A red panda has made his great escape from its enclosure at Curraghs Wildlife Park.

The male red panda, named Kush, was declared missing yesterday (Thursday) after a large branch had snapped forming a bridge on Wednesday night.

He is one of three red pandas - an endangered mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and China - at the Park.

Members of the Park’s team are continuing to search for the escapee.

General manager Kathleen Graham, said: ’We had sightings from the public just along the road so all the wildlife park team searched the area extensively but he could not be found.

’Red pandas are not dangerous but public should not try to catch [him]. They should phone the Park or if out of hours the police control room.’

She added: ’If people could slow down in the one mile vicinity on the road that would be great. He may even make his way back to the enclosure, in the meantime we appreciate the public also keeping a look out and alerting us to any sightings.

’We will continue our efforts to get him back.’

You can phone the Park on 897323 or the police control room on 631212.