Red Panda Escapes Zoo, Takes Eight-Month Vacation Before Returning
Three red pandas took full advantage of a weather-induced opportunity last winter and escaped from their home in the Hangzhou Zoo.
A branch in the pandas' cage broke under the weight of the snow, giving the trio a chance to experience a bit of the great outdoors.
Two of the adventurous pandas were located and returned to their cage shortly after escaping. But the third managed to extend the vacation from the zoo for eight months. A whopping 242 days after making an escape, the panda was spotted in a tree near the zoo this week.
Fugitive red panda recovered by Chinese zoo after eight months on the run https://t.co/fYVqNVgsyN pic.twitter.com/Rtc8YgVUk1
SCMP News (@SCMP_News) August 5, 2016
Maybe it was missing its caged kin, maybe it was hungry. Either way, zoo employees rushed to the scene and attempted to woo the red panda down from its tree with apples.
The team set up a net at the bottom of the tree and used a tranquilizer gun, and the panda was captured (unharmed). Just a reminder that all good solo trips must come to an end.
Erika Owen is the Senior Audience Engagement Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @erikaraeowen.
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