Escaped red panda seen 'ambling' down street

Red pandas mainly feed on bamboo shoots and leaves, along with some fruits and blossoms

People working at a warehouse could barely believe their eyes when they saw a red panda "ambling" down the street.

Police said the animal had escaped from Newquay Zoo, in Cornwall, on Friday, and was spotted by staff from Freshpoint greengrocers, about half-a-mile away.

Staff from the warehouse and officers from Devon and Cornwall Police contained the animal in a courtyard until it was collected by zoo staff, police said.

Newquay Zoo said the animal was "swiftly recaptured and returned to her home”.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called on Friday at 07:10 BST

Gareth, from Freshpoint Newquay, said: "One of my staff in the loading bay shouted out that they could see a red panda coming down the road.

"I thought 'are you sure it isn't just a big funny coloured cat?' but no, it was a red panda."

He said it was "ambling down the road without a care in the world".

Staff from the greengrocers rolled an apple to Sundara to keep her occupied

"It went into a courtyard opposite and we blocked it off until someone could come and take care of it.

"At first the police thought I was pulling their leg but then came along and dealt with it from there."

Newquay Zoo has two resident red pandas, Seren and Sundara.

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

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

Police said the animal was contained and handed to zoo staff

Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called on Friday at 07:10 BST "following reports that a red panda had been found on Springfield Road, Newquay".

"Officers attended and kept the animal contained until zoo staff arrived a short time later to return it safely."

Sundara at Newquay Zoo