Paw Print

We have been fortunate to have the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Baltimore this past week and it’s always a fun time to see the elephants coming off their trailer and having lunch at Lexington Market.  This year however there was more excitement for some of the guests - three zebras!  Mali, Giza and Lima all seven or eight year old geldings decided they wanted to see more of Baltimore than the inside of the First Mariner Arena and so they did!  There happened to be a door ajar near their pen and since it was already open why not take a walk around Baltimore right?  Unfortunately their experience of Baltimore City was in lanes of traffic at Hopkins Place downtown but only until these three escapees found the good sense to get on the sidewalk until their trainer and handlers arrived to spoil the fun.  Everyone was fine and quickly escorted back to the Arena.  The funny and ironic thing is this wasn’t their first escape - the same three girls plus another, Guinea escaped briefly during a circus trip in Colorado Springs, Colorado!  Carrie Coleman, a circus veterinary technician said “they must have enjoyed the mountains”...hmmm.  These curious females known as Grant’s zebras have keen eyesight, a shy nature and swiftness - each weighing between 600-700 pounds.  A few female zebras just out taking a walk and enjoying the scenery or A.D.D. zebras?