What We Can Learn in ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR

Island-of-Lemurs-Madagascar-Patricia-Wright

Nature films bring awareness to wild animals, and lemurs are the focus of ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR, but lemur expert and star of the new IMAX movie, Dr. Patricia Wright says humans can learn valuable social lessons from these adorable-looking primates.

An accomplished American primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist, Dr. Patricia Wright has been studying wild lemurs in Madagascar for 27 years so when the filmmakers behind ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR came to her about shooting an IMAX film of the cute creatures of Madagascar, she was adamant lemurs would not behave naturally. "It would be impossible because lemurs wouldn't put up with big cameras," she told CineMovie in our one-on-one interview. She has been studying the social and family interactions of wild animals for so many years so she was surprised that some lemurs did stick around with 15 people in the forest, and a large IMAX camera on a crane which she described looking like a "brontosaurus." It was also her first time on camera, and she knew nothing about how to behave herself for the camera, but she managed.

Island-of-Lemurs-Madagascar-Patricia-Wright-movieThe arboreal primate with the long tail can only be found in Madagascar. Luckily, Dr. Wright says the rain forest of Madagascar are less dangerous than other rain forests because there are no poisonous snakes and the predators are small. However, the rough terrain of the region proved the biggest hurdle in making of the film. It looks seamless on the big screen, but Dr. Wright says it was rough for the crew.

In ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR, we learn a lot of about the lemurs and their habitat including their amazing vocalizations, their extraordinary jumping and how smart these species of animals can be.  However, Dr. Wright says she's taken away personal lessons that could benefit humans and their social interactions. Like us humans, lemurs have "squabbles," but one always makes up with the other immediately.

"Whenever you have a fight, you better reconcile soon after... as soon as possible. One will say sorry and then the other will say sorry too."

Apart from being social and a forgiving bunch, Dr. Wright tells us that "lemurs don't sweat the small stuff." Lemurs do not get stressed, and they "know how to relax," according to the Ph.D researcher.

She's learned these two valuable lessons from years of research and observation of the lemurs, and she's hoping that ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR will influence others to join her in bringing attention and conserving these beautiful species of animals.

ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR is now playing in movie theaters. Watch Trailer

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