Red pandas are my favorite pandas, and I loved Rusty's antics. He will be missed. 😢

We'll meet again

Don't know where

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

Keep eating leaves and bamboo

Just like you always do

Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away

~~

Rusty my beloved. Your spirit is free to roam now!

awww :(

Damn, I didn't know he'd been banished to Colorado after the escape. I guess he was in the Supermax. Poor little guy.

I am crestfallin.

Aw Rusty! I had never even heard of a red Panda before I saw him and now they are one of my favorite animals. A great ambassador - RIP.

It was an escape attempt, and they had to make an example of him.

pouring a little bit out for my homey tonight.

Fighter to the end.

Run free in Panda heaven my furry friend.

Noooooooooo!

RIP you legend

Poor baby. He just wanted to be free. I hate zoos.

It looks like red pandas live 8-12 years in the wild, so while sad for Rusty, he at the top of his curve. (in zoos, up to 14 years, but maybe he was living his best life in Adams Morgan.)

Ride on, Rusty.

Apparently the move was for breeding, which he did, little pimp panda!

If he hadn't been locked up at such a young, he coulda been a Grizzly. Maybe even a Kodiak.

I remember when they caught him about 4 blocks from my work. If I recall he was hanging out on the roof over a porch in the sun or something? Legend.

😢