A zoo employee dressed as a gorilla was accidentally shot with a tranquilizer by the zoo veterinarian when the vet mistook him for the real thing.

The Loro Parque Zoo on the Spanish island of Tenerife was practicing a gorilla escape simulation when the employee, dressed as a gorilla, was shot. The tranquilizer was designed for a 400 pound gorilla and hit the man in his leg.

The tranquilizer was either a sedative, anesthetic or paralytic agent. However, an exact description has not been released.

"As part of the simulation, which took place in the security zone of the area and was attended by authorized personnel, they set off the emergency alarm," the zoo wrote in a statement. "One keeper in the wild mammals team was accidentally struck by the medical tranquilizer that vets use in these instances."

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Zoos around the world often perform these drills in order to train staff on emergency situations. It is considered normal for someone to dress up as an animal during these drills.

Unfortunately, the vet was unaware that the drill was taking place. The employee was taken to the University Hospital of the Canary Islands for treatment and is now in good health.

At the very least, it can safely be said that the zoo's veterinarian is adequately prepared to handle a gorilla escape.

Sources: DailyMail, Gawker

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