Just a stone’s throw from NC State is the world’s largest habitat of lemurs outside of Madagascar: the Duke Lemur Center.

The Center has been home to many lemurs, including Jovian, better known as Zoboomafoo, the star lemur of the popular PBS television show of the same name. Martin and Chris Kratt about wildlife. However, last year, Jovian passed away due to kidney failure at the age of 20.

Founded in 1996, the Duke Lemur Center is devoted to the research of lemurs, the world’s most endangered species found only on the island of Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa.

“The Duke Lemur Center really exists to educate the public on lemurs and how unique they are,” said Katie Jones, a senior studying biological sciences and a former intern at the Duke Lemur Center. 

In addition to educating the public on lemurs, the center also focuses its efforts on conservation.

“The conservation awareness of Madagascar is a really important part of the center,” said Cassandra Backman, a senior studying zoology who has worked with the Duke Lemur Center. 

Backman said the Lemur Center is working with the population of Madagascar to help assist in the management and conservation of the lemur species.

One of the main reasons that the lemur is endangered is the deforestation that occurs in Madagascar, according to Jones.

“Rare trees in Madagascar are being cut down and exported as a means of making a living,” Jones said. 

Backman said this slash-and-burn farming is one of the main causes of dwindling lemur populations.

However, the Duke Lemur Center is reaching out to the people of Madagascar to stop this problem. Jones said working with the population to help save the lemurs is done in various ways, such as the SAVA program. 

“The SAVA program works with locals in Madagascar and teaches them to make their livelihoods without tearing down trees,” Jones said. 

While the Duke Lemur Center concentrates on conservation effort, it also conducts many types of research on lemurs. 

“I’m involved with basic enrichment research that involves improving the welfare of lemurs, but there are a wide range of other research topics,” Backman said.

Backman said these other topics include physiological, behavioral, anatomical and ecological research concerning lemurs. 

This research is imperative, as lemurs are rare in captivity, according to Backman

“The research conducted at the lemur center, especially on lemur behavior, is important to learning more about the species because they are rare in captivity,” Jones said.

The information gathered through research at the Duke Lemur Center is used in various ways to educate the public and help the environment.

“Research conducted at the Lemur Center is used to improve the care of lemurs at the Lemur Center, as well as to see what role the lemur plays in the environment, Backman said.

Backman said since the lemur is unique only to Madagascar, its ecological role isn’t fully understood, but it may play an important part in Madagascar’s environment.

Additionally, the research on lemurs is used to improve knowledge of the human species.

“Lemurs are primates, and a lot of research is done on just how lemurs are related to humans,” Jones said. 

Jones said the Lemur Center is performing research on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia using the mouse lemur, which can develop conditions similar to these diseases in humans.

“Noninvasive research concerning Alzheimer’s and dementia on the mouse lemur shows more promise for answers to these diseases because the lemur is genetically similar to humans,” Jones said.

With the various types of research conducted at the Duke Lemur Center, more and more is being learned about the species every day. 

“The Duke Lemur Center sets an example for other zoos, and the public in general, that we need to work to conserve all species,” Backman said.

To learn more about the Duke Lemur Center or adopt a lemur, visit www.lemur.duke.edu.