IN THIS ISSUE: #BabyWeek2020, 2020 gala plans, new lemur species discovered, free online educational series, COVID-19 in Madagascar

I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones healthy. I am pleased to report that all of the staff and animals at the Duke Lemur Center remain COVID-free.

As you will see from the information below, the pandemic has neither slowed our work nor softened our mission. Despite unprecedented changes to our operations, life goes on at the Lemur Center—quite literally. This spring and summer, we've welcomed infants from four species through our conservation breeding program, with more announcements to come (stay tuned!). I will be forever indebted to our incredible team of employees and volunteers who have been so selfless in adjusting their personal lives to ensure that all of the animals are well cared for; that our conservation programs continue moving forward; that our academic and research comittments are upheld; and that we engage and educate the public in new ways, in spite of the closure of the tour program. 

Despite the challenges created by the pandemic, we are all encouraged by the support and good wishes we've received from our loyal supporters. Please know how grateful we are for your continued support. Together, we will never know a world without lemurs.

Sincerely,
Greg Dye, Executive Director of the Duke Lemur Center

You won’t want to miss our online gala on October 9, so mark your calendar now! Funds raised will offset more than $800,000 in projected lost revenues due to the temporary closure of the center. More information is coming soon!

Calling all DLC friends: We need your help to make the DLC’s first-ever online auction a success! We'd love to offer some interesting and compelling packages for bid, including social distancing-friendly virtual/online experiences that would appeal to an international audience. 
 
Ideas include: Online experiences like a cooking class via Zoom, or a private reading by a respected author; vacation home or timeshare use for a week; jewelry, artwork, and unique handcrafted items; discounts or gift cards; access to online resources; memberships; and more! Do you know an expert in their field or a celebrity who would be willing to donate his or her time via Zoom? If so, please share this with them!

Sponsors make events like our gala possible. We’d love for you or your organization to join our list of sponsors! For more information about sponsorship levels, click the button below.

Meet Ripley, a Critically Endangered black and white ruffed lemur born at the Duke Lemur Center! She's named after a crater on Pluto’s moon—which was named after Sigourney Weaver’s character in Alien—and she's brave and bold, just like her namesake.

Ripley is just one of six infants announced during #BabyWeek2020 in July. The DLC also welcomed Critically Endangered ruffed lemur triplets Sunshine, Orbit, and Sputnik; fat-tailed dwarf lemur Myna; and Endangered crowned lemur Siwa. Stay tuned for additional infant announcements very soon!

We're bringing the Duke Lemur Center to a screen near you — well, minus the unique lemur smells! Virtual tours are a wonderful way to learn about lemurs AND to support the DLC while our tour path is closed and we aren't able to rely on our usual tour income. New virtual tour options include a general tour; a virtual painting package featuring your favorite lemur species and paint colors; and an opportunity to schedule a private Zoom session with the lemur expert of your choice, as part of our new Ask an Expert series! 

Meet Jonah’s mouse lemur, Microcebus jonahi! Named after beloved Malagasy primatologist Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy, this tiny (60-gram) primate is the 108th recognized species of lemur.

Identification of the new species was a huge undertaking, involving years of field work followed by two years (plus) of genomic data production and analysis. Tip of the hat to DLC research scientist Dr. Marina Blanco and to the Yoder Lab at Duke University, headed by Dr. Anne Yoder, director of the Duke Lemur Center from 2006-2018! Hop on over to the DLC blog to learn more about this little lemur and its namesake.

While the DLC can’t reopen yet to the public due to COVID-19, we're excited to announce contact-free curbside pick-up for merchandise purchases.

Not local? Don't worry: We're launching online sales and shipping options within the next several weeks! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for updates!

The new conservation assessments for Madagascar’s 100+ lemur species have been released, and the updates are alarming. Many species - including the Coquerel's sifaka - have been uplisted, meaning that they are now considered more endangered than they previously were. Currently, about one third of lemur species are listed as Critically Endangered. 

Have you ever wondered HOW each species’ level of endangerment is assessed? Check out the DLC blog, where research scientists Drs. Marina Blanco and Lydia Greene explain the whys and hows of assessing a species' endangerment status, including what it was like to participate in the IUCN redlisting meetings in Madagascar.