Search Our Site

Lemur Care

Share
Follow Us

200 Words: Sifaka diet and digestive system

By DLC Research Scientist Lydia Greene, Ph.D. Follow Lydia on Instagram! @lemurscientist Sifakas eat foliage and seasonal fruits (1). Their gastrointestinal systems are designed to optimize nutrient extraction from both. Sifakas have an elongated gut tract that is an astonishing 14-15x their body length (2). Food takes about 24-36 hours to go from eating to […]

Farewell, Ike — World’s oldest crowned lemur passes away at Duke Lemur Center

The Duke Lemur Center is mourning the death of 29-year-old Ikenaten — a lifelong resident of the DLC, cherished “feisty old man,” and the oldest crowned lemur (Eulemur coronatus) ever on record. Born to parents Bastet and Zoser at the Lemur Center on April 18, 1990, Ike far surpassed his species’ median life expectancy of […]

2019 Stewardship Report — Read Online!

OUR LEGACY… AND THE IMPACT OF YOUR INVESTMENT: Have you seen the DLC’s new stewardship report? Not only is it chock full of images of our amazing lemurs, it demonstrates beautifully the huge impact that your support has on the DLC’s mission! The Duke Lemur Center relies upon donations from individuals like you, who personally […]

NEW ISSUE: 2019 Annual DLC Magazine — Read Online!

Extra, extra! Read all about it! The second annual DLC Magazine has been published, and it is GORGEOUS! Special features include: A 37-year photo retrospective: Nearing retirement, longtime DLC photographer David Haring picks all-time favorite photos from the past 37 years — and shares the stories behind the shots Attention Zoboomafoo and Wild Kratts fans: Martin […]

Acupuncture for lemurs? Yes, please!

When 34-year-old Comet, a critically endangered red ruffed lemur, was treated for an injury but plateaued before making a full recovery, Duke Lemur Center veterinarians turned to local acupuncturist Camille Sherrod, D.V.M., of Retrieving Balance Mobile Vet. The result? Acupuncture therapy for the aging lemur — a first in lemur care. Five weeks after Comet’s […]

Melisandre is weighed on Sept 10

Infant Announcement: Rare aye-aye born at the Duke Lemur Center

Meet Melisandre, a rare baby aye-aye born at the Duke Lemur Center on August 13, 2019! The daughter of 23-year-old Ardrey and 9-year-old Grendel, “Mel” is one of nine aye-ayes at the DLC and one of only 25 of her kind in the United States. She is Ardrey’s sixth infant and Grendel’s first. Melisandra weighed […]

Three New Programs Launched: Advancing lemur care and management in Madagascar

By Vanessa Moss, Duke Research Communications Intern and Andrea Katz The launch of three brand-new training programs The DLC’s bond with Madagascar has grown even stronger this year with the launch of three training programs that promise to improve lemur care and welfare in both the lemurs’ native and adoptive homes. This spring, through our […]

Photo Essay: Annual sumac harvest for sifakas begins again

It’s that of year again: DLC technicians, equipped with ample supplies of sunscreen, bug spray, water, and clippers, are heading out into the field for the annual month-long period of sumac harvesting! The Lemur Center’s seven chest freezers, all empty since the start of spring, need to be filled with freshly harvested sumac leaves so […]