Bear this in mind: Missing panda is probably still in zoo

Published 9:57 am Friday, January 27, 2017

NORFOLK, Va.  — The search for Sunny, the missing red panda, has spanned wide distances, but authorities believe the tree-dwelling animal probably hasn’t left the grounds of the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk.

Newport News sheriff’s deputy Tommy Blyth told The Virginian-Pilot on Thursday that search dogs haven’t given any indication that Sunny has left zoo property.

Zoo marketing manager Ashley Mars says the search dogs focused on an exhibit known as Asia — The Trail of The Tiger.

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About 80 people searched the area around the zoo prior to the dog search.

The zoo also received about 20 calls of possible sightings by Wednesday night, but all turned out to be raccoons.

The 19-month-old red panda was last seen Monday evening and was reported missing Tuesday morning.