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The time is now
Lemurs are the most endangered mammals on Earth
about
Duke Lemur Center
Founded in 1966 on the campus of Duke University in Durham, NC, the Duke Lemur Center is a world leader in the study, care, and protection of lemurs—Earth’s most threatened group of mammals.
With more than 200 animals across 13 species, the DLC houses the world’s most diverse population of lemurs outside their native Madagascar.
Our Mission
To advance science, scholarship, and biological conservation through non-invasive research, community-based conservation, and public outreach and education.
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POV: you're watching crowned lemurs Reign and Hapi getting increasingly enthusiastic about their veggies 🤩
Did you know that some lemur pairs at the DLC need to be separated for their meals? Because lemurs are female dominant, some lemur ladies can be a little stingy with their food and prevent their male companions from eating. All lemurs at the DLC have individualized diet plans, so sometimes lemurs in a given troop might have different dietary restrictions and need to eat on their own to make sure they get the proper food. Of course, whenever lemurs reunite, they have to sniff around in case their companions have any tasty leftovers! 🥬🥕
📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Awesome photo! So cute. Love the colors.
Looking to visit the lemurs during the off-season (October to April)? Sign up for one of our Wild Workshops! 🤩
➡️ lemur.duke.edu/onsite-tours-ww
Our most popular off-season program is our Enrichment Wild Workshop, running most Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1:30-3:30pm. Visitors get crafty, making fun treats and toys while learning about the value of enrichment in animal welfare. You'll get to watch lemurs enjoy your creations, including a trip to see the elusive aye-ayes! This program is open to guests ages 10+ and tickets must be booked in advance, so visit our website now to secure your spot 💙
We're also offering TWO NEW weekday evening Wild Workshop themes: Creatures of the Night and Extreme Evolution! Stay tuned for future posts highlighting these new programs, or read more and book now on our website at lemur.duke.edu/onsite-tours-ww ✨
📸: David Haring (1); Sara Sorraia (2); Abby Flyer (3,4) ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
I love the lemurs. Very much.
Coquerel's sifaka brothers Majorian and Felix engage in playful aerial acrobatics 💞
Just like most primate species, play is an essential part of life for young lemurs! Nine-month-old Majorian is lucky enough to have three built-in playmates: older brother Felix, older sister Camilla, and dad Gabe. (Mom Lupicina is more of a no-nonsense dominant female, but she will occasionally join in when she's in the right mood.) Four-year-old Felix has been a particularly involved older sibling, eager to play with his newest family member since the day he first met infant Majorian. Coquerel's sifakas (as well as some other species) make a "play face" at conspecifics—mouth open, eyes wide—to solicit play behavior, which can involve jumping, wrestling, grabbing tails, and chasing from tree to tree 🤪
📸: Sara Nicholson ... See MoreSee Less
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Looks like they are having so much fun.🤣
Wow😍
Wonderful photos !
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We can’t imagine a more peaceful way to start the day 🌤️
➡️ lemur.duke.edu/wwl
Get an early start to your day on an 8:30am Walking with Lemurs tour! Enjoy the sights and sounds of hungry lemurs snacking on their favorite flora in the crisp September air. The lemurs are released out into their forest enclosures minutes before the tour begins, so you’ll see how these incredible primates like to start their day, and the cooler autumn temperatures often result in more energetic, excited lemurs 🤩
For late risers, Walking with Lemurs tours are also available at 10:30am 😉
Our tour season runs through the end of September, so be sure to book your Walking with Lemurs tour before the temperatures drop too low for free-ranging! You can learn more and make your reservation at lemur.duke.edu/wwl ✨
🎥: Abby Flyer ... See MoreSee Less
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
. . . Leaping Lemurs!!! . . . .
I love them. I hope we can conserve their habitat in Madagascar.
So special. ❤️
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Sound on for fat-tailed dwarf lemur breakfast ASMR 😍
Three-month-old fat-tailed dwarf lemur triplets Toulouse Goose, Bufflehead, and Smew emerged from their nest before lights out to get a head start on their breakfast! The three sisters were born to parents Dominique Chicken and Goose back in June and live in one of the DLC's free-ranging nocturnal rooms. Their fruits, veggies, and primate chow are chopped into tiny chunks and served on frisbees—otherwise, these tiny girls would be nibbling on primate biscuits bigger than their bodies! Mom and dad enjoyed their breakfast nearby on their own frisbee 💕
🎥: Keeper Sarah M. ... See MoreSee Less
18 CommentsComment on Facebook
Breakfast sounds wonderful! 💚💜💜
Be still my beating heart (melting) ... How does anyone at DLC get any work done .. oh wait -- this is work for the team (smiling) ... Thank you for brightening my newsfeed on here. 🫠🥰💓
They are so cute
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There are still spots available for this fall's Forever Learning Weekend 🤩
rsvp.duke.edu/event/a4ff0fea-d513-4864-974d-d3812299c80e/summary
Immerse yourself in a weekend of exploration and discovery! During Forever Learning Weekend (October 3-5), participants will have the unique opportunity to engage with the research conducted by the DLC faculty and staff. These experts will lead you in up-close lemur encounters, seminars, and demonstrations, where you can actively participate in discussions on lemur welfare, veterinary care, conservation, and the DLC's research and science in Durham and Madagascar. This is your chance to unleash your inner scientist at an unforgettable weekend. While this event is organized by the Duke Alumni Association, you do not need to be a Duke alum to attend! 💙 ... See MoreSee Less
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Is this a new program offering? Are the normal Lemur Tours included in the weekend, or would those be add-ons? When do the Lemur Tours end for the fall/winter? Duke Lemur Center Thank you! Love the DLC, was there for 2 long weekends of many tours, 2015 and 2017, time to come back!
They are beautiful.
My dream weekend .. Sadly, I have commitments through 15 Nov ... (sigh) .. I will get to meet the lemurs and team one day .. Hopefully sooner than later
Black-and-white ruffed lemur Bruno snacks on assorted flora in his forest enclosure 😋
Bruno was born at the Albuquerque Biological Park in 2016 and traveled to the DLC in late 2022 on a breeding recommendation with female Halley. Since joining the colony, Bruno and Halley have had one litter of twins together: two-year-old Kepler and Spitzer. Unlike most diurnal lemur species, ruffed lemurs can have litters as large as six infants and frequently give birth to twins and triplets. While most diurnal lemur infants cling to their mothers until they can jump from tree to tree on their own, ruffed lemurs leave their babies in nests while mom goes out foraging for food! ❤️
📸: Sara Sorraia ... See MoreSee Less
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
Beautiful.
Cutie ❤️
So nice to get information and pictures. I have been following forvoverv10 years and love this place. 🥰🥰
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Happy #TongueOutTuesday from new mates Athena and Ferdinand 😝
After their picture-perfect introductions a couple of weeks ago, the relationship between Athena (left) and Ferdinand (right) has only continued to blossom! The pair of Coquerel's sifakas enjoy cuddling together, grooming one another, and sharing morning mimosa leaves on a sunny summer day ☀️
And yes, Ferdinand is the son of Jovian aka Zoboomafoo 😉
📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
I see those lemurs, and my 90s kid brain instantly goes "Zaboomafoo!!" Lol 😅
So beautiful
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Inside the Artist’s Studio: Ring-tailed lemurs Berisades and Persephone 🎨
➡️ shop.duke.edu/Paintings-by-Lemurs
Berisades (21) and Persephone (20) are an artistic sibling duo that live on our summer tour path. Berisades is one of the most enthusiastic painters, often ready to go before our staff have finished setting up! When they first started painting years ago, Persephone took on more of a supervisory role, occasionally stealing grapes while her brother did most of the work. Now, she’s almost as eager as Berisades to step in the colorful paint in search of her favorite treats. Ring-tailed lemurs are the most terrestrial species in our colony, so they’re perfectly at home on the ground and don’t require a table to paint. The paint we use is non-toxic and water-soluble, so it’s perfectly safe for them to clean themselves off after completing their masterpieces 🍇
Painting is a form of enrichment. It gives the lemurs something exciting and different to do for an hour or so! Painting is always voluntary. If Berisades and Persephone aren’t feeling inspired on a given day, we pack up our paints and try again another day 😊
You can purchase lemur art through our online store or in person at our Lemur Landing Gift Shop! Choose a canvas size online and we’ll surprise you with the artist, or visit in person to inspect all of the options and hand-select your favorite. All paintings come with a high-quality photo of the artist(s), a galley-style ID tag, and information about the lemur species—and all sales contribute to the care and conservation of lemurs 💙
🎥: Abby Flyer ... See MoreSee Less
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lemur Twister With treats!
What a fun video!! Great work!
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Ruffed lemurs go mad for muscadine 🤩
It's muscadine grape season in North Carolina, and that means it's time for the Duke Lemur Center's ruffed lemurs to feast! Whether a seasoned free-ranger like black-and-white ruffed lemur Halley or a first-timer like red ruffed lemur Spock, muscadine grape season is a delightful delicacy. As frugivores, ruffed lemurs' wild diet consists primarily of fruit. They have an incredibly short digestive tract—food passes through them in under two hours!—so they serve as seed dispersers throughout Madagascar's tropical rainforests, snacking on fruits and pooping out the undigested seeds 🍇
📸: Abby Flyer (1); Meg Dye (2) ... See MoreSee Less
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Duke Lemur Center do they have vines growing in their enclosures or do you harvest some for them?
I will have to try that with my lemurs. They love regular grapes n cherries, all fruit actually. I didn’t think they would like muscadine which grow wild here.
same
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