Goals

Join the Sleepy Lemur Project!

We are seeking passionate individuals in any related field(s) who would like to join us in our cause.

Mentors and colleagues, post-doctoral fellows and undergraduate volunteers: Anyone who cares about nocturnal lemurs and would like to share any amount of their time, experience, and expertise toward our goals of understanding and protecting these unique animals!

While this is our lifelong dream and passion project, we do not believe in competition, and firmly stand by the notion that we are all stronger together.

Without cooperation and trust, we are going to continue to lose species, or even entire genera, before the world has ever had the chance to know them. 


Project Phases & Core Objectives

Expand Research

Further the Primatological field's understanding
of under-represented nocturnal lemur
genera, including studies on their ecology, daily behaviors, social and reproductive behaviors, dietary needs, and  population statuses.

Increase In-Situ Conservation Efforts

Strengthen conservation efforts and protected areas for nocturnal lemur species, establishing new protected areas as necessary.

Assist and empower Malagasy people to help with the protection of their native wildlife.

Develop Husbandry Protocols

Following expanded research on nocturnal lemur genera, we will begin developing husbandry protocols and care guides for focal species.

These guides can assist with any local rescue situations, as well as  preparing for the unfortunate scenario in which In-Situ forest cage trials and Ex-Situ population development may become necessary as population safety nets for these (or other) species.

Open Nocturnal Conservation Facility

Determine ideal locations (both in Madagascar and abroad) for the development of potential captive research, conservation, and management facilities specializing in nocturnal lemur care, conservation, and outreach.

Expand Research

Understanding these species is of the utmost importance, as we cannot save what we do not understand.

Our greatest hope is to expand upon the overall body of knowledge on our focal nocturnal lemur genera, increasing the global understanding of species therein, and doing anything we can to increase public interest and awareness.

We actively support any and all efforts to further research on these animals, including (but not limited to):

Ethograms:

Ecology:

Increase In-Situ Conservation Efforts

While working toward Expanding Research, we aim to concurrently increase local habitat protection for the ranges of both our focal species, and nocturnal lemur genera as a whole.

Although we are deeply passionate about nocturnal lemurs, we cannot pursue anything without creating a relationship of mutual support and respect with the indigenous people of Madagascar.

Empowering native Malagasy people to assist in the protection of their local wildlife is critical, including supporting local scientists, rangers, guides, agriculturists, and artisans in their fields.

We will share anything we learn about nocturnal lemurs with the people who live near these species, inspiring them to care for and understand the animals living both in their region and beyond.

We will support and uplift local communities in whatever ways possible, ensuring we are not taking anything from them in our desire to understand the amazing animals they share their lives with. The lemurs' home is their home, and they should be informed of and involved in any efforts to help protect that land.

Develop Husbandry Protocols

The data collected via research projects will be compiled for use to create both species and (when applicable) genera care guides.

These guides can be utilized for local In-Situ rehabilitation of found, injured, orphaned, rescued, and/or confiscated nocturnal lemurs, hopefully increasing the survivability of both individuals and of species populations as a whole.

Additionally, these guides can be utilized in accordance with the IUCN Lemur Action Plan for the development of potential Ex-Situ population programs. These guides should include varied supplementary items to match the nutritional needs of their naturalistic diets as best as possible, a breakdown of environmental preferences and suitable habitat materials, and territory size and any related social needs. The goal of these elements will be to ensure animals are cared for in a safe and healthy manner that fully respects and provides for all their natural, physical, and psychological needs.

We also aim to collect historical data for previous attempts from worldwide zoological institutions. There are countless lessons to be learned from failed attempts of the past, so we can ensure the same mistakes are not made in the future.

Husbandry protocol projects would include:

Open Nocturnal Conservation Facility

Facilities (In-Situ and/or Ex-Situ) will include:

Someday, we hope to establish physical conservation facilities both In-Situ in Madagascar, as well as an Ex-Situ facility dedicated exclusively to nocturnal species.

Our In-Situ Facility would be a "home base" for nocturnal lemur research, conservation, and care. This facility will primarily provide safe habitats for any nocturnal lemur species in need of care, rehabilitation, or rescue.

In the perfect world, we would also love to be able to establish a small zoological park dedicated to ALL nocturnal animal species (built in accordance with AZA/WAZA standards), including:

An Ex-Situ Facility would be dedicated to establishing the first and only modern captive breeding programs for these nocturnal genera, eventually dispersing progeny to professional zoological institutions around the world.

This facility would aim to work in open collaboration and partnership with existing facilities, such as the Duke Lemur Center and Lemur Conservation Foundation. We wish to assist our colleagues in all of our shared goals of saving lemurs, and hope to be a sister facility that provides additional space and resources for some of the many lemur species that these other wonderful organizations are not currently able to work with.