Reserve expansion update

At the campaign kick-off, Dr. Alison Grand, LCF Executive Director, unveiled four top priorities:

1. Increase much-needed forest habitats
2. Provide a new lemur shelter
3. Build an on-site maintenance shop
4. Underwrite expanding operational costs

In June 2019, after many months of preparation and patiently waiting for the weather to cooperate, we were thrilled to release ring-tailed lemurs into the Elizabeth Moore Lemur Forest Habitat. Elizabeth opened the door of the Mackarness Goode Lemur Aerial Trail, connecting to the Marilyn North lemur shelter, and the group leaped into their new surroundings amidst clapping and cheering.

Mackarness “Mack” Goode, husband of LCF Founder Penelope Bodry-Sanders, contributed greatly to the success of “Leap for Lemurs” by lending his fundraising expertise from its inception to its completion. In appreciation, LCF named a lemur aerial trail in honor of his leadership and guidance. Mack’s trail is one of several that provide the reserve’s lemurs with access to their protected free-ranging forests, where researchers and students study their natural behavior. Expansion plans include the construction of additional trails.

LCF is very grateful to trustee Judy Rasmusson for funding the new on-site maintenance shop, which was constructed in early 2019. This modern facility houses and protects the equipment needed to maintain the 130-acre reserve and its lemur forest habitats, and provides a work space for carpentry and other valued and necessary work to provide the best care for LCF’s colony. With thanks to Emily H. Fisher for her generous support, a full-time reserve manager lives on-site to care for the property in a cottage named for her.