Top Five Remarkable Animal Escape Feats in 2025
In a series of unexpected events, 2021 saw a number of wild animals making headlines for their daring escapes from their enclosures. From zoos across the globe to suburban neighbourhoods, these animals captured the hearts and imaginations of people everywhere.
The year kicked off with Ed the zebra, who became an internet sensation due to several sightings and posts, including one of him calmly trotting through a suburban neighbourhood. A frenzied marsupial hunt ensued, with daily social media updates from zoo owner Dan Oostdyk. Ed was finally apprehended on June 8 and airlifted back to an animal trailer. The internet was flooded with memes about Ed's capture, and a video even showed him sitting comically upright in a net carried by a helicopter.
Another notable escape occurred in late April, when Sheila, a kangaroo, was spotted hopping along an interstate in Alabama. Austin Price filmed Sheila along the interstate after initially mistaking her for a deer. Despite the efforts of local authorities, Sheila successfully avoided recapture and has likely chosen to live as a wild kangaroo.
In March, Louie the North American river otter and fellow otter Ophelia escaped from New Zoo Adventure Park. Although Ophelia was caught on April 1, Louie has remained elusive and the zoo announced that he has likely chosen to live as a wild otter due to his long absence.
The list of escapes continued throughout the year. In July, multiple animals went viral for escaping from their enclosures, including a lion at Seneca Park Zoo in New York, a leopard in Germany, and a serval in California. The lion escaped from its den during routine animal care at Seneca Park Zoo, prompting zoo visitors to be temporarily evacuated. Although the leopard did not escape into the wild, the incident highlighted the potential for animals to become aggressive in controlled environments.
One of the more unusual escapes occurred in England, when Misha and Lucy, bear siblings, escaped from Wildwood Devon zoo and helped themselves to a delivery of fruits, vegetables, and a week's worth of honey before falling asleep.
These incidents illustrate the potential risks and challenges associated with managing wild animals in captivity. However, they also serve as a reminder of the resilience and adaptability of these incredible creatures, as they navigate the human world and find ways to survive and thrive. As we look forward to 2022, let's hope that these animals continue to captivate us with their stories and remind us of the importance of conservation and responsible animal care.
[1] Source: [National Geographic](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/wild-animal-escapes-2021) and [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/10/ed-the-zebra-captured-after-escaping-from-tennessee-zoo)
- In the midst of wild animal escapades in 2021, a home-and-garden setting became an unexpected habitat for Ed the zebra, serving as a reminder of how pets and domestic life can intertwine with the wild.
- Despite the numerous escapes and ensuing stories, one cannot help but admire the lifestyle that Misha and Lucy, the bear siblings, embodied after their unusual escape from Wildwood Devon zoo, living among fruits, vegetables, and honey like residents of a home-and-garden sanctuary.
