Zebras are not simply horses with stripes as our local community found out last week. Ed the Zebra jumped a fence and escaped from his owner’s Tennessee farm only one day after arriving. Ed’s owner had intended him to be a pet. People own exotic animals for a variety of reasons: The novelty and prestige of ownership, business opportunities, such as breeding or tourism, or simply for companionship and a unique hobby.

Obviously, such animals require specialized care and consideration. Zebras are equines, like horses and donkeys, but are native to Africa. They live in grasslands and are capable of running long distances at high speed — not easy to capture when loose. Cute as they may appear with their handsome black and white stripes, zebras are wild animals. They can bite, kick, and be very dangerous if approached.

After his escape from the farm, Ed the Zebra went on a wild escapade, being spotted running the streets of a subdivision and even galloping down the interstate highway. Local authorities asked for the public’s help in reporting any sightings of the animal.

The public nicknamed him Ed and became fascinated with the creature and his various adventures, so fascinated that he became a social media phenomime. After all, how many zebras do you see trotting down a city street or munching grass in a neighborhood lawn.

Local media picked up the story and soon even national media found the story newsworthy. It wasn’t long before the famous zebra became even more famous as sightings were posted on social media. Not to pass up an opportunity to get a little free publicity, Ed began to be reported in some very suspect places, such as the local Waffle House, a car repair shop, or a donut store. The Internet loves a funny joke and thus memes of Ed in all manner of impossible scenarios appeared.

Well, apparently the zebra was very good at avoiding capture and disappeared into the wooded areas of suburbia. He managed to avoid the sheriff’s posse for over a week until, as luck would have it, he was spotted in a outlaying meadow. Run as he might, he was unable to hide fast enough to escape the cameras of the drones.

Professional livestock herders from Texas netted the equine and air-lifted him by helicopter to captivity. While it was sad to see the clever animal nabbed by law enforcement and brought to justice, it was a relief that he was unharmed in his wild adventures, real and imagined.

His owners were happy to have him home and changed his former name to Ed, since that was what he was popularly known by. He is resting up on the farm, and, hopefully, has a new pen with a higher fence. The community never imagined that we would have a zebra loose in town. He brought a bit of humor and adventure to break the monotony of an ordinary week.

Copyright 2025 Sheila Moss