Rare Baby Aye-Aye Born At Duke Lemur Center

DURHAM, NC — For the first time in six years, a baby aye-aye — a bizarre-looking, nocturnal, tree-dwelling primate — was born at the Duke Lemur Center, the facility announced Thursday. Agatha, named after mystery writer Agatha Christie, was born to mom Medusa on June 7, the center said, according to a Duke University press release.

"I haven't been this happy about the birth of a baby primate since my son was born,” said Duke Lemur Center director Anne Yoder.

That might sound like hyperbole, but consider: Agatha is one of only 24 of her kind in the United States and one of about only 50 captive animals in the world, and last year the center was shocked to lose four adult aye-ayes due to a poison found in avocados. (For more information on the Duke Lemur Center, and other Raleigh-area stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Hunting and loss of habitat has decimated the animal's numbers in the wild.

The aye-aye is a lemur native to Madagascar, where all lemurs are from. It is noted for its giant ears, rodent-like teeth, bushy tail and elongated middle finger, which it uses to tap trees in order to detect insects and pull them out of the tree. (See the video below.)

The center noted that Agatha weighed just 74 grams at birth — "or slightly more than a Snickers bar" — which is only two-thirds the weight of a typical baby aye-aye.

“Agatha was a unique case,” said Cathy Williams, veterinarian at the facility. “She required intervention by the veterinary staff to provide supplemental warmth and formula until she gained enough strength that she could return to her mom full time.”

Now, the center said, the baby is thriving.

“She’s becoming more active,” said Steve Coombs, Agatha’s primary technician. “She’s tapping branches. She sleeps with Medusa in the nest box, and the interaction I see is mostly nursing. She’s calm, and Medusa is back to her easygoing self.”

Photo by Sara Clark

While some villagers in Madagascar believe that aye-ayes are evil omens who can curse them with their middle fingers — leading to people killing them on sight — the aye-aye is actually one of the gentlest lemur species, according to the facilty.

“They’re not at all aggressive, they’re extremely curious and energetic and they’re very intelligent — they learn very quickly,” said Williams.

Agatha is Medusa's third baby. Agatha's father is Poe. The baby will stay with mom for two or three years while she learns to forage and build a nest. Visitors won't be able to see her, but they can view aye-ayes Endora and Ozma.

For more information on the Duke Lemur Center, which is the largest sanctuary for prosimian primates in the world, visit its website.

Lead photo by David Haring