Mischievous zebra that went missing airlifted to safety in dramatic circumstances

Ed, the runaway zebra, who had become an overnight sensation for escaping from his owner's farm, is finally back with his family after a week-long adventure, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office reported. Taylor and Laura Ford's pet zebra had been missing since May 31, 2025, but was fortunately found in a pasture near the Buchanan Estates subdivision near Interstate 24. The now-viral rescue operation of Ed, the mischievous zebra, was caught on camera, where he was seen being airlifted and flown back by a helicopter to an animal trailer, before eventually returning to his rightful owners.

"Sheriff’s deputies established command with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Sunday morning," the officials informed, as they explained how the rescue team had standby deputies to ensure the safety of the residents who lived nearby. Moving on, calling him an "international sensation," the officials revealed that Ed, the celebrity zebra, had arrived in Christiana on May 30, 2025. However, he somehow managed to escape from his owner's house the very next day. The zebra disappeared into the woods, making it nearly impossible for anyone to chase it home. Thankfully, the officials revealed that "drivers on Interstate 24 watched him scampering across the highway in both the eastbound and westbound lanes Saturday," which eventually made his rescue possible.

While Ed's exact escape plan remains a mystery to date, his owners think he got through a fence that crosses over a creek. Interestingly, Taylor and his wife, Laura, had no idea that their zebra had escaped from their farm until a neighbor informed them about a giant animal roaming nearby. "He said, 'I need to go see, there's a zebra that's escaped in Christian, and I need to go see if it's ours. I looked and said, 'Most likely it's not someone else's," Laura shared with NewsChannel 5 Nashville. The minute it was confirmed that the zebra roaming free on the streets was no one but their very own Ed, the couple panicked as the fear of him being hurt started threatening them.

Taylor and Laura knew that they couldn't use a tranquilizer dart because the possibility of Ed managing to run and end up in a risky situation was huge. So, instead, the couple sought help from a team outside Texas and asked them to chase Ed with a gator, while another team would position themselves in the woods, who would further push the zebra into an open field. Taylor and Laura are happy that the rescue plan was well executed, and they have their beloved zebra back with them. Interestingly, Ed and a female zebra that the couple got while their pet had gone missing were both taken to a more secure place, the news outlet reported. Meanwhile, the Fords, despite their immense love for zebras, are now a bit hesitant to own any, and as per the report, they believe that Ed most likely will end up in a zoo or a wildlife park, all thanks to his newfound fame.

Notably, although the Library of Congress says zebras' "unpredictable nature" makes them unfit for domestication, owning a zebra isn't illegal in Tennessee. In fact, Tennessee categorizes zebras as Class III animals, meaning they do not need any special permits or paperwork to be kept as pets.