From: jfurr@polaris.async.vt.edu (Joel Furr) Newsgroups: alt.fan.lemurs,rec.humor,sci.bio,talk.politics.animals,alt.folklore.urban,alt.fan.furry,talk.answers,rec.answers,sci.answers,alt.answers,news.answers Subject: alt.fan.lemurs: Frinkquently Asked Questions (Part 2 of 3, Duke University Primate Center) Summary: This posting contains useful information about the Duke University Primate Center. Date: 15 Feb 93 08:03:33 GMT Archive-name: lemur-faq/part2 Last-modified: 1993/02/15 Version: 1.0 Official USENET Alt.Fan.Lemurs Frinkquently Asked Questions Part 2 of 3 -- Duke University Primate Center This section of the FAQ deals with the Duke University Primate Center, the largest population of Lemurs outside their native island of Madagascar. ------------------------------ The Questions (1) What IS the Duke University Primate Center? (2) What programs take place at DUPC? What animals live there? (3) What other programs take place at DUPC? (4) Can I donate money to DUPC? (5) How do I go about arranging a tour of the Primate Center? (6) What is the mailing address of the Duke University Primate Center? ------------------------------ The Answers (1) What IS the Duke University Primate Center? The Duke University Primate Center (DUPC) began in 1958 as the Center for Prosimian Biology at Yale University. In 1966, the Yale colony was relocated to North Carolina and moved into its present buildings in 1968. From 1968 to 1973, Dr. John Buettner-Janusch served as Director and research was oriented toward behavior, genet- ics, and biochemistry. The colony grew to about 250 animals representing 10 species during this time. Several interim Directors served from 1973 to 1977. In 1977, Dr. Elwyn L. Simons became the Director. He expanded the scope of research to include conservation and the study of fossils. He also increased the educational opportunities and training for both undergraduate and graduate students. Under his leadership the colony grew to more than 700 animals representing 33 species and subspe- cies. Recent years have seen the overall size of the colony decrease to the current 540 animals representing 29 species and subspecies (see below). On May 15, 1991, Dr. Kenneth E. Glander became the Director of the DUPC and Dr. Simons took on the role of Scientific Director. As Scientific Director, Simons will concentrate on teaching, research, and the management of the Center's collaborative programs with Madagascar. Glander intends to build the Primate Center's programs around the issue of biological diversity. He will also expand the environmental education opportunities to include primary and secondary school science teachers. Education of the public is equally important for the future of these endangered primates. Outreach programs aimed at increasing environmental awareness of elementary and secondary school children could be developed and disseminat- ed via a public exhibit hall and classroom space which would be built outside the gates of the Center to prevent disrup- tion of the captive breeding and conservation programs. The pavilion area would serve as a staging area for tours of the animal colony and presentation areas for exhibits as well as providing modest office space for staff and volunteers involved in educational and promotional activities. One of the missions of the Primate Center is to assist in international efforts to prevent the extinction of Madagascar's most endangered primates. The Primate Center accomplishes this through: * behavioral and ecological research * international conservation programs * in-country training programs * captive breeding The Center is funded by the National Science Foundation, Duke University, and private donations. ------------------------------ (2) What programs take place at DUPC? What animals live there? The DUPC primate collection consists only of prosimians. There are three groups of living prosimians: * the lemurs of Madagascar * the lorises and galagos of Asia and Africa * the tarsiers of certain East Asian islands The majority of the animals housed in the DUPC colony are lemurs from Madagascar. Lemurs have lived isolated on their island home located off the southeast coast of Africa for more than 50 million years. In recent years the forests of Madagascar, once teeming with lemurs, have been reduced by more than 90% as a result of increased human population pressure. Lemur populations in the wild are rapidly declining. As human population expands, increased need of food causes intensified hunting of lemurs. Also, the lemurs' habitat is destroyed by agricultural "slash and burn" practices. The result is that many lemur species are threatened with extinction. A principal objective of the Primate Center continues to be the captive breeding of endangered prosimians. In order to achieve that goal, efforts are being made to reduce the size of the Primate Center's colony so that it can better utilize the limited resources by concentrating on the most highly endangered species. In 1987, World Wildlife International announced that the Malagasy lemurs are the most gravely endangered group of primates in the world. Following this declaration, special- ists from Madagascar, Europe, and America met and agreed that the genetic diversity of the following 10 prosimians was the most severely threatened: * 1) the Lake Alaotra bamboo lemur (Hapalemur griseus alaotrensis) + 2) the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus) 3) the greater bamboo lemur (Hapalemur simus) * 4) the blue-eyed lemur (Lemur macaco flavifrons) * + 5) the red-ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata rubra) * + 6) the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascarensis) 7) the crowned sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi coronatus) * + 8) the golden-crowned sifaka (Propithecus tattersalli) + 9) the diademed sifaka (Propithecus diadema) * 10) the mongoose lemur (Lemur mongoz) The DUPC currently holds six of these species (Nos. 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10) as indicated by asterixes. The Center's current captive breeding efforts are focused on saving 5 of these 10 most endangered species of lemurs, (Nos. 2, 5, 6, 8, 9) as indicated by plus signs. The plight of these species is characterized by the fact that there are probably fewer than 100 golden bamboo lemurs left in the wild. This is an emergency situation if DUPC is to preserve the biological diversity necessary for a viable captive breeding program. The aye-aye may be in similar difficulty. The choice of these five species is not haphazard but rather based on the fact that the Primate Center has successfully maintained and bred closely related species and the fact that the need for preserving genetic diversity in these five species appears to be greatest. The Primate Center has both diurnal (day-time active) and nocturnal (nighttime active) prosimians. Diurnal animals are housed in outdoor runs or in Natural Habitat Enclosures encompassing large tracts of the Duke Forest. All animals housed outdoors have heated winter sleeping quarters. These enclosures are vital for future planned reintroduction of the lemurs to their native habitats. Here, animals have the opportunity to learn how to find their own food, avoid predation, and roam in sufficient space to form natural social groupings. 65 acres of rich Duke Forest habitat offer a unique opportunity for study in a natural setting. A new Nocturnal Animal Building houses most of the night-time active prosimians. This recent addition to the Center was designed to control lighting, humidity, and temperature, critical for the well-being of these animals. Approximately 85% of the DUPC colony is captive-bred. No other zoo or institution has successfully bred so many different prosimian species. ------------------------------ (3) What other programs take place at DUPC? Fossils: Another important and unique aspect of the Primate Center is its collection of fossil primates representing prosimians, monkeys, apes, and other mammals. The collection consists of more than 10,000 fossils ranging in age from less than 1,000 years to more than 60 million years old. Housing both living and fossil primates in the same center is significant because the surviving prosimians are often called "living fossils," providing clues about the Earth's past environments. International extension programs in Madagascar: DUPC promotes international relations and cooperation through research, education, and conservation programs. Primate Center staff are assisting the Malagasy govern- ment to reopen Parc Ivoloina as a zoological and botanical conservation center. The joint goal of the park project is to increase the Malagasy people's awareness of the importance of conservation through education, thereby making the native population cogni- zant of the unique flora and fauna of their island. ------------------------------ (4) Can I donate money to DUPC? Donations are gratefully accepted by the Duke University Primate Center. The address to send them to is DUPC, 3705 Erwin Road, Durham NC 27705. If you like, ask them to put you on their mailing list and send you their newsletter. ------------------------------ (5) How do I go about arranging a tour of the Primate Center? The Primate Center is located at 3705 Erwin Road, Durham, North Carolina. Durham is found on any road map of North Carolina, and you can buy a Durham street map when you get there. Admission costs to the Primate Center are as follows: Adult $5.00 Child (12 and under) $2.50 Senior Citizen $2.50 Duke student $3.00 The Primate Center is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. You can't just show up; you MUST make an appointment. The number to call is (919) 489-3364. ------------------------------ (6) What is the mailing address of the Duke University Primate Center? Duke University Primate Center 3705 Erwin Road Durham, NC 27705 (919) 684-2535 or (919) 489-3364 ------------------------------------------------------------------ This section of the FAQ adapted from publications of DUPC. Revised February 15, 1993 by Joel Furr, jfurr@polaris.async.vt.edu