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A zebra that escaped from Seoul Children’s Grand Park in the city’s Gwangjin District roams around a commercial area on March 23. (courtesy of a reader)

A zebra that got a brief taste of freedom after breaking out of its enclosure was returned to the zoo, following a three-hour romp through downtown Seoul.

Seoul Children’s Grand Park, where the zoo is located, said Thursday that the zebra had been safely brought back to its pen after three hours and 20 minutes on the lam.

Firefighters and police officers used safety fencing to pen the zebra in a residential neighborhood in the Jayang neighborhood of Seoul’s Gwangjin District and then tranquilized it before returning it to the zoo at 6:10 pm.

A zebra that escaped from Seoul Children’s Grand Park in the city’s Gwangjin District roams around a housing complex on March 23. (courtesy of a reader)

The zebra, born in 2021, made its getaway at 2:50 pm after smashing a wooden deck in its pen. The escape went viral on social media and online message boards after people spotted the animal galloping down the city streets. Fortunately, no injuries or property damage have been reported so far.

Through a spokesperson, Seoul Children’s Grand Park promised to fully investigate the causes of the escape and plan the best way of ensuring it doesn’t happen again.

“Our animal keepers and veterinarians will look after the zebra’s health,” the spokesperson said.

By Ko Byung-chan, staff reporter

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