City officials gathered to offer congratulations Friday, as the San Francisco Zoo honored a five-year-old boy with a lifetime membership for finding a missing lemur outside his preschool in Daly City earlier this month.
Five-year-old James Trinh was leaving Hope Lutheran Day School when he saw Maki.
When he spotted the 21-year-old ring tailed lemur scurry from the parking lot onto the school’s playground, he shouted, “lemur!”
His father Sam Trinh said they were unaware the lemur had been stolen. The San Francisco Zoo is now awarding James with a lifetime membership for his heroic actions.
“Definitely very proud of both of my kids,” said Sam Trinh. “Their awareness lets us know that all of our work and hard effort is working.”
San Francisco Mayor London Breed applauded the boy on what she and zoo officials are calling “Maki Day.”
“Thank you so much, James,” said the mayor. “We are so grateful to you. What you did took a lot of courage.”
The day after Maki was rescued, a San Rafael man was arrested for his abduction.
San Francisco Zoo CEO and Executive Director Tanya Peterson said Maki is now in good spirts.
“After a few days of distress and anxiety, he’s returning to his normal self,” Peterson added.
The zoo plans to expand the size of the lemur exhibit thanks to a multi-million dollar gift.
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