National Zoo Takes to Twitter for Help Finding Red Panda

By Gilbert Falso :: 12:09 PM

The National Zoo in Washington D.C. is missing a male red panda. The zoo’s Twitter account announced that the animal, a small arboreal mammal usually found in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, was last seen in his habitat around 6:00 PM last night.

Named Rusty, the panda is thought to be out of his enclosure, but somewhere on or near the zoo property, and likely in a tree, as red pandas spend the daytime hours resting in trees.

The Zoo cautions that despite being irresistibly cute, Rusty is still a wild animal, and could bite or scratch if cornered by a human.

If spotted, the Zoo is asking that helpful rescuers not approach him, but keep an eye on his location and alert zookeepers immediately by phone at (202) 633.4888.