A red panda plays with a pumpkin at Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium, Oct. 31, 2019. A series of activities were held at the zoo to celebrate the Halloween, attracting numbers of locals and tourists. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A zoo in central France said it found a runaway red panda on Saturday, a week after it escaped by scaling branches broken by snowfall.

The zoological park in Saint-Martin-la-Plaine said a man discovered the endangered furry mammal in his garden. 

"We were called this morning around 8:15 am by a resident. He saw the red panda on a shrub in his garden," said park vet Dr Jean-Christophe Gerard in a statement. 

A team headed immediately to the site and recovered the red panda.

The three-year-old male escaped from the park last Thursday, taking advantage of heavy snowfall that brought down trees. 

His female partner did not follow him. 

On Wednesday, a driver spotted the animal some 10 kilometers from the zoo but the police and zoo staff were unable to locate it.

The shy creatures spend most of their time in trees and are not considered dangerous.

Vets will be monitoring the panda over the next few days to ensure his well-being. 

AFP