Imagine your new pet zebra decides it’s time for an unexpected adventure—well, that’s exactly what happened in Tennessee last week.
Ed the Zebra had just settled into his new home in Christiana, Tennessee, when he made a sudden break for freedom.
What followed was an intense, week-long manhunt that caught the attention of everyone in the area and even sparked viral moments online.
Ed’s Escape Sparks Highway Chaos
The trouble started almost immediately after Ed arrived on May 30th.
By the very next day, his owner reported him missing.
Shockingly, Ed was spotted galloping along Interstate 24, one of the busiest highways in the area.
Video footage captured him running freely alongside speeding cars, which forced officials to shut down the highway completely to keep both motorists and the zebra safe.
Can you imagine the chaos on the road when a zebra is just trotting alongside cars?
High-Tech Search Efforts with Drones and Helicopters
Authorities didn’t waste any time. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office launched a full-scale search using drones to track Ed’s movements.
Deputies spotted him in a field near Christiana, but keeping him calm and safe was tricky.
Sheriff’s Corporal White urged locals to steer clear of the area to avoid scaring Ed, stressing that people and cameras nearby were making the rescue effort more difficult.
After several days of careful tracking and coordination, the dramatic rescue came when Ed was finally caught in a pasture.
Aviation crews airlifted him in a net, rocking gently as the helicopter lifted him into the air and flew him back to an animal trailer waiting nearby.
It was a sight no one would forget anytime soon.
A Community Rally and Online Sensation
Ed’s escapade quickly made waves online, inspiring countless memes and sparking curiosity all over social media.
For eight days, this zebra’s adventure kept everyone guessing about when and how he would finally be caught.
Why the Airlift Rescue Was Needed
The Sheriff’s Office called in a veterinarian to assist with the capture, but the rescue still required the unusual step of an airlift.
While it wasn’t fully explained why the helicopter was necessary, officials made it clear they wanted to ensure Ed’s safety without causing him unnecessary stress.
A Reminder of Other Unusual Animal Runaways
Ed’s story isn’t the first time an escaped exotic animal caused a stir on American highways.
Just a month earlier, a kangaroo named Sheila caused a similar scene in Alabama.
Sheila was spotted hopping along Interstate 85, forcing troopers to shut down the highway to keep drivers safe.
It took a team effort from state troopers and Sheila’s owner to finally catch the wayward marsupial. The whole event even had local law enforcement scratching their heads in disbelief.