Camels, zebras dodge death, roam highway

Nearly a dozen circus animals roamed along a northern Indiana highway in the early hours of Saturday after they were safely rescued from a truck fire, authorities said.

The incident occurred on Interstate 69 in Grant County, some 60 miles northeast of Indianapolis. A tractor-trailer carrying zebras and camels from Florida to Fort Wayne for a series of weekend performances was engulfed in flames when a state trooper spotted it just after 2 a.m.

Once the trooper saw the driver, a 57-year-old man from Sarasota, Fla., had safely exited the vehicle, he entered the trailer to rescue the animals.

Two other people, a Grant County Sheriff’s deputy and a member of the Shrine Circus crew, assisted in the rescue operation, Sgt. Steven Glass with Indiana State Police said in a news release.

All 10 animals — five zebras, four camels, and a miniature horse — were safely led off the smoked-filled trailer.

The trooper and the deputy were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation and later released without further injury, Glass said. All the animals were uninjured.

“Grateful to report that all animals involved have been rescued safely. No harm to our furry friends,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement on Facebook. “Gratitude to our first responders for their heroic efforts!”

Videos and photographs shared on social media showed the camels calmly crossing the freeway. After the animals were safely contained in pens, zebras could be seen munching on the grass, while first responders snapped selfies in front of the animals.

“Not only did our first responders rescue them swiftly, but they also went above and beyond to keep the animals calm,” the sheriff’s office said.

The fire, which was likely caused by an equipment failure, led to the temporary closure of all northbound lanes of I-69 while crews cleaned up the scene.

Traffic reopened around 6:30 a.m., state police said. The animals were later picked up by other trucks sent by the circus.