Circus zebras, horses enjoy brief escape

? The circus came to town Friday, but a few wayward animals put on their own show.

Four zebras and three horses from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus took an unscheduled run on a road just outside World Arena in Colorado Springs, where the circus is performing this weekend. About 15 animal handlers chased them for about half an hour.

“Some people were in cars. Some people were on foot. We had a little parade going on,” said Carrie Coleman, veterinary technician for the circus.

The animals were being walked into the arena from a corral in the parking lot to practice when noise from nearby Interstate 25 spooked the zebras, Coleman said.

The zebras ran onto a road alongside the interstate, and the horses followed.

The animals were recaptured unharmed, and no one was hurt, officials said.