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 […]
James Herrera, Ph.D., Program Coordinator for DLC-SAVA Conservation. Published December 12, 2020. Lemurs are the famous primates of Madagascar. Unlike monkeys and other primates, lemurs are found in the wild only on the island of Madagascar. They probably arrived on Madagascar from ancient primate ancestors on Africa 60 million years ago, and since that time, over […]
UPDATE: Thank you! Thank you for making #GivingTuesday a record-breaking success! On December 1, we shared with you an urgent need to replace and upgrade an essential piece of veterinary equipment: our X-ray system. Our existing X-ray machine was rapidly nearing the end of its long lifetime of service to the DLC’s lemurs and could […]
By Casey Farmer I planned to be in Madagascar for three months of summer 2020, volunteering and being trained in field methods to study lemurs. When the pandemic hit and it was no longer safe to travel, my program was cancelled. But I refused to let this reality dictate my life as a budding lemur […]
Meet Jonah’s mouse lemur, Microcebus jonahi! This tiny (60-gram) primate is the 25th recognized species of mouse lemur and the 108th recognized species of lemur. Jonah’s mouse lemur lives in northeastern Madagascar, including within the protected Mananara National Park. The species was named after Malagasy primatologist Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy, one of the most respected and […]
