Lemurs: Ghosts of the Forest
Lemurs: Ghosts of the Forest
Photos courtesy of Duke Lemur Center
Duke University
Unique creatures native to the island of Madagascar, lemurs attract our attention with their mysterious nature and bright, round eyes. With a name derived from the Latin word for "ghost," lemurs are a link to ancient primates and are known as prosimians ("before monkeys").
With much of their Madagascar rainforest habitat lost to continuing deforestation, the future of lemurs is threatened. Conservation groups and researchers around the world are working to ensure their survival through captive breeding programs, species reintroduction, and observational research.
The foremost research, education and conservation facility in the US is the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina. The Lemur Center is the world's largest sanctuary for rare and endangered prosimian primates. Their 85-acre facility houses over 225 lemurs encompassing 15 different species and is funded by Duke University, The National Science Foundation, and individual donors.
Lemurs are a link to our evolutionary past, and lemur enthusiasts are working to ensure that they also have a bright future.
Visit the web site for more information, a FAQ, and more.
Votes:27
Comments: 0