Atlanta police capture zebra that escapes from circus, goes for romp on highway

[Newt]

This delights me: the world is indeed a bizarre place!  Can you imagine seeing a zebra whip by on your way to work?  Is that a portent for the day?  A hint to take the day off?  Does it set your mood for the day? 

Atlanta police capture zebra that escapes from circus, goes for romp on highway http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100218/world/us_odd_runaway_zebra_atlanta
Thu Feb 18, 8:14 PM
By Kate Brumback, The Associated Press

ATLANTA - An Atlanta highway turned into a circus Thursday afternoon when an escaped zebra galloped along a busy section of interstate with police in hot pursuit.
The 12-year-old animal named Lima was exercising outside a downtown arena in preparation for an evening show when something spooked him, said Ringling Brothers and Barnum&Bailey Circus spokeswoman Crystal Drake. The zebra broke away from his trainers and bumped up against a fence, then wriggled through an opening.
"We're not sure what it was that startled him, but we're looking into that," she said.
He was spotted by people in downtown Atlanta, including Daniel Nance.
"All of a sudden a freaking zebra comes running down the street like a car," Nance told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Five or six police cars were in hot pursuit. And a bunch of officers on foot. But then I got scared, thinking ... what else is loose?"
Lima led his trainers and police on a 40-minute chase through downtown to the interstate highway that cuts through the centre of the city, covering well over a mile (1.6 kilometres) on the way.
Police cruisers blocked off all southbound lanes on an interstate and herded the zebra onto an entrance ramp, where his trainer was on hand to capture and soothe him, Drake said.
"He obviously was excited, but he was in good shape," Drake said. "His handler calmed him down."

[Trevor]

 

I have had some foreign visitors to Pretoria who've been quite upset and some even a little angry when they tell me that they haven't seen any wild animals running around in this city. "We came to Africa to see animals so where the heck are they?" is their usual complaint.

I just normally direct them here www.zoo.ac.za if they're not too upset, that is. 

[Newt]

I have had some foreign visitors to Pretoria who've been quite upset and some even a little angry when they tell me that they haven't seen any wild animals running around in this city. "We came to Africa to see animals so where the heck are they?" is their usual complaint.

We had cousins from England visit when I was about 14.  We had them stay at our cottage on the lake for a week and my siblings and Canadian cousins had a field day spinning tall tales about the wild animals that would come out of the bush at night, and how backward we in the colonies were wrt modern technological advances such as cars, telephones and television.  (We had only stopped using horse-drawn vehicles in very recent years and so forth) We had them believing us for quite some time.  It was great fun.

Why on Earth would anyone expect to see wild animals in the city??  We do have some here - but just small critters like raccoons and skunks, plus the odd deer in larger parks.  Sometimes a coyote or fox.  There was a time when you might see bears about the smaller town dumps.

[Trevor]

(We had only stopped using horse-drawn vehicles in very recent years and so forth) We had them believing us for quite some time.  It was great fun.

So what I can expect to see if I come there? 

[Newt]

So what I can expect to see if I come there? 

That depends on what time of year, what you'd like to see and how long you have for a visit!  If winter, your chances of seeing a polar bear are greater.  I'm sure AndyC or I could whip up an extra room for you in either of our igloos.  In summer, well, how are your canoeing skills?  You aren't afraid of a few moose, are you?   Wolverines?     The good news is that the size of pack that will fit on a dog sled will also work for a canoe...makes planning your packing simpler.  We also have some excellent zoos.   

[Trevor]

I'm sure AndyC or I could whip up an extra room for you in either of our igloos.

I'm African, remember? I don't know cold! 

In summer, well, how are your canoeing skills?  You aren't afraid of a few moose, are you?   Wolverines?    

Never been in a canoe and I've never seen moose at all. I would like to, though.  The only wolverines I know are those guys and girls in Red Dawn. 

[Silverlady]

I'm sure AndyC or I could whip up an extra room for you in either of our igloos.

I'm African, remember? I don't know cold! 

In summer, well, how are your canoeing skills?  You aren't afraid of a few moose, are you?   Wolverines?    

Never been in a canoe and I've never seen moose at all. I would like to, though.  The only wolverines I know are those guys and girls in Red Dawn. 

Trevor, don't forget Wolverine in X Men, although he's a mutant  ... ! 

[Newt]

Trevor, don't forget Wolverine in X Men, although he's a mutant  ... ! 

Ah,  but he is 'our' mutant and I did have him in mind - thanks Silverlady!   

OK: I'll ask it: why was the zebra escaping from circus?  Or do we want to know?  (Maybe it's unfair to ask since Circus is not here to comment?)

[BoyScoutKevin]

Trevor, don't forget Wolverine in X Men, although he's a mutant  ... ! 

Ah,  but he is 'our' mutant and I did have him in mind - thanks Silverlady!   

OK: I'll ask it: why was the zebra escaping from circus?  Or do we want to know?  (Maybe it's unfair to ask since Circus is not here to comment?)

Probably because it was anti-social. When the zebras were placed with the other animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom, they so did not get along with the other animals, they had to be moved to their own paddock at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

[Mr. DS]

Well I guess he showed his true stripes.