SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A lemur spotted wandering in a backyard in Turlock has found a temporary home at the Sacramento Zoo.
Zoo officials said there is no evidence the lemur had escaped from a zoo or sanctuary and that leads them to believe the ring-tailed lemur was part of the illegal animal trade, the Sacramento Bee reported Saturday.
“Nobody in the area who is supposed to have a lemur is missing a lemur,” said Tonja Candelaria, a zoo spokeswoman. “We are assuming that someone illegally purchased this lemur, had him at their house, and he escaped or was let loose.”
The lemur was found in December by a Turlock resident who called authorities.
The animal’s behavior shows he hasn’t lived with other lemurs, more proof that he is a product of the illegal pet trade, zoo officials said.
“He doesn’t understand normal lemur social skills,” Candelaria said. The lemur will have to eventually go to a place where he can learn those skills, she said.
