Found: Endangered Lemur Stolen From San Francisco Zoo

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Maki, a ring-tailed lemur, is back home at theSan Francisco Zoo & Gardens, a day after he was stolen, according to zoo officials. Maki was found in Daly City on Thursday.

The zoo offered a reward for tips and information leading to his safe return. Maki was discovered missing Wednesday from his enclosure As an older animal he requires special care.

Maki was watched over by Daly City Police until zoo staff arrived to carefully crate him for his return to the zoo.

The zoo offered a reward of $2,100 — $100 for every year of Maki’s life.

More than 100 comments have been left on a Facebook post about Maki, with zoogoers heartbroken over the theft. Greg Menacho wrote, "It takes an exceptionally cruel and selfish person to essentially kidnap a highly social, highly endangered lemur from the place that has a staff of dedicated professionals whose entire educational background and combined career expertise has made them the only people that can properly provide all off the specialized care and dietary requirements that these precious prosimians need to survive. Whoever you are, please realize that this animal will likely suffer and die under your attempts at making a pet of him. The sum of what it takes to care for lemur or other rare and exotic animal cannot be learned from the internet. When he gets sick, what will you do? Please, if you care about his wellbeing at all, please return him to his family and care givers."

Ring-tailed lemurs are the most recognizable of lemur species, gray and white in color with a black and white ringed tail. California has banned them as pets.

Lemurs are highly endangered, native only to the island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa.

The San Francisco Police Department is assisting with the recovery of the animal’s return, including investigating a possible break-in at the Lipman Family Lemur Forest habitat.

If you have information about Maki, phone SFPD’s 24 Hour Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.