About LCF
Mission Statement:
The Lemur Conservation Foundation (LCF) is a small non-profit
corporation dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the
primates of Madagascar through captive breeding, scientific research,
education, and reintroduction.
Our Institutional Goals:
Conservation
To preserve and contribute to the worldwide genetic pool of lemur
species through captive breeding and to practice the best
conservation possible in terms of both our ex-situ and in-situ
efforts.
 The fact that these animals are free-ranging in the Myakka City
Lemur Reserve year round, makes for easy transfer to a reserve in
Madagascar, should the opportunity arise. The LCF works closely with
its sister reserve in Madagascar, Tampolo Forest Reserve. The
foundation focuses on lemur species that are not already well
represented in zoological parks or other captive breeding programs.
We call these "no room in the ark" species or "orphan" species
because they are not the big, flashy, charismatic genotypes that can
become flagship species for use in attracting wide public interest
and funding. Nevertheless, they should be protected for their
inherent value and their significance to the larger picture of
primate evolution and ecology.
Click here to read
an in-depth article discussing Madagascar's lemurs, their history and
the challenges facing them by one of LCF's scientific advisors, Ian
Tattersall, originally published in Scientific American.
Research
 To make the lemur colony available for scientific behavioral
research to learn more about their basic biology and genetic
management.
The research conducted is non-harmful and is subject to approval
by the LCF Scientific Advisory Council. The Reserve has been host
to students from New College of Florida, the University of Miami, Eckerd
College, Yale, Rutgers, Columbia, Portland State University, Penn State and the University of Arkansas and
has welcomed researchers since 1999.
Education
To promote an education outreach program by:
1. Utilizing the reserve
as a field training site for students at the university level for
short-term classes on logistics and techniques of fieldwork. We are
currently working with Dr. Linda Taylor, Professor of Physical
Anthropology at the University of Miami and Dr. Natalie Vasey, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Portland State University.
2.. Establishing the Center
for Lemur Studies, a library and unique educational resource center
that will make all the existent books, papers, journals and
electronic materials concerning lemurs and their ecology accessible
in one place for the global use of students, researchers and
scholars. This library will also serve as a base for an international
consortium of scientists and conservationists working together to
secure the future of lemurs.
3.. Making presentations
about lemurs as representatives of the biodiversity crisis to local
schools and community centers in neighboring Florida counties. We are
working with local teachers and in accordance with the Florida
education strategic plan to ensure that the LCF presentation
interfaces with the proscribed curriculum for three targeted age
groups.
Visitors:
Unlike a zoo, the Myakka City
Lemur Reserve is not open to the general public. The
lemur habitats are restricted areas because the lemurs
free-range in the forests and visitors can disrupt their natural
activities. This would make the research that is done at the
reserve (non-invasive behavioral research) difficult because the
beauty of the reserve is that our lemurs live as naturally as
possible. Because we are not set up like a zoo where confined
lemurs can be easily seen, they are often very difficult to spot
without actually entering the forested enclosures. The situation
is great for the animals and for researchers, but not very
satisfactory for visitors.
We would be happy to put you on our mailing list so that you
can keep up with the latest news and follow our work.
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