Conceptualized in 2008, we began with a strong passion for nocturnal strepsirrhines, the intense desire to someday meet these mysterious and elusive lemurs up-close, and to someday create a world-class facility to understand, conserve, and protect them.

Following the 2012 reassessment of the conservation status of living lemur species, IUCN would later announce the Lemur Action Plan in 2013, which specifically called for the development of captive management programs for Lepilemur, Avahi, Cheirogaleus and Microcebus sp.

Suddenly, our passion project seemed not only valuable, but urgently necessary to ensure the survival of these animals.

In 2014, the project took on steam as we began working on design concepts and project names, fleshed out ideas for education programs, and our director made plans for their first independent trip to Madagascar.

From 2014-2019 we developed public outreach programs focused on nocturnal lemurs, participated in fundraisers both locally and internationally, and began reaching out to colleagues for guidance.

Now, in 2024, we are ready to coordinate with colleagues and start taking the first tangible steps toward our dream!

Currently, we are in the early stages of planning and implementation of a lot of our long-held dreams and goals.

We are ready to put boots on the ground and turn ideas into action.

Recent efforts have included:

• Seeking out ideal locations for a physical headquarters, to also become the site of a future ex-situ facility

• Researching nocturnal species to evaluate their suitability for the project. These evaluations are based on:

  • • Conservation and protection statuses

    • Biological diversity/genetic distance from one-another

    • Geographic representation

    • "Flagship" potential

• Connecting with local Malagasy people to understand potential research sites, regional challenges, and ways to help

• Reaching out to professional colleagues for mentorship and advice, as it relates to our project and goals

We are always seeking collaborators of all sorts!

From zoologists to microbiologists, nutritionists to veterinarians, students to professors, project managers to investors, authors to artists, and anyone inbetween!
We believe projects like these are best as team efforts, and would love to welcome anyone interested in our cause to join our team.

We would especially like to send out a call to arms for all nocturnal Primatologists who would like to join us, to start developing plans and strengthening our efforts!

Our director has been communicating with colleagues in the field in pursuit of a best path forward to start the project, whether that be research first or creating a physical headquarters first as a base of operations. Any advice or guidance is greatly welcomed, and can be relayed to us at contact@sleepylemurs.org