"It's great that he'll be home for Christmas," zookeeper Helene Axelsen told NRK, translated by The Local. "There's not an awful lot for pandas to eat in the Norwegian environment."
Adrian was spotted by a local veterinarian in the residential area of Lauvasen, the outlet said. The red omnivore was first spotted Monday crossing a highway but evaded capture.
"It's such a relief to get him home. Especially in good condition," Axelsen added. "He was really hungry and worn out, so it's good to see he is getting something to eat and is doing well given the circumstances."
Red pandas, a vulnerable species according to Encyclopedia of Life, are native to China and the eastern Himalayas. They are usually reddish-brown in color with white and black markings similar to that of giant pandas. However, they are only slightly larger than a house cat.
