When Exotic Pets Turn on Owners

In Tennessee in 2025, a pet zebra named “Ed” escaped from a private ranch and took off across Interstate 24, weaving between cars and galloping through suburban neighborhoods like a four-legged fugitive. Drivers slammed on their brakes as startled commuters tried to capture the bizarre moment on video.

Ed’s striped sprint quickly went viral, with memes, dashcam footage, and TikToks flooding the internet. Wildlife officers eventually wrangled him safely, but the close call raised serious questions about exotic pet laws—and how a savanna animal nearly caused a highway pileup in Middle America.