2 escaped zebras return to exhibit at Boston zoo

[October 17, 2011]  BOSTON (AP) -- An endangered female zebra and her foal that escaped from their exhibit and forced the evacuation of a Boston zoo have returned to their enclosure.

The zebras at the Franklin Park Zoo escaped late Saturday morning. No injuries to animals or humans were reported.

Operator Zoo New England says the baby broke through the exhibit's electrical fencing and its mother followed.

The foal returned to the enclosure about 40 minutes later. Its mother was led back to the zebra barn at midafternoon. The zoo then reopened.

Zoo New England says the fencing was tested and working before the zebras escaped.

The animals are Grevy's zebras, a species found primarily in Kenya and numbering only 2,500 worldwide. It was the baby's first day in the exhibit.

[Associated Press]

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