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Founded in 1966 on the campus of Duke University in Durham, NC, the Duke Lemur Center is a world leader in the study, care, and protection of lemurs—Earth’s most threatened group of mammals.
With more than 200 animals across 14 species, the DLC houses the world’s most diverse population of lemurs outside their native Madagascar.
To advance science, scholarship, and biological conservation through non-invasive research, community-based conservation, and public outreach and education.
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Celebrating #throwbackthursday with mongoose lemur Carolina 🥰
Did you get a chance to meet Carolina on our tour path last summer? Enjoy this #tbt to summer 2010, when baby Carolina tried sweetgum leaves for the first time, and a comparison photo from summer 2023 of our lovely mongoose lemur lady enjoying a fig 🌿
📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Carolina you are cute. ❤️❤️
Like me, she wants her name pronounced correctly! 😂
Lucrezia Windu invites you to master the force AND support interns at the DLC! ✨
➡️ lemur.duke.edu/darkside
Star Wars Day (May the 4th) is coming up soon! Celebrate 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
1 CommentComment on Facebook
I ordered mine and so did my best friend. We both love the lemurs and support the DLC 💗
Take in the sunshine with Ferdinand, Gertrude, Fritz, and Narcissa ☀️
Ring-tailed lemur companions Fritz and Narcissa and Coquerel’s sifaka siblings Ferdinand and Gertrude have started spending sunny mornings out in one of our smaller free-ranging enclosures as the North Carolina weather warms up. Both pairs are new to this enclosure, so there’s plenty of exploring to do! 🤩
While we can’t put two groups of the same species out into an enclosure together, as they would get territorial and fight over forest space, we are able to pair compatible species groups to free-range. Ring-tailed lemurs like Fritz and Narcissa are the most terrestrial of our species, spending over 50% of their time on the ground, while Coquerel’s sifakas like Ferdinand and Gertrude (and their father, the late Jovian aka Zoboomafoo) generally prefer to hang out in the trees. This allows the groups to utilize different vertical space within the enclosure, thus reducing competition for tasty snacks 🌿
🎥: Abby Flyer ... See MoreSee Less
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
Makes me wish I were a ring-tailed lemur 💕
I was in this enclosure today with a volunteer group and it was amazing to see the lemurs exploring their environment (and checking us out too!)
What a beautiful space for them to explore!
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Celebrate biodiversity this Earth Day with the 2024 edition of the DLC Annual Magazine 💙
➡️ lemur.duke.edu/magazine
On Earth Day and every day, we celebrate Madagascar—an island like no other! Located hundreds of miles off the southeastern coast of Africa, Madagascar has been isolated for more than 80 million years, changing and evolving independently from the rest of the world. Today, the island is famed for its extraordinary biodiversity and distinctive flora and fauna, with more than 85% of its species found nowhere else on Earth 🌿
This Earth Day, visit the "Island of Evolution" through a collection of gorgeous illustrations and accompanying article created by Talia Felgenhauer, a gifted storyteller and artist and 2023-24 DLC Undergraduate Fellow in Communications. Or dive into why Madagascar matters with DLC Conservation Coordinator Charlie Welch, featuring beautiful photos from our staff and volunteer photographers! You can download a free copy of the magazine on our website, or purchase one in person at our gift shop ☺️ ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
❤️❤️❤️
Happy Earth Day from our staff, volunteers, and residents! 🌎
Miaro atiala, mamboly fiainana. This Malagasy phrase, which translates to "protect the forest, and life will grow," is one of our guiding principles here at the DLC. Along with non-invasive research and education, conservation is one of the primary components of our mission statement. For almost 40 years, the DLC has partnered with the people of Madagascar to protect lemurs in their natural habitat while improving the lives of local people. In Durham, we've celebrated over 3,400 births through our conservation breeding program for lemurs, Earth's most endangered mammals. Thank you to all of the lemur lovers worldwide who continue to support us 💚💙
📸: Sara Nicholson (1,4); Rhiannon See (2); David Haring (3) ... See MoreSee Less
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy Earth day to the DLC group! So thankful for the work you do to preserve the land and stop further extinction of our lemur friends!
Happy Earth Day to all the inhabitants at the DLC! 3400 births is so truly wonderful. Thank You DLC for all the amazing work you do❤️
Happy Earth Day to all, both 2 and 4 footed!
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Happy #MadagascarMonday, and happy Earth Day 2024! 🌍
➡️ lemur.duke.edu/world-lemur-day-2023
Every year, we celebrate World Lemur Day in appreciation of the remarkable wildlife of Madagascar, and we thought that Earth Day would be the perfect day to showcase this celebration! The DLC and our partners in Madagascar collaborate in educational activities to raise awareness about lemurs and interest in environmental conservation 🌱
In November 2023, the DLC-SAVA Conservation program partnered with local actors to host a World Lemur Day celebration in a rural village near the Marojejy National Park. Over 1,200 people attended, including all the schools in the area, local associations, leaders from the government, Madagascar National Park, WWF, and more. The day was packed with activities including a parade, lessons on lemurs and the environment, speeches by authorities, and local talent groups showcasing their skills, and a question-and-answer session with prizes—all followed by a concert with local artists 🥳
Check out our celebratory video of this amazing event, put together by our DLC-SAVA Conservation team, at lemur.duke.edu/world-lemur-day-2023! 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy earth day from Madagascar! 🇲🇬 Thank you for taking care of these beautiful creatures from my country! 🙏
I love the lemurs. ❤️
The family that snacks together stays together 😋
Enjoy some Sunday redbud with Coquerel's sifakas Gratian, Magdalena, and baby Pax! If she takes after her parents, three-month-old Pax is sure to have a big heart... and an even bigger stomach 🌸
📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Oh how I wish to visit them. Is that possible?
I love seeing these photos
Such a beautiful family❤️
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We hope everyone feels bonita this Friday, because it's mongoose lemur Bonita's 8th birthday 🥳
Bonita is the only female offspring of mom Carolina and dad Duggan. After leaving her family group upon reaching sexual maturity, Bonita spent a few years free-ranging in one of our forest enclosures with her little brother, Nacho. She now lives with male companion Juanito, who moved to the DLC from Philadelphia last fall on a breeding recommendation with Bonita. Bonita enjoys lounging in the sun and stealing grapes while Juanito finger paints 🍇
📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less
12 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy birthday Bonita! (I think this picture I took might be you…)
Happy Birthday to beautiful Bonita. 🎉🎂❤️
Happy birthday!! ❤️❤️❤️ Can we have photos if possible of Bonita lounging while Juanito finger paints 🥺👉👈
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🤩 THIS SUNDAY 🤩
Good news: we have the weather and staffing to run an off-season General Tour this Sunday 4/21! Like our summer General Tours, this tour is an open house format, and guests can arrive at any time before 11:30am to walk around and see the lemurs. Because the lemurs' winter housing needs may mildly affect their visibility to guests, we are offering a discounted off-season rate of $12 per person (children 2 and under are free) 🥳
Tickets MUST be purchased in advance to attend! Tickets and information are available on our website at lemur.duke.edu/GT
📸: Sara Nicholson ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Kayla Kreuz!!
Help blue-eyed black lemur Hamill defeat the Sith AND support interns at the DLC! ✨
➡️ lemur.duke.edu/darkside
Hamill, one of our male blue-eyed black lemurs, was named after the iconic Mark Hamill, famous for portraying Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films ⭐️
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!) 🌙
🎥: Abby Flyer ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Go Hamill! I just received my shirt and it is WONDERFUL!! Printing is beautiful and it fits perfect. Don’t hesitate! Order a tee and help this amazing program❤️