The time is now

Duke Lemur Center

2 days ago

Fritz and Narcissa in a field of flowers 🌸

Both members of this ring-tailed lemur companion pair sport matching light blue collars. These collars aren't just the hottest summer fashion—they're radio tracking collars that allow our staff to locate the lemurs in their forest enclosure. Usually only the dominant female of a group has to wear a collar, as lower ranking members tend to stick close by their matriarch, but Fritz spent most of his life living in a bachelor troop and doesn't have much experience listening to orders from a dominant female, so he often wanders off on his own. Despite his independent streak, Fritz still spends plenty of time with his companion, and the two can often be found cuddling, grooming, or snacking together 🥰

📸: Sara Nicholson ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

4 days ago

Looking for the perfect gift for a graduating senior, or a unique Father's Day present for a hard-to-shop-for dad in your life? 🎨

➡️ shop.duke.edu/paintings-by-lemurs

No matter what you're celebrating, lemur paintings are a great way to bring some color into someone's life while also supporting the care and conservation of the world's most endangered mammals! You can purchase these one-of-a-kind masterpieces in three different sizes from our Duke Stores shop or select your favorite in person at our Lemur Landing Gift Shop. Finger painting is a fun and completely voluntary enrichment activity for the lemurs, providing a sensory experience with non-toxic paint and an opportunity to forage for tasty snacks 😋

📸: Sara Sorraia ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

6 days ago

Wondering what's got the lemurs so excited? Book a Walking with Lemurs tour to see these incredible primates leap, snack, snooze, and play in our Natural Habitat Enclosures! 🍃

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/wwl

On this small, guided group tour, you'll get an unimpeded view of lemurs engaging in natural behaviors in the beautiful natural setting of Duke Forest. This tour will be an adventure, since the lemurs have the freedom to choose where they go and what they do—you might see lemurs foraging 60 feet up in the trees or you might see them cuddled up and snoozing with their troop on the forest floor, but no matter what, you will see lemurs enjoying the freedom to exhibit their natural behaviors in the forest 🤩

Walking with Lemurs tours run most mornings at 8:30am and/or 10:30am and are open to guests ages 10+. Tickets are available as early as this week and through the end of July, and August tickets will go on sale this Wednesday! Learn more and book now at lemur.duke.edu/wwl ✨

📸: David Haring (1); Sara Nicholson (2-4) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

Introducing the final infants currently available for naming: Sophia's female twins, endangered ring-tailed lemurs born on March 27th 🥰

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/ultimate

These tiny twins are the sixth and seventh offspring of 19-year-old Sophia and 19-year-old Randy. They join older sisters Nemesis and Nyx in this family of six. Sophia’s twins were both born on the smaller side, but what they lack in size, they make up for in tenacity! Keepers who care for the family have described the twins as brave, resilient, curious, playful, and adventurous. They love exploring their forest enclosure with their family, always making sure to stick close to mom and dad. From a very young age, the infants have bounced around their enclosure, climbing up trees and fences on their own 😱

Fun fact: all seven of Sophia's offspring are girls! Sophia is a very protective mother, not letting her rowdy older daughters get too close to the infants, and Randy is a doting dad who doesn’t mind when the twins jump on his back or pull his tail 🥹

At the DLC, ring-tailed lemurs are generally given literary names, and recent births have included Atticus and Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird), Merry and Eowyn (The Lord of the Rings), Mr. Popper (Mr. Popper’s Penguins), and Gatsby (The Great Gatsby) 📖

Looking to make a tax-deductible donation of $20,000 to symbolically adopt and name Sophia's twins (yes, BOTH of them!)? Visit our website to learn more at lemur.duke.edu/ultimate or email us at adoptalemur@duke.edu. We're excited to hear from you! 💙

📸: David Haring (1,6,9); Allie M. (2,7,8); Sara Nicholson (3,4); Sara Sorraia (5) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 weeks ago

Meet the third infant available for naming: Ruby's male, a critically endangered red ruffed lemur born on April 15th 🥰

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/ultimate

This male infant is the third offspring of seven-year-old Ruby and eight-year-old Buzz and joins older siblings Kitt and Hubble in this dynamic and attentive family of five. Ruby’s infant is curious and energetic, even scaling the sides of his nest basket just hours after he was born! Keepers who care for the family have compared him to Spider-Man, especially when he hangs upside down from the ceiling mesh. He also has distinctive white facial markings that are unusual for his species, giving him a unique appearance 🤩

Fun fact: Ruby’s infant spends a lot of time with his mom, cuddled together in a nest basket; but when Ruby takes a break to lounge in the sun, he’s perfectly content and confident hanging out on his own. His dad and two siblings are always nearby to keep an eye on him—especially big brother Hubble, who seems to enjoy his new role as an older sibling (pictured in the hammock with the infant) 🥹

Ruffed lemurs born at the DLC are traditionally given celestial or space-themed names, ranging from astronauts and astronomers to stars and other natural phenomena 💫

Looking to make a tax-deductible donation of $20,000 to symbolically adopt and name Ruby's male infant? Visit our website to learn more at lemur.duke.edu/ultimate or email us at adoptalemur@duke.edu. We're excited to hear from you! 💙

📸: David Haring (1,2,5,6); Hannah W. (3); Anna-Lisa K. (4) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 weeks ago

Now introducing the second infant available for naming: Rodelinda's male, a critically endangered Coquerel's sifaka (yes, like Zoboomafoo!) born on March 9th 🥰

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/ultimate

Rodelinda’s infant is incredibly photogenic and very laid back, content to cling tight to mom or other family members. He is is 17-year-old Rodelinda’s eighth offspring and joins dad Johann, older sister Egeria, and older brother Albus in this family of five. Keepers who care for the family have said that he looks at the world a little differently, mostly from the comfort of his mom’s back 🤩

Fun fact: As an experienced mother, Rodelinda is very comfortable letting other family members take turns holding and grooming the infant. Two-year-old Egeria has been especially interested in her baby brother, which is a promising sign that she will make a great mother one day 🥹

Coquerel’s sifakas born at the DLC traditionally receive Roman names, ranging from emperors and consorts to cities and gods 👑

Looking to make a tax-deductible donation of $20,000 to symbolically adopt and name Rodelinda's male infant? Visit our website to learn more at lemur.duke.edu/ultimate or email us at adoptalemur@duke.edu. We're excited to hear from you! 💙

📸: David Haring (1,2,4,6,7); Lauren K. (3); Lizzie L. (5) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 weeks ago

We're so excited to introduce you to this year's lemur infants! The first infant available for naming is Bonita's female, a critically endangered mongoose lemur born on March 31st 🥰

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/ultimate

Bonita's female infant is the first offspring of first-time mom Bonita and breeding partner Juanito. This little lemur is gentle and curious, enamored with the larger-than-life world around her. Keepers who care for the family have described her as calm and sweet, and she has even been likened to a Disney princess—there is always a twinkle in her big, amber eyes! 🤩

Fun fact: Bonita's female infant is part of four generations of mongoose lemur females currently living at the DLC, along with mom Bonita, grandma Carolina, and great-grandma Maddie. Mongoose lemurs born at the DLC are traditionally given Spanish names ☺️

Looking to make a tax-deductible donation of $20,000 to symbolically adopt and name Bonita's female infant? Visit our website to learn more at lemur.duke.edu/ultimate or email us at adoptalemur@duke.edu. We're excited to hear from you! 💙

📸: David Haring (1-5); Sarah K. (6, 7 Bonita, 7 infant); Courtney F. (7 Maddie); Sarah M. (7 Carolina) ... See MoreSee Less