A red panda who appeared to be in good health had died unexpectedly at a zoo.

Staff at Drusillas Park, Alfriston, near Lewes, are mourning the death of female red Panda Qiu, who only arrived from Les Sables Zoo in France on September 21.

She was completing six months in quarantine in an enclosure behind the scenes at the zoo when she died on December 5.

Just two months ago staff at the zoo appealed to gardeners to donate fresh bamboo to help feed Qiu after their supply started to run low because a shipment from Italy was delayed.

Zoo keepers described Qiu as playful, active and demonstrating a good appetite in the days leading up to her death.

A post-mortem, including a further tissue examination, has failed to determine why she died.

Laurence Smith, zoo director, said: “We are incredibly sad for the loss of our beautiful red panda.

“In the short time that she was with us Qiu proved to be a sweet natured, friendly animal who was very inquisitive.

“The unexpected and unexplained nature of her departure has been a real shock to the whole zoo. She will be missed.”