Kush the Red Panda dies

Kush the red panda has died, at just eight years old.

Well known across the Island - having escaped Curragh's Wildlife park not once, but twice - it's safe to say "Krafty Kush" was a character. 

The notorious escape artist was also a father - most recently having to be separated from spouse 'Sara' in a bid to stop them breeding.

Staff at Curraghs say they are 'shocked and saddened by his passing' and know this news will be of real sadness to all visitors, with Kush a favourite to many. 

In a post on social media they say Kush experienced a sudden loss of co-ordination on Tuesday and was taken into the vets for anaesthesia to investigate.

However, his condition worsened and despite being nursed by keepers and further interventions at the veterinary surgery on Wednesday, it was clear he was slipping away - so the decision was made to put him to sleep to prevent any further suffering.

A full post mortem will be carried out as with any animal that passes away at the Park, even if they were old and the death was expected. 

Sadly, the park says Kush was still in his prime at 8 years old, which makes his death a little harder to take for all those that cared for him.

Kush will be well remembered for his larger than life character, and although his life was shorter than we would have expected, it was certainly not uneventful and he leaves 3 daughters to carry on his lineage".