New Tours at Duke Lemur Center

The Visitors' Center at Duke Lemur Center has been under renovation. Soon the doors will reopen to a fresh new look.

Duke Lemur Center will also be offering new tours - by appointment - as always.



Lemurs Live!

An ideal tour for families and friends, learn about the similarities and differences between lemur species and what makes lemurs some of the most fascinating animals in the world.

Tour length: 60 Minutes
Fees
Adults - $10.00
Children - (3-12) $7.00



Walking with Lemurs
*New in 2010*

Enter the world of the lemur as your guide escorts you into a Natural Habitat Enclosure where there are no barriers between you and the animals. A favorite tour among professional photographers; be sure to bring your camera as this experience offers views of the animals unlike any other.
Tour length: 60 Minutes
Fees
$95.00 per participant
Age Requirement: 10 years through Adult
Maximum group size – Eight Participants




Learning with Lemurs
*New in 2010*

Join us for a lemur training and research session to see how we teach the animals behaviors that allow us to give them the very best of care. Guests on this exclusive tour participate in the session and assist animal care staff as they demonstrate the use of positive reinforcement to care for the animals.

Tour Length: 60 Minutes
Fees
$150.00 per participant
Age Requirement: 13 years through Adult
Maximum group size – Two Participants

Tours are available by appointment

Call (919) 489-3364 Ext. 0 to reserve your space!

Duke Lemur Center volunteers share their love for lemurs with the public

Giving tours comes naturally to George Kolasa. For 24 years he worked in the Duke University Accounting Department, and every time he had new employees join his staff, he would give them a tour of Duke. George enjoyed sharing Duke’s history and interesting tidbits of information about the institution. He would always end with the Lemur Center. He said, “Duke is so big. I didn’t want people to miss this unique opportunity.”

Now George is semi-retired – and as busy as ever. He approaches his volunteer efforts with the same eye for detail and willingness to share that he did during his days in Duke Accounting. Once George started serving as a docent at the Lemur Center, he put together a massive binder of facts and anecdotes about Madagascar and about lemurs and other prosimian primates. He likes to be able to target his audience and adapt his presentation to the group in front of him. George says, “The kids want to see the lemurs. Adults want more detail. I like to be able to pick and choose what will interest the group I’m with.” Judging from the faces of the groups George leads, he does that very well!

Winter at Duke Lemur Center

It snowed lightly this morning at the Duke Lemur Center. Fortunately, the lemurs are all safely tucked in their winter enclosures. The heaters are blowing warm air, and the Primate Technicians are busily feeding, caring for, and re-arranging the habitats to keep the lemurs' lives enriched during this time of year that allows less freedom.

Tours are still available, and while it may be somewhat more challenging for us humans (We look at the lemurs through windows in their enclosures, and wee ones will need to be lifted up to get a better look.) the lemurs see us as enrichment when we walk by and peek in. Of course, I don't know what goes on in lemur hearts and minds, but they appear to enjoy having us walk by. I wonder if they think, "Hmmm, she smells good," or "He looks like he might have a raisin to share. I'll try to lure that human over this way." I know there is something about the way they make eye contact, the way they pay attention to each other and to us, the expressiveness of those large eyes and gentle faces that draws us humans in and makes us want to do all we can to know more about these handsome animals and do all we can to protect them.

By the way, all the incredible pictures on this blog are taken by David Haring, our Duke Lemur Center Photographer and Registrar. Here is a link to more of David's work . Photos by David Haring