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Summary of Transcript:
This video is a press conference celebrating World Lemur Day and the return of Maki, a lemur recently stolen from the San Francisco Zoo. Dan Ash, CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, congratulates the zoo for recovering Maki and encourages people to support it and its conservation efforts. Tanya Peterson, Director of the San Francisco Zoo, thanks the community and the police for their help in finding Maki within 48 hours. Mayor London Breed and State Senator Scott Weiner also attended the event. They thanked the Littman family for donating a multi-million dollar gift that will quadruple the size of the lemur exhibit at the zoo. The Littman family, lead donors of the existing show, share their own experience in visiting Madagascar and their commitment to conservation efforts. The event also honors James Trinh, a young boy who spotted Maki and helped bring him back to the zoo, and the endangered lemurs of Madagascar.
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Summary of Description:
A 21-year-old ring-tailed lemur named Maki was kidnapped from the San Francisco Zoo on October 14th; he was quickly returned home within 48 hours thanks to the community and the police. The incident inspired the zoo to raise awareness about the crisis facing Madagascar, the only home to lemurs like Maki and thousands of other endangered species of plants and animals. The country faces extinction due to climate change, deforestation, and irresponsible agriculture. The San Francisco Zoo is raising funds to build the world’s largest Madagascar-specific zoo exhibit to house these endangered species and educate visitors about the importance of Madagascar’s fragile and unique ecosystem. Within a year, visitors may be able to see Madagascar’s exotic wildlife and Maki and his companions at the San Francisco Zoo. Donations can be made through the provided link.
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Abduction of Maki, the 21-Year Old Ring-Tailed Lemur
The San Francisco Zoo & Gardens experienced a disturbing incident on October 14th, when a 21-year-old ring-tailed lemur named Maki was abducted from his home. The authorities and the community responded quickly, leading to his safe return within 48 hours of his abduction. However, this incident highlighted an alarming environmental crisis that Maki’s home country, Madagascar, faces.
Madagascar is an island nation known for its incredible biodiversity, with thousands of species of plants and animals native only to the country. However, almost half of these species risk becoming extinct within our lifetime due to climate change, deforestation, and irresponsible agriculture. Lemurs like Maki are at risk since they are only found in Madagascar.
Building the World’s Largest Madagascar-specific Zoo Exhibit
The San Francisco Zoo and Gardens plan to use Maki’s experience as an opportunity to highlight the environmental crisis in Madagascar and raise awareness about it. The zoo intends to erect the world’s largest Madagascar-specific exhibit to house these endangered species and educate visitors about the importance of this fragile ecosystem.
Visitors to the zoo can expect to see exotic wildlife from Madagascar within the year, including Maki and his lemur companions. This zoo exhibit will allow people to learn about this critical issue facing Madagascar and how we can help conserve the unique ecosystem.
Donate to the San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo and Gardens invite everyone to support their efforts in raising awareness and helping with conservation in Madagascar. If you are interested, you can donate through the link provided to contribute to this worthy cause.
Watch Madagascar: Wonder in Peril
The zoo also encourages everyone to watch the video Madagascar: Wonder in Peril, an extended version of the incident with Henry Jackson’s commentary, to learn more about the environmental issues facing Maki’s home country, Madagascar.
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Source Description
On October 14th, a 21-year-old ring-tailed lemur, “Maki,” was abducted from his home at the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. Thanks to good community citizens and top-rate police work, Maki was returned to his home within 48 hours. In the spirit of seeking a positive outcome from a bad situation, we hope to use Maki’s experience to illuminate the devastating environmental crisis facing his home country of Madagascar. Lemurs like Maki are only found in Madagascar, an island nation that is one of the Earth’s greatest biodiversity hotspots. Thousands of species of plants and animals are native ONLY to Madagascar, and nearly half of them are faced with extinction in our lifetime due to climate change, deforestation, and irresponsible agriculture. With your help, San Francisco Zoo and Gardens intend to build the world’s largest Madagascar-specific Zoo exhibit to house these highly endangered species and to teach the world about the importance of this fragile and unique ecosystem. Within a year, you may be able to visit the exotic wildlife of Madagascar and, of course, Maki and his lemur companions right here at San Francisco Zoo & Gardens!
To donate, visit https://bit.ly/3mQ8NTW.
To see the extended version of Henry Jackson’s video, Madagascar: Wonder in Peril, click here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1MmMhBqy_Q.
San Francisco Zoo,SF Zoo
