SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) 鈥 Bounding through a darkened city park, a lemur managed to stay one step ahead of police officers armed only with a large towel.
Bodycam shows the two officers' attempts to nab the speedy little primate, which made a dash for freedom Tuesday in Springfield, Missouri.
鈥淲e see the tail,鈥 one officer says with a chuckle as he tries to get closer.
Not giving up easily, the lemur raises its distinctive black-and-white banded tail and dashes away. It sprints and weaves through a parking lot, down a sidewalk, across grass and around trees.
Eventually the officer tosses the towel like a net, but the lemur slips out and darts away.
鈥淒ang it!鈥 the officer exclaims, as a few civilians help try to corral the critter.
Finally, another officer is able to grab the lemur and hold it still as his partner gently gets it 鈥渟nuggled up鈥 in the towel, the Springfield Police Department said in .
The animal's owners had reported it missing, the department said, and were later reunited with it. But they won鈥檛 be able to keep it 鈥 city ordinance bans having wild animals as pets.
Instead, police say the lemur has been connected with a local wildlife rescue agency where it will be 鈥渨ell cared for and loved.鈥
