(Washington) Two zebras, on the run for months in a rural area outside Washington, have finally been captured, an official reported on Tuesday.
The couple had escaped from an exotic animal farm in Maryland in late August, having since dodged numerous capture attempts. The case drew the attention of residents and the media.
But after repeatedly foiling authorities, the quadrupeds were finally captured on Tuesday, said Richard Bell of the US Department of Agriculture, without giving further details.
Prince George County, Maryland, where the animal pair were at large, announced several weeks ago that they planned to use “food and other zebras” in an attempt to bring the escapees back to their farm.
The case aroused the consternation of Internet users on social networks and took a sad turn: a third zebra, which had escaped with the others, died following a fall.
Its owner, Jerry Holly, owns a huge farm with a herd of around 30 zebras. The man is now charged with animal cruelty after another zebra was found dead on his property in October.
The possession of exotic animals, a phenomenon addressed by the hit Netflix series Tiger king, is permitted in some US states.