Zebras escape circus, lead wild chase through Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA -- When you hear hoofbeats, the saying goes: You should think horses, not zebras. In Philadelphia on Sunday, you would have been wrong.

A pair of zebras escaped from a circus and went running through the streets of west Philadelphia before they were recaptured, police said.

CBS Philly reported that officials from the UniverSoul Circus confirm the zebras got loose around 2 p.m. Sunday outside the Mann Center for the Performing Arts near 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue.

A circus spokesman told The Philadelphia Inquirer in a statement that the animals "briefly went on the loose." No injuries were reported.

Witnesses took to social media to post photos and video footage of the animals running through the streets before police confirmed their recapture at about 3 p.m. Sunday.

"Zebras in custody," the Philadelphia Police Department confirmed on their Twitter account.

Gerry Wilkinson was with his wife and his daughter driving south on City Avenue near Conshohocken Avenue when they spotted one of the runaway animals.

"In the center barrier, right past our car, runs a zebra," Wilkinson told CBS Philly. "I've never seen a zebra on City Line Avenue. Even people who drink probably have never seen a zebra on City Line Avenue."

Last month, a circus trapeze artist at the UniverSoul Circus show fell into the crowd during a performance in Philadelphia.

Police said the 19-year-old performer fell about 30 feet from his apparatus on Oct. 31 and landed in the crowd. A witness told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he bounced off a safety net then landed among the spectators. No injuries were reported to anyone in the crowd and circus officials said the performer was expected to make a full recovery from a lower back injury.