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. Bardot's are Rooney and Lamour. The room had yellow tile walls and a concrete floor.