Seoul zebra escape: Animal back at zoo after hours on the loose

A zebra has been returned to its home at a zoo in South Korea's capital, Seoul, after spending three hours on the loose.

The male zebra, named Sero, which means vertical in Korean, broke free from Seoul Children's Grand Park Zoo on Thursday afternoon.

Police, fire officials and zoo staff were all involved in trying to safely capture him.

Videos posted online showed the animal trotting past traffic on a busy road.

Sero was also seen wandering down a street and poking his nose into garbage bins in a residential area close to where he escaped in the city's east.

The young zebra, who was born at the zoo in 2021, was able to escape after breaking the wooden fencing around his pen, according to the Seoul Gwangjin Fire Station.

Sero was eventually trapped by officials using a safety fence after he entered a narrow alleyway.

He was tranquilized before being taken back to the zoo in the back of a truck.

An official at the Children's Grand Park Zoo told the Associated Press that the zebra has been assessed by vets and is in a stable condition.

According to its website, the zoo houses more than 400 animals from 38 species, including Korean dogs, monkeys and donkeys.