Internet-Famous Zebra Finally Captured In Dramatic Rescue

Ed the zebra is finally back home after a week-long adventure across central Tennessee that captured hearts and headlines nationwide. The striped escape artist made headlines after slipping away from his home in Christiana, Tennessee, and dodging capture while galloping through neighborhoods, wooded areas, and even alongside a busy interstate.

Image Credit from YouTube video

According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Ed arrived in Christiana on May 30, but by the next day, his owner had reported him missing. That marked the beginning of a wild chase that would soon go viral.

He was first spotted on Interstate 24, forcing deputies to temporarily shut down the roadway as Ed ran freely near fast-moving traffic. Despite those efforts, the elusive zebra darted into a nearby wooded area and vanished again.

Over the next several days, Ed sightings popped up all over social media. Residents captured videos of him trotting through suburban streets and fields. Some neighbors posted surveillance footage, while others simply enjoyed spotting him in their backyards. But it wasn’t just the sightings that caught attention—Ed became an internet celebrity.

Image Credit from YouTube video

Memes flooded the web: Ed photoshopped dining at a Tennessee Waffle House, hitchhiking on a roadside, or sightseeing across the state. The zebra’s unexpected fame turned his disappearance into a light-hearted sensation, especially on platforms like X and TikTok.

Then on Sunday, June 9, authorities finally tracked Ed to a pasture near a subdivision in the Christiana area. The Sheriff’s Office deployed aviation crews who managed to secure Ed using a net. In dramatic fashion, the zebra was hoisted by helicopter and flown to a nearby animal trailer where he was safely transported home.

Video footage shared by the sheriff’s department shows Ed wrapped gently in a harness, calmly suspended beneath a helicopter as he’s airlifted from the pasture. It was an unusual rescue effort, but one that ended without injury to either Ed or the officers involved.

“Ed was airlifted and flown by helicopter back to a waiting animal trailer,” the department said. “We’re happy to report he’s safe.”

Image Credit from YouTube video

The bizarre saga comes just one month after a kangaroo caused traffic chaos in Alabama when it hopped along a freeway and escaped local authorities. While that incident ended with some confusion and laughs, Ed’s escape created a statewide spectacle—and a zebra-shaped hole in the community that people were happy to see filled.

Though Ed’s brief taste of freedom sparked plenty of laughter, the Sheriff’s Office reminded the public to report sightings of exotic animals immediately. Escaped pets, especially large and unfamiliar ones like zebras, can pose dangers to both animals and humans if not managed carefully.

Image Credit from YouTube video

For now, Ed is back where he belongs, hopefully a little less eager to roam—and probably unaware of his viral stardom.

This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.