This dramatic footage shows the moment a mischievous red panda that escaped from a wildlife park on the Isle of Man was recaptur

This dramatic footage shows the moment a mischievous red panda that escaped from a wildlife park on the Isle of Man was recaptur

This dramatic footage shows the moment a mischievous red panda on his second escape attempt from a wildlife park was recaptured after three days at large.

An island wide bear-hunt was sparked on Wednesday (8/1) after seven-year-old Kush fled from his enclosure.

Over the next few days the elusive bear evaded the search team, which included residents, police, local farmers and staff from Curraghs Wildlife Park on the Isle of Man.

However, when Kush was spotted up a tree at least 30ft high on Saturday (11/1) morning the crew rushed to the scene just before he was able to make a break for it.

The rescue team spent more than three hours carrying out the retrieval operation, which was hampered by exceptionally high winds, and attempting to coax the animal down.

In the end workers held a net along the ground and cut a branch so Kush would have no choice other than to jump to the ground.

He was then bundled up and transported back to Curraghs Wildlife Park for a medical check, which showed he was in fine fettle despite his unauthorised excursion.

Park manager Kathleen Graham said: "We're all really grateful to have Kush back safe and sound after his trip away." Mrs Graham said there had been a number of sightings in woods and bushes near to the park on Thursday and Friday following his escape.

"We spent hours searching but we just couldn't find him - red pandas are very good at hiding.

"After a sighting on Saturday we searched and searched before someone eventually spotted him up a tree." Park officials notified the fire service but were told the high winds meant they wouldn't be able to deploy a cherry picker to retrieve Kush.

The other option, according to Mrs Graham, was to tranquillise him with a dart, however, due to his position up a tree that would have been too dangerous.

The park manager said there was no choice but to forcibly extract him by cutting away at a branch and letting him drop into a soft net below.

"Red pandas can fall from high distances and be quite alright, it's quite normal for them," she added.

"He had a soft and safe landing and was absolutely fine afterwards." Mrs Graham says an investigation into how Kush escaped is underway and that they may have answers by the end of the week.

He previously went missing for three weeks last October, when he was recaptured after a local spotted him in a tree in their garden.

On that occasion he used a fallen branch to scuttle along and break out of the park.

Red Pandas, which are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, are great climbers and very curious, which means that they can be difficult to contain.

This dramatic footage shows the moment a mischievous red panda on his second escape attempt from a wildlife park was recaptured after three days at large.

An island wide bear-hunt was sparked on Wednesday (8/1) after seven-year-old Kush fled from his enclosure.

Over the next few days the elusive bear evaded the search team, which included residents, police, local farmers and staff from Curraghs Wildlife Park on the Isle of Man.

However, when Kush was spotted up a tree at least 30ft high on Saturday (11/1) morning the crew rushed to the scene just before he was able to make a break for it.

The rescue team spent more than three hours carrying out the retrieval operation, which was hampered by exceptionally high winds, and attempting to coax the animal down.

In the end workers held a net along the ground and cut a branch so Kush would have no choice other than to jump to the ground.

He was then bundled up and transported back to Curraghs Wildlife Park for a medical check, which showed he was in fine fettle despite his unauthorised excursion.

Park manager Kathleen Graham said: "We're all really grateful to have Kush back safe and sound after his trip away." Mrs Graham said there had been a number of sightings in woods and bushes near to the park on Thursday and Friday following his escape.

"We spent hours searching but we just couldn't find him - red pandas are very good at hiding.

"After a sighting on Saturday we searched and searched before someone eventually spotted him up a tree." Park officials notified the fire service but were told the high winds meant they wouldn't be able to deploy a cherry picker to retrieve Kush.

The other option, according to Mrs Graham, was to tranquillise him with a dart, however, due to his position up a tree that would have been too dangerous.

The park manager said there was no choice but to forcibly extract him by cutting away at a branch and letting him drop into a soft net below.

"Red pandas can fall from high distances and be quite alright, it's quite normal for them," she added.

"He had a soft and safe landing and was absolutely fine afterwards." Mrs Graham says an investigation into how Kush escaped is underway and that they may have answers by the end of the week.

He previously went missing for three weeks last October, when he was recaptured after a local spotted him in a tree in their garden.

On that occasion he used a fallen branch to scuttle along and break out of the park.

Red Pandas, which are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, are great climbers and very curious, which means that they can be difficult to contain.