Patricia Wright

Patricia Chapple Wright, PhD is an accomplished American primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist. Considered to be one of the world's foremost expert on lemurs, Wright is best known for her 26-year study of social and family interactions of wild lemurs in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. She is the founder of the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments (ICTE) and Centre ValBio (CVB). Wright has worked extensively on conservation. In the late 1980s she spearheaded an integrated conservation and development project that, in 1991, led to the establishment of Ranomafana National Park.

EARLY LIFE

Pat wright was born in Doylestown, PA on September 10, 1944 to Julia Delores, a school librarian and Hugh Edward Chapple, a foundry supervisor. She was raised in Lyndonville, NY and has five siblings.

EDUCATION

Wright’f first job was at Harvard Medical School as a lab technician and then she worked for the Department of Social Services in NYC. Quitting her job to be a mother and housewife In the 1960s she bought an owl monkey from a N Y pet store in the village. To learn more about them she and her family traveled to Peru to see them in their native habitat Her enthusiasm sent her back to school to become a primatologist Wright obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1966 from Hood College. She later went on to obtain her Ph.D. in Anthropology from City University of New York in 1985 under the direction of Dr. Warren Kinzey.

PERSONAL LIFE

Wright has been married twice. She and her first husband, James A. Wright, an artist, had a daughter, Amanda Wright. They divorced in 1980. In 1993 she married Jukka Jernvall, a Finnish evolutionary biologist. Wright and Jernvall separated in 2009. They have no children together. Wright has two grandchildren.

MADAGASCAR

In 1986 primatologist Dr. Patricia Wright traveled to Madagascar in search of the Greater Bamboo Lemur, a plenteous species in the subfossil lemur sites of the north but believed to have gone extinct in the recent past. After searching in all of the southeastern forests where sightings had been recorded decades before, Patricia and her team focused the search on the forests of Ranomafana because of the extensive stands of giant bamboo that were observed there. Patricia had a hunch that if a bamboo lemur could be found anywhere, it would probably be where its main dietary need was plentiful. The hunch proved fruitful when not only was the Greater Bamboo Lemur rediscovered but one that had not been known to exist was also found. The new species was named Hapalemur aureus, the Golden Bamboo Lemur.

CONSERVATION

Not long after research on the newly discovered populations of bamboo lemurs began Patricia learned that local villagers had been hired by timber exploiters to harvest the larger trees. Patricia’s guide told her that a man could earn one dollar for every canopy tree he could cut and drag to the road. Chopping trees was the best way for a person to make money. Patricia knew that this would certainly mark the end for the lemurs and action needed to be taken. Patricia traveled 2 days to get to Madagascar’s capital city Antananarivo to discuss the problem with the Department of Forest and Water. The man who sat behind a padded bullet-proof door and huge desk listened to her concerns for the habitat of a new species. He agreed that the forest should be protected as a national park but it would take money to delineated boundaries and convince people not to cut down the forest or hunt lemurs; border patrols would need to be hired. The man said he had full confidence that Patricia could find the money. Though the task was daunting, the researcher made the commitment to save the forest but she knew she could not be successful without the help of other people. She began to build relationships with funding organizations as well as the people living in the villages around the forest of Ranomanfana.

RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK

Ranomanfana National Park (RNP) was inaugurated on May 31, 1991. The 43,500 hectares park contains mountainous rainforest and protects 12 species of lemurs, as well as untold species of chameleons, birds, frogs, tenrecs, and carnivores. The protection of its biodiversity depended on the relationships built with the local people. Patricia had made 7 expeditions to meet with village leader and ask about what they would need in order to replace the value of the materials they were extracting from the forest. Each leader responded with a similar list: a clinic to replace the medicinal plants, agricultural expertise and fertilizer for farming to replace the slash-and-burn cultivation,schools for their children and a real soccer ball. It was a giant task to be the leader of a pioneer project melding improvement of village economies with protecting a huge forest filled with unique biodiversity. This would be a conservation project based on science and research, one of the first in Madagascar.

Centre ValBio: A Modern Research and Education Center next to the Rainforest

In 2003 a rice field adjacent to Ranomafana National Park was converted into a center for learning and repository of knowledge. The Centre ValBio (CVB) research campus was founded by an international consortium of universities. Founding members include Stony Brook University, the University of Antananarivo, the University of Fianarantsoa and the University of Helsinki. The campus overlooks the Namorona River and has access to the rainforest. The Administration Building houses a kitchen, dining room that seats 64 and doubles as a lecture hall, offices, a research room with library, and laboratory space. Additionally the campus offers an outdoor classroom and a separate storage building. In 2011 CVB has become the repository for 25 years of data. Long-term studies include lemur behavior and ecology, plant growth, flowering and fruiting, and climate, as well as surveys of chameleons, lemurs, birds, insects and carnivores. With funding from Conservation International, CVB has in 2010 joined the TEAM global network of sites where data is being collected for understanding changes in biodiversity over time. CVB employs a staff of over 80 local residents trained at Centre ValBio as research technicians, office administration and data entry. Hundreds of scientists from all over the world base their work at the research station. Nearly 1000 publication have been produced since the establishment of RNP. The rainforest is also the destination for many undergraduate students who are beginning to seriously consider careers. CVB supports various study abroad programs for undergraduates, including a summer and fall semester from Stony Brook University. Many alumni have gone on to graduate programs that incorporate research work started while participating in study abroad in Madagascar.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Honors

Wright has received many honors for her conservation work in Madagascar. Among many other honors, in 1995, she received the prestigious" Chevalier d' Ordre National" National Medal of Honor of Madagascar, from the President of Madagascar. In 1990, she received an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Hood College. In 2001, she was one of only seven scientists profiled in Me & Isaac Newton, an inspiring directed by Michael Apted, creator of the classic 7 Up films. In 2007, Wright was awarded a “Honoris causa,”(honorary degree) by the University of Antananarivo as well as a Distinguished Primatologist” award from the American Society of Primatologist. In 2008 she was awarded the Hauptman-Woodward Pioneer in Science Award. In 2011 she received the Distinguished Alumnae award from Hood College. Wright also served on National Geographic’s Committee of Research and Exploration Committee from 2000-2009 and NGS Conservation Trust from 2001-2010.

Awards

• 2011 Finalist for the Indianapolis Prize forConservation
• 2008 Stony Brook University Faculty Achievement Award
• 2008 Hauptman Woodward Pioneer in Science Medal
• 2008 Distinguished Primatologist Award from American Primatology Association
• 2007 Awarded Honoris Causa, honorary degree from University of Antananarivo
• 2007 Awarded Honoris Causa, honorary degree from University of Fianarantsoa
• 2007 Ranomfana National Park named UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 2006 A new species from Kalambatritra Madagascar named Lepilemur wrighti
• 2006 Cosmos Prize Selection Committee, Osaka, Japan
• 2006 Explorers Club Lecture Series
• 2006-2010 Member of Task Force 3 BSEI
• 2004 Elected AAAS Fellow
• 2004 "Medaille Officier de Madagascar." High honor awarded by the President of

Madagascar

• 2003 "Woman of Distinction" Award, given by Senator Lavalle
• 2003 Royal Geographical Society Invited Speaker, London, UK
• 2002 James Watson Presidential Council speaker at Symposium "Human Behavior in

the Genomic Age" Cold Spring Harbor, NY

• 2002 National Research Council, The National Academies, Committee on

Smithsonian Scientific Research

• 2001 Provost's Lecture Series, SUNY Stony Brook
• 2001 Honorary Degree from University of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar
• 2000-present Member of Board of Directors of Comparative and Conservation Biology Fdn
• 2000 "Principal Investigator of the Year." Earthwatch Institute
• 1998-2003 Member of International Society of Primatology Conservation Committee
• 1995-1998 Advisory Board of Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research
• 1995 "Chevalier d'Ordre National." National Medal of Honor of Madagascar, from the

President of Madagascar

• 1995 Women in Science Engineering Annual Award, SUNY
• 1994-present Field Associate of Malagasy Faunal Group, International Board
• 1994-present Scientific Advisory Board member of The Douroucouli Foundation
• 1994-present Advisory Board of Primate Conservation Inc.
• 1994-1996 Advisory Board of the Center for Tropical Conservation, Duke University
• 1994 Women of the Year in Science Award, Three Village Times, New York
• 1993-2004 Member of Board, Organization for Tropical Studies
• 1993-1999 Member of Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy, Long Island Chapter
• 1993 Women Who Make a Difference Award, Family Circle Magazine
• 1990-1992 Member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Primatology
• 1991-present Member of External Advisory Board, Duke University Primate Center
• 1989-1994 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellow
• 1990 Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Hood College
• 1990-1991 Member of National Research Council Committee for Sustained Development &

Environmental Preservation of Humid Tropics

• 1988-1994 Member of Conservation Committee for American Society of Primatologists
• 1987-1991 Consultant for Aotus breeding project at Yemassie Monkey Center, Yemassie,

South Carolina

• 1984-present IUCN Primate Specialists Group-South America
• 1982 "S.L. Washburn Prize" for outstanding student paper at American Association of

Physical Anthropologists Meeting, Eugene, Oregon

MEDIA

TV & Films

• 2010- Featured om NHK Japanese television special on Madagascar and its Biodiversity.
• 2009 Featured on Dan Rather Reports, HDNet TV
• 2007 Featured in Wild Nature May, 2007; produced by Rhett Butler
• 2006 Featured in BBC documentary special “Looking for Aye-Ayes with Miranda Stevenson
• 2004 Featured in Martin Kratt’s National Geographic “Be the Creature” television

series.

• 2002 Featured in David Attenborough’s Life of Mammals documentary film.
• 2001 the television documentary Extinction. Produced by Dan Mogulof, New York Times/Science Times and National Geographic Society.
• 2000 Featured in The Golden Bamboo Lemur, one hour television special; Directed by Satoshi, NHK Japanese television.
• 2000 Me and Isaac Newton, Directed by Michael Apted, a Clear Blue Sky Production; Emmy award winner.

Print & Radio Features

• 2009-10 National Geographic Magazine
• 2009 Interviewed in “Angels of the Forest” a documentary film on the silky sifaka.
• 2008-09 BBC Natural History Unit (UK) and NHK Japan featured NSF Project
• 2008 Featured in Mangabey.com
• 2008 Featured in Plenty Magazine, February, 2008, “More than the Science”
• 2007 Interviewed on BBC radio on Climate change and lemur reproduction.
• 2006 Featured in Smithsonian Magazine, April Cover Article “For the Love of

Lemurs.”

• 2006 Interviewed in Award-winning National Public Radio show Life on Earth,

Madagascar Biodiversity produced by Dan Grossman.

• 2005 Natural History Magazine June Cover Article “Dance of the Sexes”
• 2005 Featured in Long Island Life, Newsday, February 206 Patricia C. Wright
• 2000 Featured in Nova Adventure, On-Line Scientist, Expedition to Marojejy National Park, Madagascar, Peter Tyson, Producer.
• 2000 Profiled in book, The Eighth Continent, by Peter Tyson. Simon-Schuster.
• 1999 Featured in Woman to Woman, Channel One, Television, New York; One-hour interview.
• 1998 Featured in one-hour television show, Wild Things, filmed in Madagascar.
• 1997 Featured in chapter of To the Young Environmentalist: Lives Dedicated to Preserving the Natural World by Linda Leuzzi. Chapter entitled, "Patricia Wright: Rain Forest Savior." Franklin Watts Press.
• 1996 Featured in chapter of The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of

Extinctions, by David Quammen, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

• 1993 Featured in For the Wild Places: Profiles in Conservation, by Janet Trowbridge Bohlen. Chapter entitled "Patricia Chapple Wright: The Creation of a Park." Island Press.

Books

• 2003 Tarsiers: Past, Present and Future. Rutgers University Press, NJ.

• 2011: Madagascar: The Forest of Our Ancestors Regard du Vivant Press, France.

External links

• Dr. Wright's Official Website
• Interview with Dr. Wright
• ICTE
• Centre ValBio
• Patricia C. Wright's blog
• Director Sharon Pieczenik's video interview
• National Geographic Bio
• PBS special on Wright's sifaka research
• Anthropology Department at Stony Brook
• Interview with Dr. Wright

References

Conniff, Richard (April 2006). "For the Love of Lemurs". Smithsonian (Smithsonian Institution) 37 (1): 102–109.  Link to excerpt of article