Panda goes awol after move to new Hamilton home

One of Hamilton Zoo's new red pandas, before Badal's vanishing act.

One of Hamilton Zoo's new red pandas has escaped from his enclosure after being transferred from Auckland Zoo last Friday.

"There was a thought it might have been hiding in the zoo compound but we haven't been able to find it," said a Hamilton City Council spokesman.

The panda, named Badal, and his brother Chito were moved to Hamilton as part of the Australasian Species Management Programme.

The programme maintains strict limits on the number of red pandas that can be bred yearly in Australasia. Red panda males not required for breeding are kept in bachelor groups in zoos around the region.

Native to the Himalayas, southern China and parts of India and Nepal, the red panda is slightly larger than a domestic cat and can weigh between 3kg and 6kg.

Hamilton Zoo staff discovered that Badal was missing from his enclosure on Monday morning.

Zoo director Stephen Standley said staff had been reasonably confident that Badal would be recovered within 24 hours on zoo property, but search efforts had been unsuccessful.

"Zoo staff continue to search Hamilton Zoo premises, particularly during early morning and at night as these are the hours when red pandas are most active."

Badal was likely to be in one of the hundreds of totara trees at the zoo, where he would be difficult to spot, he said.

"If Badal is not found within the next 48 hours, we will extend our searches to neighbouring premises."

The zoo has told visitors and neighbours of the panda at large. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Environmental Risk Management Authority have also been notified, as is legally required.

The bamboo- and fruit-eating red panda is not considered dangerous. People who spot him are asked to refrain from capturing him, and to contact the council immediately on (07) 838-6699.