Lemur Stolen from San Francisco Zoo

Maki has been found and returned to the Zoo after kidnapper busted in shoplifting attempt. 

​By Annika Henthorn
News Reporter

Most people are content with a new dog or cat; however, this was too conventional for thirty-year old Cory McGilloway. 

On October 14, The San Francisco Zoo reported Maki, a twenty-one year old, ring-tailed lemur missing. The San Francisco Police Department discovered signs of forced entry and deduced that Maki was stolen. 

According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, ring-tailed lemurs have an average life-span of about 16 years. Maki, affirmed by NBC, was “one of the oldest [lemurs] at the zoo.” Since he is well past the standard age for lemurs, he requires additional care and treatment. According to NBC, ring-tailed lemurs are “native only to Madagascar and considered an endangered species.” ABC added that “there are only eight remaining known populations around the world that have more than 100 ring-tailed lemurs,” further heightening the urgency behind the investigation.

To incentive the search, the zoo offered $2,100 for whoever found Maki and an available 24-hour tip hotline for additional information. 

According to NBC, on Friday, October 16, Cory McGilloway was arrested in San Rafael for shoplifting, “in which $500 worth of groceries were stolen” as well as a truck. After searching his phone, the investigators contacted the San Francisco Police Department in response to the content they found, lemur pictures. Lieutenant Dan Fink stated that they “don’t believe in a lot of coincidences in police work, so they put two and two together.” 

McGilloway is in custody in Marin County and will soon be relocated to San Francisco. He will be charged with grand theft of an animal, looting and vandalism, officials say according to NBC.

ABC revealed that Maki was later found in a playground by five-year old James Trinh and his mom located in Daly City. Multiple students recounted the events that unfolded that day. Relieved that their lemur has been returned in good condition, The San Francisco Zoo director, Tanya Peterson, is hoping to donate the $2100 to Hope Lutheran Day School, as well as offer the Trinh family a lifetime membership to the zoo. 

Cynthia Huang, Hope Lutheran’s Day School Director, according to ABC, announced that "it really was a reminder that we still can experience happy moments during the pandemic and also let the children see there is hope, there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

One could say, this world has officially gone bananas.