Ever seen a hippo walk on two legs? Now’s your chance, sort of. Khao Kheow Open Zoo gets serious (and a little silly) with an emergency animal escape drill.
In a moment that was both adorable and alarming, the zoo recently pulled off an emergency response drill featuring Moo Deng the hippo. Well, not the real one. A staffer suited up in a full-on hippo mascot costume to play the part of a rogue runaway.
The annual safety simulation, part of the zoo’s 2025 preparedness protocol, played out like a scene from a wildlife action documentary. A cartoon-looking Moo Deng ‘escaped’ from her enclosure, prompting keepers, vets and staff to spring into action. Barricades went up, medics arrived on the scene, and the hippo or rather, the mascot, was eventually ‘tranquilised’ and escorted back to safety.
To keep things realistic, the team even staged a mock injury. On-site responders treated a staffer with fake wounds while the zoo’s vet team performed a simulated health check on the pretend runaway. An intensive training scenario included a staff member who was ‘attacked’ by the roaming Moo Deng and sustained a minor injury.
‘This isn’t just for show,’ said Narongwit Chodchoi, the zoo’s director. ‘These drills are vital. They prepare our staff to act swiftly and confidently if a real escape ever happens.’
No real hippos or humans were harmed in the making of this drill. The mascot, however, probably deserves a long soak and a snack.