Straight Outta Madagascar: Circus Zebras Take to Paris’ Streets During Covid-19 Lockdown

It’s not often that the streets of a city transform into the set of a National Geographic documentary, but as several viral videos over the last month have taught us, nature has been thriving during the lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest of these videos comes from the city of lights, Paris, where a group of circus animals apparently managed to escape from a zoo, and run loose on the streets.

@milton_damian @gdmorewood @Andylowarousal since you all love animals check this out. Yesterday in the outskirts of Paris. Boissy Saint Léger. pic.twitter.com/LRUcK4RldU

— androidvim (@androidvim) April 13, 2020

Among the animals spotted were a few zebras, a horse, and some deer, delighting the few Parisians who were out at the time, and giving the world these adorable videos.

Escaped circus zebra runs loose through suburban Paris streets https://t.co/vE8PsF6W0U pic.twitter.com/Y1pWhsTw6w

— Zyite (@ZyiteGadgets) April 13, 2020

y’a un ZÈBRE dans la ville de mon pote 😭😭 ça a changé le 94 pic.twitter.com/II77bSYkBQ

— لارا (@lailacroft_) April 10, 2020

According to reports, the animals had escaped from a zoo in Ormesson-sur-Marne after the gate of their enclosure was left open. The accident, however, ended up being a treat for locals who are, much like us, are under lockdown.

I can't get enough pictures of animals going sightseeing, like these ducks checking out a famous Paris restaurant. pic.twitter.com/MdQoCJKk1x

— Benjamin Moser (@BenjaminFMoser) April 14, 2020

Wild animals running amock in Paris,that remind me on what will happen when humanity is no more. pic.twitter.com/7c24ML7xWv

— Stevenson Carlito (@realstevecarli3) April 14, 2020

Meanwhile a similar scene warmed hearts back home. In another picture that’s been trending online, a man was spotted reaching out to a peacock, on a street in the otherwise very crowded suburb of Juhu in Mumbai.

Captured by photographer Vijay Bate of The Hindu, the photo is a reminder of the wildlife that lives in and around our urban areas, but has been displaced by the incessant honking and human activity. As we enter another week of lockdown, it also seems to be one of the few positives to come out of this pandemic.