Yes, they did it again. Zoo animals have gone viral over the years for their escape attempts and some are hilarious. From seeing koalas marching on the streets and penguins on the loose, to elephants blocking traffic, these events inspired a whole pop culture phenomenon. Madagascar is perhaps the first thing which pops in people’s minds. But more than that, zoo animal escapes are something to talk about, because some beloved icons are too smart for their own good. Ed the Zebra is the prime example, but he’s far from being the only recent case.
1. Ed The Zebra
Ed is a zebra from Christiana, Tennessee. On May 30th 2025, only a day after his arrival, Ed broke free from the zoo! This one act already made him a local legend. He’d quickly been spotted strolling across Interstate 24 and other neighboring streets.
2. Viral Attention
It took authorities eight full days to track Ed to a pasture. In the meantime, the internet took matters into its own hands by memeing Ed constantly. He’s seen dining at Waffle House, panhandling downtown, all while police issued multiple statements about how citizens must keep their distance should they ever run into Ed.
3. Drone Surveillance
The game changer in this investigation proved to be drone footage. About 40 miles from Nashville and into the Buchanan Estates, Ed was located enjoying his time. Good thing is that by using drones, the deputies were able to find Ed without distressing him.
4. Helicopter Intervention
What better way to retrieve Ed than by having him be flown with a helicopter? On June 8th he was gently lifted after meticulous planning, given the drones provided both much needed space and a sense of calmness for the zebra. Authorities teamed up with Tango 82 Aviation, who knew how to maneuver Ed past treetops!
5. Why Not Sedation?
Well, this wasn’t the first attempt at capturing Ed! Whenever authorities were closing in, he would sprint into dense woods or crowds, which was less than ideal. Plus, using darts meant a high chance for the zebra to run right into the highway.
6. Ed’s Owners
Taylor and Laura Ford confess they hired a Texas team to push Ed away from traffic. The week-long chase was incredibly stressful, but thankfully, no one was harmed. Now the couple is evaluating their fencing and safety measures to prevent accidents like this from ever happening again.
7. Zebra Ownership Is Being Questioned
In Tennessee, zebras carry a Class III designation. This translates to no special permits required. However, a lot of criticism has been sparked from this. Indeed, to own an exotic animal means to take on the responsibility for an unpredictable risk. Experts are discussing that zebras are wild animals, who can be spooked quickly and retaliate in kind.
8. Ed Isn’t The First One
In April, Sheila escaped from Macon County, Alabama. Sheila, a female kangaroo, hopped into Interstate 85 and needed to be tranquilised in order to be returned safely home. Moral of the story is: Ed and Sheila pose public safety risks… but the memes come too. So, lawmakers are being called to tighten the laws on exotic animal keeping.
9. Exotic Animals Require Expertise
Animals like zebras and kangaroos are not livestock, and they can’t live in pens. But truth be told, their escapes can often be prevented. There are simple errors, like poor fencing, inadequate enclosures, legal loopholes that are exploited. Everything serves as a reminder that we must reconsider exotic pet ownership.
10. Real Danger
People are drawn by sensational experiences. They love to discuss cases like Ed’s, which is why he became a social media sensation. But by being so public, Ed also risked being captured by less friendly forces. The behind-the-scenes rescue crews are struggling more and more with the rise of viral content.
11. Ed Is Back Home, But Is He Safe?
Will Tennessee focus on tightening Class III animal regulations? Will neighbors sleep better at night after getting zebra-proof fences? The thing is, Ed’s escape and rescue mission weren’t just a story, or a stunt. This is a signal. We need better exotic animal standards.
12. Msituni The Giraffe
Just this year, a giraffe by the name of Msituni escaped her pen at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona. But this case differs from Ed’s. She only wandered around before returning on her own. The crisis was short-lived, but it spoke about how weak exotic animal enclosures can be, which puts visitors at risk.
13. Flaco The Owl
On the more dramatic side of things, Flaco escaped from New York’s Central Park Zoo in 2023. For nine months, he lived wildly. He’d catch rats and live his urban jungle life until officials decided… Flaco integrated too well to be recaptured. He is now a staple, a confession that coexistence on an urban level is possible!
14. Pink Floyd The Flamingo
Two lesser known flamingos escaped a Kansas zoo in 2005. They vanished into the wild for 17 years. One of them would be spotted from Minnesota to Texas. 17 years on the run and exploring the world, the flamingo by the name of Pink Floyd is now a legend for living and thriving for so long in the wild urban life.
15. The Industrials
In British Columbia, a porcupine got onto a plane and travelled about 500 miles! While she was ultimately sedated and planned for release in a better suited environment, the message echoes loud: Animals are curious and vastly intelligent, and we require better equipment checks and animal awareness.
16. Ken Allen The Orangutan
Way back in the 80s, Ken escaped from San Diego Zoo nine separate times. That is how he got the nickname “Hairy Houdini”. Because the way he did it is nothing short of brilliant. Ken would unscrew bolts and reuse his path to escape. His story is now passed through the generations.
17. Evelyn The Gorilla
Evelyn, like Ken, escaped multiple times. She would climb out her LA zoo by teaming up with her troop. Meaning, she used another gorilla as leverage to vault the walls, twice. So the zoo was forced to reexamine their habitat design and needs. The animals were sending a message, which was luckily heard!
18. St. Louis Epic Escape
Six steers escaped in 2017 from slaughter. They were led by Chico, a giant among the steers who got them through the city street before they were rescued by animal advocates. Unfortunately, one of the steers had to be euthanized, but the rest found sanctuary! This brought much needed attention to slaughterhouses’ conditions.
19. Emily The Cow
For 40 days, Emily wandered free after escaping the slaughterhouse back in 1995. She fled Massachusetts to live with deer in backyards. Townspeople would secretly feed her and shield her from the owner. She was eventually captured, but was provided sanctuary! She even served as a bridesmaid! Everything reflects on these animals’ rights, most of all: how deserving of compassion they are.
Discover more DIY hacks and style inspo- Follow us to keep the glow-up coming to your feed!
Love content like this? Tap Follow at the top of the page to stay in the loop with the latest beauty trends, DIY tips, and style inspo. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments — we love hearing from you!