Even at 13 years old, Gisela can still be a goofy girl! Gisela wears a radio tracking collar while the family free-ranges so that our husbandry staff can locate her and her boys if needed.

Gisela's Update: August 2025

Gisela and her family continue to enjoy summer free-ranging in their natural habitat enclosure! Thirteen-year-old Gisela and fifteen-year-old mate Rupert live with their two youngest sons: Silas, age three, and Arcadius, who will be celebrating his first birthday in October. Arcadius is fully independent, often exploring the forest on his own or with his big brother. Silas and Arcadius can often be spotted play wrestling together—sometimes Rupert joins in, too! Arcadius still maintains his baby privilege, allowing him to share food with dominant female Gisela, but he will soon learn that males must get out of the way to let the matriarch take whatever she wants.

Gisela and her family have been the highlight of many Walking with Lemurs tours, as guests watch them dangle upside down and snack on leaves. They also continue to be a popular choice for our researchers who are studying larger group interactions and behaviors in our natural habitat enclosures. Fans of the show Zoboomafoo are always thrilled to meet Gisela and find out that her dad, Jovian, played the titular character!

Arcadius is ready to attack! Gisela's youngest son makes a "play face" at his older brother. This type of play is common among siblings of many lemur species.

They grow up so fast! Arcadius looks less like an infant and more like a mature sifaka every day.

Meet the Adopted Infants!

This baby season, we have been offering an exciting new Adopt opportunity: the Baby's First Year: Ultimate Adoption Package! With a tax-deductible $20,000 donation (payable in two installments) to the DLC's Animal Care Fund or General Operations Fund, individuals, families, groups, or businesses can symbolically adopt an infant at the DLC!

So far, three of this year's infants have been symbolically adopted and named by donors. We're excited to introduce Mitsiky, Radama the Great, and Spock!

Mitsiky

Mitsiky is the only blue-eyed black lemur infant this year in human care, in any facility around the world. She was named by Cindy and Tom Cook, who collaborated with the DLC's husbandry technicians to choose a Malagasy name for her. "The name 'Mitsiky' means 'smiling' in Malagasy," Cindy explains. "Charlie and her infant are known amongst the staff for their upturned lips that make it look like they're smiling. She makes us smile, too, so the name was just perfect!"

Radama the Great

Radama the Great is a Coquerel's sifaka infant and the great-grandson of Jovian aka Zoboomafoo. He was named by the donor of the Anna Borruel Codina Center for Lemur Medicine and Research. Radama's mother, Cassia, was one of the first lemurs treated in the Borruel Center's ICU. Radama the Great is named after a Malagasy king!

Spock

Spock, the son of red ruffed lemurs Ruby and Buzz, was named by a group of volunteers who have dedicated over two thousand combined hours of service to the DLC. His name was inspired by the beloved Star Trek character, whose pointy ears bear a resemblance to this infant's unique white face markings. Passionate about the DLC's mission, these five women rallied together to donate to the care and conservation of these critically endangered primates, helping ensure that lemurs "live long and prosper!"

Want to name one of the remaining infants? Visit the Ultimate Adoption homepage to see all the benefits of this special package, or reply to this email (adoptalemur@duke.edu). We would love to hear from you!

Snack time for Gisela! She loves to eat the weeds and grass that grow near the entrance to her forest enclosure.

Gisela's long-time mate, Rupert, pulls off an impressive maneuver in the forest. Gisela and Rupert have lived together for over a decade and have had six offspring together!

Gisela loves to nap in the shade after an exciting summer day of jumping through the woods.

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Meet the Adopted Infants!

Mitsiky

Radama the Great

Spock

Want to name one of the remaining infants? Visit the Ultimate Adoption homepage to see all the benefits of this special package, or reply to this email (adoptalemur@duke.edu). We would love to hear from you!

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