Red panda found safe after escape from Sequioa Park Zoo

A red panda that went missing three days ago after escaping from a zoo in northern California has been found.

Masala – a young female panda – was found late Saturday night about half a mile from the Sequoia Park Zoo, officials at the zoo said.

A resident spotted Masala near her home, called staff at the zoo and guided the panda into a fruit tree to prevent her from fleeing, zoo manager Gretchen Ziegler told the Eureka Times-Standard.

Masala was coaxed down from the tree and she remains in quarantine at the zoo, Ziegler said.

Since her escape Thursday, zoo and city officials had launched an extensive search effort. The panda posed no danger to the public, but officials were concerned about safety of the rare animal.

Agencies/Canadajournal