Cornelia
Infant Coquerel’s sifaka Cornelia can often be found clinging on to her mom’s back like a fuzzy backpack. Photo by Sara Nicholson.
Cornelia is getting brave and beginning to eat more of the leaves and stems that make up an adult Coquerel’s sifaka’s diet. Photo by Sara Nicholson.
If you have symbolically adopted Coquerel’s sifaka Pompeia, you’ve already met our first infant of Baby Week 2022 in your animal update! If not, please join us in welcoming Cornelia! Cornelia Africana was born on February 20, 2022, and is the third critically endangered Coquerel’s sifaka born at the DLC in the 2022 infant season. (Check out Camilla and Silas.)
Pompeia has been incredibly patient with her new arrival, often grooming and cuddling with Cornelia. Cornelia has been a bit of a late bloomer; until recently, her favorite activity was napping on mom. As she has grown, she has gained more confidence and is now playing with her older sister, Francesca, and climbing every tree in her one-acre forested enclosure.
Hapi
Crowned lemurs are sexually dichromatic. As he has grown, Hapi has gained his adult male coloration. Infants are born nearly solid gray to blend in with their mother’s fur. Photo by Morgan Bronner.
It’s another boy for crowned lemurs Seshat and Zuberi! Baby Hapi was born on June 2, 2022, and joins big brothers Siwa and Pharaoh in our largest Eulemur family group.
Zuberi is an incredibly protective father and makes it difficult for our animal care staff to get a good look at Hapi. Luckily, Seshat is a great mother and hasn’t needed any human help raising another energetic, curious youngster!
Crowned lemurs at the DLC are given Egyptian-themed names. In Egyptian mythology, Hapi represents prosperity. It has certainly been a prosperous year for the DLC’s conservation breeding program, and we’re thrilled to share so many infants with you this week!
Hoku
Hoku is the third critically endangered red ruffed lemur born at the DLC this year. Photo by David Haring.
Hoku loves to explore the structures and branches in her family’s multi-room enclosure! Photo by David Haring.
Hoku is the first infant of red ruffed lemurs Mae and Afo. Mae has been a great mom and made a cozy nest of pine right before Hoku was born on May 28, 2022. Unlike other lemur species, ruffed lemurs build nests to “park” their infants in one place after their birth.
Ruffed lemurs also grow quickly! Hoku has been practicing big jumps and swinging upside down when she’s in a playful mood. When she’s not jumping and playing she’s nursing, napping, and being groomed by mom. She has started showing interest in solid food and often nibbles fruits and veggies alongside her parents.
Hoku is a Hawaiian word that means “star” and “night of the full moon.” Hawaiian words can have multiple meanings, and “Hoku” fits perfectly with the celestial naming theme we use for ruffed lemurs at the DLC.
Azalea and Tiger Lily
Azalea and Tiger Lily are usually found sharing their cozy sleeping spots. Photo by Liz Sullivan.
Our final infants of Baby Week 2022 are a dynamic duo: Meet mouse lemur twins Azalea and Tiger Lily!
With an adult weight of around 2.5 ounces, mouse lemurs are the smallest lemurs housed at the Duke Lemur Center. Despite their tiny size, they are some of our fiercest animals! Azalea and Tiger Lily seem to have inherited the feisty nature of their mom, Agnus, so we are always careful to give them their space when we need to add food, water, and enrichment to their enclosure.
When the lights are on in their room, nocturnal mouse lemurs snuggle into hammocks, boxes, or narrow tubes that mimic hollow trees. While Agnus is usually in her own space, Azalea and Tiger Lily seem to be more comfortable cuddling together, usually in their favorite chicken-patterned fleece hammock.
How you can help
Make a donation: Donations of any amount make our work possible and we are so thankful for your support!
Send a “baby shower” present: Gifts from our Amazon Wishlist provide treats and enrichment for the lemurs and supplies for our staff as we learn about, care for, and protect lemurs here and in Madagascar.
Adopt a Lemur: Symbolic adoptions help us provide world-class care for our animals. You or your chosen recipient will receive an adoption packet and quarterly email updates for a year on a specific lemur who lives at the DLC. Adopt Pompeia the Coquerel’s sifaka to keep up with baby Cornelia this year!
Share the Baby Week 2022 fun: Bring some joy to your friends and followers by sharing all about our newest lemurs on your social media channels!
