N.C. Part sanctuary and part research center, the Duke center has 15 lemur species and 429 animals. Only 24 of the lemurs are blue-eyeds. Most live in forested outdoor enclosures, one as large as 28 acres. Here, researchers study the animals' reproduction, physiology and social behavior. Because lemurs evolved in isolation, they provide a snapshot of a comparatively primitive group of animals.
All lemurs are prosimians, which means premonkey.
Not very much is known about them. Conservationists see captive breeding as a safety net for all lemur species. Duke has had 29 births of blue-eyed lemurs since 1985, and it is lending animals to zoos to expand the breeding program. Each is named after a blue-eyed movie star. Redford's parents are Garfield and Garland.