January 7, 2014 — The Duke Lemur Center houses over 250 animals, but every individual is special. Here, we’ll take some time to help you get to know the stories behind some of our favorite residents. Get the scoop without the poop. In the following interview, technician Jodi Stirk tells us about Horus the baby crowned lemur: (Interview by Pat Massard)
How old is Horus? How much does he weigh?
Horus was born on May 20, 2013. He weighs 920g or just over 2 lbs.
Who are his mother and father? Does he have any brothers and sisters?
Horus is the first offspring born to mother Seshat and father Mosi. Seshat and Mosi have a breeding recommendation [from the Crowned Lemur Species Survival Plan] again this year, so hopefully Horus will have a sibling or two born in the spring. Crowned lemurs are seasonal breeders. Here at the Duke Lemur Center, crowned lemur births occur April through mid-June. It is just as common for a crowned lemur female to give birth to twins as it is to give birth to a singleton.
Crowned lemurs are sexually dimorphic, with males and females having different coloration. Apart from his male coloring, do you think Horus looks more like his mom or his dad?
I’m not sure that I would say he takes after one more than the other. Seshat and Mosi both have very pointy faces, almost foxlike. Horus certainly takes after them in that he also has a pointy face.
What part of Madagascar do crowned lemurs come from? What type of habitat is it?
Crowned lemurs are found in the dry forests of northern Madagascar and appear to prefer the canopy level.
Do you have any nicknames for Horus?
Yes, I call him Hoho.
What three words would you use to describe him?
This is a difficult question; there are so many words to describe him! I suppose I will go with entertaining,outgoing, and intelligent. It is so easy to get lost in the moment observing this little guy; he never fails to make the staff laugh at his antics. When Horus was younger he was very shy, but he quickly grew out of that phase. Now, Horus enjoys interacting with keepers and visitors. Horus is also incredibly intelligent.
Is he currently being trained? If so, what does the training consist of?
Yes, Horus is part of our training program. Training with Horus first consisted of simply getting him comfortable being separated from his parents. This behavior is important for things like being able to focus on a specific animal during training sessions or separating the individuals of a group to get their weights. His first trained behavior was for him to get on a scale for routine weighing. Horus picked up this behavior immediately! Currently, he is working on kennel training, which he is progressing nicely on.
I saw some amazing footage in a BBC documentary of crowned lemurs rock climbing. Is Horus a good climber already?
Horus is a great climber! He is also an impressive jumper.
Does he have any favorite toys or play things? Are there any foods he really likes or dislikes?
Currently, Horus enjoys playing with his parents. This includes playing with their long tails and wrestling around on the floor with his mom. This family group loves any and all foods, but of course they prefer the yummy fruits.
What is your favorite thing about working with Horus?
Horus was the first infant born under my care, so this makes him extra special to me. My favorite thing about working with Horus has to be having the opportunity to watch him develop.
Pat Massard has been volunteering at the Duke Lemur Center in a number of capacities since 2011. When she’s not volunteering, she works in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke.
Jodi Stirk joined the staff of the Duke Lemur Center in May 2012. Before coming to the DLC she worked with orangutans, gibbons and lemurs at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas.
In addition to Horus, Jodi also takes care of Halley and Herschel, twin black and white ruffed lemurs who were born a day after Horus. You can help care for these and other infants at the Duke Lemur Center by making a donation to the Adopt a Lemur program: https://www.gifts.duke.edu/lemur_share
