Red panda dies after surviving two attempted thefts from Central Zoo

A rare red panda that survived two attempted thefts from Nepal’s only national zoo has died, prompting a joint investigation into alleged staff negligence and suspected illegal wildlife trafficking networks.

The animal, one of an estimated 500 red pandas left in the wild in Nepal, died on Saturday inside the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, where it had been undergoing treatment following months of trauma and stress.