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| 'Brummie of the Year' panda Babu dies | 'Brummie of the Year' panda Babu dies |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A red panda who became a celebrity after escaping from a Birmingham zoo has died following a short illness. | |
| Babu sparked a county-wide hunt after escaping from Birmingham Nature Centre in 2005. | Babu sparked a county-wide hunt after escaping from Birmingham Nature Centre in 2005. |
| He was found up a tree four days later, and went on to earn the title 'Brummie of the Year' for his exploits. | He was found up a tree four days later, and went on to earn the title 'Brummie of the Year' for his exploits. |
| His new owners at the Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig, near Aviemore, announced eight-year-old Babu was put down after developing tumours. | |
| Head keeper Una Richardson said: "Babu moved to us in 2008 after becoming quite the celebrity in Birmingham. | Head keeper Una Richardson said: "Babu moved to us in 2008 after becoming quite the celebrity in Birmingham. |
| "Red panda's are an endangered species and he moved here in the hope that he would father cubs." | "Red panda's are an endangered species and he moved here in the hope that he would father cubs." |
| 'Peaceful life' | |
| But those hopes were dashed when Babu developed the tumours. | |
| Ms Richardson added: "Unfortunately there was nothing that could be done, and he had to be put to sleep. | Ms Richardson added: "Unfortunately there was nothing that could be done, and he had to be put to sleep. |
| "Babu was a hugely popular attraction and never tried to escape once from here. | |
| "He lived a peaceful life with his partner, Jodie, and was always keen to meet his visitors. He will be missed." | "He lived a peaceful life with his partner, Jodie, and was always keen to meet his visitors. He will be missed." |
| Les Basford, manager at Birmingham's nature centre, said: "I was sorry to hear of Babu's death. | Les Basford, manager at Birmingham's nature centre, said: "I was sorry to hear of Babu's death. |
| "During his life, Babu fathered some cubs and contributed to the European endangered species programme for red pandas. | "During his life, Babu fathered some cubs and contributed to the European endangered species programme for red pandas. |
| "We currently have a young female red panda called Amba." | "We currently have a young female red panda called Amba." |