An employee dressed as a snow leopard has leapt out of an enclosure at a Tokyo zoo as part of an annual animal-escape drill.

Visitors at Tama Zoological Park watched on as the disguised zookeeper managed to at first evade capture before being finally subdued by a fake tranquilliser gun.

During the escape the "snow leopard" managed to "maim" an unfortunate zookeeper, who was rushed off in an ambulance.

A similar simulation is conducted each year at alternating zoos across Tokyo to remind staff members what to do in the event of a real animal escape.

"In the event of a big earthquake, a tree could fall on a cage, or many other things could occur that may lead to an animal escape," zoo director Yutaka Fukuda said.

"We think it is very important, and it is our responsibility to carry it out with seriousness."

Previous animal costumes used as part of the drill have included zebra, rhino, lion and orangutan outfits.

AFP