Meet Dr. Tara Clarke, a primatologist and conservationist passionate about all things lemur!
Tara Clarke is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Evolutionary Anthropology Department at Duke University. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Victoria. Tara is a member of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group Member and has been working in Madagascar for over ten years. She is the Director of Outreach for Lemur Love, Inc. Tara’s research examines the impacts of habitat fragmentation and isolation on the genetic health of ring-tailed lemurs. Most recently, her work aims to understand the motivations driving the illegal pet trade of lemurs within Madagascar. This work employs a multi-disciplinary approach, including conservation genetics, formal and informal surveys with local communities, collaborations with local and international NGO’s, as well as conservation outreach and education initiatives.