An endangered lemur that was reported missing after a burglary at the San Francisco Zoo was found safe in a nearby city. The 21-year-old ring-tailed lemur named Maki was spotted by five-year-old James Trinh hanging out on the playground at Hope Lutheran Day School in Daly City, which is about four miles from the zoo.

"Call the zookeeper," Trinh exclaimed as he watched Maki playing on the equipment.

"He was hopping around the play structures, but ultimately while he was waiting to be picked up, was hiding in the plastic playhouses," Sarah Riggs, who works as a teacher at the school, told KGO.

Officials at the school called animal control, who worked with the Daly City Police to capture Maki and hold him until workers from the zoo arrived to pick him up. Maki was taken to a veterinarian following the traumatic experience of being taken from his enclosure.

Ed Poole, chair of the San Francisco Zoological board, told the news station that while Maki appeared unharmed, they were concerned because of his age. Poole believes that Maki will be fine once he is returned to his home in the zoo's Lipman Family Lemur Forest.

"We certainly absolutely hope for the best for Maki," he said.

Poole said that he wants to give Trinh a lifetime membership to the zoo for his help locating Maki.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the break-in at the zoo and have not made any arrests in the case.

"We are aware that there is a black market for wild animals, and so that's an avenue that we're looking into," SFPD Officer Robert Rueca said. "We know that people find these lemurs cute, so it's possible that someone stole this animal to keep it as a personal pet."

Photo: Getty Images

Brian Thomas

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About Brian Thomas