Ring-tailed lemur to leave Miller Park Zoo

Posted on May 7, 2024
Miller Park Zoo staff captured the lemur in a Bloomington garage a year ago. (Photo courtesy: Miller Park Zoo/Facebook)

By Blake Haas 

BLOOMINGTON – A ring-tailed lemur found in a Bloomington garage a year ago now has a new home. 

Last year, Illinois Conservation Police and Miller Park Zoo captured Julian and transported him to Miller Park Zoo. 

Over the past year, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources investigated to find where Julian came from. 

Jay Pratte, Director of Miller Park Zoo, found Julian a new home in Kansas a year later. 

“We have been working really hard. Luckily, AZA, through the lemur planning group, found us a Zoo that also had two confiscated animals. So Thursday, Julian is going to be heading to his new home in Kansas.” 

Ring-tailed lemurs are native to the islands of Madagascar and are an “endangered” species.

The lemur was believed to be owned illegally, as owning a primate is illegal in Illinois.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected]. 

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