Red panda that escaped from Belfast zoo is found

Zoo says animal has been returned to its home after going missing on Sunday

Press Association

Mon 28 Jan 2019 12.22 GMTFirst published on Mon 28 Jan 2019 08.14 GMT

A red panda that went missing from Belfast zoo has been found. 

Police in the Northern Ireland capital said the animal went missing on Sunday and was “believed to be currently taking in the sights of beautiful Glengormley”, referring to an area near Belfast.

Police had asked the public not to approach or attempt to capture the animal.

Officers said: “Our curious friend has not yet learned the green cross code, so if motorists could also be vigilant.”

On Monday the zoo tweeted: “We are happy to report that the missing red panda has been located and is being returned to its home at Belfast zoo. Thanks to everyone for their help with the search!”

Two panda cubs were born at the zoo last June, but only started to venture outside towards the end of the year.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the red panda is facing a very high risk of extinction.

Source

Japan zoo recovers missing red panda after frantic search

December 31, 2015

A Japanese zoo scrambled all of its staff Thursday to track down a missing red panda, a zoo spokesman said, finally recovering her in a nearby area.

About 20 zoo workers and three police dogs joined the hunt for the missing creature, called Sumire, after she disappeared from her enclosure Wednesday.

The red panda, called Sumire, sits back in its cage
 at the Shizuoka Municipal Nihondaira Zoo
 on December 31, 2015

The zoo had warned anyone who spotted her not to try and catch her themselves.

"Red pandas are not violent animals, but they may scratch you or bite you when they feel threatened," it said in a statement.

They finally captured Sumire in an area behind the zoo, which is on the outskirts of Mount Fuji.

"She was found high up on a bamboo tree in the backyard, munching on its leaves," the zoo spokesman told AFP. "Apples are her favourite food, though".

Read more at:

Panda restoration efforts look at digestive systems

Date:

May 19, 2014

Source:

Mississippi State University, Office of Agricultural Communications

Summary:

Scientists have discovered that giant and red pandas have different digestive microbes, a finding with important implications for conservation efforts and captive animal rearing. The giant panda is an endangered species, while the red panda is considered a vulnerable species

Continued

Galloway park red panda boosts breeding plans

A male red panda has arrived at a conservation park in southern Scotland as part of a European captive breeding programme.

The animal, named Ruben, has come from Paignton Zoo in Devon.

He joins a female, Pichu, at the Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park near Kirkcudbright.

Found in India, Nepal and China, the red panda is an endangered species, with fewer than 2,500 adults remaining across the world.

The park's female panda sparked a major search operation in February 2008 when she escaped along with a cub named Isla.

Pichu was found safe and well more than two months later but the cub was discovered badly injured by side of the Kippford to Dalbeattie road in October 2009 and died from her injuries.

The arrival of Ruben means there are now two red pandas at the park.

Two younger animals - named Cai and Laing - have been sent to Amiens in France and Amsterdam in the Netherlands to boost zoo breeding programmes in those countries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-18208536