Community Corner

Zoo's Missing Red Panda Captured Near Adams Morgan

Updated 2:24 p.m.

Rusty, the male red panda who went missing from his home at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, is now back in the care of zoo staff after being captured in Adams Morgan Monday afternoon.

"Rusty the red panda has been recovered, crated & is headed safely back to the National Zoo," according to a tweet from the National Zoo's official account

Rusty was last seen in the zoo at about 6 p.m. Sunday. The zoo put out a call for help finding the missing mammal just before 9 a.m. Monday morning.  

A Twitter used tweeted a photo of a red panda in a grassy area in Adams Morgan around 1:30 p.m. and shortly thereafter the Metropolitan Police Department issued a statement that the panda had been spotted.

The tweet of his capture and safe return came just after 2 p.m. Monday. 
"Thank you so much to everyone who helped us look for and find him," the zoo tweeted.

Prior to his capture, the zoo Twitter account kept concerned parties update on the search.

"Animal care staff have been combing the trees around the Zoo since 8 a.m. He could be sick & hiding, or someone could have taken him," the Zoo tweeted Monday morning. 

Since red pandas are arboreal, the zoo said it would be unusual for such an animal to wander far from it's habitat.

"Red pandas typically spend the warm daytime hours resting, so it’s likely Rusty is somewhere in or near the Zoo hiding in a tree," according to the zoo Twitter account.


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