Monday, February 23, 2009

Strange friends at Duke Lemur Center


Merlin the aye-aye and Pima the Pygmy slow loris share some grub.

Aye-aye are lemurs found only on Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa. Pygmy slow lorises are from Asia. So normally their paths don't cross, but at Duke Lemur Center they have turned out to be compatible room mates. Both are nocturnal. Both enjoy a tasty grub worm, and both are gently natured. So some companionable relationships have developed.

The aye-aye and lorises have been seen curled up together in the same nest box, sharing a meal, and exploring their environs together. The companionship is enrichment for both species, and aye-aye especially need enrichment as they are highly intelligent.

2 comments:

  1. This is fascinating. Do they interact? If so, how?

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  2. I have been to visit the lemurs at the Duke Primate Center three times and could go again another hundred. I'd love to travel to Madagascar and see them in the wild.

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