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>> EARLIER THIS YEAR IN A PRECARIOUS MOMENT OF NATURAL
HISTORY.
THE DUKE LEMUR CENTER DELIVERED TWO INFANT COQUEREL'S SIFAKAS,
SOME OF THE RAREST ANIMALS ON -- [NARRATOR LOSES COMPOSURE]
OH MY GOSH!
WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT!
SO CUTE!
I CAN'T...
OKAY, OKAY. WHERE WAS I? [REGAINS COMPOSURE]
>> SOME OF THE RAREST ANIMALS ON EARTH.
THESE 2 ARE AMONG THE LARGEST LIVING COLLECTION OF ENDANGERED
PRIMATES IN THE WORLD.
AT THE DUKE LEMUR CENTER.
>> SO FIRST AND FOREMOST WE'RE A RESEARCH LABORATORY, SO ALL OF
OUR RESEARCH IS NONINVASIVE
AND OUR BIGGEST DONOR IS DUKE UNIVERSITY. THEY FUND
ALMOST HALF OF OUR OPERATING COSTS EACH YEAR AND WE'RE VERY
FORTUNATE FOR THAT.
WE DO SUPPLEMENT THE OTHER HALF OF OUR INCOME THROUGH OUR TOUR
PROGRAM, THROUGH OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM WITH GRANTS AND THROUGH
DONATIONS.
>> WHILE THE CENTER IS CLOSED
DUE TO PRECAUTIONS SURROUNDING COVID-19
THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE STILL CARING FOR THIS DIVERSE GROUP
OF MAMMALS, AND EXPECTING TO WELCOME MORE RESIDENTS.
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL PREGNANT MOMS RIGHT NOW.
SPRING IS THE BUSIEST TIME IN TERMS OF THE SEASON FOR US.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE
GETTING READY TO DELIVER THEIR INFANTS
IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.
>> SO WE KNOW COVID-19 POSES A CERTAIN THREAT TO HUMANS.
BUT WHAT ABOUT LEMURS?
>> WE'RE OPERATING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY COULD
CONTRACT COVID-19. NO LEMUR HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AS
ACTUALLY CONTRACTING IT TO DATE. BUT OUR FIRST THOUGHT IS THAT
OTHER NON-HUMAN PRIMATES
HAVE SHOWN A SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THE VIRUS.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR ANIMALS
AS SAFE AS WE CAN.
>> EVEN THOUGH THE LEMURS MAY NOT NOTICE MUCH IS DIFFERENT
THE DUKE LEMUR CENTER HAS BEEN HEAVILY IMPACTED FOR THE SAFETY
MEASURES AROUND THE CORONAVIRUS.
>> SO FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE NOT A WHOLE LOT'S CHANGED.
THEY'RE JUST NOT SEEING AS MANY OF OUR ANIMAL CARE SPECIALISTS
EACH DAY. A LOT OF THEM ARE ENJOYING THE NORTH CAROLINA,
WEATHER FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR FORCED ENCLOSURES WE'VE
HAD TO SUSPEND OUR TOURS WE'VE HAD TO BASICALLY RECREATE OUR
OPERATIONS WITH THE SKELETON CREW WERE AND ARE ESSENTIAL
PERSONNEL ONLY RIGHT NOW WHICH IS OUR ANIMAL CARE, VETERINARY
STAFF, AND OUR CURATORIAL STAFF. WE HAVE SUSPENDED AND ACTUALLY
CANCELED OUR SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.
WE'RE HOPING THAT' SHORT TERM.
THE TOUR PROGRAM BEING CLOSED RIGHT NOW DURING
THE BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR IS CREATING SOME CHALLENGES,
BUT IT'S ALSO CREATING SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR US
>> HEY EVERYONE, HAPPY EARTH DAY,
AND WELCOME TO THE INAUGURAL LEMUR SCIENCE AND TRIVIA?
THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORING BY THE SEAT OF YOUR
PANTS EXPLORING THE SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL LINKS BETWEEN PEOPLE
AND NATURE IN MADAGASCAR.
>> I AM ABOUT TO HEAD OUT WITH ALL OF YOU INTO NATURAL HABITAT
ENCLOSURE NUMBER 2. ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION,
WHILE I'M AROUND MY COWORKERS AND THE LEMURS,
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT
I WILL BE WEARING MY FACE MASK AND SAW THE MARION FROM BEHIND
THE CAMERA, WANTING TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT WE ARE
STILL PRACTICING OUR PROPER SAFETY PROCEDURES HERE.
>> MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NEVER KNOW
A WORLD WITHOUT LEMURS.
SO WE HAVE ON THE GROUND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS GOING ON
IN MADAGASCAR, WE HAVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE DUKE
LEMUR CENTER THAT THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY COMING INTO OUR
CENTER. WHILE RESEARCH IS GOING ON AND SEE THE ANIMALS AND SEE
SOME OF THIS NON-INVASIVE RESEARCH THAT WE'RE DOING.
THE BEST WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SUPPORT US IS TO STAY CONNECTED.
>> ONE OF THE WAYS THE DUKE LEMUR CENTER
IS INSURING IT CAN SUSTAIN ITS MISSION
IS THROUGH ITS DIGITAL ADOPTION PROGRAM.
>> THIS YEAR WE'RE OFFERING A SPECIAL ANIMAL ADOPTION SINCE
OUR LEMUR-PALOOZA THAT HAD TO BE DELAYED ALLOWING MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC TO ADOPT SYMBOLICALLY BOTH DIDIUS AND TERRENCE,
THIS IS A DIGITAL ONLY ADOPT, AND ALL THE
MONEY THAT WE RAISE FROM THIS ADOPTION GOES TO HELP SUPPORT
OUR OPERATIONS FROM ANIMAL CARE AND FOR CONSERVATION IN
MADAGASCAR.
>> YOU CAN MEET THE ADORABLE CREATURES OF THE POPULAR DUKE
LEMUR CENTER IN DURHAM WHEN IT REOPENS.
FOR NOW, THEY'RE HAVING AMAZING NORTH CAROLINA WEEKENDS
ON THEIR OWN, JUST WAITING ON YOU.