Written by Zoboomafoo fan Carmen If, like me, you grew up with the irresistibly upbeat theme song of Zoboomafoo, then you probably remember the Kratt Brothers’ infectious energy, the famous overstuffed closet, and of course, the fuzziness and wide eyes of Zoboomafoo the lemur. Before I get any farther, you should know that Jovian, the lovable lemur who played Zoboo on the show, died on November 10, 2014. It was a tragic day for all who watched Zoboomafoo as children, […]
Studying Biogeography: Where Lemurs Live and Why After years of undertaking surveys of lemurs in Madagascar, I literally missed the forest for the trees, as the saying goes. I’d spent considerable time and energy walking along freshly cut trails penetrating deep into the remaining forests on this island. Along the way, my research team and I saw – and were amazed by – the incredible diversity of plants and animals in the forest, many of which are found nowhere else […]
Last Thursday, March 19, we held our launch party at Right Proper Brewing Company in Washington, D.C. It was a blast! So Many Friends Helped Us Celebrate Over 150 people came out to the brewery to celebrate. Guests from several of our member organizations were in attendance, including the Duke Lemur Center, Conservation International, and ICTE/Centre Val Bio. Other guests came from all over the D.C. area, including many who work for environmental and international development organizations like the Smithsonian National Zoo, Chemonics International, Conservation […]
Last July, sixth grade language arts teacher Robin Lee went to the IMAX theater, knowing little about lemurs and Madagascar, and not even aware what was playing that day. She was in for a treat. On the screen was Island of Lemurs: Madagascar. The movie—and its furry co-stars—inspired her. As a teacher, she knew her students’ curiosity would be piqued by these fascinating animals and their unique home. Coming out of the cinema, I was still in awe of the movie: content, […]
Following on from my article ‘Getting Started as a Volunteer Lemur Keeper’, I feel that crowned lemurs deserve a little limelight. I am very lucky to work with a family of four in Howletts’ walk-through, each with their own character and quirks. Mum & Dad Being a matriarchal species, the leader of the group is Epi. She is vocal, energetic, assertive and most importantly a loving mother. Like other lemurs, her favourite time of day is mealtime. But, she can […]
Before going away to Madagascar, the longest I had been away from my family was two weeks. I lived the typical western lifestyle. My phone never left my side; everything I needed could be downloaded or ordered in just a few clicks; I binge-watched TV; and my biggest worry was that pesky spot on my chin. Looking back on it, something in me must have been crying out for adventure and change, otherwise why had I done it? Why had […]
When did you first get interested in working with lemurs and conservation, and what motivated you to undertake this work? I first visited Madagascar in 2003 and immediately fell in love with the country and its wildlife, including, of course, the lemurs. One of my strongest memories from that first trip is waking up to the eerie howling of the Indri indri in Andasibe Special Reserve. It’s a sound that still gives me goose bumps! It’s amazing to hear that and […]
I have spent an abnormal amount of time watching and listening to Youtube videos of lemurs and other primates. Where else can you hear an indri sing on demand? However, the site has a startling lack of black lemur videos, along with their unique and amusing grunts. It’s kind of pig-like but more nasal. So, one sunny Saturday in May last year I set off solo to Howletts Wild Animal Park. Rather than being a ‘zoo’ it has always handled […]
