Around 30 million years ago, the Earth’s climate shifted from swampy to icy, and 63 percent of mammal species vanished from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. A large collection of fossils housed at the Duke Lemur Center Division of Fossil Primates, representing the life’s work of the late Elwyn Simons of Duke, has enabled scientists […]
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 […]
Research scientists Marina Blanco, Ph.D. and Lydia Greene, Ph.D. study lemurs here at the DLC—home to the most diverse population of lemurs outside of Madagascar. Some people might assume that they do this just to hang out with these adorable primates all day, but the truth is that their research could be critical to the […]
Independent research by local scientists making a difference in the SAVA region By Andolalao Rakotoarison, Tanjona Ramiadantsoa, Thio Rosin Fulgence, and James Herrera Science is a fundamental part of society, yet it is often an exclusive field. To be a scientist requires education, which requires the finances of obtaining that education. In low-resource settings […]
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 […]
