Ever heard of Rutherford County, Tennessee? Probably not—until this week. Normally a quiet part of the American South, the county has suddenly galloped into the global spotlight, and all thanks to one very unexpected local celebrity: a runaway zebra.Yes, you heard that right. A pet zebra—still unnamed and still very much on the loose—has escaped from a private property, and local authorities haven’t been able to catch it. The animal was last seen trotting confidently across fields, suburban roads, and even near local businesses, seemingly unfazed by the sudden fame or the heat of the Tennessee summer.But rather than panic, the residents of Rutherford County have embraced their newest four-legged fugitive. With the zebra eluding capture, businesses have turned the striped escapee into a full-blown mascot. AI-generated memes of the zebra have flooded social media: one shows it lounging at a local bar, another getting a spray tan, and a third posing with a chiropractor. The images are surreal, hilarious, and undeniably viral.Some locals joke that the zebra has done more for tourism than the county chamber of commerce. “We’re not chasing it anymore,” one café owner quipped. “We’re following it.”Merchandise is already in production, with zebra-themed t-shirts, mugs, and even cocktails on sale. One bar is advertising a new drink called the “Zebra Zing.” Another has renamed its happy hour “The Stripe Session.”Officials, meanwhile, are still encouraging people to not approach the animal, which remains harmless but easily spooked. “It’s still a wild animal,” warned one sheriff’s deputy. “No matter how many beers it’s had in those memes.”So for now, the zebra roams free, a living meme and a symbol of small-town charm meeting digital-age absurdity. And in the middle of an unpredictable summer, Rutherford County’s uninvited but welcome guest is giving the world something to smile about.Woohoo indeed.
