Successful Inauguration of a New Protected Area: The Ambanitaza Biocultural Landscape Community-led Conservation for Long-term Stewardship James Herrera, DLC Director of Conservation On July 9, 2026, the new protected area, Ambanitaza, was inaugurated after four years of planning, fieldwork, and deliberations. Almost 1,000 attendees celebrated this grassroots initiative. The protected area contributes to a worldwide […]
On May 29, experienced mom Sierra Mist gave birth to a healthy baby boy! This infant joins a close-knit family of five with mom, dad Licinius, and older brother and sister Meriadoc and Eowyn. Two-year-old Eowyn has been particularly interested in her new baby brother, spending lots of time cuddling up with mom and grooming […]
This summer [June 2026], the Duke University Office of Climate and Sustainability welcomed the Duke Lemur Center as part of its integrated unit—six teams working across the university to build a strong future. Duke University recently was awarded $4.4 million from The Duke Endowment for DLC support, including a newly created academic director position. Primatologist and Duke […]
At Duke and beyond, caring for land is helping people recover, connect and move forward. By Christina Holder. Originally published in Duke Mag on March 26, 2026. Deep within the heart of the Duke Lemur Center’s vast campus, you’ll find a small patch of land speckled with fruit trees and vegetables. This is the secret […]
By James Herrera, Ph.D., DLC Director of Conservation. Posted June 26, 2026. On the 26th of June in 1960, Madagascar officially gained its independence from its colonizer, France. The struggle for independence has a long history that continues to shape the country today. In 1896, France officially annexed Madagascar. Colonial rule imposed major political, economic, […]
Meet Lanitra! We’re so excited to announce our SECOND critically endangered blue-eyed black lemur infant of the year! On April 1, 2026, blue-eyed black lemur Malala celebrated her fifth birthday AND gave birth to her first daughter! Lanitra was born to first-time parents Malala and Brady at a healthy 83 grams, which is just about […]
Read the Duke Lemur Center’s Stakeholder Update, sent to our donors on June 17, 2026. Questions? Contact Mary Paisley, DLC Development Director, at mary.paisley@duke.edu. June 2026 Stakeholder Update Two young ring-tailed lemurs are new to exploring one of our eleven forested free-ranging enclosures. The infants, Melissa and Karl, are clinging to mom, Liesl, as their […]
Celebrating Pollinator Week with the “Honey Bee” Twins! We’re so excited to announce the names of our littlest ring-tailed lemurs, Karl and Melissa! Karl was named by Keeper Becca, the family’s primary caretaker, after Austrian scientist Karl Von Frisch, who won a Nobel Prize for his research on honey bees and their “waggle dance.” This […]