A frantic 72-hour hunt for a rare animal that went missing from a zoo has ended - after it got hungry and returned on its own.

Suki, a female binturong, disappared from her enclosure at the The Fenn Bell Conservation Project in St Mary Hoo, Kent, on Friday.

Staff and locals combined over the weekend to search for the mammal, also known as a bearcat - even deploying thermal drones.

They had no luck until workers looked on CCTV this morning (Mon) - and saw Suki eating in her enclosure.

A spokesperson for the Fenn Bell Conservation Project says it is believed she was hiding in a tree nearby and returned when she began to get hungry.

He said: "It appears that this morning she has appeared back on the site. We are currently reviewing CCTV to see exactly what happened. "

"We believe that she found her own way back. It seems she was in the woodlands adjacent to the site and now that she has gotten a little hungry and headed back home."

Binturongs are unusual mammals found in the forests of South and Southeast Asia.

They are nocturnal and are most likely to be active from early evening until the early hours of the morning, mostly eating fruit and veg.

The Fenn Bell Conservation Project said on Facebook: "We are delighted to let you all know that Suki has been recovered this morning!"



"We would also like to let you know how proud we are of our team for their endless efforts and searching, which has resulted in this amazing outcome!"

"Suki is currently being evaluated by the team and our vet, but will hopefully be reunited with her sister Kiki soon. Once again thank you for all your support!"