What's New - The Lemur Conservation Foundation

News

New Arrivals

LCF is thrilled to share that two lemur infants were born at the reserve this year! LCF plays a critical role in maintaining a genetic safety net for lemurs that are otherwise threatened with extinction in the wild.

In April, we welcomed an endangered collared lemur (top photo)—the first born at LCF in six years—born to Jolene, a first-time mother, and Antoine, an experienced father. As Jolene’s baby started to spend more time exploring and playing, the staff were able to determine that it’s a girl! After considering many possibilities to continue our French theme for collared lemur names, the staff have chosen the name Isabelle.

Our latest infant (bottom photo) joined mongoose parents Leena and Merced in June. This is the fourth infant born to the pair since Leena’s arrival at LCF in 2014. As their baby matures, we will be able to determine if it’s a boy or a girl.

Upcoming Events

2nd Annual Laugh for Lemurs, September 13

Laugh for Lemurs is back! Help save lemurs from extinction while enjoying an evening of laughter at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre with comedian Dennis Blair. Described as one of the most talented and versatile comedians in show business, his act combines music, standup and topical observation. Blair has performed on The Tonight Show and HBO and entertained everywhere from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles to the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

Tickets: $25 (cash bar, 2 item minimum per person), 5:30-6:30pm pre-show reception for LCF supporters, 7:00pm comedian Dennis Blair. Available here.

Past Events

2018 Giving Challenge a wonderful successful

We are incredibly grateful to you, our supporters and friends, for making the 2018 Giving Challenge an incredible success. Thank you for your gifts and outreach—sharing our emails and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts to build awareness about and increase compassion and support for lemurs. With nearly $12,400 raised through individual gifts, you more than doubled 2016 Giving Challenge donations. With the outstanding match of $11,431 from The Patterson Foundation, for which we are so thankful, and $1,100 in prizes earned from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County (CFSC) and partner foundations, we set a record of almost $25,000. Our sincere thanks to the CFSC for presenting this wonderful and exciting giving opportunity. We look forward to keeping you updated about the impact of your support to help save lemurs from extinction.

2017 Open House

Nearly 500 visitors joined us for our annual Open House on Saturday, December 2. This eagerly-awaited free event is the one time each year that we are open to the public. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our mission with generous donations and our sponsors who helped make our Open House possible: Barbara Anson Realty & Associates, Benchmark EnviroAnalytical, Circle M Air Conditioning & Heating, and Peace River Electric Cooperative. If you’re interested in attending our next Open House, please subscribe to our newsletter for updates. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Tora Buttaro, Director of Development, at tbuttaro@lemurreserve.org or (941) 322-9484.

A Night of Lemur Delight

We hosted our 2017 benefit gala, A Night of Lemur Delight, on Thursday, December 14, at Michael’s On East, Sarasota. We are so grateful to our guests for helping to advance LCF’s urgent mission to prevent lemurs, among the most endangered mammal groups in the world, from becoming extinct. We wish to express our gratitude to Elizabeth Moore, Honorary Chair, Dr. George Amato, Master of Ceremonies, Distinguished Guest Speaker Dr. Ian Tattersall, singer-songwriter Razia Said, accompanied by Harvey Wirht, and ABC Team 7 award-winning meteorologist John Scalzi, Paddle Raise Emcee. Special thanks to Trulee Jameson, Art Source Studio, and Spotlight Graphics. It was a fabulous evening, and we’re grateful for this wonderful coverage:

Herald-Tribune Photos

Sarasota Magazine Slideshow

Your Observer Photos

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With over 50 lemurs living at the Lemur Conservation Foundation’s reserve in Myakka City, Florida, there’s always news about one or more leaping, climbing, calling or roughhousing in their protected forests and shelters. We invite you to learn more about our vital work in Florida and Madagascar to save lemurs from extinction.