Duke Lemur Center

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Duke Lemur Center
DLC Logo.png
Duke Lemur Center
TypeCenter to promote research and understanding of prosimians
Location3705 Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27705
Created1966 [1]
Website lemur.duke.edu
A pygmy slow loris at the Duke Lemur Center Nycticebus pygmaeus 002.jpg
A pygmy slow loris at the Duke Lemur Center

The Duke Lemur Center is a non-invasive research center housing over 200 lemurs and bush babies across 13 species. It is located at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. According to the Center, it houses the most diverse population of lemurs outside of their native Madagascar. [1] [2]

Contents

The center is open to the public through tours, for which visitors must make an appointment. [3] [4]

History

In 1966, a prosimian colony of approximately 90 individuals, belonging to John Buettner-Janusch, was relocated from the Center for Prosimian Biology at Yale University to Duke University, creating the Duke Lemur Center (DLC). Through the 1970s, the colony grew to approximately 700 individuals representing 33 species. The current colony ranges between 200 and 250 animals, representing approximately 13 species. [5] Originally called the Duke University Primate Center (DUPC), the center's name was changed in April 2006 after a refocusing of the scientific goals and overall mission. Specimens from its scientific collection may thus be assigned the code DPC. [6] [7]

The mission of the Duke University Lemur Center is to "promote research and understanding of prosimians and their natural habitat as a means of advancing the frontiers of knowledge, to contribute to the educational development of future leaders in international scholarship and conservation and to enhance the human condition by stimulating intellectual growth and sustaining global biodiversity." [1]

According to Duke University, the Lemur Center, the only university-based facility in the world devoted to the study of strepsirrhine primates, "is home to the world's largest colony of endangered primates – including more than 200 lemurs, bush babies and lorises.... More than 85 percent of the center's inhabitants were born on site." [8]

In 1997, the center began a program to reintroduce black-and-white ruffed lemurs into the 5,500-acre (2,200 ha) Betampona Natural Reserve in Madagascar, the first return of any prosimian primates to the island nation. [9]

In 2009 and 2010, the center completed two new buildings for housing lemurs. The first building was completed in 2009 and is a 14,922-square-foot (1,386.3 m2) facility (including exterior animal runs) with 7,056 square feet (655.5 m2) of interior space. It can house up to 60 animals that can be released into the 69-acre (28 ha) Duke Forest if weather permits. The second building was completed in 2010 and is a 20,637-square-foot (1,917.2 m2) facility (including exterior animal runs) with 9,883 square feet (918.2 m2) of interior space. Together, they are able to house 140 lemurs. The buildings are designed with animal housing wings radiating from a central core which houses common resources like laboratories, exam rooms, food prep, bathrooms, and storage spaces. Both buildings are designed for low water and electricity use, and are LEED registered. The total cost of the two-buildings, designed by architects Lord, Aeck & Sargent of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was $10.4 million. [10]

Zoboomafoo

The children's television show Zoboomafoo , produced by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), was filmed at the Duke Lemur Center. [11] In order to film the show, a custom-made animal sound stage was constructed on the Duke University campus. [12] One of the show's hosts Martin Kratt, holds a degree in Zoology from Duke University. [13]

On 10 November 2014, Jovian the Coquerel's sifaka (best known for mainly portraying Zoboomafoo in the series of the same name), died of renal failure in his home at the Duke Lemur Center at the age of 20. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemuridae</span> Family of lemurs

Lemuridae is a family of strepsirrhine primates native to Madagascar and the Comoros. They are represented by the Lemuriformes in Madagascar with one of the highest concentration of the lemurs. One of five families commonly known as lemurs. These animals were once thought to be the evolutionary predecessors of monkeys and apes, but this is no longer considered correct. They are formally referred to as lemurids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prosimian</span> Obsolete primate taxon

Prosimians are a group of primates that includes all living and extinct strepsirrhines, as well as the haplorhine tarsiers and their extinct relatives, the omomyiforms, i.e. all primates excluding the simians. They are considered to have characteristics that are more "primitive" than those of simians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemur</span> Clade of primates endemic to the island of Madagascar

Lemurs are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea, divided into 8 families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 existing species. They are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Most existing lemurs are small, have a pointed snout, large eyes, and a long tail. They chiefly live in trees and are active at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ring-tailed lemur</span> A large lemur from Madagascar

The ring-tailed lemur is a medium- to larger-sized strepsirrhine (wet-nosed) primate and the most internationally recognized lemur species, owing to its long, black-and-white, ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families, and is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs, it is endemic to the island of Madagascar, where it is endangered. Known locally in Malagasy as maky or hira, it ranges from gallery forests to spiny scrub in the southern regions of the island. It is omnivorous, as well as the most adapted to living terrestrially of the extant lemurs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium</span> Zoo and aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, US

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In August 2014, TripAdvisor rated it the "world's best zoo", ahead of the San Diego Zoo and Loro Parque, based on an algorithmic assimilation of millions of reviews for 275 major zoos worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruffed lemur</span> Genus of primates from Madagascar

The ruffed lemurs of the genus Varecia are strepsirrhine primates and are the largest extant lemurs within the family Lemuridae. Like all living lemurs, they are found only on the island of Madagascar. Formerly considered to be a monotypic genus, two species are now recognized: the black-and-white ruffed lemur, with its three subspecies, and the red ruffed lemur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apenheul Primate Park</span> Ape and monkey focused zoo in Apeldoorn Netherlands

Apenheul Primate Park is a zoo in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. It specializes in apes and monkeys. It opened in 1971 and was the first zoo in the world where monkeys could walk around freely in the forest and between the visitors. It started with just a few species, now it displays more than 30 different primates, among them bonobo, gorilla and orangutan.

<i>Zoboomafoo</i> 1999 television series

Zoboomafoo is a live-action/animated children's television series that originally aired on PBS from January 25, 1999, to November 21, 2001. It was formerly shown in public television and was regularly shown on PBS Kids Sprout until 2012. A total of 65 episodes were aired. A creation of the Kratt Brothers, it features a four-(later five)-year-old talking lemur named Zoboomafoo, performed by Canadian puppeteer Gord Robertson, and mainly portrayed by a lemur named Jovian, along with a collection of returned animal guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red ruffed lemur</span> Species of mammal native to Madagascar

The red ruffed lemur is one of two species in the genus Varecia, the ruffed lemurs; the other is the black-and-white ruffed lemur. Like all lemurs, it is native to Madagascar. It occurs only in the rainforests of Masoala, in the northeast of the island. It is one of the largest primates of Madagascar with a body length of 53 cm, a tail length of 60 cm and a weight of 3.3–3.6 kg. Its soft, thick fur is red and black in color and sports a buff or cream colored spot at the nape, but a few are known to have a white or pink patch on the back of the limbs or digits and a ring on the base of the tail in a similar color.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group</span>

The Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group(MFG) is an international consortium of zoos and other conservation agencies which pool resources to help conserve animal species in Madagascar, through captive breeding programs, field research programs, training programs for rangers and wardens, and acquisition and protection of native habitat in Madagascar. It is a non-governmental organization working in conjunction with the Ministry of Water, Forests, and the Environment, Government of Madagascar. It is the organization behind the Save the Lemur campaign and is headquartered at the Saint Louis Zoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coquerel's sifaka</span> Diurnal, medium-sized lemur

Coquerel's sifaka is a diurnal, medium-sized lemur of the sifaka genus Propithecus. It is native to northwest Madagascar. Coquerel's sifaka was once considered to be a subspecies of Verreaux's sifaka, but was eventually granted full species level, and is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and hunting. In popular culture, it is known for being the species of the title character in the children's TV show Zoboomafoo. The species was named after French entomologist Charles Coquerel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-footed sportive lemur</span> Species of lemur

The white-footed sportive lemur, white-footed weasel lemur, or dry-bush weasel lemur is a species of lemur in the family Lepilemuridae, the sportive lemurs. It is similar in appearance to other lemurs in the family, with a grey back, a pale grey to white ventral side, and a light brown tail. It is a nocturnal animal that moves through the forest using a vertical clinging and leaping technique. It is endemic to Madagascar, inhabiting the southern subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture practices and charcoal production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mouse lemur</span> Genus of mammals

The mouse lemurs are nocturnal lemurs of the genus Microcebus. Like all lemurs, mouse lemurs are native to Madagascar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Richmond Zoo</span> Zoo in Chesterfield County, Virginia

Metro Richmond Zoo is a privately owned, for-profit zoo in Chesterfield County, Virginia. It is located in the central Virginia area, off of U.S. Route 360, about 20 miles southwest of Richmond. Metro Richmond Zoo encompasses about 70 acres (28 ha) and houses around 2,000 animals representing over 190 species, including reticulated giraffe, white rhinoceros, snow leopard, cheetah and Grant's zebra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemur Conservation Foundation</span>

The Lemur Conservation Foundation (LCF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the primates of Madagascar through managed breeding, scientific research, education, and art. It was founded in 1996 by Penelope Bodry-Sanders under the advisement of paleoanthropologist Ian Tattersall. The foundation's reserve in Myakka City, Florida, United States, is home to more than 50 lemurs of several different species, most of which are critically endangered or endangered, including ring-tailed lemurs, red ruffed lemurs, mongoose lemurs, collared brown lemurs, common brown lemurs and Sanford's lemurs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milne-Edwards's sifaka</span> Species of lemur

Milne-Edwards's sifaka, or Milne-Edwards's simpona, is a large arboreal, diurnal lemur endemic to the eastern coastal rainforest of Madagascar. Milne-Edwards's sifaka is characterized by a black body with a light-colored "saddle" on the lower part of its back. It is closely related to the diademed sifaka, and was until recently considered a subspecies of it. Like all sifakas, it is a primate in the family Indriidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-and-white ruffed lemur</span> Species of lemur

The black-and-white ruffed lemur is an endangered species of ruffed lemur, one of two which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities and reproductively isolated. It also has less coverage and protection in large national parks than the red ruffed lemur. Three subspecies of black-and-white ruffed lemur have been recognized since the red ruffed lemur was elevated to species status in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nest-building in primates</span>

Certain extant strepsirrhines and hominid apes build nests for both sleeping and raising families. Hominid apes build nests for sleeping at night, and in some species, for sleeping during the day. Nest-building by hominid apes is learned by infants watching the mother and others in the group, and is considered tool use rather than animal architecture. Neither Old World monkeys nor New World monkeys nest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jovian (lemur)</span> Coquerels sifaka who portrayed Zoboo in Zoboomafoo

Jovian was a Coquerel's sifaka lemur, best known for portraying the title character in the children's television series Zoboomafoo.

Christine M. Drea is a researcher and professor of biology and ecology with a specialty in animal social behavior and sexual differentiation at Duke University, both primarily on hyenas and primates. Drea's work is focused on female dominant species and the hormonal activity, reproductive development, and social interactions of these animals. She is currently the Earl D. McLean Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology within the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the director of graduate studies for the Duke University Ecology program.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About the Duke Lemur Center". lemur.duke.edu. Duke University. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  2. "History and mission". Duke Lemur Center. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  3. "Directions". lemur.duke.edu. Duke University. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  4. "Betampona Reserve and the Ruffed Lemur Re-stocking Program". lemur.duke.edu. Duke University. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  5. Mooney, Ashley (16 April 2014). "History of the Duke Lemur Center". The Chronicle. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  6. Stidham, Thomas A.; Smith, N. Adam (2015). "An ameghinornithid-like bird (Aves, Cariamae, Ameghinornithidae) from the early Oligocene of Egypt". Palaeo Electronica. doi:10.26879/470 . Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  7. "Craniodental Morphology and Systematics of a New Family of Hystricognathous Rodents (Gaudeamuridae) from the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene of Egypt". Morpho Bank. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  8. "Duke University at a Glance". Duke University . Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  9. "Tours". lemur.duke.edu. Duke University. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  10. "Duke Univ., Duke Lemur Center, Durham, N.C." Laboratory Design Newsletter. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  11. "Remembering a star: Jovian, lemur host of Zoboomafoo, passes away | Duke Lemur Center". lemur.duke.edu. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  12. "October 4, 1997: Jovian the Lemur, Star of". WFMY. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  13. "PBS - Zoboomafoo: Family Fun". pbskids.org. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  14. Deutsch, Lindsay. "Internet mourns loss of celebrity lemur Zoboomafoo". USA Today.

35°59′42″N78°57′37″W / 35.9949°N 78.9604°W / 35.9949; -78.9604