiliser gun at Spanish zoo
Man in gorilla suit mistakenly shot with tranquiliser gun at Spanish zoo

A man dressed in a gorilla costume was shot with a tranquilliser after being mistaken for a real gorilla at a zoo in Spain.

According to the Metro, the staff member at Loro Parque in Tenerife was dressed in an ape suit for a drill to practice the emergency response if a gorilla escaped.

He was reportedly running around the zoo attempting to add some realism to the hypothetical situation, when a lack of communication led to a zoo vet shooting him with a dart filled with enough drugs to take down a 400lb gorilla.

The vet had been unaware the training session was taking place, and leapt into action when he believed a real-life gorilla was on the loose.

According to Boston.com, a Google translation of the original report in the Spanish newspaper La Opinion reads:

"During a practice drill, the employee donned the costume and ran around the grounds to add realism to the event, but apparently the vet didn't know it was a drill and opened fire with his tranquiliser gun on the hapless employee, who apparently had an allergic reaction to the dose, designed to stop a 400lb gorilla in its tracks."

The Daily Mail reports that the man was hit in the leg, and taken to the University Hospital of the Canary Islands, where he remains in a serious condition.



Related articles

Video: Terrifying moment wolf attacks toddler at zoo

Famiy's car burst into flames in lion enclosure at Longleat Safari Park

Cute Baby Gorillas Born at New York Zoo
Cute Baby Gorillas Born at New York Zoo

Advertisement