Rescued Ring-Tailed Lemur Finds Hope After Being Abandoned in Bear Creek Park
In an unexpected turn of events, a Katy-area wildlife removal service discovered a ring-tailed lemur roaming free in Bear Creek Park. The discovery was made by Toby's Wildlife Management & Pest Control (TWMPC), a pest control and wildlife removal service based in Katy.
The entire saga began when TWMPC received a curious call reporting a loose lemur in the park. "We were extremely skeptical and thought it may be a raccoon that was acting oddly, which could indicate rabies," they shared on their social media. Their skepticism, however, was soon put to rest when an hour later, they received another call notifying them that the mysterious creature had been dropped back in the park.
Upon reaching the location, escorted by a local police officer who was relieved at their arrival, the team was taken aback to find that the creature was indeed a ring-tailed Lemur, which they believe was someone's pet. The lemur, affectionately named "King Julian", was surprisingly friendly and climbed right up into their vehicle without any issues.
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As Liz Perez, Director of Operations at TWMPC and a strong advocate for wildlife conservation, points out, "This is a sad case of someone who thought it would be cool to own a lemur, only to dump it in the park because they could no longer care for him.”
The TWMPC team swiftly took steps to ensure the well-being of the lemur. "King Julian aka Lenny the Lemur is being well cared for, and will be going to our exotic vet for a check-up and to see if he is micro-chipped," they revealed on their social media. The team immediately began looking into the possibility of placing him in a sanctuary that can provide him with an apt environment to live out his years happily, with plans to reach out to the Houston Zoo as a last resort.
For Russell Hearen, the Managing Director of TWMPC and native Houstonian, his fascination for exotic animals and wildlife conservation was instilled in him by his father, Toby Hearen, a renowned Herpetologist in Houston. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, his father's influence motivated him to establish his own company that promotes sustainable wildlife management practices.
"King Julian", the lemur, under the care of Toby's Wildlife Management & Pest Control Uniting in support of the cause, the local community has rallied to help ensure Lenny's safe transportation and care, with TWMPC finding a lemur rescue based in Lubbock. “We are forever grateful for all the love and support the community has shown to King Julian! We are ready to get him to RingTail Ranch Lemur Rescue so he can start his life of being a normal Lemur," said Russell. They managed to reach their GoFundMe transportation cost goal in less than 24 hours, but will keep the fundraising page open for donations that will be given to RingTail Lemur Ranch.
Thanks to the diligent and swift actions of TWMPC, King Julian’s story seems set to end happily ever after, with his journey back to a life of normalcy and peace slated to begin on Thursday morning. To donate towards fundraising efforts for the RingTail Lemur Ranch, visit the GoFundMe page here.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
