SAN FRANCISCO — A beloved – and endangered – lemur is presumed stolen from the San Francisco Zoo, and his keepers are anxious for his return.
The ring-tailed lemur named Maki was reported missing Wednesday and is now believed to have been stolen from his enclosure, KRON reported.
According to NPR, Maki is among the oldest primates housed in the zoo’s Lipman Family Lemur Forest, which houses seven different species of lemurs.
The zoo is offering a reward totaling $2,100 - $100 for every year of Maki’s life – for any tips, KRON reported.
Thank you for your supportive messages during this difficult time. At this time, we do not have any updates about Maki and we are very concerned. We’re offering a $2,100 reward, $100 for every year Maki has lived, for any information leading to his recovery. pic.twitter.com/L96OZiTCKj
— San Francisco Zoo (@sfzoo) October 15, 2020
“We are extremely concerned about Maki’s welfare,” Tanya M. Peterson, CEO and executive director of the San Francisco Zoological Society, told the TV station, adding, “We feel a reward will hopefully help to generate some leads, as this is a precious life at stake.”
Officers with the San Francisco Police Department confirmed to KGO that they are investigating a possible break-in at the enclosure and are seeking the public’s help.
⚠️ Missing Lemur ⚠️#SanFrancisco we need your help in locating "Maki" the stolen Lemur! Maki is an endangered animal and requires specialized care. If spotted please dial 911 and be prepared to provide as much detail as possible ➡️ https://t.co/VJOkACtNwC pic.twitter.com/JEei6NjNgU
— San Francisco Police (@SFPD) October 14, 2020
Dr. Jason Watters, the zoo’s executive vice president of animal behavior and wellness, told the TV station that Maki’s age-related special needs require immediate attention.
“We understand that lemurs are adorable animals, but Maki is a highly endangered animal that requires special care. We are asking the public for help in his return,” Watters said, adding, “As one of our oldest lemurs, Maki requires a specialized diet. … At 21.5 years, he has exceeded median life expectancy of 16.7 years but is also one of the slowest, and we believe, likely, the easiest to catch.”
Tipsters should contact the San Francisco Police Department’s 24-hour tip line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, beginning the text message with SFPD.
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