A wayward zebra that had been wandering for over a week in Tennessee, capturing the attention of online audiences, was safely apprehended on Sunday, as reported by authorities.
The zebra, named Ed, was found and secured in a pasture close to a neighborhood in Christiana, central Tennessee. This was confirmed by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, which stated that Ed was captured with the assistance of aviation teams.
“Ed was airlifted and flown by helicopter back to a waiting animal trailer,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Video posted by the sheriff’s office shows Ed wrapped in a net with his head sticking out as he is carried by the helicopter to the trailer.
Ed arrived in Christiana on May 30, the sheriff’s office said. His owner reported him missing the next day.
The zebra was spotted and filmed running along Interstate 24, forcing deputies to shut the roadway. But Ed escaped into a wooded area.
There were several sightings posted to social media. Ed was filmed trotting through a neighborhood.
Ed the Zebra quickly turned into a viral phenomenon, inspiring internet memes. One humorous post depicted Ed enjoying a meal at a Waffle House, a well-known restaurant in the South. Other memes imagined him touring different cities in Tennessee or asking for change by the roadside.
The pursuit of Ed came a month after a runway kangaroo shut down a section of Alabama interstate.
