Who Would Have Thought? Zebra Escapes City Center, But It's Actually a Painted Donkey—Owner Was Just Filming a Joke Video
A painted donkey dressed as a zebra sparked a false alarm in Yerevan, Armenia after its owner took it onto city streets for a joke video, prompting police response before zoo officials revealed the harmless prank.
A bizarre incident unfolded in Yerevan, Armenia when reports came in that a zebra had escaped from the zoo and was wandering down Mesropyan Street, causing considerable panic among residents and authorities. Police received the alert Friday morning, prompting rapid response to investigate the animal spotted on a main city road due to safety concerns for both the animal and the public. However, the story took an unexpected turn when Yerevan Zoo issued a clarification stating the animal was not actually an escaped zebra at all. Investigators discovered the creature was simply a donkey that had been painted with white and black stripes to resemble a zebra, then taken out onto the streets by its owner for a humorous video. The zoo characterized the incident as "a failed prank" and confirmed that all actual zebras at the facility remain safe and secure in their open enclosures with no escapes. Authorities are currently investigating the identity of the person responsible and will pursue legal action accordingly. The zoo also issued a public warning against imitating this behavior, cautioning that the chemical paint used could be harmful to animals and pose both short and long-term health risks.
