The real lemur behind the television icon who captured a generation of young viewers
In short: Before the Kratt brothers launched their animated adventures, they introduced children to a charismatic Coquerel's sifaka lemur named Zoboomafoo. While the show featured a puppet, the live-action segments starred a real lemur named Jovian. His life at the Duke Lemur Center became the heart of a global educational phenomenon.
Launched in January 1999, Zoboomafoo was the brainchild of Chris and Martin Kratt. The series blended live-action footage with animation to teach children about the animal kingdom. Produced by PBS Kids, the Kratt brothers' Earth Creatures company, and the CINAR Corporation, the show spanned 65 episodes before concluding its original run in November 2001. Its reach was vast, broadcasting across North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East, and India.
The show's titular character was portrayed by Jovian, a Coquerel's sifaka lemur residing at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina. While the puppet was operated by Canadian puppeteer Gord Robertson, Jovian provided the authentic presence that defined the series. His parents, Nigel and Flavia, occasionally acted as stand-ins during production. The show's unique format, which included segments like 'The Mystery Animal' and 'Going to the Closet,' earned critical acclaim, including a 2001 Emmy for excellence in directing for a children's program and multiple Parents' Choice honors.
Beyond television, the brand expanded into interactive PC games, such as the 2002 title Creature Quest, which helped children associate animals with the alphabet. Even after the final new episode aired, the show maintained a long afterlife in syndication, with some stations airing reruns as late as 2017. The Kratt brothers eventually moved on to other projects, including Be the Creature in 2003 and the long-running Wild Kratts in 2011. Jovian remained at the Duke Lemur Center until his passing from kidney failure in November 2014 at age 20, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most recognizable animal stars in educational media history.
The production process was a logistical feat, with filming split between the North Carolina lemur habitat and a studio in Etobicoke, Ontario, where the claymation sequences were created. The show's enduring popularity, sustained by years of reruns on PBS and Sprout, cemented its status as a staple of early childhood television. By bridging the gap between puppetry and natural history, the Kratt brothers created a template for wildlife education that remains influential decades later.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Zoboomafoo
- Also: Wikidata — Zoboomafoo · CC0
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