Tennessee: A pet zebra that sparked a week-long social media frenzy after escaping from its enclosure in Tennessee has been safely captured, authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The zebra, named Ed, had been on the run since 31 May after arriving in the Christiana community of central Tennessee the previous day. According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Ed was finally located in a pasture near a residential subdivision and retrieved with the assistance of aviation crews.

“Ed was airlifted and flown by helicopter back to a waiting animal trailer,” the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Footage shared online by the department shows the striped fugitive wrapped in a net, his head poking out as he is gently carried by helicopter to safety.

Ed’s great escape caused chaos shortly after his disappearance, with local authorities forced to shut down parts of Interstate 24 after he was seen galloping along the busy road. He later disappeared into a wooded area, prompting a series of sightings and videos posted on social media.

The zebra's antics quickly captured the public’s imagination, making Ed an internet sensation. Memes flooded the internet, with one comically placing Ed at a Waffle House and others suggesting he was panhandling or touring Tennessee’s cities.

His wild week in the spotlight followed a similar incident just a month earlier, when a runaway kangaroo brought traffic to a halt on an Alabama interstate.

As of now, Ed has been safely returned to his owner, though no further details have been released about how he managed to escape in the first place.