When the gut’s internal ecosystem goes awry, could an ancient if gross-sounding treatment make it right? By Robin Smith, Ph.D. Originally published on the Duke Research blog on November 17, 2021. Read the original here. Dr. Cathy Williams knew something wasn’t right. The veterinarian had felt off for weeks after her 2014 trip to Madagascar. […]
By David Fleming. Originally published by Virginia Tech on August 16, 2021. Read the original article HERE. In the jungles of Madagascar, the threatened sifaka lemur spends most of its days leaping from tree to tree, searching for leaves and fruit in a forest territory that is increasingly in peril. Halfway across the world, under […]
Founded in 2011, the DLC-SAVA Conservation project is dedicated to preserving the natural biodiversity of Madagascar—especially its charismatic lemurs—by empowering local communities to be conservation leaders. In doing so, we collaborate with Malagasy communities, researchers, organizations, and governmental institutions to promote environmental education, reforestation, sustainable agriculture, rainforest protection, family planning, and conservation-oriented lemur research. Filmed […]
One of the hallmarks of the Lemur Center’s research program is that it is non-invasive: We never allow research that hurts an animal or causes undue stress. But what does non-invasive research look like, and how can we use it to learn more about lemurs here and in Madagascar? In this video, we dive into […]
Duke Lemur Center recreates the seasonal swings of native habitat, helping to unlock the secrets of hibernation. By Robin Smith, Ph.D. Originally published in DukeTODAY on March 12, 2021. DURHAM, N.C. — If you binged on high-calorie snacks and then spent the winter crashed on the couch in a months-long food coma, you’d likely wake […]
At the Duke Lemur Center, an innovative plan to keep the animals social late in life: pair them with lemurs of another species. By Sabrina Imbler. Originally published in the New York Times on February 14, 2021. Over the course of her 32 years, Cheyenne the red-bellied lemur has had many soul mates. Her first […]
Brain imaging reveals that not all monogamous mammals are “wired for love” in the same way. By Robin A. Smith, Ph.D. Originally published in DukeTODAY on February 12, 2021. DURHAM, N.C. — Humans aren’t the only mammals that form long-term bonds with a single, special mate — some bats, wolves, beavers, foxes and other animals […]
What happens when a geriatric lemur loses its mate? At the Duke Lemur Center, the staff tries to re-pair them with a new mate, even if it is from a different species! Some species are so rare, it can be difficult to find a compatible new companion of the same species. If a solitary animal […]
