. | . |
Britain's Panda On The Run Found Hiding Up A Tree
London (AFP) Nov 03, 2005 A rare red panda called Babu whot went on the run in Britain's second-biggest city Birmingham has been found safe and well up a tree, officials said on Thurdsay. The cat-sized creature -- who looks more like a racoon than the Giant Panda bear -- sparked a desperate plea to local residents to check sheds and gardens after he disappeared from Birmingham Nature Centre on Sunday. He was eventually discovered -- apparently unscathed from his foray into the urban jungle -- about 60ft (18.2 metres) up a tree, one mile (1.6 kilometres) away. Although red pandas eat mainly bamboo, Babu is thought to have survived on fruit and berries from nearby trees and was also spotted dining out at a bird table. Geoff Cole of Birmingham City Council said: "We are immensely relieved to have Babu back and reunited with his brother Tensing. "Since their arrival here, the red pandas have been the centre's most popular attraction." Keeper Colin Parker said: "I haven't slept since he went missing early on Sunday morning, so it's a huge relief." Babu and Tensing were brought to the centre as part of a British and European breeding programme. He made an unsuccessful bid for freedom earlier last week but was found in a nearby garden -- forcing nature park keepers to tighten up security on his cage. Red pandas are an endangered species and said to be normally placid, but very curious. Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Newly Recognized Gene Mutation May Reduce Seeds, Resurrect Plants West Lafayette IN (SPX) Nov 03, 2005 A mutated plant that seems to return from the dead may hold the secret to how some flora protect their progeny during yield-limiting drought and other stresses, according to Purdue University scientists whose study of the plant led to discovery of a gene. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |