A zebra named “Shug” that had been on the loose in western Washington for nearly a week has finally been recaptured, much to the relief of local residents and animal control officers. The zebra, one of four that escaped from a trailer near Seattle while being transported to Montana, was corralled in the community of Riverbend, about 30 miles east of Seattle.
Despite her week-long adventure in the woods, Shug was found to be in good condition, according to the Regional Animal Services of King County. The other three zebras were quickly captured after escaping, but Shug managed to evade capture, sparking public interest and even inspiring social media memes.
There were concerns about Shug’s safety as she was spotted on trail cameras in the area where cougars had also been seen recently. To aid in her recapture, trail access points were closed off and feeding zones were set up to coax her out for a rescue.
Owner Kristine Keltgen, who was transporting the zebras to a petting zoo in Montana, expressed relief that Shug had been found and will now be reunited with the rest of the dazzle of zebras in Montana. The escapade of Shug the zebra captured the attention of the community and highlighted the importance of animal safety and responsible transportation practices.