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Duke Lemur Center

2 hours ago

Blue-eyed black lemurs McAvoy and Lincoln snack on fresh kale 🥬

Two-year-old McAvoy is nine-year-old Lincoln's only son with mate Leigh. Blue-eyed black lemurs are sexually dichromatic; unlike her boys, dominant female Leigh sports a lovely orange-brown coat. Both sexes are united by their brilliant blue eyes—they're the only lemur species with blue eyes! 💙

Like nearly one third of lemur species, blue-eyed black lemurs are critically endangered. When McAvoy was born in 2023, he was one of only two blue-eyed black lemur infants across North America. This past year, female infant Mitsiky was the only blue-eyed black lemur infant in human care anywhere in the world. Through collaboration with accredited zoos and conservation facilities around the globe, the DLC is working to protect these incredibly rare primates from extinction 🌍

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 day ago

What goes into caring for and managing the largest population of lemurs outside of their native Madagascar? 🤔

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/evening-with-the-experts-event

Join us on Saturday 1/31 for our brand new Evening with the Experts event! Among the experts present will be our Curatorial Team, the incredible humans responsible for the nearly 250 lemurs who call the DLC home. Chat with them about Species Survival Plans, positive reinforcement training, lemur husbandry, collaborations with Malagasy zoos, and much more! Learn more and book your tickets on our website 🤩

IMPORTANT NOTE: This event focuses on the fascinating humans of the DLC, so we will not be viewing any lemurs or lemur enclosures during this event. It is also BYOB—you’re welcome to bring any beverage and snacks you would like to enjoy as you chat with our lemur experts 🍻 ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

3 days ago

Just dropping some more baby Junius content on your feed 👀

A lot of people have been asking in the comments about Junius's beautiful green eyes! Sifakas can sport a variety of eye colors. Sometimes they'll shift from infancy to adulthood, but many sifakas retain their eye color throughout their lives. Check out a baby photo of Junius's mom, Francesca, with her mother Pompeia (photo 3), as well as a baby photo of Junius's dad, Remus, with his mother Rupilla (photo 4). We're crossing our fingers hoping Junius keeps his dad's gorgeous green eyes as he grows up! 💚

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

4 days ago

Join us on Saturday 1/31 for a brand new event, Evening with the Experts! 🤩

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/evening-with-the-experts-event

Join us for an evening with the Duke Lemur Center’s other remarkable primates—the incredible humans caring for and studying all things lemur! This informal, open house-style event will bring you behind the scenes to learn and chat with experts from our Research, Husbandry, Museum, Veterinary, and Education teams. If spending your Saturday evening diving deep into all things lemur science, care, evolution, and conservation, AND supporting our mission to study and protect lemurs from Durham to Madagascar sounds like a good time, this event is for you! 😊

IMPORTANT NOTE: This event focuses on the fascinating humans of the DLC, so we will not be viewing any lemurs or lemur enclosures during this event. It is also BYOB—you’re welcome to bring any beverage and snacks you would like to enjoy as you chat with our lemur experts 🥂

Tickets are available now! Read more and secure your spot at lemur.duke.edu/evening-with-the-experts-event ✨

📸: Sara Sorraia (1); Bob Karp (2) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

5 days ago

Zoboomafoo has a new family member... meet his great-grandson, Junius! 🤩

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/junius

On October 12th, Coquerel's sifaka Francesca (granddaughter of Jovian aka Zoboomafoo) gave birth to male infant Junius. Junius is nine-year-old Francesca's first offspring with fourteen-year-old Remus. Francesca and Remus have been a sweet pair since their first introduction, when Remus immediately groomed and sang to his new mate, and they have enthusiastically co-parented their new baby. Their primary caretaker, Sarah M., notes that she often sees the two parents sitting in a basket together and simultaneously grooming their son 💕

Baby lemurs like Junius aren’t just cute—they’re a crucial part of the DLC’s conservation breeding program, which has celebrated over 3,400 births since the Lemur Center was founded in 1966. Together, Coquerel’s sifakas at the DLC and other institutions worldwide form a genetic safety net for this critically endangered species. Each new birth helps sustain a healthy and genetically diverse population of Coquerel's sifakas for the long-term future 🌎

Learn more about Junius, his family, and how he got his name at lemur.duke.edu/junius ✨

📸: David Haring (1-4,6,7); Sarah M. (5) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

Mongoose lemur couple Rico and Carolina enjoy a night in with some tasty honeysuckle 🌿

While many female lemurs will displace their male companions during feeding to assert their dominance, mongoose lemur ladies are often a little more laid back. This is especially true of fifteen-year-old Carolina, who doesn't mind sharing her snacks with her current mate, eight-year-old Rico. Whether they're enjoying fresh browse, baby food lick mats, or chunks of apple (their favorite fruit!), Carolina and Rico are perfectly content to sit side by side while they chow down 😋💕

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 weeks ago

Some recent photos of a few gorgeous red ruffed lemurs 🤩

Hoku, Spock, Mae, and Kitt show off their namesake red ruffs! Ruffed lemurs are the largest pollinators in the world, catching pollen in their fluffy facial hair while drinking nectar and spreading it from flower to flower as they snack. This makes ruffed lemurs a crucial part of the rainforest ecosystem in northeastern Madagascar. Saving these critically endangered lemurs means saving the other plants and animals that call these forests home 🌸

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 weeks ago

New year, same mission: protect the world's most endangered mammals 💙

📸: Sara Nicholson (1,2,4,5); David Haring (3,6,7) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

3 weeks ago

Radama and his mama Cassia are just popping into your feed to wish you a happy New Year's Eve! 🎆

We hope your new year is filled with love, light, and lemurs. Tag a loved one in the comments to end their year with these adorable sifaka selfies! 🥰

📸: Sarah K. ... See MoreSee Less