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Zebras Run Loose In Philly, 2 Zebras Caught: Watch Videos Of Cops Trying To Catch Philadelphia Zebras

By Paula Mooney
Published on: 07:47 PST, Nov 15, 2015

Zebras have escaped from the circus and have run loose in Philadelphia, as seen in the below video from BuzzFeed. Update: 6 ABC reports that both zebras that were running through the streets of Philly have been caught.

The zebras ran away from the UniverSoul Circus, reports NBC 10 Philadelphia. After the zebras escaped, videos of the zebras running around the streets as people and authorities tried to track the zebras down began popping up on social media. It isn’t known how the zebras ran away from the UniverSoul Circus. However, the zebras escaped and ended up outside of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts.

The Philadelphia police used a bit of humor on their Twitter account as they joked about the zebras already wearing the black and white stripes that old prisoners used to wear prior to the zebras being tried and sentenced for escaping the zoo.

The zebras running around the intersections of 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue in Fairmount Park caused a big police chase that can be seen in videos across the world wide web. Via police radio chatter, it was ascertained that two of the zebras were loose, however, most recent reports confirm that at least one zebra has been captured. (Update: Both zebras have been captured.)

Warning: The below video showing a zebra running down a street contains language that might be disturbing to some viewers.

The first zebra was captured at approximately 2:20 p.m., after the zebras made their way up to City Avenue. That means the zebras had run at least two miles away from where they’d first escaped.

On Twitter, videos that result in a search for zebras reveal different vantage points of the zebras escaping from the zoo. Not only that, Twitter users are uploading videos about rushing to Philly to try and obtain their own zebra, or revealing their excitement over seeing a zebra or two running the streets of Philadelphia, an unlikely urban animal.

The Philly zebras are inspiring humorous memes and Vine videos about how excited the zebras must’ve felt to be free. People are also commenting that it’s a good thing that zebras escaped in Philly instead of lions, which could’ve been a lot more dangerous to Philadelphia citizens.

Photos and videos of the zebras on the loose in Philadelphia are popping up on plenty of Twitter accounts and other social media networks. Apparently, lots of folks in Philly had their phones out and were able to snap pics and videos of the zebras on the loose prior to them being captured by police.

The UniverSoul Circus has been well known for years as a primarily African American-themed circus that provides quite an enjoyable show to their audiences, sometimes including a flexible contortionist that tends to be one of the highlights of the show. According to the UniverSoul website, Sunday, November 15, was the last day for the circus to appear in Philadelphia. The next stop for the UniverSoul Circus is Charlotte, North Carolina. The circus is scheduled to appear in Charlotte from November 18 to November 29, at the Metroline Expo Fairgrounds.

The Twitter hashtag #PhillyZebras became a place for folks to joke about the zebras that went on the lam in Philadelphia. One Twitter user quipped that the Dolphin should use the Philly zebras to help their defense.

“This Dolphins Defense is horrible. They better sign the asap “

Others likened the Philadelphia zebras to football as well, claiming the Philly zebras ran more than the Ravens.

have more rushing yards than today.

All in all, the zebras were unharmed, although some used it as an opportunity to speak about their disdain for using animals in a circus setting.

[Image via Twitter.com / Key_BlackBeauty]

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