The time is now

Duke Lemur Center

15 hours ago

"Help me support interns at the DLC, Poe-bi-Wan Kenobi... you're my only hope!" ✨

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/darkside

Celebrate Star Wars Day (May 4th) with us by ordering our limited edition "Welcome to the Dark Side" shirt! Donations raised through this t-shirt promotion will go directly toward the DLC Internship Program, supporting student opportunities that equip the next generation of environmental stewards with hands-on experience and mentorship. The DLC summer internship program is a transformative experience for undergraduate students, providing practical training in field research, husbandry, animal welfare, environmental education, science communications, and fossil collection management. The students who come from all over the country to participate in the ten-week program are passionate about exploring careers in the field and contributing to the mission of the DLC 🌱

Until 2022, all DLC internships were unpaid. Summer ’22 was the first year we were able offer some funded intern positions, thanks to support received from donors to cover interns’ hourly compensation for the 10-week program. Our goal is to have a fully funded internship program, removing barriers to participation and allowing students to fully immerse themselves in the intern experience without worry of finding other ways to make money during the summer ☺️

“Dark Side” t-shirt sales will go directly towards funding positions for future DLC interns. With your help, we will bring more students to the “Dark Side”! Be sure to order your shirts soon for the best chance of receiving them in time to wear on May 4th. Visit lemur.duke.edu/darkside to learn more and order now (free shipping on us!) 🌙 ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

3 days ago

Happy 2nd birthday to a pair of out-of-this-world juveniles, Kitt and Hubble 💫

These goofy red ruffed lemur twins were born on this day in 2022 to first-time parents Ruby and Buzz. Kitt and Hubble can often be found dangling upside down from branches in their enclosure, chasing each other around in circles, or play wrestling with their parents. To celebrate, they will be indulging in some of their favorite snacks and lounging in the afternoon sunshine. Enjoy some photos from our fabulous volunteer photographers of these two cuties throughout the past two years! 🌟

📸: David Haring (1,4,6); Rhiannon See (2); Sara Nicholson (3,5) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

4 days ago

Our lovely female crowned lemur Sanura hopes everyone has a great start to their weekend 🥰

Nine-year-old Sanura was born in Cleveland and transferred to the DLC back in 2016, thanks to a breeding recommendation with one of our males. Since joining our colony, Sanura has had two sons (the younger of whom, Nedjem, turns five years old tomorrow!) and now lives in a non-breeding companion pair with Ma'at ✨

Fun fact: when infants of sexually dichromatic species are born, they start out the same color as mom, regardless of sex! This helps baby blend in with mom's fur and avoid becoming a visual target for predators. Infant Nedjem (photo 4), despite being a male, began his life with gray fur that transitioned to orange over the first few months of his life (photo 2) 🩶🧡

📸: David Haring (1-5); Abby Flyer (6) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

5 days ago

Princess Agatha, with help from an ewok bush baby, invites you to harness the force... AND support interns at the DLC! ✨

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/darkside

Celebrate Star Wars Day (May 4th) with us by ordering our limited edition "Welcome to the Dark Side" shirt! Donations raised through this t-shirt promotion will go directly toward the DLC Internship Program, supporting student opportunities that equip the next generation of environmental stewards with hands-on experience and mentorship. The DLC summer internship program is a transformative experience for undergraduate students, providing practical training in field research, husbandry, animal welfare, environmental education, science communications, and fossil collection management. The students who come from all over the country to participate in the ten-week program are passionate about exploring careers in the field and contributing to the mission of the DLC 🌱

Until 2022, all DLC internships were unpaid. Summer ’22 was the first year we were able offer some funded intern positions, thanks to support received from donors to cover interns’ hourly compensation for the 10-week program. Our goal is to have a fully funded internship program, removing barriers to participation and allowing students to fully immerse themselves in the intern experience without worry of finding other ways to make money during the summer ☺️

“Dark Side” t-shirt sales will go directly towards funding positions for future DLC interns. With your help, we will bring more students to the “Dark Side”! Visit lemur.duke.edu/darkside to learn more and order now (free shipping on us!) 🌙 ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

6 days ago

POV: you're curious about the DLC's new online Lemur 101 class this spring 👀

➡️ learnmore.duke.edu/olli

Registration opens TODAY for our new course, offered through Duke's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)! OLLI is an inclusive community of nearly 2,000 adults who share a love of learning. Each lesson will be led by an expert from the DLC's passionate, dedicated staff. Students will have the opportunity to learn from the people leading our mission to study and protect these unique animals in Durham and in Madagascar. While instructors will discuss lemurs throughout their classes, they will explore complex science and conservation themes through the focused lens that lemurs provide. 25% of the course tuition goes directly back to the care and conservation of the lemurs here at the DLC 💙

There is an annual membership fee to join OLLI, which gives you access to our class and a wide array of other interesting courses! In addition to registering for classes, members can participate in special events, join Special Interest Groups, volunteer, and participate in social activities 🙂

📸: Sara Sorraia ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

6 days ago

Happy National Siblings Day from your furry friends at the DLC 🥰

🍐 Fat-tailed dwarf lemur triplets Albatross, Bustard, and Elephant Bird, age 4 (David Haring)

😜 Coquerel's sifaka siblings Felix, age 3, and Camilla, age 2 (Sara Nicholson)

🧡 Crowned lemur brothers Shezmu, age 6, and Nedjem, age 5 (David Haring)

😘 Ring-tailed lemur twins Seagrams and Schweppes, age 9 (Sara Nicholson)

❤️ Red ruffed lemur twins Kitt and Hubble, age 2 (Allie Monahan)

Tag your siblings to let them know you're thinking of them today! ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

7 days ago

Happy Tuesday from crowned lemur Ma'at! 🤩

This sweet crowned lemur male turns seven years old later this month. Ma'at, who you may know from our off-season tour path or our virtual painting packages, is the son of current DLC residents Mosi (also of tour path fame) and Seshat (pictured) 🧡

Ma'at lives with non-breeding companion Sanura, a female crowned lemur. Because they don't have a breeding recommendation, Sanura is on birth control. At the DLC, breeding is very carefully controlled. We’re a member of the AZA, and we adhere to the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for each of the species we actively breed. SSPs outline the breeding plans for each species as determined by a team of experts, which selects breeding pairs of males and females based on how genetically valuable their offspring would be to the captive population. The goal of each SSP is “to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically stable population for the long-term future.” Despite not being a good genetic match for breeding, Ma'at and Sanura make fantastic companions! 🤗

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

Happy #MadagascarMonday! We're excited to share this fantastic article published in Duke's research blog highlighting graduate student Camille DeSisto's research in Madagascar 🤩

➡️ researchblog.duke.edu/2024/04/01/to-get-a-fuller-picture-of-a-forest-research-requires-a-team-eff...

For some people, the word “rainforest” conjures up vague notions of teeming jungles. But Camille DeSisto sees something more specific: a complex interdependent web. For the past few years, the Duke graduate student has been part of a community-driven study exploring the relationships between people, plants, and lemurs in a rainforest in northern Madagascar, where the health of one species depends on the health of others 🍃

The multi-disciplinary team consists of researchers from local communities, Duke University, the Duke Lemur Center, CURSA (the SAVA regional university), and the University of Antananarivo. By integrating lemur surveys, botanical plots, seed dispersal experiments, and local ecological knowledge, the team hopes to advance understanding of forest ecology and conservation in COMATSA 🌍

Want to learn more about our conservation efforts in Madagascar? Check out our recently released March 2024 DLC-SAVA Conservation Newsletter, which you can access for free on our website, or keep an eye out for upcoming Madagascar Mondays on our social media! 💚

📸: Martin Braun (red-bellied lemur) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

Darth Ardrey invites you to join the dark side... AND support interns at the DLC! ✨

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/darkside

Celebrate Star Wars Day (May 4th) with us by ordering our limited edition "Welcome to the Dark Side" shirt! Donations raised through this t-shirt promotion will go directly toward the DLC Internship Program, supporting student opportunities that equip the next generation of environmental stewards with hands-on experience and mentorship. The DLC summer internship program is a transformative experience for undergraduate students, providing practical training in field research, husbandry, animal welfare, environmental education, science communications, and fossil collection management. The students who come from all over the country to participate in the ten-week program are passionate about exploring careers in the field and contributing to the mission of the DLC 🌱

Until 2022, all DLC internships were unpaid. Summer ’22 was the first year we were able offer some funded intern positions, thanks to support received from donors to cover interns’ hourly compensation for the 10-week program. Our goal is to have a fully funded internship program, removing barriers to participation and allowing students to fully immerse themselves in the intern experience without worry of finding other ways to make money during the summer ☺️

“Dark Side” t-shirt sales will go directly towards funding positions for future DLC interns. With your help, we will bring more students to the “Dark Side”! Visit lemur.duke.edu/darkside to learn more and order now (free shipping on us!) 🌙 ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

Playtime with baby Albus 😝

At almost four months old, Coquerel's sifaka infant Albus is developing into a playful, curious young lemur! Now that he's big enough to tussle with big sister Egeria, the two siblings can frequently be spotted swinging from branches in their enclosure and making play faces at one another. Once he's tired himself out, Albus hops on mom Rodelinda's back for a safe place to snuggle up 🥰

Infants like Albus are part of the Duke Lemur Center's conservation breeding program. Through partnership with the AZA, the DLC aims to create a genetic safety net for critically endangered lemur species like the Coquerel's sifaka 💕

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less