Ring-tailed Baby Makes a Name for Himself (6/9/10)
Baby "Harp," born in May, is hale and hearty and carrying on the
naming convention of his mother Ansell and father Yuengling, and fellow
frothy ring-tails Molson, Stella, Sam and Adam.
Trip to Madagascar Postponed Until 2011 (8/2/10)
Check back for details about this exciting opportunity to tour Madagascar
with Ian Tattersall, paleoanthropologist, curator at the American Museum of Natural History and authority in the biology and evolution of the primates of Madagascar, as your guide.
National Geographic Interviews in May
Dr. Natalie Vasey who teaches field work courses at LCF was interviewed on National Geographic Weekend Radio. Her 5/13 interview will appear shortly on their website -
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/radio/national-geographic-weekend.html
Erik Patel was featured in NatGeo Newswatch about the logging crisis in Madagascar. Here is his 5/20 article -
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/05/madagascar-logging-crisis.html
2009 Annual Report Available Online (6/1/10)
See our publications page for our new report.
http://www.lemurreserve.org/publications.html
Lemur Reserve on the Local News (5/13/10)
Watch a video produced by Bay News 9 video journalist when he visited the Reserve in Myakka City
May 1 and interviewed Michael and filmed the lemurs.
Click to view
Nature's Path 2010 EnviroKidz Giving Back Award (5/13/10)
LCF has again been named a recipient of Nature's Path Organic Foods EnviroKidz Giving Back Award. The funds will
be used for the Myakka City Lemur Reserve's lemur dome project.
The dome project supports the Lemur Conservation Foundation's mission of saving endangered lemurs from extinction
through captive breeding, scientific research,
education and reintroduction.
The hurricane resistant domes will help mark
territorial boundaries for the different groups of lemurs living naturally in the multi-acre forests as well as
provide safe shelter should the need arise.
Please read about the EnviroKidz Classroom/Community Center in Tampolo that was built with funds from our 2009 Nature's Path Award.
Click here
Read Full Press Release
New Arrival - Baby Collared Lemur born March 25
Read the Bradenton Times article about the birth 5/1/10
AKO Project featured in May Issue of American Journal of Primatology
See the latest news about the Ako Project and read the article from AJP.
May/June Departures Magazine Features LCF
Look for the May/June issue to read a beautifully illustrated article about the artist Alexis Rockman's inspirational journey
in December to Madagascar led by Penelope Bodry-Sanders.
South Florida Wildlife Club at MCLR (4/10/10)
Many
thanks to the members of the South Florida Wildlife Club of the
Florida Gulf Coast University. On Saturday, April 10th, eight
club members braved the early morning hours and long drive to
spend a day at the Myakka City Lemur Reserve. After being
introduced to seven different species of lemurs, the students
got down to work transplanting trees and building a “jungle gym”
out of pine culled from the forest enclosures. The trees were
young saplings of magnolia and live oak that were growing close
to the enclosure fences.
They
were removed and planted in open areas within the forest, where
they would have room to grown and would not threaten the
integrity of the fence.
The
jungle gym was installed to provide more places for the lemurs
to eat, sleep, and play in the second enclosure, which is
currently dominated by slash pine and very low shrubs. The
students overcame the heat and enthusiastically tackled the
hardest tasks; we were all rewarded for our efforts when all
three troops of lemurs arrived to explore the new additions.
Thanks to Ashley, Cailin, Sean, Amanda, Lauren and a special
thanks to Greg for organizing the event.
2010 Teachers' Institute Apply Now (4/6/10)
Dates are set for this summer's Institute. Apply now for this
unique opportunity to come to the Reserve and work with leading
scientists and other science teachers from around the country.
Click here
for complete information.
Donate Your Car or Vehicle to LCF! (3/25/10)
LCF is now partnered with Action Donation Services who handle
all the details if you wish to contribute to LCF by donating a
no longer needed vehicle. Visit our
"Contribute" page
to read more about this giving option.
Xeko.com (3/9/10)
LCF has partnered with Xeko.com and their Gaming for Good
program - - check out the Good Quest section of Xeko.com for
some lemur facts, photos, a short video, and a lemur themed
game. The Lemur Good Quest will run for one month, starting
March 5th. Once players reach the in-game goal, Gaming for Good
will make a donation to LCF which we will use to install
artificial vines in the lemur's forests. These "vines" will make
our forests even more lemur friendly, providing additional
arboreal pathways for the animals to enjoy.
http://xeko.com
LCF's New Animal Care Technician (3/9/10)
LCF would like to extend a warm welcome to our new part-time
Animal Care Technician, Alison Hunt. Alison has recently moved
to sunny Sarasota from windy Chicago where she worked as a Lead
Veterinary Technician at a busy animal clinic. As a recent
graduate Western Illinois University, Alison has a Bachelor's of
Science in Biology, with a concentration in Zoology and a minor
in studio art.
Along with her extensive Veterinary Technician
experience, Alison has also worked for the Southern African
Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds where she
rehabilitated wild penguins. Having been highly recommended from
here previous institutions, we are looking forward to having her
join the team in late March.
Monica Mogilewsky Earns Master's (3/9/10)
Monica completed all the requirements for her Master's in
Biodiversity Conservation and Management from the University of
London in December 2009 and will receive her diploma March 15th
in London. She conducted the lab work for her Master's thesis
"Genetic heterozygosity in captive populations of Eulemur
collaris, collared brown lemurs, and Eulemur coronatus, crowned
lemurs" at the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics at the
American Museum of Natural History. LCF Scientists and Board
Member George Amato who is the Director of the Sackler Institute
was instrumental in arranging use of the specialized lab.
March Tree Planting (3/9/10)
A local nurseryman in Venice generously donated 50
8 ft. live oak
trees to be planted throughout the reserve which in years to
come will increase the tree canopy for the lemurs.
A Myakka City
neighbor is also giving LCF some faster growing cypress trees, which will be
placed in the wetter areas where they will thrive and contribute
to the diversity of the forest.
Pete Shover, Phil Sirois and Michael Stern finish unloading the
oaks.
The Bradenton Times (2/27/10)
A lengthy article and a video featuring the Myakka City Lemur
Reserve with interviews of Michael, Penelope and Monica were
published by the Bradenton Times and are available on their
website.
http://www.thebradentontimes.com/news/2010/02/11/video_news/video_visiting_the_lemur_conservation_foundation_s_lemur_reserve/
http://www.thebradentontimes.com/news/2010/02/27/environment/lemur_reserve_s_work_in_myakka_city_stretches_the_globe_impacting_humanity/
LCF's New Executive Director Begins (2/1/10)
Penelope Bodry-Sanders, LCF's Founder, retires and
Michael Stern begins as the new Executive Director.
Read press release.
2010 Field Methods Course Still Has Space Available!
There is still room in both sessions and still time
to enroll. Click here for more info!
Part-time Animal Care Technician Position Available
(1/28/10)
The Lemur Conservation Foundation is seeking a motivated
person for the part time Animal Care Technician position at the
Myakka City Lemur Reserve. This person will perform regular
keeper duties along with additional veterinary technician
responsibilities.
Responsibilities include providing daily husbandry care
including training, enrichment, commissary, horticulture and
record keeping needs as well as implementing and improving on
the current preventative/emergency medical care program. The
Technician will be responsible for purchasing and dosing
medications, assisting with annual physicals, emergency or
surgical exams, treatments of ill/injured animals, routine fecal
and urine exams, diagnostic testing, maintaining clinic supplies
and other duties as needed. Qualifications: To perform this job
successfully, an individual must be able perform all essential
duties satisfactorily. The successful candidate will be
energetic, self-motivated, work well within a team atmosphere,
and demonstrate good problem solving, organizational, and time
management skills. This job entails a melding of manual labor
and mental expertise, resulting in visible, professional
accomplishments in which employees may take pride.
An Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in a Life Sciences field
from an accredited college or university and at least one year
of related experience and/or training is required (or equivalent
combination of education, experience, and training). Experience
with ARKS and MedARKS is preferred. All staff are required to
have a Tb test conducted annually. The employee must frequently
lift and/or move up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift and/or
move up to 100 pounds with assistance when cleaning and
maintaining animal housing and moving animals.
The employee is expected to provide care during all kinds of
weather conditions. This position is an essential service
position where the incumbent will be required to provide
services during emergency situations. This position may require
that the individual be available or on-call 24 hours a day. Some
weekend, evening, and holiday work is required.
Salary/funding: This is a part-time position with
opportunities for professional growth and development. Salary
range is from $12,000 - $14,000, commensurate with experience.
Term of Appointment: Permanent Position
Application Deadline: February 15, 2010
Contact Information: Michael Stern, P.O. Box 249 Myakka City,
FL 34251 US Telephone Number: Fax Number: 941-322-9264 Website:
www.lemurreserve.org
E-mail Address:
mstern@lemurreserve.org
New Animal Husbandry Intern - Jessica McCall (1/3/10)
Jessica
McCall will spend six months at the Myakka City Lemur Reserve as
the Penelope Bodry-Sanders and Mackarness M. Goode Animal
Husbandry Intern. Jessica arrived on January 1, shortly after
graduating Cum Laude from Florida Atlantic University in Boca
Raton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology,
concentrating in Ethology. She will be involved in the
daily care of LCF’s growing lemur colony, working closely with
Lead Keeper, Pattie Walsh, and Director, Research & Operations,
Monica Mogilewsky.
Jessica is an aspiring animal care professional, and is
especially interested in behavioral enrichment as it applies to
improving animal welfare, and endangered species conservation
through captive breeding programs. Born and raised
in Orlando, Florida has previous husbandry and behavioral
research experience at the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach,
Florida, as both a Conservation & Research Intern and a
Carnivore Care Intern.
Research Internship Takes Shape (10/1/09)
Savannah Schulze arrived from Minnesota in September to
begin laying the groundwork for LCF's Research
Internship program. Serving as our first research
intern, Savannah, a graduate of the University of
Minnesota, Morris with a BA in Anthropology and Wildlife
Biology, will spend four months at the Reserve working
closely with Monica Mogilewsky, Director of Research and
Operations, planning and setting up our long-range
research program.
Savannah is mapping the forest
and developing the ethograms that future research
interns will use when they collect data.
Subsequent interns will build upon the research done
previously so that a significant body of data will be
collected for in-depth analysis. This is an
exciting challenge for Savannah and a very exciting
development for LCF.
Savannah setting up the GPS device
2010 LCF Field Methods Course Open (9/30/09)
Dr. Natalie Vasey's Primatology Field Methods course
information is now available. Two sessions are
being offered in 2010.
Click here for complete information
Meg Lowman Writes About LCF (9/28/09)
Meg Lowman, professor at New College of
Florida and noted tree canopy expert, came to the
reserve with a group of students and wrote about their
experience in her weekly environmental column. Most
importantly she described the current political crisis,
the rapid deforestation and what practical steps can be
taken to help save the lemurs in Madagascar.
Link to Sarasota Herald-Tribune article
Growing Madagascar Crisis (8/31/09)
Click
here to read a statement from the Director, links to
more information and RSS feeds.
Canopy Highway (8/20/09)
Volunteers helped install the beginning of our canopy
highway in the pine forest. The Varecia rubra
were instantly enthralled with the artificial vines and
are displaying their acrobatic skills especially at mealtime.
Fieldwork Student Begins in Library (08/10/09)
Claire Miller, a graduate student in the University of
South Florida's School of Library and Information
Science program, began her supervised fieldwork course
in the Bladstrom Library this month. She will assist
Kate with library projects and learn about what goes on
in a special library. A New College graduate with family
in Arcadia, she feels right at home on the Reserve.
Fieldwork students gain hands-on library experience
while earning course credits and put in a minimum of 120
hours working in the library. Besides traditional
library tasks like cataloging and collection development
she will do some grantsearching and help with the
digitization of the rare books. Claire is our second
USF/SLIS student to choose the Bladstrom Library for her
fieldwork experience and we are most appreciative of
this mutually beneficial partnership.
|
 Lemur
Latitudes LCF Newsletter (08/03/09)
Click here to read our
August newsletter.
|
Subscribe to LCF's Mailing List
Subscribe online to begin receiving our newsletter
electronically along with other news and announcements
from LCF. We are saving trees and controlling costs by
discontinuing the print version of our biannual
newsletter "Lemur Latitudes" and will publish it only
electronically starting with our 2009 issue.
We also want to be able to update our friends and
supporters quickly and easily with news on the work and
activities going on in Myakka City and in Tampolo.
Please enter your email address so that we may keep you
in the loop!
Click here to subscribe
|
Message from the Executive Director (6/18/09)
Because we have posted the job announcement for my
successor, I feel that I owe you an explanation for this
shift in leadership. I had intended to announce my
retirement at the same time we announced the new
executive director, but already several of you have
called.
Last summer I gave the LCF Board
and scientists a two-year notice that I am stepping
aside so new blood can come in and take the LCF to the
places we want it to go. The goal of every organization
is self-sustainability and LCF has a unique character,
heft, and a secure future in its own right. I am
thrilled that we have reached this point and I am
totally confident to embrace this change.
With tremendous help from the
LCF team and you, our steadfast and involved donors,
over the last 13 years I’ve been honored to direct the
building of the reserve, the initiation of innovative
programs and research, the creation of a Madagascar
partnership, and the establishment of an endowment fund.
Now this baby is ready to go to college and beyond and
we need some visionary, vital person to help it take
wing. I see it like the formation of a flock of
migratory birds when the lead bird gets tired and falls
back in the “V” formation and the next bird moves into
the leadership position in a flawless and ancient
ritual.
I'll still be active on the
board but will leave the day-to-day operations. As a
board member, I hope to work on a couple of interesting
fundraising projects and to do some landscaping on the
reserve – things that have been relegated to the back
burner while more important tasks have taken center
stage.
We will keep you apprised of developments and announce
the new director when she/he is chosen. This is an
exciting time and together we will all continue to share
in LCF’s continued mission of saving lemurs from
extinction and inspiring those young people who will
husband the earth’s resources for the future.
Penelope Bodry-Sanders
|
LCF Executive Director Job Posting (6/16/09)
Click here for complete information
|
LCF Named Recipient of Nature's Path 2009 EnviroKidz
Giving Back Award (5/20/09)
Funds Will Support Classroom/Community Center in Tampolo
The Lemur Conservation Foundation has been named a
recipient of Nature’s Path Organic Foods’ 2009
EnviroKidz Giving Back Award. The Giving Back Program
donates money to non-profit organizations, such as LCF
that support endangered species, habitat conservation
and environmental education for kids.
LCF's relationship with Nature's Path began with the
development of the EnviroKidz Organic Leapin' Lemurs
Cereal and cereal bars which describe the work of the
Lemur Conservation Foundation and inform children about
lemurs and their situation as an endangered species.
"We have heard from dozens of children who have
responded enthusiastically to the products and the games
and informational material on the box and wanted to help
us in our mission," said Penelope Bodry-Sanders, LCF's
Executive Director. "Given the current political unrest
and accelerated environmental devastation in some parts
of Madagascar, the LCF's classroom project being
supported by EnvironKidz, has become even more urgent
and critical for conservation efforts on this island
nation," she added.
“We are committed to leaving the world a better place
than we found it by supporting organizations like the
Lemur Conservation Foundation,” said Arran Stephens,
President and Founder of Nature’s Path Organic Foods.
“We are extremely grateful to the consumers who have
supported our EnviroKidz line and made this possible and
proud to be able to give back to this dedicated and
hard-working group.” Nature’s Path, North America’s
number one organic cereal manufacturer is celebrating
the 10 year anniversary of its EnviroKidz Giving Back
Award this year. For more information go to
www.naturespath.com
or
www.envirokidz,com.
About the Project:
 The
$30,000 grant will fund a much needed
classroom/community center at LCF's sister reserve in
Tampolo, Madagascar. (To see complete plans, click
on image) The center will fill a critical
need at the Tampolo Forest Reserve and will dramatically
enhance education outreach for both school students and
adults by providing a centralized gathering place for
environmental educational presentations and study.
The Tampolo Station which is already a hub of
environmental activity, can also become the civic and
intellectual center for all residents of Tampolo
villages. In this way, the building serves a social need
while bringing attention to environmental issues. As
new towers for wireless Internet are being built ever
closer to Tampolo, within the next couple of years when
the Internet is available, LCF will install four
computers powered by solar panels in the classroom,
available for the use of Tampolo village children.
The Tampolo Station which is already a hub of
environmental activity, can also become the civic and
intellectual center for all residents of Tampolo
villages. In this way, the building serves a social need
while bringing attention to environmental issues. As
new towers for wireless Internet are being built ever
closer to Tampolo, within the next couple of years when
the Internet is available, LCF will install four
computers powered by solar panels in the classroom,
available for the use of Tampolo village children.
About Nature’s Path:
Founded in 1985, Nature’s Path Organic Foods is
headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia and employs
around 350 people at its four facilities in Canada and
the United States. The privately held, family-owned
company produces breakfast foods and snacks sold in
specialty foods stores and retailers in 40 countries
around the world. The company’s innovative brands
include Nature’s Path®, Flax Plus, EnviroKidz®, Weil by
Nature’s Path TM, and Optimum®. Visit Nature’s Path
online at
www.naturespath.com.
|
Baby Mongoose Lemur Born April 19
4 weeks old with mother
both parents and baby at almost 2 months
|
Myakka Reserve's New Lead
Keeper (4/1/09)
Pattie Walsh began work as as the Myakka City Lemur
Reserve's new Lead Keeper in April. And, she arrived
well-prepared for the challenging job.
Pattie comes to LCF from the Wildlife Conservation
Society in the Bronx, NY where she worked for six years
as a pathology technician. Prior to this she was as an
animal keeper at Disney Animal Kingdom and Baltimore Zoo
and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar.
Pattie has a B.S. in psychobiology from Long Island
University, Southampton Campus and a certificate in
conservation biology. She’s also been engaged in
conservation efforts in Kenya with bongos (a rare forest
antelope) and lions. She has several publications -- on
both pathology and animal husbandry – to her credit.
She is especially interested in animal enrichment and
training.
Besides handling animal husbandry responsibilities,
Pattie will direct the work of the interns and
volunteers, assist with visiting researchers, plan and
implement enrichment activities, and will work closely
with Monica to maintain our thriving and expanding lemur
colony.
|
2009 Teachers' Institute for Conservation Ecology -
July 12-17
The Teachers’ Institute for Conservation Ecology is a
five-day research based summer institute sponsored and
conducted by the Lemur Conservation Foundation (LCF) in
Myakka City, FL. The goal of the Institute is to
provide high school teachers the necessary scientific
background, inspiration and specialized tools and
techniques in a working science environment to enable
them to create stimulating conservation curricula to
take back to their classrooms and share with their
colleagues. The participants work with leading national
scientists who share their expertise and provide
hands-on activities designed to excite and motivate
young science students. Using the Reserve's lemur colony
and the native habitat as a resource, participants will
also practice living day-to-day science through a
field-training program where they learn proper fieldwork
techniques under the guidance of professionals.
Click here for complete
information and application form.
|
Subscribe to LCF's Mailing List (1/21/09)
Subscribe online to begin receiving our newsletter
electronically along with other news and announcements
from LCF. We are saving trees and controlling costs by
discontinuing the print version of our biannual
newsletter "Lemur Latitudes" and will publish it only
electronically starting with our Spring 2009 issue.
We also want to be able to update our friends and
supporters quickly and easily with news on the work and
activities going on in Myakka City and in Tampolo.
Please enter your email address so that we may keep you
in the loop!
Click here to subscribe
|
Director Wins National Conservation Fellowship (1/20/09)
Penelope Bodry-Sanders is one of 40 conservationists
nationwide to be selected for the TogetherGreen
Conservation Fellowship program for 2008. The program,
created by an alliance between the National Audubon
Society and Toyota, is designed to foster leadership and
creativity in promoting conservation and environmental
projects across the country. Read more about the
Fellowship and the project Penelope is working on at the
TogetherGreen's web site. |
LCF Internship Changes Hands (January
2009)
Laura Ellsaesser from North Carolina takes over the animal husbandry
internship from Roy Keech in January and begins her six-month stay at
the Reserve. A recent graduate of Auburn University, we are glad to
have her on board. We will miss Roy whose sense of humor, diligence,
ingenuity and positive attitude made him a pleasure to work with.
For more information on internship opportunities at LCF
click here.
|
2009 LCF Limited Edition Calendar (12/5/08)
The 2009 calendar features a beautifully reproduced oil
painting by Judy North of a red-ruffed lemur. These
calendars have become collectibles and are beautiful
framed.
See our Malagasy Lemur Shop to order your calendar and
see the many lemur-themed items available.
Click
here for the Lemur Shop.
|
Lemur Jewels Ltd. (12/3/08)
|
 LCF
is proud to announce that the Lemur Jewels Ltd. website
www.lemurjewels.com is up and running.
Uniquely designed handcrafted pieces in sterling silver
and 18 kt. gold featuring six different lemurs by
Valentin Magro might make the perfect and very unusual
holiday gift.
|
Primatology Field Methods Course
Spring 2009(10/2/08)
Natalie Vasey, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Portland
State University in Portland, Oregon, will be visiting the reserve in
the spring to conduct three intensive one-week sessions on primatology
field methods. These courses, which can be taken for credit, are open to
students and professionals at other institutions. The first deadline to
apply is December 20, 2008! Apply early as each session is limited to
10 students.
For complete information on this and other field
training opportunities at LCF,
click here.
|
Lemur Tales: Lessons from the Forest (9/23/08)
Alex Porpora, former LCF intern, is back at the Reserve offering
distance learning classes for K-12 students. This exciting new outreach
program is designed to engage students in science education by enabling
them to interact online with a scientist or researcher in the field. To
find out more about the program visit ourOutreach
page.
|
Leapin' Lemurs (8/1/08)
 Leapin'
Lemurs, a new organic EnviroKidz brand cereal from
Nature's Path Organic, is on grocery and health food
store shelves and 1% of the sales goes to the Lemur
Conservation Foundation. You can also order the cereal
online. Inside and outside of the box there is
information about lemurs and endangered animals with
games and puzzles. It also tells about the Lemur
Conservation Foundation and what we do. Included on the
box is a form to send a contribution directly to LCF.
Read more about Nature's Path's commitment to
conservation and their efforts to educate children about
environmental causes.
Product information
Nature's
Path Organic
EnviroKidz
Web Site
|
The Ako Project
The Ako Project produces storybooks on the lemurs of
Madagascar, involves and aids primary school teachers,
and provides posters about Madagascar’s forest habitats.
more... |
