Go Wild With Lemur Center Discount

Even though she's worked at Duke for nearly seven years, Joanne Bisson didn't know what took her so long to visit the Duke Lemur Center.

For Bisson, it was better late than never.

"It was such an eye-opening experience," said Bisson, an administrative assistant in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology who made her first trip to see the lemurs in late August. "The blue-eyed black lemur was gorgeous and so many of the primates were simply striking."

With nearly 250 lemurs at the Lemur Center, faculty and staff have a chance to catch Duke's own wide-eyed and bushy-tailed primate friends in the largest collection outside of the lemurs' natural habitat of Madagascar. Not only that, but employees also receive a discounted rate for the 60-minute "Lemurs Live!" tour that allows visitors to see a variety of species in person and learn about each. Tours are given throughout the entire year.

See some lemurs in snacking and playing. (Photos by Bryan Roth)

Faculty and staff receive pay $8 (originally $10) by showing their DukeCard at the front desk upon arrival. The "Lemurs Live!" tour is offered year-round Monday to Saturday. Reservations must be made in advance by calling (919) 401-7240. 

"It's our hope that we can have more Duke employees come out and enjoy what we offer," said Keith Morris, education program manager at the Duke Lemur Center. "We're an incredible resources, and we'd love to have faculty and staff come join us."

If employees want to see the lemurs in their outdoor facilities, Morris said it's best to book a tour in the next few weeks. Even though the Duke Lemur Center is open all year, it doesn't keep the primates outside when temperatures start to dip below 45 degrees. The lemurs are typically moved to indoor areas at some point in October.

"Everyone should take advantage because it's something special that's a part of Duke and it really is a fantastic tour," said Bisson, the administrative assistant in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology . "I think it's Durham's best-kept secret." 

Visit the Duke Lemur Center website for more information about lemurs, tours and more.