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Duke Lemur Center

19 hours ago

Recent surveys by the Duke Lemur Center, in collaboration with WWF Madagascar, identified 10 groups of Critically Endangered silky sifakas across COMATSA South protected area—a powerful sign that this globally important forest corridor continues to support remarkable biodiversity 💚

The partnership also delivered environmental education activities to 683 students in 13 villages, helping build local stewardship for the forests and wildlife that sustain communities 🌿

But the surveys also revealed ongoing threats, including illegal logging, artisanal mining, habitat destruction, and wildlife hunting. Working with local communities, forest guardians, and schools, we are seeking practical, community-led solutions to protect these forests while supporting local livelihoods.

Together, conservation and community action can help secure a future for silky sifakas and Madagascar's extraordinary biodiversity 🌍

#WWFMadagascar #SilkySifaka #ConservationWorks #CommunityLedConservation #Madagascar #WorldLemurDay2026 ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

3 days ago

Azalea's twins have names... Meet Viola and Snowdrop! 🌸

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/viola-snowdrop

On July 21, 2026, four-year-old gray mouse lemur Azalea gave birth to twin girls Viola and Snowdrop. The floral names for these two little ladies were chosen by a new donor, Bridget, who learned about the lemur naming opportunity while on a tour at the Duke Lemur Center this summer 🤗

A few months after her Behind the Scenes tour, Bridget reached out to make a generous donation to support lemur care and conservation. “I am fortunately in a place in my life where I am able to financially support causes that I care about,” explains Bridget, “and I am SO excited to have the opportunity to name two beautiful lemur babies while also supporting animal conservation.” 💕

Bridget chose the name Viola, a Malagasy flower, as a tribute to the lemurs’ native home, while Snowdrop is a January flower and was chosen in honor of Bridget’s mother, who was born in January and passed away five years ago.

You can read more about these lovely ladies and their story on our website! ✨

📸: DLC Husbandry Staff ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

4 days ago

Celebrate World Lemur Day early by ordering a blue-eyed black lemur plush or adopt package! 💙

shop.duke.edu/specialties/duke-shoppes/lemur

Blue-eyed black lemurs are one of the most endangered primate species in the world, with possibly fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild. The Duke Lemur Center houses about half of the blue-eyed black lemurs in North America and is one of the only facilities in the world to successfully breed these critically endangered animals 🌍

This #WorldLemurDay, you can support blue-eyed black lemur care and conservation by purchasing a limited time adoption package, staying connected to blue-eyed black lemur pair Leigh and McAvoy through quarterly email updates through the end of 2027. Your $150 symbolic adoption includes BOTH a male and female plush of this sexually dichromatic species, as well as a full color booklet, stickers, postcards, and a link to your online portal, where you can read more about Leigh and McAvoy and sign up for your email updates 🥰

Plushes are also available for individual sale, if you want a cuddly companion custom designed based on photos of our resident lemurs! Both the female (orange) and male (black) plushes feature Duke bandanas (removable for any UNC fans in the audience 👀) and fur that one customer described as "as soft as a Jellycat" 🧡💙

All purchases give back to lemur care and conservation, so you can feel good about your shopping! Shipping is available both within the United States and internationally 📦 ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

6 days ago

Collared lemur pair Brie and Bentley share some beautyberry (and a little kiss at the end) 😘

Unlike about 95% of lemur species, which are female dominant, there does not appear to be a clear dominance hierarchy within collared lemur groups... so Brie and Bentley are equals in their co-dominant relationship! Like other species in the Eulemur genus (blue-eyed black lemurs, mongoose lemurs, crowned lemurs, etc.), collared lemurs are sexually dichromatic, meaning that males and females can be distinguished by their coloration. If you look closely, you'll notice that Bentley's head is jet black, while Brie's is dark gray! 🧡

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

This is an Ardrey appreciation post 💖

Did you know that aye-aye Ardrey is currently the oldest female lemur living at the Duke Lemur Center? At 30.5 years old, this beautiful lady shares an enclosure with geriatric dad Poe and bush baby Flame Thorn at the front of our nocturnal building. If you've visited on a tour and caught a glimpse of an aye-aye, it was more likely Poe than Ardrey, as this shy girl spends most of her time in the private half of her living space and only occasionally peeks her head in through the shift door. Ardrey is great at building nests and at participating in positive reinforcement training with her keepers... AND she's super cute! 😍

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

Happy #NationalVetTechWeek to our incredible veterinary technicians, Chrissy and Cat! 💙

We are so thankful to have two passionate, dedicated vet techs on our full-time staff. This is an appreciation post for Cat and Chrissy, who are integral in making sure all of our residents are happy and healthy at all stages of life, and for all of the other vet techs over the past 60 years who have helped us provide the highest quality of care to our lemurs 🩺

📸: Sara Sorraia ... See MoreSee Less