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Duke Lemur Center

3 days ago

While most of our lemurs eat fruits and vegetables, our smaller nocturnal animals get many of their calories from insects! 🐛😋

Moholi bush babies' large eyes and ears make it easy for them to find the crickets and mealworms that help make up their diet at the Duke Lemur Center, even after their lights go out. ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

4 days ago

Lemurs are primates like monkeys, apes, and humans.
In addition to grasping hands and forward-facing eyes, that means they have fingernails on each of their fingers. Their toes also have nails instead of claws, with one exception - the grooming claw!

All lemurs have an elongated nail on their feet that helps them scratch and groom the areas that are difficult to reach. Check out a Coquerel's sifaka's grooming claw in this close-up!

Learn more about what makes a lemur a lemur by taking a virtual tour of the DLC at lemur.duke.edu/virtual-tour. ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

6 days ago

As the weather heats up, more lemurs are starting their free-ranging season in their Natural Habitat Enclosures. Before exploring acres of forest, the first order of business is making everything smell like them!

Lemurs use scent glands in their wrists, chests, and under their tails to communicate with one another. After rain or time washes their scent away, they lay down new smells. With a large forested enclosure, scent marking is as close as lemurs get to a full-time job.

Licinius isn't wasting any time! In this photo from David Haring, he is scent marking the elevated bridge that connects his family's indoor housing to their forest. ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

Our monthly Learning Lemurs Newsletter features exclusive articles, activities, and video clips on all sorts of fascinating topics.

Starting this Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re giving away free subscriptions for all public school teachers! Email us at primate@duke.edu to get started.

Each month, the education team works with the animal care, conservation, and research departments to feature a wide variety of subjects and give you some peeks behind the DLC curtain. Learn more and check out an example newsletter at lemur.duke.edu/subscription. ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 weeks ago

Who says burritos are just for humans? 😋

Aye-ayes like Grendel use their tapping finger and sharp teeth to access food inside of hard wood or shells. Here at the DLC, aye-ayes get their food wrapped inside of paper bags, boxes, and plates to encourage that same percussive foraging behavior!

Thanks to David Haring for capturing this real-life version of the 🥺 emoji! ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center updated their cover photo.

2 weeks ago

The Duke Lemur Center houses more than 200 lemurs across 14 species—the most diverse population of lemurs on Earth, outside their native Madagascar! 🇲🇬

Did you know that lemurs are the most endangered group of mammals in the world?! Learn more about the DLC's mission to learn about and protect lemurs (and what you can do to help!) at lemur.duke.edu! ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 weeks ago

Still looking for the perfect graduation or Mother’s Day gift?
Adopt a Lemur at lemur.duke.edu/adopt!

With this symbolic adoption, you or a loved one will receive quarterly updates, an adoption certificate, and a few gifts, while we do all of the hard work of caring for the lemur in person. With nine different species to choose from, we don't mind if you play favorites!

To ensure that the recipient gets the gift in time, adoption packets can be delivered through email. Just put “digital packet” in the comments section of your order! ... See MoreSee Less