June 8, 2025 — Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States
What started as a missing pet report quickly turned into one of the strangest animal rescue stories of the year after an escaped zebra managed to evade capture for more than a week.
The zebra, named Ed, had only recently arrived at its new home when it escaped from its enclosure. For days, residents reported seeing the striped runaway wandering through neighborhoods, crossing fields, and even trotting alongside busy roads.
Despite multiple search efforts, Ed proved surprisingly difficult to catch. Videos of the zebra sprinting across the Tennessee countryside quickly spread across social media, with thousands of people joking that it looked like a real-life movie scene.
After nearly a week of unsuccessful attempts, wildlife officials decided to try a different strategy.
Using a helicopter, trained crews safely lifted Ed in a specialized harness and flew him through the air to a waiting trailer. The unusual rescue was captured on video, showing the zebra calmly suspended beneath the helicopter as it was transported to safety.
The footage immediately went viral. Many viewers couldn’t believe they were watching a zebra “flying” through the sky, while others joked that Ed had finally received a first-class ride home after leading authorities on a week-long chase.
Officials confirmed that the rescue was carried out under veterinary supervision and that the zebra was not injured during the operation.
Although the escape caused plenty of excitement across the community, the story ended on a positive note with Ed safely reunited with his owner—after becoming one of the internet’s most famous runaway animals.
Direct Article:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/runaway-pet-zebra-ed-captured-after-week-on-run-in-tennessee/story?id=122680888
Additional Coverage: BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gqj3j0j2vo
