October 6, 2018 was an evening of celebration and support for the Duke Lemur Center’s Madagascar Conservation Programs. Thank you to all donors, sponsors and friends – as well as DLC staff, volunteers, researchers, and lemurs – who made the evening a success! Together, we raised nearly $50,000 to support our community-based conservation programs in Madagascar.
A special thanks to our sponsors, with a huge shout out to Leland Little Auctions for the incredible wine selection and live auction expertise; to Fullsteam Brewery for the beer and the special “Ranomasina” brew they created just for us; and to Triangle Catering and Petal & Oak for their food and gorgeous flowers!
Gorgeous flowers were provided by silver-level sponsor Petal & Oak. Photo by Banks Clark.
VIP guests (donors of $1,000+) enjoyed visiting the DLC’s signature Natural Habitat Enclosures. Photo by David Haring.
Our string trio featured Laura Quillen, a former work-study student at the DLC. Photo by David Haring.
Special activities were offered along the tour path and inside the main building. Photo by David Haring.
Guests were invited to venture behind-the-scenes into the kitchen where our lemurs’ diets are prepared daily. Photos by Banks Clark.
Meg Dye and Erin Hecht shared insights on the importance of enrichment and positive reinforcement training for the health and well-being of our colony. Photo by Banks Clark.
The DLC’s senior veterinarian, Bobby Schopler, showed guests the vet team’s examination room and shared insights on the work they do every day. Bobby also shared a unique opportunity to fund travel and living expenses for a Malagasy veterinarian to train with our team, which would cost $15,000. We also have a need for a new ICU kennel for $10,000. If you are interested, please contact Mary Paisley, Development Officer at (919) 401-7252 or mary.paisley@duke.edu.
Toward the end of the evening, presentations were given by Greg Dye, Director of Operations and Interim Director of the Duke Lemur Center; and conservationists Charlie Welch and Andrea Katz. Photos by Banks Clark.
Charlie Welch, the DLC’s Conservation Coordinator, shared a message of unwavering persistence, progress, and hope in the impact that is being made through building trust and relationships with the people and organizations of Madagascar. It is a continual challenge, but Charlie shared that we’ve come a long way with our progress since he and Andrea first pioneered conservation programs for the DLC while living in Madagascar for more than 15 years starting in the 1980s. He emphasized the importance of new and increased support, especially as an important funding organization is unable to continue its support starting in 2020; and thanked everyone for their interest and passion for the DLC’s work to protect the vast biodiversity not only of lemurs, but of all endemic species found naturally nowhere else in the world.
Charlie Welch. Photo by Banks Clark.
Andrea Katz shared her vision for the DLC’s new Madagascar Conservation Initiatives, in which the Lemur Center will share our 52 years of expertise in ex-situ lemur care and conservation breeding and management with lemur professionals and zoos in Madagascar. “It’s our responsibility to do this,” Andrea explained. The lemurs living in Madagascar’s zoos are a critical safety net for the most endangered lemurs in the wild.
Andrea Katz. Photo by Banks Clark.
It was an evening to remember! Photo by Banks Clark.
