Continued Support of the Duke University Primate Center for the Study of Primate Biology and History

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This award renews support for maintenance of a collection of prosimian primates housed at the Duke University Primate Center (DUPC). Study of the biology and behavior of Prosimians continues to be of the most active and exciting fields of primatology. The DUPC houses the largest and most diverse collection of prosimian primates in the world, including representative species from 6 of 7 extant families. The approximately 250 animals include lemurs (of several types), sifakas, loris, bushbabys and aye-ayes. These primates represent a major branch of primate evolution that diverged from the anthropoid branch about 60 million years ago. The Center is recognized as the focal point for prosimian research and conservation activities outside Madagascar. As part of its research mission, the DUPC provides on-site access to animals, and ships tissues and blood samples to faculty and students from diverse local, regional, national, and foreign institutions for off-site use. Users are charged a fee scaled to the kind and quantity of usage. This award insures the continued availability of animals and tissues for use by outside researchers at relatively modest cost. In addition to its involvement in enabling research, the Center conducts a variety of education and outreach efforts aimed at middle school, high school and college students, and allows public viewing of the animals.