India, June 9 -- A pet zebra named Ed, who had been on the run for a week in Tennessee, was finally recaptured on Sunday and dramatically airlifted to safety, much to the relief of local authorities and the delight of social media users.

Ed was found grazing in a pasture near a residential area in Christiana, about 40 miles from Nashville, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. His unusual escape captivated the internet, inspiring a slew of memes showing him in bizarre situations, from dining at Waffle House to panhandling across Tennessee.

To secure Ed safely, officials called in an aviation team. "Ed was airlifted and flown by helicopter back to a waiting animal trailer," the sheriff's office confirmed. A video posted by...