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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 largest and 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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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
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❤️❤️❤️
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
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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, both 2 and 4 footed!
Beautiful ❤️
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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❤️
CHALLENGE: can you spot our free-ranging red ruffed lemur family? 👀
Now that the weather is warmer, red ruffed lemur family Ruby, Buzz, Kitt, and Hubble have started spending sunny days out in one of our smaller forest enclosures. Red ruffed lemurs, who come from the tropical rainforests of northeastern Madagascar, are canopy dwellers, so they’re most comfortable at the tippy tops of trees! Momma Ruby and dad Buzz are wearing radio collars so that our staff can locate the family if they get lost, and Kitt and Buzz have shaved sections of their tails so that keepers can easily identify each family member from their vantage point on the ground 🍃
🎥: Abby Flyer ... See MoreSee Less
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
When we visited year before last, these guys let their presence be known vocally. Our visit was cancelled last year because of storm damage. Good to see the habitats back.
So cool!! What a gorgeous family❤️
This is great!
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Lovely spring sifaka photoshoot by student volunteer photographer Aditya Baliga, featuring a very apt #TongueOutTuesday shot from Valeria 😝
We have 28 gorgeous Coquerel's sifakas currently living at the Duke Lemur Center! This critically endangered species hails from the dry deciduous forests of northwestern Madagascar. Their name, sifaka, is pronounced "shif-auk" and comes from the distinct call this lemur makes. This series of portraits features nine-year-old Valeria and her companion, twelve-year-old Carlo, as well as six-year-old Magdalena and her three-month-old daughter, Pax 💕
📸: Aditya Baliga ... See MoreSee Less
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
Great photos!
Sifakas are so beautiful <3
Beautiful photos!❤️
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"Help me support interns at the DLC, Poe-bi-Wan Kenobi... you're my only hope!" ✨
➡️ lemur.duke.edu/darkside
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!) 🌙 ... See MoreSee Less
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