Two female Sifaka lemurs, Gertrude and Eleanor, were born on January 5 at the Duke Lemur Center. Gertrude weighed .23 pounds (105 g) at birth and Eleanor—a big girl!— weighed .25 pounds (117 g).  

Gertrude is the daughter of mom Pia and dad Jovian – Jovian being the famous lemur that played Zoboomafoo in the popular kids show by that name on public television. Eleanor is daughter to Rodelinda and Marcus. Both infants are in the process of being introduced to their fathers and siblings, and all is going well.

Photo credits: Duke Lemur Center / David Haring (2-6)

These infants add to a total of only 60 Coquerel’s Sifaka in captivity, an Endangered species in Madagascar due to deforestation and hunting pressure. All Coquerel’s Sifaka in captivity live in the US and are managed by the Duke Lemur Center. 

Twenty-nine live at the Lemur Center and the remainder are on loan to nine other facilities for Species Survival Plan breeding recommendations. The Coquerel’s Sifaka at Duke Lemur Center are the only members of this particular lemur family, the Indriidae, in captivity in the US for research and conservation. 

See more photos after the fold.