The time is now

Duke Lemur Center

3 hours ago

Ring-tailed lemur Aristides, one of the Duke Lemur Center’s oldest residents, died on July 21, 2025 at the age of 32 ❤️

Over the course of his three decades at the DLC, Aristides played a key role in non-invasive research studying lemur intelligence. He first made headlines in a 2004 article in DukeTODAY, where his ability to learn sequences of pictures on a touchscreen upended neuroscientist Elizabeth Brannon’s preconceived notions of prosimian cognition. Through hundreds of trials, Aristides demonstrated an ability to repeat arbitrary sequences and discriminate between quantities, getting increasingly more accurate as he “learned how to learn.” These skills indicate to scientists that our human numerical proficiency may have evolved much earlier in the primate lineage than previously believed. Aristides’s research has since been featured in a variety of publications, including the March 2008 issue of National Geographic 🔍

Beyond his contributions to science, Aristides was a beloved member of the DLC’s colony. Despite the severe arthritis he developed in his later years, Aristides never lost his zest for life. He took his pain medication willingly and eagerly twice a day (it was injected into the end of a ripe banana) and loved to spend warm afternoons sunbathing in a hammock. Aristides was always very sweet with his long-term geriatric companion, Lilah; the two could often be found grooming and cuddling in a basket together. He was also a phenomenal finger painter, always eager to sit his entire butt on the canvas in exchange for grapes 🎨

In mid-July, the DLC’s veterinary team identified large masses on his liver and pancreas, indicating that Aristides was on the brink of liver failure. To prevent him from suffering, the animal care team made the decision to humanely euthanize Aristides. His final days were filled with painting sessions, all of his favorite snacks, and heartfelt goodbyes from the staff who cared for him 💕

Thank you so much to everyone who cared for, visited, and loved Aristides!

📸: Sarah M. (1,4); David Haring (2,8); Sara Sorraia (3); Abby Flyer (5) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 day ago

Happy Tuesday from blue-eyed beauty McAvoy 🤗

McAvoy is the youngest male blue-eyed black lemur in our colony. He was born in 2023 to parents Leigh and Lincoln. You might have met McAvoy in one of our off-season Wild Workshops, or you might know his older brother, Brady, from his fabulous paintings! Blue-eyed black lemurs like McAvoy are one of the most critically endangered species, with possibly fewer than 1,000 left in their wild habitat. Through both collaborations with Malagasy organizations and our conservation breeding program here in North America, the Duke Lemur Center is working to save incredible species like the blue-eyed black lemur from extinction 💙

Want to learn how you can help? Visit lemur.duke.edu/donate to learn all the ways that you can contribute to the care and conservation of these beautiful animals 🌍

Bonus: scroll to the end to see a throwback pic of baby McAvoy! We can't believe how much he's grown up in just two years 😍

📸: David Haring ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 days ago

POV: you're a baby ring-tailed lemur exploring the forest with your family 😍

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/ultimate

Sophia and Randy's twins are four months old! These tiny girls love nothing more than to bounce, play, wrestle, and snack in their natural habitat enclosure—under the watchful eye of their mom, dad, and two older sisters. Of course, at the end of a rambunctious play session in the summer sun, there's nothing better than climbing onto mom Sophia's back for an afternoon nap ☀️

Think you have the perfect names for these energetic sisters? With a tax-deductible donation of $20,000 (payable in two installments), YOU—or your family, company, organization, etc—can *symbolically* adopt and name these little lemurs. Your donation contributes to the care of the infants, their family, and all of the other lemurs who reside in our colony. Adoptions include quarterly email updates, complete with social media-worthy photos and videos, and a visit to the DLC to meet your adopted infant. Visit our website to learn more or email us directly at adoptalemur@duke.edu if you're ready to make a contribution! 💙

📸: Sara Nicholson ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

2 days ago

Our team had an exciting final day at #IPS2025! 🤩

On the last day, two DLC team members presented their work: postdoc Rolande presented on our investigation of landscape restoration, and environmental educator Evrard highlighted how our program is changing lives 💚

DLC researcher Antonin gave a talk in a symposium on his project, "Nocturnal Lemur Density and Distribution in Relation to Tree-Fall Canopy Gaps in the Masoala-Makira Landscape, Northeast Madagascar," which is part of his master’s project. He also served as the chair for the "Conservation Prosimians" session and presented another project, "Anthropogenic and Natural Disturbance Effects on Lemur Density and Distribution in Andohahela National Park, Southeast Madagascar" 🌳

Dr Jorg Ganzhorn presented and received the Outstanding Primatologist Award, highlighting the challenges and causes for hope for lemur conservation. Long-time Duke Lemur Center supporter, Dr Ganzhorn has been leading lemur research and conservation for more than 30 years. It was an honor to see him speak! 🎖

Lemurs are great, but the challenges we face are global, so it is essential to learn how people are tackling obstacles in Vietnam, Amazonia, and Peru. Conservation leader Russ Mittermeier reminded us that lemurs are a global priority 🌍

As always, the IPS Congress closed with an amazing ceremony honoring many Madagascar conservation leaders and an awesome dance party. It was a great week and we look forward to seeing all our colleagues in China for #IPS2027! ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

3 days ago

This is a Licinius appreciation post 🥰

Ring-tailed lemur Licinius is currently the oldest free-ranging lemur at the Duke Lemur Center. At 32 years old, he's the second-oldest member of the colony, only eclipsed by 38-year-old Poe. Despite spending his entire life at the DLC, Licinius only became a father at age 28, when daughter Scout was born. He currently lives with breeding partner Sierra Mist and their one-year-old twins, Merry and Eowyn. While you might assume his faded gray tail is a sign of aging, this is actually a unique coloration to Licinius and not at all tied to his old age! 🤗

Licinius has been an active participant in the DLC's non-invasive research program for decades. He has voluntarily jumped and walked across various branches and platforms for locomotion studies, worn collars that measure his circadian rhythm, and even slept in a special room to help researchers learn about the importance of a good night's sleep! The DLC’s “do no harm” research program is proud to prioritize the wellbeing of each individual and the conservation of species while also facilitating scientific advancement. And, of course, participants like Licinius are rewarded with lots of tasty snacks 😋

Visit our website to learn more about our non-invasive research projects and how learning about lemurs can also help us learn about our own species! ✨

📸: Sara Nicholson ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

5 days ago

Yesterday at #IPS2025, the IPS honored Dr. Patricia Wright with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her commitment and fortitude in conservation and research 💚

An incredible and diverse group spoke on the impact Dr. Wright has had, with brilliant science and truly meaningful empowerment of Malagasy partners for conservation. Congratulations! In her speech, Dr. Wright recalled her beginning with Duke Lemur Center, which she called a cradle of wild lemur studies 🤗

We also want to extend our congratulations to Dr. Benjamin Andriamihaja, the Executive Director of MICET, Malagasy Institute pour la Conservation des Écosystèmes Tropicaux. MICET leads research and conservation as well as facilitating the work of hundreds of other scientists from around the world. The Lemur Center and MICET have been collaborators for many years, and we are so happy to see the great results they've shared at the Congress ✨

In the afternoon, our team attended a fascinating and inspiring workshop on empowering scientists from primate range countries to be research and conservation leaders. For centuries, science and policy have been dominated by high income countries, often at the expense of people from low-income settings. We need to flip the script by increasing equitable access to funding for locally led institutions, investing in regional research infrastructure, and increasing political power. Great initiative to all the organizers! 🌍 ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

5 days ago

Join our team of garden volunteers to help feed hungry lemurs! 🍊

➡️ lemur.duke.edu/volunteer

Are you looking to get your hands dirty and work outside? If so, we need you! The Duke Lemur Center is looking for volunteers to help care for the DLC vegetable gardens, pocket prairie, tropical garden, and landscaping around the grounds. The food forest and veggie garden provide a supplemental organic food source for our resident lemurs. The pocket prairie, tropical garden, and landscaping around the center serve as food for native pollinators, while also beautifying the spaces where our guests tour and learn about our conservation mission 🌱

Garden duties include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, composting, and occasional hard labor of working the soil. No gardening experience necessary but is always helpful. A 2 hour commitment per week is required. While at work in the gardens, volunteers are welcome to pause and watch the lemurs 🥰

Visit our website at lemur.duke.edu/volunteer to learn more and apply! ✨

📸: David Haring (blue-eyed black lemur Brady) ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

6 days ago

Another day of inspiring and innovative research on primates in Antananarivo #IPS2025 🇲🇬

Yesterday, we heard more cause for hope, as leading lemur experts shared 10+ years of progress since the launch of the Lemur Conservation Action Plan in 2013. Tremendous efforts by dozens of Malagasy and international actors resulted in significant forest and lemur conservation 🙌

DLC SAVA researchers Edgar Rabevao and Romeo Bezaralahy presented their work on the links between lemurs and people. Edgar showed how the Critically Endangered silky sifaka is found at high densities in a few pockets of remote rainforests. Romeo presented about people's knowledge of lemur food trees, which varied among communities and genders. Further, people depend on those same trees. This work is in collaboration with many colleagues and co-authors, especially Dr. Camille DeSisto (recent Duke NSOE graduate and current postdoc at Rice University) and Tristan Frappier-Brinton (Duke Biology PhD candidate, also presenting at IPS), who contributed greatly. HUGE thank you to Duke Bass Connections, re:wild, Phipps Conservatory, and generous Lemur Center supporters for funding this work! 💚 ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

6 days ago

Radama the Great explores his forest kingdom 🍃

We just can't get enough of Zoboomafoo's newest great-grandson! First-time parents Cassia and Eustace seem thrilled to be back out in their natural habitat enclosure, sharing the joys of the forest with their infant. Radama, now 3 1/2 months old, has grown increasingly more confident moving from tree to tree independently. Lemur infants learn what to eat by closely watching mom, sometimes even stealing food right out of her mouth! 😍

Did you know that the Duke Lemur Center's colony of Coquerel's sifakas is the most successful breeding colony in the world of this species or any species of sifaka? The DLC owns and manages every member of this critically endangered species in human care outside of Madagascar. We've been successful enough with our ex-situ conservation breeding program to send Coquerel's sifakas to other AZA-accredited institutions, and many of these facilities have seen their own breeding success based on DLC husbandry guidelines. Baby Radama is just one puzzle piece in creating a genetic safety net for this critically endangered species. If you visit a Coquerel's sifaka at a zoo near you, they're almost certainly related to the sifakas living in our colony! 💙

📸: Sara Sorraia ... See MoreSee Less

Duke Lemur Center

1 week ago

Day 2 of #IPS2025 was a big day for primate conservation! 💚

Inspiring workshops and roundtables covered community-based conservation across the globe 🌍, the importance of long-term conservation for safeguarding endangered primates 🗓️, and risks of diseases 🦠 for people and non-human primates. Congratulations on a much-deserved Margot Marsh Award to IPS President Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy! 👏

Critically, the evening was dedicated to assessing and updating the list of Top 25 Primates in Peril 🐒🦍

Good news: no primates have gone extinct in the last two years. Bad news: several species are on the brink of extinction. Among them are lemurs near and dear to our hearts at DLC: the black-and-white ruffed lemurs and the mongoose lemurs, among 6 others. These species are Critically Endangered and their inclusion is significant for our efforts in Madagascar and in Durham. Our ex-situ breeding program is dedicated to preserving these species in human care. Further, our previous reintroduction of ruffed lemurs from Durham to Madagascar in the early 90s may have contributed to increasing genetic diversity, according to research presented at this Congress 🔍

Once the new list is finalized, it is a powerful catalyst for raising awareness and funding, as well as actions to influence policy and practice. The Lemur Center will do our part to take action and prevent the extinction of these vulnerable species 🥺

📸: Sara Nicholson (photo of ruffed lemur Sputnik) ... See MoreSee Less