Update: Red Panda Missing From National Zoo

UPDATE: Rusty was spotted in Adams Morgan crossing 20th Street, Northwest, this afternoon around 1:30 PM, according to Washington City Paper. Shortly after, he was recovered and transported back to the zoo.

Rusty the red panda has been recovered, crated & is headed safely back to the National Zoo!
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) June 24, 2013

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo released word on Monday that its new red panda, Rusty, is missing from his habitat. He was last seen around 6 PM on Sunday, according to the zoo’s Twitter account.

Red pandas are arboreal, territorial animals, so it would be unusual for Rusty to wander far from his home range, in his case his exhibit.

— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) June 24, 2013

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.
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) June 24, 2013

Rusty recently came to the zoo from the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska and was released into his habitat with the zoo’s other red panda, Shama, early this month. If you see Rusty, don’t approach him. Keep a safe distance and notify the zoo at 202-633-4888.