Photo via National Zoo

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is scrambling today to find a red panda that went missing. In a string of tweets, the zoo says that the panda, named Rusty, was last seen about 6 p.m. Sunday and that the park’s staff have been looking for the creature since about 8 a.m. today.

The zoo says there are several possibilities as to what happened to Rusty. While it is possible he could be sick or injured and hiding from human sight, it is also possible someone could have removed him from his exhibit. The red panda exhibit is positioned along the National Zoo’s Asia Trail section, between the small-clawed otters and the giant panda house.

Rusty arrived at the zoo on June 10, and can be identified by blond coloration on his hips and tail.

While red pandas consume mostly bamboo, they are omnivorous and should be considered wild animals. The species is also known to eat birds, eggs, and small mammals. Anyone who spots Rusty should not approach him, and call (202) 633-4888 to alert the zoo to the red panda’s whereabouts.

But it is more likely that Rusty is in a tree somewhere. Red pandas, which are native to the eastern Himalayas, are arboreal creatures that spend warm daytime hours resting in trees. The species is also quite territorial, suggesting that if Rusty is on the loose, it would be unusual for him to wander very far from his exhibit.