Red panda gives locals surprise by going on walkabout through streets of Newquay

30 May 2023 , 17:16

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Sundara strolling along street in Newquay

A cheeky red panda bamboo-zled warehouse workers when it casually ambled down the street.

Eleven-month-old Sundara went exploring in Newquay, Cornwall, after getting out of her zoo enclosure.

She made it about half a mile before workers at Freshpoint fruit wholesalers spotted her and alerted their boss.

Manager Gareth said: “I thought ‘Are you sure it isn’t just a big funny coloured cat?’ but no, it was a red panda, ambling down the road without a care in the world.”

The warehouse workers and police cornered the creature in a courtyard on Saturday until she could be recaptured by zoo staff.

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Sundara peers over a fence

Newquay Zoo has two resident red pandas, Seren and Sundara, who arrived earlier this month.

The endangered mammals, which come from China and the Himalayas, are more closely related to raccoons than pandas – yet also love bamboo.

Dave Folland, Newquay Zoo boss, said: “On Friday morning, a red panda called Sundara, who had arrived at Newquay Zoo earlier this month, escaped from her enclosure.

Sundara gave locals a shock when she went for wander

Sundara was safely return to the zoo after her walkabout

"Our team responded in accordance with well-practiced procedures and she was swiftly recaptured and returned to her home.”

It is not the first time a red panda has escaped in Britain.

In 2005, red panda Babu went on a four-day adventure through local back gardens after escaping Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park.

Adam Aspinall