Everything I ever learned about lemurs I learned from Zoboo of Zoboomafoo fame.
Until I visited the real Zoboo at the Duke Lemur Center.
What a treasure in our own backyard! I had no idea lemurs were so adorable, social, and entertaining. I also had no idea they are the world’s most endangered primate. Truth be told, I didn’t know they were primates. Lemurs exhibit characteristics of humans, raccoons, cats, rabbits, and even my beagle/corgi mix rescue dog. They are oh so full of personality and make wonderfully lively sounds that are reminiscent of the din of screaming, laughter, and barking under my own roof. Once you step into the Duke Lemur Center and get to see the various species of lemurs up close, it’s easy to see evolution at work. These little guys have fingers and fingernails just like us, and share signs of uncanny humanlike behavior. Watching a mother cradle her infant was strikingly like seeing human mother and child. My eight year old son remarked on this too when we stood and watched the pair, enchanted, for 20 minutes.
Lemurs live only on the grand island of Madagascar. Nowhere else on the planet will you find these mischievous, social creatures living in the wild. Madagascar was always my choice in a game of Risk. It proved to have no strategic benefits, but I always loved the way the name rolls so melodically. Mad-a-gas-car. I learned about the Malagasy vanilla but never knew about the lemurs. How have I gone so many years not knowing about these lovely animals? And how much time is left to learn?
Lemurs are the most endangered primate on the planet. If Mother Nature’s bookies are correct, about 90% of all lemur species face extinction within the next 20 to 25 years. That’s still within my lifetime. We should all be shattered by this knowledge. This is the sort of thing you cannot etch-a-sketch shake away, sit back, and do nothing.
Going to see the film Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar, is a start. Drew Fellman of Born to Be Wild fame, is the writer/producer of this IMAX film with Dr. Patricia Wright making a guest star appearance as the Jane Goodall of lemurs (the real stars are the lemurs themselves). The film is narrated by the Easy Reader himself. The one and only Morgan Freeman. When the film ended we all sat still in our seats, wanting more. The filmmakers went through extraordinary measures to bring these lemurs to life on the screen. Madagascar is not known for its cooperative weather and stable infrastructure. Thick jungles, torrential rain, and no easy road from A to B made for a tough shoot. Yet, the film you see delivers an up close peek at the riches of Madagascar and promises to ignite an enduring love of lemurs.
To celebrate these marvelous creatures that have delighted us all, I want to share with you a local brew,by Fullsteam that combines Malagasy vanilla and a brown ale to create Lemuria. With each bottle sold, Fullsteam will donate a dollar to support the Duke Lemur Center. Check with the brewery to find out when and where the beer is available.
With warmer days upon us and a lust for something sweet to end everyday, I’d add a generous dollop of rich vanilla ice cream to this beer to make a 21+ beer float.
Cheers to doing our small part to help Save the Lemurs!