Police are looking for the people who stole a 32-year-old lemur from the Santa Ana Zoo in Calif. on July 28.
The incident was reported that morning, when staff found animals running around freely in the zoo and discovered two cages housing monkeys and lemurs were cut open.
After all the free animals in the zoo were recaptured, a lemur named Issac was still missing. Police believed there was more than one suspect that snuck into the zoo and stole the lemur, which is worth about $3,000.
Later on the same day, the stolen lemur was reportedly recovered at a Marriott hotel in Newport Beach. Surveillance video showed a person leaving the crate containing the lemur in the hotel.
Police also found an attached note, saying, “This belongs to the Santa Ana Zoo, it was taken last night. Please bring it to police.” The lemur was found unharmed and returned to the zoo.
Our capuchins, lemurs and Issac in particular are all safe and accounted for after last weekend’s after-hours break in. Thank you to our staff, volunteers and local authorities. We you! And thank you to all who checked in with us today to ensure our animals were OK. pic.twitter.com/RqJkzHKXav
— The Santa Ana Zoo (@SantaAnaZoo) August 1, 2018
However, the hole cut into the enclosure cost the zoo around $1,000 to fix. Police said it is a also federal crime to steal an endangered species like a lemur, and officers are still seeking the suspects.