Red Panda 'Rusty' Missing From Smithsonian National Zoo

UPDATE: Rusty the red panda has been found. The National confirmed that Rusty was found and is safe at home after being spotted strolling through the Adams Morgan neighborhood.

Residents tweeted frantically at the National Zoo with photos of the red panda and his location.

A red panda is missing at the National Zoo! A spokeswoman at the Smithsonian National Zoo has confirmed that a male red panda is indeed missing on Monday, she also stated that zoo officials have been combing the grounds searching for him.

The red panda missing is a male, aptly named Rusty, he is only a year old. Rusty was not seen in his enclosure at 7:30 a.m. Monday, and the zoo sounded a “Code Green” alert for an escaped animal at 8 a.m. after briefly searching for the panda who is about the size of a raccoon. According to spokeswoman, Pamela Baker-Masson, the gates at the Smithsonian National Zoo were temporally closed as the search for Rusty began, but after the animal was not found, the gates were reopened at 9:45 a.m.

“We have been searching all morning,” she said. “It is most likely that he has not really left the vicinity. He would have to have some very strong motivation to leave the area.”

Due to the urgency to discover Rusty, the zoo has enlisted the help of park goers, informing them of the red panda escapee via Twitter. The initial tweet sent out by the zoo, provided a photo of Rusty and alerted zoo goers of his escape somewhere between Sunday night at 6 p.m. and Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. The zoo is urging everyone to help in the search for Rusty and using Twitter, the zoo stated to seek Rusty with caution, Baker-Masson states “this animal is not dangerous to any human, he is vaccinated.”

The zoo is considering everything concerning events around the missing red panda. Baker-Masson also revealed that Rusty is generally friendly and mild-mannered, he may have simply found a way out of his enclosure, or the young red panda could be sick and dying. There is also the possibility that he was stolen. “We have to think of everything,” she said.

Hopefully Rusty is discovered by zoo curators soon. Baker-Masson stated that curators noted that Rusty has not seemed interested in food the last few days, perhaps indicating a sickness. The zoo asked that if visitors do discover Rusty they should not attempt to catch him, but instead quickly find an official or call the zoo at 202-633-4888.