Author Archives: Lemur Conservation Network

Andasibe: A Film on Deforestation in Madagascar
Directed by Denise and Marc Dragiewicz In the small village of Andasibe in eastern Madagascar, a dedicated group of individuals, both locals and transplants, are working together to halt the destruction of the natural environment. Time is not on their

Andasibe: A Film on Deforestation in Madagascar
Directed by Denise and Marc Dragiewicz In the small village of Andasibe in eastern Madagascar, a dedicated group of individuals, both locals and transplants, are working together to halt the destruction of the natural environment. Time is not on their

2016 World Lemur Festival Events Calendar
The World Lemur Festival is for everyone—lemur fans and conservation leaders, scientists and artists, teachers and students, kids and parents, and YOU! If there isn’t an event in your area, check out this blog post for ideas on how you can celebrate wherever you

2016 World Lemur Festival Events Calendar
The World Lemur Festival is for everyone—lemur fans and conservation leaders, scientists and artists, teachers and students, kids and parents, and YOU! If there isn’t an event in your area, check out this blog post for ideas on how you can celebrate wherever you

Training the Lemurs of Combe Martin Wildlife Park
In my last blog post I introduced our ring tailed lemur group and their progress on target training for weighing sessions. As mentioned, this is perfect cognitive enrichment for them as they are intelligent animals. But what works for one

Training the Lemurs of Combe Martin Wildlife Park
In my last blog post I introduced our ring tailed lemur group and their progress on target training for weighing sessions. As mentioned, this is perfect cognitive enrichment for them as they are intelligent animals. But what works for one

How My Experience with Tiny Tim Inspired Me to Save the Lemurs
I first started loving lemurs when I went on my fourth grade class field trip to The Giraffe Ranch in Dade City, Florida. We got to see a bunch of cool animals and have encounters with wildlife. We saw a

How My Experience with Tiny Tim Inspired Me to Save the Lemurs
I first started loving lemurs when I went on my fourth grade class field trip to The Giraffe Ranch in Dade City, Florida. We got to see a bunch of cool animals and have encounters with wildlife. We saw a

Love Our Lemurs, Love Our Zoos
At Combe Martin Wildlife Park we care for a group of ring-tailed, black and white ruffed, and red ruffed lemurs. My role as a zookeeper involves everything from preparing the animals’ food, producing exciting enrichment to present it in, to

Love Our Lemurs, Love Our Zoos
At Combe Martin Wildlife Park we care for a group of ring-tailed, black and white ruffed, and red ruffed lemurs. My role as a zookeeper involves everything from preparing the animals’ food, producing exciting enrichment to present it in, to

Stronger together: Launch of the First Nationwide Campaign on the Illegal Pet Lemur Trade
Lemurs, native to the island of Madagascar, represent the most Endangered group of mammals in the world. Habitat loss, hunting, and more recently a burgeoning illegal pet trade are pushing wild lemur populations to the brink of extinction. Pet lemurs

Stronger together: Launch of the First Nationwide Campaign on the Illegal Pet Lemur Trade
Lemurs, native to the island of Madagascar, represent the most Endangered group of mammals in the world. Habitat loss, hunting, and more recently a burgeoning illegal pet trade are pushing wild lemur populations to the brink of extinction. Pet lemurs

Among Lemurs in European Zoos
We Protect What We Love Here in Germany and other European zoos, you will often be able to get very close to lemurs. Open, walk-through exhibits allow you to watch different lemur species sitting in the sun together, foraging for

Among Lemurs in European Zoos
We Protect What We Love Here in Germany and other European zoos, you will often be able to get very close to lemurs. Open, walk-through exhibits allow you to watch different lemur species sitting in the sun together, foraging for

Dr. Erik Patel on how LCF’s work protecting the ASSR
In a recent post, we chatted with Zoological Manager Caitlin Kenney about the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s work in the United States at their lemur reserve in Florida. Today, we talk with Dr. Erik Patel, LCF’s Conservation Program Director, about LCF’s

Dr. Erik Patel on how LCF’s work protecting the ASSR
In a recent post, we chatted with Zoological Manager Caitlin Kenney about the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s work in the United States at their lemur reserve in Florida. Today, we talk with Dr. Erik Patel, LCF’s Conservation Program Director, about LCF’s

The Importance of Zoos to Lemur Conservation
June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month in the United States. To celebrate, here are some reasons why zoos are vital to lemur conservation, and will play an ever-increasing role in the story of lemur conservation going forward. The post

The Importance of Zoos to Lemur Conservation
June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month in the United States. To celebrate, here are some reasons why zoos are vital to lemur conservation, and will play an ever-increasing role in the story of lemur conservation going forward. The post

A Chat with the National Zoo’s Primate Biologist, Becky Malinsky
Today, we chat with Becky Malinsky, Primate Biologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. about her career as a primate keeper, and what it’s like to work with lemurs and other primates every day at the zoo. Can you tell

A Chat with the National Zoo’s Primate Biologist, Becky Malinsky
Today, we chat with Becky Malinsky, Primate Biologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. about her career as a primate keeper, and what it’s like to work with lemurs and other primates every day at the zoo. Can you tell

Zookeeper’s Notebook: Spotlight on Red-Bellied Lemurs
It’s been a while since I wrote about the lemurs of Howletts Wild Animal Park. Deserving of my attention however, are three male red-bellied lemurs, Teddy, Hamish and Angus, who share the walk-through with our black and white ruffed and

Zookeeper’s Notebook: Spotlight on Red-Bellied Lemurs
It’s been a while since I wrote about the lemurs of Howletts Wild Animal Park. Deserving of my attention however, are three male red-bellied lemurs, Teddy, Hamish and Angus, who share the walk-through with our black and white ruffed and

Ask a Lemur Researcher: Q and A with Lemur Love
Every Tuesday on Facebook, Lemur Love holds “Ask a Researcher,” a question and answer forum for lemur fans from around the world to ask the experts any question they want. Questions can be about a particular lemur species, recent research,

Ask a Lemur Researcher: Q and A with Lemur Love
Every Tuesday on Facebook, Lemur Love holds “Ask a Researcher,” a question and answer forum for lemur fans from around the world to ask the experts any question they want. Questions can be about a particular lemur species, recent research,

Planning Your First Trip to Madagascar
As a tourist, it can be intimidating to plan your first trip to Madagascar. It seems so remote and exotic! Plus, it’s large, with a less-than-stellar road system, and the plane tickets are expensive, so you want to do it right the

Planning Your First Trip to Madagascar
As a tourist, it can be intimidating to plan your first trip to Madagascar. It seems so remote and exotic! Plus, it’s large, with a less-than-stellar road system, and the plane tickets are expensive, so you want to do it right the

Lemur Conservation Network Celebrates First Anniversary
This February 25th, the Lemur Conservation Network will celebrate its first anniversary. As Director of the Lemur Conservation Network, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this endeavor possible, look back on all we accomplished in our first

Lemur Conservation Network Celebrates First Anniversary
This February 25th, the Lemur Conservation Network will celebrate its first anniversary. As Director of the Lemur Conservation Network, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this endeavor possible, look back on all we accomplished in our first

Lemur Conservation Community Secures Meeting with Office of National Tourism of Madagascar
Several months ago, the Office of National Tourism of Madagascar (ONTM) launched a campaign to promote travel in Madagascar by asking tourists to share photos of themselves holding captive lemurs. Maurice Adiba, the president of the NGO Reniala and Kim

Lemur Conservation Community Secures Meeting with Office of National Tourism of Madagascar
Several months ago, the Office of National Tourism of Madagascar (ONTM) launched a campaign to promote travel in Madagascar by asking tourists to share photos of themselves holding captive lemurs. Maurice Adiba, the president of the NGO Reniala and Kim

Inside Andasibe: A Film on Deforestation in Madagascar
Introduction to the Film Madagascar’s ecosystem is one of the most threatened on the planet. A nation comprised of subsistence farmers, most Malagasy people do not have the luxury to see beyond their daily needs to consider the long-term consequences

Inside Andasibe: A Film on Deforestation in Madagascar
Introduction to the Film Madagascar’s ecosystem is one of the most threatened on the planet. A nation comprised of subsistence farmers, most Malagasy people do not have the luxury to see beyond their daily needs to consider the long-term consequences

Interview with Christoph Schwitzer: Part 1
How did you get started working with lemurs in Madagascar? I was in the right room at the right time. I had just finished my PhD on lemurs in zoos. My PhD supervisor happened to be the vice president of

Interview with Christoph Schwitzer: Part 1
How did you get started working with lemurs in Madagascar? I was in the right room at the right time. I had just finished my PhD on lemurs in zoos. My PhD supervisor happened to be the vice president of

Interview with Christoph Schwitzer: Part 2
Tell me a bit about the threats to biodiversity in Sahamalaza and the programs that respond to those threats? As everywhere, the main threat is habitat loss. In Sahamalaza, it’s slash-and-burn agriculture for rice cultivation. There’s the ever increasing threat

Interview with Christoph Schwitzer: Part 2
Tell me a bit about the threats to biodiversity in Sahamalaza and the programs that respond to those threats? As everywhere, the main threat is habitat loss. In Sahamalaza, it’s slash-and-burn agriculture for rice cultivation. There’s the ever increasing threat

The Urban Bushmeat Trade in Madagascar: A New Emerging Threat
“What kind of meat have you eaten in the last three days?” “Have you ever eaten lemur meat?” “What kind of fadys (taboos) do you have against meat?” Imagine asking these questions almost 2,000 times to complete strangers across

The Urban Bushmeat Trade in Madagascar: A New Emerging Threat
“What kind of meat have you eaten in the last three days?” “Have you ever eaten lemur meat?” “What kind of fadys (taboos) do you have against meat?” Imagine asking these questions almost 2,000 times to complete strangers across

A Visit to the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s Lemur Reserve
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s lemur reserve in Myakka City, Florida. LCF’s Zoological Manager Caitlin Kenney spoke with me about their work at the reserve and in Madagascar, and introduced me to their seriously

A Visit to the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s Lemur Reserve
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s lemur reserve in Myakka City, Florida. LCF’s Zoological Manager Caitlin Kenney spoke with me about their work at the reserve and in Madagascar, and introduced me to their seriously