The DLC was founded in 1966 by biologists John Buettner-Janusch and Peter Klopfer who were passionate about the study of mammals. 50 years later, the center now hosts the most diverse population of lemurs on Earth (outside their native home in Madagascar).
The now 100-acre center sits ~2 miles from Duke University’s main campus. The DLC is open to the public + has more than 35,000 visitors annually (pre-COVID). Its mission is education, research, and conservation.
- Education: The Duke Lemur Center aims to educate the public about lemurs + their unique history. The DLC offers a plethora of educational programs + camps that offer a deeper look into these fascinating mammals.
- Research: The Duke Lemur Center provides scientists with an opportunity for observational and experimental research under ecologically relevant + controlled settings. All research is non-invasive as the center strongly believes in a hands-off approach. Currently, the staff is focusing on hibernation and the gut microbiome.
- Conservation: Through the center’s Conservation Breeding Program, 3,285 lemurs have been born in Durham since 1966. Additionally, the DLC works closely with Madagascar to create opportunities for positive change + conservation. In fact, the DLC has a team on the ground in Madagascar dedicated to preserving the natural biodiversity of the land.
Lemurs are the world’s most endangered mammal. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that over 95% of lemurs face extinction in the next 20 years. The noninvasive research that DLC does — including the study of fossils and primate evolution — aims to prevent that.
Currently, there are over 100 different species of lemurs in the wild and The DLC is home to 14 of them — including the aye-aye, coquerel’s sifaka, blue-eyed black lemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur, and grey mouse lemur.
DYK: Jovian — the coquerel’s sifaka lemur who starred on the hit PBS series Zoboomafoo — lived at the Duke Lemur Center for 20 years. From 1999 to 2001, Jovian shot 65 episodes of Zoboomafoo at the Durham facility.
While the facility is currently closed to visitors due to COVID-19, there are still numerous ways you can support the Duke Lemur Center and get up close + personal with our furry friends — including virtual tours.
HotTip: Public school educators are able to access the virtual general tour for free to use in their classrooms. Email primate@duke.edu to receive a complimentary tour.
If you’re into running, you may be interested in the center’s upcoming Stay Away 5K on Apr. 24-25 — all proceeds will go towards lemur care and conservation. Click here to learn more and register for the event.
