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Traffic of another stripe: zebras

The Eagles and Dolphins were practically unwatchable at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday - but how 'bout them zebras?

The Eagles and Dolphins were practically unwatchable at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday - but how 'bout them zebras?

Two lightning-fast zebras in West Philadelphia provided a respite from two sluggish NFL teams in South Philadelphia when they bolted from the UniverSoul Circus outside the Mann Center and ran wild through the streets.

The Internet lit up with photos and video of the black-and-white African equids galloping across an unfamiliar landscape. #ZebrasInPhilly.

Antonio White saw them running while he worked at Monster Pets, a pet-supplies shop in Parkside.

"I was, like, 'Where did they come from?' " White said with a laugh. Then, growing serious, he asked a reporter, "Where did they come from?"

It turns out that the zebras had finished their circus act around 2 p.m. and were in the back lot of the site at 52d Street and Parkside Avenue when they went sightseeing. The traveling UniverSoul Circus said in a statement that it was investigating how the animals got free.

"They don't want to be here. The two poor zebras probably saw a chance to escape," said Marianne Bessey of Animal ACTivists of Philly, which seeks to ban animal circus acts and has protested outside UniverSoul Circus.

"It underscores the point that animals don't belong in circuses. They get out and they can get hurt or cause public-safety issues," Bessey said. "There's no need for it when you have so many talented human acts that could replace them."

By 2:41 p.m., an @ZebrasInPhilly Twitter account debuted with a taunting message: "You can't catch me."

But 18 minutes later, @PhillyPolice tweeted that both animals had been apprehended: "Zebras in custody. They are already sporting old-timey prisoner getup ahead of trial and sentencing."

One zebra made it to Bala Cynwyd, where it was captured on Righters Ferry Road near the Schuylkill Expressway.

No injuries were reported.

Zara Wilkinson, a 30-year-old librarian from Overbrook Park, was sitting in a car on City Avenue near St. Joseph's University when a zebra "went right by the window," followed by six to eight police cars.

"It was pretty exciting, I have to say," Wilkinson said. "Everybody was really stunned."

Daily News staff writer Joe Brandt contributed to this article.