Lost gold ring prompts search for owner at the Topeka Zoo.

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Officials with the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center are hoping to reunite an individual with a lost ring before Christmas arrives.

The Topeka Zoo posted to social media on Dec. 18 that staff were given a ring during Zoo Lights believed to have "sentimental value" by a visitor. Now, the zoo is looking to reunite it with its rightful owner.

"We aren’t sure exactly where on grounds the ring was found- it was just brought into our gift shop staff last night by a good Samaritan and the gift shop staff member did not ask what location it was in," said Brea Schmidt with the Topeka Zoo.

Schmidt said the zoo recovers items like this, such as cell phones, jewelry and purses. Descriptions are kept vague in the hopes zoo staff can give the high-value item back to the correct person. She told 27 News the lost ring has a gold band and appears to belong to a woman.

"The Zoo has gained some attention in the past for our attempts to reunite guests with their lost stuffies/stuffed animals- a particular example being when a little girl lost her stuffed penguin during Zoo Lights and the mom made us aware by posting to Facebook," Schmidt said. "It was found on grounds by one of our Keepers, who then took the penguin around to ‘meet’ some of the different animals/have an adventure to share with the little girl when she was able to come pick the penguin up."

The Topeka Zoo's annual light display regularly brings in hundreds of visitors each night it is open during the winter with even more appearing on weekends. The zoo encourages the individual who lost the ring to call 785-368-9180 or visit the gift shop to claim it. The individual must provide a correct description of the ring before it is released.

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