San Francisco Zoo ring-tailed lemur kidnapped in 2020 dies at 22

SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco Zoo & Gardens ring-tailed lemur that made headlines when he was kidnapped and recovered a 12 months and a 50 percent in the past has died at the age of 22, zoo officials introduced Friday.
“Maki” was just one of the zoo’s oldest lemurs, exceeding the median daily life expectancy of 16.7 many years, the zoo reported in a news launch. He was lately diagnosed with acute kidney sickness, which with each other with his highly developed age contributed to his death Thursday, officers said.
On Oct. 13, 2020, Maki was nabbed from the Lipman Family Lemur Forest enclosure. Zoo officers said he was old, slow-relocating and necessary a specialized diet plan.
The San Francisco Law enforcement Section recovered Maki less than 36 hours later on when 5-12 months-aged James Trinh noticed him at a playground in Daly Metropolis. San Francisco Mayor London Breed honored James and Maki in a ceremony that year on Earth Lemur Working day.
“The reality that Maki survived his ordeal to prosper between his group for far more than a year and a half is genuinely amazing,” San Francisco Zoological Culture CEO and Government Director Tanya M. Peterson stated in a statement.
“Maki became a image of resilience and bravery, starting to be a fan favorite,” she continued. “His story greater awareness of endangered lemurs all over the world. We are heartbroken for this loss.”
On the very same day Maki was uncovered, a 30-12 months-previous guy was arrested in relationship with his abduction. Zoo officials claimed he was billed with violating the Endangered Species Act.
While the kidnapping incident elevated Maki’s status as a person of the zoo’s more well-known animals, he was also 1 of the few lemurs that moved into the premier out of doors combined lemur habitat in the nation when it opened in 2002, in accordance to the zoo.
Maki’s long-time caretaker, Lori Komejan, explained Maki’s preferred food was purple grapes – he did not treatment for eco-friendly grapes.
Maki also dependable his caretakers like no other lemur as the most affordable-ranking member of his ring-tailed lemur group, he generally selected to eat future to his caretakers relatively than his group.
“His temperament loaded the forest, and he will be endlessly missed,” Komejan reported in a assertion.