[Zebras/ Photo Credit to Pexels]

In early June, a rogue zebra created a sensation in Tennessee after escaping from a farm in the small town of Christiana, quickly going viral on social media.

The zebra, quickly nicknamed Ed by locals, broke free from a 115-acre farm owned by Taylor Ford and his wife Laura.

Although it is very exciting to own a pet zebra, many residents wondered whether it was legal to own a zebra as a pet in Tennessee. 

The answer is “yes.” 

There are no state laws that prohibit owning a zebra. 

However, animals such as zebras are exotic and sometimes dangerous. 

Zebras can be aggressive and have powerful kicks, which can pose a serious hazard to humans and other animals.

Taylor Ford reported that nothing was broken in the stable where Ed was kept, suggesting he must have jumped out. 

Fortunately, none of the other animals were hurt. 

Ford originally bought the Zebra, whose original name was Zeke, to keep on his farm alongside bison, cattle, and alpacas.

However, less than 15 hours after arriving at his new home in Tennessee, Ed escaped. 

The next day, local residents spotted an animal running through traffic on a busy highway and quickly identified it as the missing zebra.

Sheriff’s deputies quickly closed off the highway to ensure Ed’s safety.

When they successfully closed off the road, they attempted to catch Ed. 

Over the following weeks, residents in nearby neighborhoods caught Ed on their security cameras, wandering around the neighborhood.

On June 6, a police officer spotted Ed running through a field using a drone and later found him running through a highway once more.

On June 8, Ed was finally captured, unharmed, while he was grazing in a field. 

One officer took a video of Ed being transported through the air as he was airlifted by helicopter.

He was then placed in a trailer to be returned to his home.

Although the Ford family was relieved to have found Ed, they were concerned that Ed would escape again and questioned whether it was safe for Ed to remain at their farm.

The family expressed hope that a zoo or animal sanctuary might reach out to them to adopt Ed, so that the animal would have plenty of space to run around while receiving proper care.

Ed’s escapade soon captured the attention of social media users and was transformed into memes and became a catchphrase for a local company.

His week-long adventure also inspired a children’s book.

An artist from Los Angeles traveled all the way to Nashville, Tennessee to paint a mural of Ed. 

The artist said that the painting was a symbol of lightheartedness and a symbol of the community coming together as one.

The story of Ed the zebra illustrates how an unexpected event can unite a community and capture the public imagination, turning a potentially dangerous situation into a heartwarming tale of resilience.