NEW PROGRAMS Duke’s research | conservation | education Alternate Winter 2013 COME LEARN WITH US! Mascot: Inside the
The Duke Lemur Center is excited to introduce Mind of the two new programs to our Education Depart- Lemur ment. This winter and spring join us for our By Joel Bray, Duke student “Prosimians for Preschoolers” early childhood programs featuring two exciting parent- guided How do lemurs see the world? It’s a question I ask as classes, Lemur Play! and Junior Observers. an undergraduate researcher in a cognitive psychology These classes are designed for those little lemur lab at Duke, but I have also had the opportunity to do enthusiasts between the ages of three and five. so from a second, more unusual perspective. To find out more about the classes please visit our website (http://lemur.duke.edu/tours/ My first year at Duke, I tented with the Cameron prosimians-for-preschoolers/ ). If you would Crazies and, when given the opportunity, enthusiasti- like to ensure a space for your child, please call cally donned a Coquerel’s sifaka suit at the Duke vs. 919-401-7240. UNC basketball game. It was a hit and spawned a series of appearances on campus over the following We will also kick off our new summer camp years. The journey of that lemur culminated last spring, program this summer, July 15-19 and August when I was part of Tent #1 in Krzyzewskiville. With 5-9! This camp will be geared for upcoming 5th my group’s blessing, the lemur stood front and center to 8th graders. More details will be posted on for all of Cameron Indoor Stadium to see. An unusual our website, e-letter and social media accounts sight, even famed sportscaster Dick Vitale came over to over the next month. Please stay tuned! greet the Lemur. After the game, however, it was de- cided to let the sifaka end its career on a high note and lemur.duke.edu Lemur Play! pass into retirement.
January: 9, 16, 23, 30 ink. soy with and free chlorine processed paper, recycled pcw 100% using printed was publication This February: 6, 13, 20, 27 In its place came Maky, the Lemur Center’s new mas- Designs Hilliker by Design • Photographer & Editor Haring, David March: 6, 13, 20, 27 cot, a ring-tailed lemur. With a soft coat and bold stare, Duration: 9:00- 10:15 Maky has left giant lemur-sized footprints all over Cost: $25/per child (Chaperone free). campus. After making appearances at Duke’s activities Second child $20 fair and an early-season football game, I was asked by Location: Lemur Landing classroom/ a member of the team to support them at their match DLC campus against UNC. Duke wanted to go “bowling” and Class Size: 8 children needed Maky by their side.
Junior Explorers Arriving just past the half, I was ushered to the front of January: 11, 18, 25 the stands to repeated chants of “LEMUR!” In addi- February: 1, 8, 15, 22 tion to several appearances on the stadium’s jumbotron, March: 1 8, 15, 22, 29 Duke’s official Blue Devil mascot paid Maky a visit Duration: 11:00-12:15 to cheer the team to its stunning, last-minute victory Fee: $25/per child (Chaperone free). over the Tar Heels. In the post-game rush of the field, Second child $20 Maky was mobbed by enthusiastic, lemur-loving fans. Location: Lemur Landing classroom/ A father asked Maky to hold his newborn child for a DLC campus photo-op, and one student remarked that Maky should
Class Size: 8 children be the new school mascot.
Durham, NC 27705 NC Durham,
I wouldn’t want to step on another primate’s toes, but Road Erwin 3705
I’m honored by the request. The reception from stu- Center Lemur Duke dents and the Duke community has been wonderful, University Duke and I look forward to running around campus in my
red-ruffed final semester. Let’s Go Duke! 3911919-693600 VOLUNTEER
Mad sifaka SPOTLIGHT About By Niki Barnett Mouse Spencer Ziegler Lemurs How long you have been volunteering They are the world’s smallest may look awfully similar, but different species of at the Center? primates, weighing in at about Microcebus are signaling their species’ identity I’ve worked at the DLC since August, 2012 60 grams and easily fitting into to each other via smell and sound. Hence only the palm of your hand. They are by studying their genes can the tale of their long New What is your favorite part of the DLC? pretty much everywhere in Mada- isolation from each other be revealed. Through What I truly love about volunteering at the gascar, from the north to the south, these studies, there is so much to learn about the Beginnings Center is seeing the fascination on the faces from the east to the west, and they process of speciation, and the many ways that By Andrea Katz, Curator of our young guests as they meet the le- can be found in just about any species boundaries, once formed, are maintained murs. Their engagement and appreciation little scrubby patch of forest that and reinforced by ecology and behavior. It’s an As the year comes to an end, the staff at the DLC provides me with the energy to run the tour. you happen to stroll into. And if exciting time to be a lemur biologist with an ob- is thinking about new beginnings. New infants you happen to make that stroll at session for mouse lemurs! that is! The holiday season brings us sifaka What is your favorite lemur? night with headlamp on, you will infants, and the first, a healthy female, was born My favorite lemur has to be our Aye-aye, see their bright golden eyes twin- But the excitement goes far beyond the arcane just today (19 December) to a 5 year old female Endora. They’re just an evolutionary smor- kling in the bushes as they leap at obsessions of a lemur evolutionary biologist. named Rodelinda. This is Rodelinda’s third gasbord, with this captivating collection of at- lightning speed from tiny branch The biomedical community is also beginning to infant (not many five year old sifaka females tributes thrown together. Whenever I bring a to tiny branch. I have to tell you; sit up and take notice of mouse lemurs, and what can say that), and all have been females! Sifaka tour around, Endora is always hopping around it is one of my favorite sights. these animals can tell us about the aging process. infants are the bright lights of the DLC’s winter, with her surprising agility, drawing oohs and It turns out that mouse lemurs tend to develop and three more pregnant females (Drusilla, 19.5 ahhs from the visitors. I have been in a state of scientific plaques and tangles, just as humans do when in years old; Pia, 13.5 years old; and first time mom The Duke obsession about mouse lemurs the clutches of Alzheimer’s disease. Investiga- Irene, 5.5 years old) will give birth between now Lemur (Microcebus) for nearly 15 years tors from around the world, well aware that all and mid-February. With a total population of Kay Welser Center is so now. When I first began study- DLC research projects are strictly non-harmful, only 55 animals in captive breeding programs (all much fun. I ing lemurs as a group (we won’t are focusing their energies on developing non- owned by the DLC), each infant is a treasure. love seeing say how long ago that was!), the invasive techniques to study the aging process in How long you have been the lemurs scientific world thought that there mouse lemurs. At this point, the mouse lemur Most diurnal lemurs breed in the fall/winter, volunteering at the Center? jump and were only two species of mouse genome has been sequenced to a level of detail play. I think and give birth in the spring. Sifaka (Propithe- I have been volunteering at the DLC since lemurs: a grey form in western that nearly rivals that of the mouse and the hu- they are cus coquereli) are our only diurnals to breed in August 2012 Madagascar, and a reddish form extremely man. Over time, we will be watching our mouse the summer, and with a gestation of close to 5 in eastern Madagascar. Indeed, interesting. lemurs closely, monitoring their health and ½ months, birth season runs from mid-Dec to What do you do? they were thought to be so gen- their aging process, as we also characterize their mid-Feb. An infant weighs about 100 grams at I am a NCSU Zoology graduate who current- eral, and so widespread, that the genomes in fine detail. Ultimately, we hope to birth and clings tightly to its mother from the ly works at Southpoint Animal Hospital. I Duke School IUCN was ready to declare them identify those genes that correlate with healthy moment it’s born. Our technicians and veterinary am a volunteer tour guide and technician fifth grader non-threatened. A lot has changed aging versus those that signal a predisposition for staff monitor each sifaka infant very closely to assistant at the DLC since those days! With a process Alzheimer’s-like symptoms and other signs of be sure it’s thriving, observing nursing behavior beginning in 1994, and rapidly age-related pathologies. And the beauty of it is, and mother-infant interaction, and weighing the What is your favorite part of the DLC? gaining momentum since then, -Rebecca K. the mouse lemurs will never know a thing about infant nearly daily in the first week of life. I love everything about DLC! From the field biologists and geneticists have it. Ah, to be a DLC Microcebus: living out one’s tours, to the lemurs, to the people that work been working together to investi- days in the leisure and comfort of a mouse lemur As we await each new sifaka birth, we’re also here. I’ve learned so much in just a short time gate the species diversity of these condo, while pushing the frontiers of science. keeping close watch on all of our other breeding and feel like I learn a new petit lemurs. Today, the number Now that’s living! pairs- crowned lemurs, mongoose lemurs, blue- fact every day! of recognized mouse lemur species eyed black lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs, and ruffed has increased to a staggering 21!! lemurs. Some pairs have bred already and others What is your favorite lemur? And we haven’t seen the end of the will over the coming weeks. And then spring will I love all the lemurs, but I think my favorites road yet. When viewed through Director roll around, bringing a new set of births at the would have to be a toss up between the red human eyes, the various species DLC. To everything there is a season! ruffed lemurs and the coquerel sifakas!
Anne D. Yoder, PhD The more things Decades New Lemur change, the more they of DLC Center stay the same Database By Gregg Gunnell, Director of DFP Research under aye-aye By Peter Klopfer, Professor Emeritus The Division of Fossil Primates (DFP) at the Duke Lemur Center Duke Dept of Biology/DLC co-founder Development (DLC) is changing but you might not notice because we are also By Sarah Zehr, Data Manager staying much the same. Our major focus remains on the fossil In the 1960s I was studying the neuroen- fat-tailed dwarf record of primates, and what that record can tell us about how we docrine aspects of mother-infant relations Did you know…. humans and our closest relatives (other primates) came to be the in goats, when John Buettner Janusch way we are today. That commitment to specimen-based research persuaded me that lemurs would serve That ring-tailed lemurs most often female of any species at the DLC. the DLC, NESCent, and Duke will be a constant in our program but the players will change as better. In exchange for space at the Zo- will have a just a single infant at a She had 17 litters between 1976 Natural Sciences, we initiated a we shift from a singular focus on anthropoids (humans, apes, ology Department's Behavior Station, time, and about 27% of pregnancies and 1989 – for a grand total of 36 DLC Database Project with the monkeys) to a broader approach that will begin examining the which I directed, he offered to move his at the DLC result in twins. But once, offspring in all! goal of verifying and extracting fossil history of lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers in more detail. lemur colony from Yale and share it with in 1983, a ring-tailed lemur female data from various source files me. Together, we obtained funding from named Sappho had triplets! The last time lemurs were import- and consolidating it into a single There are many reasons for the shift in strategy, some of it eco- NSF, NIH and NIMH for a primate ed to the DLC from Madagascar database from which we can nomic, some of it political, some of it pragmatic as we devise a facility that would serve our research That adult sifakas at the DLC weigh was in 1993. We still have 12 wild- quickly access and analyze the new agenda for the DFP. In the past the DFP has been deeply interests. I needed cornerless enclosures around 4000g (8.8 lb) on average, caught lemurs currently living in information. We have made great involved in fieldwork in Egypt and Madagascar – while we will for my animals and as local builders could but that in September of 1991, an our colony, and their average age is progress so far, and are already continue some of these efforts, we will shift our main fieldwork not manage round buildings, our archi- adult female named Sabina reached over 28 years! not only able to recover all kinds focus from Africa to North America. Many of you may not know tect, Henry Mayfield designed the present an all time high of over 10 kg (22 of fascinating facts about animals this, but between 65 and 45 million years ago, North America was hexagons (these are the aye aye rooms still lb)– more than twice the size of a Detailed records have been kept in our colony like the ones listed the epicenter of the primate world. During the early and middle used today). As a sidenote, John's original normal sifaka! Needless to say, she on each animal in the DLC colony above, but we can assess animal Eocene (55 to 45 million years ago), the American West was home meeting with me was occasioned by the went on a diet. since it was established in 1966; growth and development, make to one of the largest and most diverse assemblages of primates civil rights movement of those days, for we have housed over 4100 animals better medical and colony man- known anywhere on the planet. Most of these primates would details of which I refer you to my little That a 252g (8.9 oz) fat-tailed dwarf here throughout our history, and agement decisions, and support probably look familiar to you if you were to see them in the trees book, "Politics and People of Ethology". lemur named Jonas is the oldest of the sheer volume of data we have countless research projects using around you today – in fact a large number of them would look his species on record? He’s still go- accumulated is mind-boggling! this long-term data. But even very much like the lemurs you see when you visit the DLC. One After John left Duke (a sad tale - not one ing strong at 27.5 years of age! But as you can imagine, records after a year of hard work, we of the questions we are very interested in answering is whether to be told here), I decided to abandon any have been kept in a variety of have really only uncovered the or not these North American primates from 50 million years ago pretense of being able to manage the facil- That the average weight of a new formats depending on the tech- tip of the data iceberg - there is actually are ancestors of today’s lemurs, or whether they simply ity, and the university transformed it into born aye-aye is 105g (3.7 oz), but nology available at the time. So so much more to be done! New look like living species but are much more distantly related. a center and accepted responsibility for Styx, a female born at the DLC in very old records are still in paper grant funding from the National its administration. My present interests 2010, weighed only 72g (2.5 oz) at format, many hand-written, with Science Foundation will support We are partnering with Duke’s Department of Evolutionary resulted from a bike ride with researcher birth, making her the smallest surviv- a move to computerized text files, continuation of the data project Anthropology on a project that will provide new information Andrew Krystal. He was describing the ing aye-aye infant ever born here. spreadsheets, and simple databases for the next two years so we can to assess the relationships between North American Eocene importance of sleep for survival when I Around the clock care from the DLC as technology progressed (yes, the expand the growing database and primates like Notharctus and Smilodectes with living lemurs. asked how that accorded with the absence animal care and veterinary staff after lemurs have been here at Duke implement new methods for bet- One unique aspect of living lemurs is the presence of a groom- of sleep during hibernation. Just the week her birth got her through those first longer than computers!). Because ter documentation of even more ing claw on the 2nd toe of the foot – we are devising a strategy earlier, one of my "grandstudents" had critical weeks, and she is now thriv- of the patchwork of formats in animal details. Having this infor- to maximize our potential to find complete skeletons of Eocene documented deep and continuous torpor ing and is exactly the right size for a which the data are kept, it can be mation at our fingertips will sup- primates in Wyoming to see if they too possess this grooming in a lemur, and I assumed this meant sleep 2.25 year old aye-aye at 2280g (5 lb). difficult to extract and analyze all port the research, conservation, claw. If they do, it would be a strong piece of evidence to link deprivation for months at a time could be of the information needed to an- and education aims of the DLC, them with living lemurs. sustained. We agreed this would be worth That we had 48 infants born in 2012, swer questions about animal health as well as help to ensure that looking into, and our project (the neuro- the most in a single year since 1996! or husbandry without searching we are able to keep the lemurs The DFP will always be at the forefront of primate research- physiology of sleep and torpor in the fat- But the year with the highest number through several different files from healthy, happy, and reproduc- thanks to the many faculty, staff and students that actively visit, tailed dwarf lemur) was born. Together of infants born was 1984 – with a a variety of sources – a process ing, thus maintaining this unique use and help to grow our collections.While our main focus is with Cathy Williams, Bobby Schopler, whopping 252 new arrivals! that can be very time consuming resource long into the future. changing to North America, we will not forget our roots in the Kathrin Dausman, Susanne Kobbe, Anne and still not always yield complete rest of the world as Madagascar, Egypt and SE Asia will con- Yoder, Sheena Faherty, and others we are That a fat-tailed dwarf lemur named results. So at the beginning of tinue to play important roles in our overall research plan. We are finding this to be an exciting adventure. Dias had more infants than any other 2012, with funding support from excited about the future direction of research here at the DFP – wherever it ultimately goes it will be worth the ride! Mouse lemur management! It’s easy, right?
Best Job Ever? aye-aye By Bevan Clark, Primate Technician II My freshman Do you need a population of tiny year with the endangered primates managed? Do you Lemurs ring-tailed need to know who’s related to whom in that By Katie Beacham, Duke undergrad population? Well, no need to visit Maury Povich because I am the person you seek! mouse lemur Lemurs, aye-ayes, and lorises… I guess ber, I tackled the diet boards, One of my favorite memories you wouldn’t classify my job as ordinary. learned how to use the computer occurred when I was observing Earlier this year I ventured away from the Most keepers are not used to staying in As a freshman at Duke I have what I systems, and discovered that Angelique. I was in the corner of Lemur Center to attend a course on Popu- one spot for 12+ seconds much less 12 + consider to be the best job ever. Choos- lemurs are some smelly critters.! the almost all dark room when lation Management in Wheeling WV. Twice I really love hours! However, the knowledge I gained ing a university is a decision that impacts Through it all I had the guid- she scurried right up to me and a year the AZA (Association of Zoos & the Lemur in this course was extremely valuable, and the rest of your life. No pressure, right? ance and mentorship of Meg dropped down towards my clip- Center Aquariums) offers professional develop- was instantly incorporated on my return Luckily for me I had some help from my and Erin. They answered all of board. Before I knew it she had because you ment classes for those who work at zoos or to the Lemur Center, into the develop- furry friends. As soon as my college ac- my questions and trusted me swung herself towards me and always learn in zoo related fields. Set on the grounds of ment of our mouse lemur breeding plans ceptance rolled in I hopped on the phone completely. I was assigned six had a firm grip on the board. If something. lovely Oglebay resort, courses are offered for 2013. with the Duke Lemur Center (DLC). I of the DLC lemurs for training I had learned anything it was to It’s very on topics such as studbook management, interesting wanted to know how soon I could get sessions: brown lemurs Fiery never get into a match of tug- enhancement of enrichment for captive In early December Colony Curator An- because involved with the lemurs. To be honest, I and Frigga, red-bellied lemurs of-war with an aye-aye. I relin- animal populations, and population man- whenever we drea Katz, Senior Technician Britt Keith, wasn’t expecting much to come from my Hopi, Cheyenne, Hannibal, and quished the board and quickly agement through the analysis of genetic go there, we and I hashed out who gets the call to “the phone calls. Boy was I wrong! Everyone a male blue-eyed black lemur called Erin for help. Luckily, and demographic data. Previously, I had do something big leagues” for breeding in March, the I talked to was welcoming, friendly, and Olivier. Every shift I come in she rescued the clipboard and attended an AZA course to learn how to be very unique. start of mouse lemur breeding season. encouraging. They explained to me what and perform five minute train- Angelique was unharmed. an effective Studbook keeper. Studbooks My favorite During our session we discussed issues the DLC does, how I could support them, ing sessions with each of them Working at the DLC is truly are wonderful resources for historical and part was when such as; how closely related are animals, and who I should contact. I knew right and then track their progress in a life-changing experience. It’s we got to current captive population data, and they who is overrepresented in the population, then that I had found a home base. If I a computer system. Training is hard to put into words how study what can assist in better management of those are certain animals too old or too young had any chance of meeting some lemurs, it one of my favorite aspects of my much I have learned in my few the lemurs populations. As the North American to breed, how aggressive were certain were doing was Duke for me. job. There is nothing like being short months here. The support regional studbook keeper for dwarf and breeding groups last year, are we still aim- that close to a lemur. I thought I that the DLC staff has given and how often mouse lemurs I am very familiar with this ing for multiple male and multiple female they did it. We One of the first stops I made in Durham would be scared going into their me is unreal. They have been “who’s who” of small nocturnal primates. breeding groups, etc? There are many were like was to the DLC. Excitement coursed environment but I have learned patient, generous, supportive, Almost all of the North American popula- scientists variables to consider! We also must take through me along with some pre-job that there is a mutual trust and and trusting of me around their tion recognized by the AZA is located at doing into account the amount of observation interview nerves. I couldn’t help but look relationship between trainer priceless animals. There are very the Duke Lemur Center! How convenient! research. time needed to accurately record breed- around at awe and think, “Wow, at such and animal. I started by simply few places that would take in an ing pairs (so we don’t need Mr. Povich’s an amazing place, is there a spot for me?” walking up to their habitat and 18 year old and allow them to In order to properly and responsibly grow paternity seeking assistance), safety of the Duke School The day finally arrived and I headed off standing there, to gradually have the amount of control that our current population it was a must for animals, and behavior. fifth grader to my interview with Erin Ehmke and transitioning inside by myself. I have been trusted with. I have me to further my education. My main Meg Dye. To say I was nervous would be I discovered that each lemur more stories and experiences objective for attending the population Our goal for 2013 is to maintain our a complete understatement but I mus- had their own personalities and from the DLC than I could ever management course was to be able to make population size of 50 animals and wait un- tered up all my courage and decided to strengths. All I had to do was imagine and it’s only the begin- informed breeding recommendations and -Caroline L. til we have more room here at the center throw caution to the wind and just be show them that I was trustwor- ning. I will always remember recommend possible transfers to other to expand again [In order to keep DLC me. Thanks be to all lemurs, I was chosen thy and they would open them- the bright blue morning when I institutions for our growing population population levels constant , and yet still to be an Animal Behavior work study selves up to me. was walking around the DLC at of grey mouse lemurs and fat-tailed dwarf have a breeding program, we are starting student! Erin and Meg informed me that the start of my shift and the free lemurs. Although some folks thought I was to loan mouse lemurs to qualified AZA I would be helping to care for the lemurs, Another of my favorite parts of ranging lemurs began to call. lolling away at a posh resort, I was actually institutions, such as the Bronx Zoo]. So conduct training sessions, observe aye-aye my job is animal observations. Screeching and howling per- laboring through classes for 12-14 gruel- while I stare at the calendar in anticipation as they transitioned to new habitats, and I head into the nocturnal rooms meated all around me, soaring ing hours a day. The course was a series of mouse lemur “March madness,” I’ll collect behavioral data. with a pen, clipboard, watch, through the forest. I couldn’t of lectures, class work and presentations. keep myself busy getting my Barry White and red head-light to watch the help as a huge smile spread For those folks with desk jobs this may CDs out of storage and hoping that my My first few weeks of work went by like aye-aye. Every two minutes I across my face and I realized- not seem too torturous but for a roomful match making skills will once again work a blur. I was introduced to more pros- record their behavior and write this is exactly where I belong! of animal keepers this can be pretty tough. some mouse lemur magic! imians and people than I could remem- short notes about their activity.
Going to the Madagascar new digital Lemur Center Rosewood is an amazing radiograph e xperience. I Symposium really enjoyed and Concert machine observing By David Haring: at Duke Registrar/photographer their behavior By Charlie Welch, Conservation Coordinator On a recent January morning, Alphard, a 23.7 Duke School fifth grader year old male ruffed lemur made DLC history. On December 3rd, an interdisciplinary upon seeing what the rosewood For the previous several very warm days he had symposium addressing the ongoing trade is doing to the region, has been cavorting with his family in 14 acres of problem of illegal cutting and trade become an activist against the il- NHE4 forest, feeding on tree buds and climb-
of Madagascar rosewood and ebony aye-aye legal activities. In October of 2011 ing the tallest trees. But on the morning of the . was held on Duke’s East Campus. The she teamed up with other Malagasy 12th, Alphard was found in his heated shelter symposium was a collaboration between -Joey S. musicians to put on a concert near laying on his side totally unresponsive to his the Duke Kenan Institute for Ethics and the town of Antalaha, in the SAVA, keeper, Fallon Owens, only moving when she the DLC, with Professor Lou Brown in protest of the rosewood cutting got close enough to him to touch him, at which of Kenan taking the lead. Lou also has and traffic. Razia’s concert at Duke point he jumped, but just a bit. Fallon called New Staff and a personal interest in Madagascar as she included songs about the illegal for aid, and Alphard was rushed to the exam too has experience in the SAVA region, logging, and other environmen- room where Dr Bobby Schopler got to work. staff Changes doing social and community work. The tal problems in Madagascar, but By Greg Dye primary objective of the symposium was above all was a poignant and Alphard’s symptoms (he was using neither to stimulate a discussion of not only the rocking end to a long day of his right arm nor leg), and the fact that he had Niki Barnett is now the Lemur Center’s Development illegal removal of precious woods, but stimulating discussions! been free ranging through tall trees in the for- Officer & Education Program Manager. As our programs also of human resource use in general, est, meant that he might have had a fall, and continue to grow, so does our need for a more diversified This learning from the diverse perspectives of conser- The combined events were an be suffering from fractures or internal bleed- funding base: Niki has proven she the right person to lead experience is vation, socio-anthropology, and regula- excellent opportunity for us to ing. Fortunately, the DLC had just installed a both of these critical programs. very intrigu- tion. Panel members representing the expose Madagascar, along with its new digital radiograph machine, and Alphard ing because I different perspectives were invited from serious environmental problems, to became its’ first patient. Dr Schopler has been Chris Smith’s title has changed to Education Specialist. used to go to around the US. The discussions during the Lemur Cen- the wider university community. It delighted with the detail of the digital x-rays, Chris will be Niki’s right hand person in keeping our tour the three different panels throughout the ter when I was was also an opportunity to dem- and the quickness and ease in using the new and education programs running smoothly and efficiently. day were quite thought provoking and young. Now, onstrate DLC’s commitment to machine. Unlike our old film based X-ray ma- at times intense – there was not always when I visit I working towards solutions. DLC chine, the new one requires no half hour warm Janice Kalin joins the DLC team as a Development Asso- agreement, but then we did not expect always learn is sometimes viewed as being sin- up, nor does it require constant monitoring and ciate. She will be working with Niki to handle the day to there to be! something new gularly focused on lemurs, when periodic changing of chemicals. day tasks of managing the Center’s Development Program, about the le- in fact our objectives are much and implementing new initiatives to grow our donor base. murs. For ex- Another objective of the symposium broader and more diverse. This ability to almost instantaneously x-ray Janice has worked as a volunteer tour guide at the Center ample, the last was to provide Lou’s freshman focus and get a diagnosis for lemurs who might have for over a year. time we were class in ethics the experience of grap- The symposium and Razia Said suffered the effects of a fall, or from any num- there I learned pling with extremely complicated concert were funded by various ber of other conditions, is revolutionary for the Robin Smith joins the DLC team as our part time Com- how lemurs real-life ethical issues, which are dif- small grants and support from both Center, and will in the future save lemur lives munications Specialist. Her focus will be to educate the were really ficult to resolve. The class participated smart and some- DLC and the Kenan Institute, but and help the Veterinarians maintain their sanity. scientific community and the general public about all the actively in the symposium by assisting times lemurs re- the primary grant which allowed In Alphard’s case, the digital x-rays provided incredible research going on at the Lemur Center, as well with organization and logistics, as well member things us to host the two events was a beautiful images of his innards, but no obvious as our work in Madagascar. If you have a publication, in as presenting and participating in the better than us! grant from the new Duke Africa abnormalities were detected. So the Vets could any stage of development, related to a Duke Lemur Center different panel discussions. After the Lemurs are also Initiative. The Africa Initiative is cross off trauma as a possible cause of his con- project, Robin
-Max W. Unexpected trip of a lifetime: Training for
Part I Diademed sifaka Research at the DLC By David Haring: By Meg Dye, Animal Behavior and Enrichment Coordinator Registrar/photographer
The Duke Lemur Center (DLC) has over 40 years of experi- One afternoon late last September, DLC a massive amount of photographic of hearing indri!). Then it was got up close and personal sight- ence with all aspects of non-invasive lemur research including Conservation Coordinator Charlie Welch equipment is assembled in one (large!) on to Charlie’s former work- ings of the silky sifakas, one of the physiology, genetics, behavior and cognition. Since the Center came into my office with a serious look area. Then, there follows several place, the lovely Zoo Ivoloina most endangered of the lemurs, in opened in 1966, more than 1,200 articles involving DLC re- on his face. He closed the door, sat down, agonizing days or weeks of gradual near Tamatave (Madagacar’s one of the most spectacular set- search have been published in scientific journals. With such a and then proceeded to say he needed to weeding out of equipment deemed not largest port) on the east coast. tings in Madagascar. diverse and rich history, is there room to refine and expand on talk to me about something important. If absolutely essential, so that the final The next day we hopped a plane the type of research that is done at the Center? YES! he was my boss, these actions might have bare bones selection of gear can actu- to the city of Sambava, spec- For me, this was the trip of a life- been cause for alarm. But since I have ally be carried onto a plane by one tacularly located on the Indian time! And one of the best things Utilizing our animal training program, select animals have been always had a convivial relationship with person, in reasonably good health, Ocean. There we joined Erik about it was that it provided the conditioned to participate in research prior to data collection. Charlie, and since I knew he was about to without requiring the services of a Patel for a grueling five hour opportunity to see, in their natural By incorporating research behaviors into daily training ses- lead a Duke Alumni group tour to Mada- small army of porters. And believe drive the following day to the habitat, all three species of sifaka sions, the animals have a clear understanding of the task that gascar, my response was the opposite: my me; all this agonizing generally takes a Loky Manambato Protected (Coquerel’s, golden-crowned and will be used for data collection. Similar to humans, the lemurs pulse rate immediately shot up, not from lot longer than a week! Area near the town of Daraina diademed) which I have worked are calmer when they understand what is expected of them. In dread, but from excitement! in northeastern Madagascar, with during my 30 some years at addition, conditioning and practice prior to data collection has But I made it, and a little over a week the only place where one can the Lemur Center (either as a care- refined the process by reducing the amount of time a researcher That’s because the second Charlie sat later, I was standing on the balcony see the critically endangered taker, studbook keeper or popu- needs to collect accurate data. down with that serious demeanor, I had of the Hotel Colbert, one of Anta- golden-crowned sifaka. The lation manager). We saw a great an insane notion that his visit had some- nanarivo’s (AKA Tana, Madagascar’s next night we were back in variety of other lemurs on our Duke graduate student Michael Granatosky is studying the thing to do with his upcoming Alumni capital) better establishments, looking Sambava where we caught a journey (red-fronted, crowned, anatomical adaptations required to navigate through a complex trip. Specifically, that he just might be over the beautiful, quiet city (we had flight the following morning to sanford’s, indri, bamboo, woolly environment, especially when faced with obstacles such as gaps here to inform me that someone from the just arrived at 3am) and drinking a Diego Suarez in the northern lemurs, and mouse lemurs), but between branches or when having to adopt an inverted (upside- Lemur Center was getting the opportu- celebratory Three Horses beer from tip of Madagascar. From Diego, only those three species of sifaka, down) posture to successfully locomote from point A to B. nity to go to Madagascar! Sure enough, the room’s minibar (this was before I we made day trips to the Mon- making it feel almost like this trip Prior to data collection, we started introducing two red-ruffed Charlie proceeded to tell me that a slot in learned that mini bar purchases were tagne d’ Ambre National Park had in some fashion been tailor lemurs and two black-and-white ruffed lemurs to a horizontal the trip had been reserved and paid for in not included in the trip price!). It still and Ankarana National Park made for me. Since, over the pole similar to the one the lemurs would travel on during data full, but a family emergency had forced had not quite sunk in: I was actually (where we saw fantastic tsingy years, many visitors, volunteers collection. We then conditioned the animals to travel under the a last minute cancellation. However, the in Madagascar! And just two days rock formations and abundant and Lemur Center staff have also pole from one end to the other without stopping. Once the le- gentleman who had purchased the trip later, the Duke Alumni tour group crowned lemurs). Then back had the privilege to see or take care murs were reliably achieving this task, the training sessions were was kind enough to allow his vacancy to (myself, Charlie, a local guide, Duke to Tana and, a day later, on to of golden-crowned sifaka, dia- transferred to the research room. After a few practice trials to be filled by someone at the Center. Then, physicians and friends of the Le- the splendid Anjajavy resort/ demed sifaka or coquerel’s sifaka, adjust to the new environment, the lemurs were quickly travel- unbelievably, Charlie asked me if I was mur Center David Howell and Sara reserve, on the northwest coast. I thought it might be interesting in ling as they had been trained and data was collected! interested in going! In shock, I sputtered Miller, and Megan Elwing, a Lemur Anjajavy is only accessible by subsequent editions of the news- that I was thrilled, but would have to Center volunteer) were officially off private plane and is located in letter, or the Lemur Center blog, The training program is also opening more opportunities for think about it and get back with him the on a 2.5 week long whirlwind tour the middle of an unspoiled dry to focus more closely on the time research in which the answer must come from the animal them- next day. of no less than seven different lemur forest reserve containing abun- we spent during our travels with selves. Gillian Moritz, a graduate student from Dartmouth reserves and parks covering a wide dant populations of red-fronted these three species, in the reserves College, is studying aye-aye color discrimination ability in low Of course I accepted (who would turn geographic area in the northern half lemurs and, most importantly which shelter them. So, stay tuned levels of light. Given the choice between two checker board down a trip to Madagascar!), and only of the country. to me, Coquerel’s sifaka. After for more detailed snapshots of si- samples, one blue and one grey, the animals were trained to hesitated because the departure date was three wonderful, restful days at faka life in the wilds of Madagascar! choose the blue card (the “correct” card). Initial training was in a mere ten days, leaving me (since in First we visited Analamazaotra Spe- Anjajavy it was time for me to done in white light when the aye aye’s color discrimination the meantime I had to attend a conference cial Reserve and the nearby Mantadia head home, but Charlie, Sara, ability should have been most accurate. During data collection, in Florida) less than a week to get ready! National Park (both near the town of David and Megan, under the lights were lowered to more closely mimic their natural noctur- If you have never experienced a photog- Andasibe, about 90 miles east of the guidance of Erik Patel, got to nal conditions, and their ability to distinguish between the cards rapher preparing for a once in a lifetime capital city) where we had the privi- spend an unforgettable few days (randomly assigned left or right) was tested. With the aye-aye’s trip to an exotic locale, here’s how it goes: lege to see diademed sifaka and indri in Marojejy National Park (not long fingers, it was easy to see which card they chose. there is the initial frenzied period, where (and the even more awesome privilege far from Sambava), where they Coquerel’s sifaka