Patricia C. Wright

Patricia Chapple Wright (born September 10, 1944) is an American primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist. Wright is best known for her extensive study of social and family interactions of wild lemurs in Madagascar. Dr. Wright established the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments at Stony Brook University. She worked extensively on conservation and contributed to the establishment of the Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar. Dr. Wright was the first female recipient of the Indianapolis Zoo Prize, and has also received 3 Medal of Honors from the Malagasy government for her work in Madagascar.

Early life Wright was born and raised in Western New York, near Lake Ontario, where she was the oldest among 6 children. Growing up in a large family in a rural farming community, she developed an early appreciation for wildlife and nature. Her father, a University of Toronto graduate, often took her into the woods, sparking her interest in animals and the forest ecosystem.

Madagascar In 1986 Wright traveled to Madagascar in search of the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus), a species abundant at the sub-fossil lemur sites of the north but believed to have gone extinct in the recent past. She found that the greater bamboo lemur still exists and discovered a new species that was named Hapalemur aureus, the golden bamboo lemur.

After the discovery of the golden bamboo lemurs, loggers began to cut the timber in their habitat. Concerned for the well-being of the species, Wright was instrumental in the founding of the Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar, which was inaugurated in 1991.

Ecosystem Stewards Wright's first guide in Ranomafana, Emile, became rapidly interested in lemurs and insects while following her team and began working as a naturalist. Together, they began a community science program called "Ecosystem Stewards". Through this program, the Malagasy people are able to work for money alongside her team, participating in the data collection of lemurs and insects in Madagascar, while gaining job experience and an appreciation for nature.

Personal life Wright is a mother and an advocate for women in science, having balanced engaging in research while simultaneously raising her daughter, who currently works in climate science. 2014 – First Woman Winner of Indianapolis Prize for Conservation 2014 – Lifetime Achievement Award from Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2014 – Honorary Degree (Honoris Causa) from University of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar 2012 – Awarded Commandeur Medal of Honor, Government of Madagascar 2008 – Stony Brook University Faculty Achievement Award 2008 – Hauptman Woodward Pioneer in Science Medal 2008 – Distinguished Primatologist Award from American Society of Primatologists 2007 – Awarded Honoris Causa, honorary degree from University of Antananarivo 2003 – "Medaille Officier de Madagascar". High honor awarded by the President of Madagascar 2003 – "Woman of Distinction" Award, given by Senator Kenneth LaValle 2000 – "Principal Investigator of the Year." Earthwatch Institute 1995 – "Chevalier d'Ordre National." National Medal of Honor of Madagascar, from the President of Madagascar 1994 – Women of the Year in Science Award, Three Village Times, New York 1990 – Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Hood College 1982 – "S.L. Washburn Prize" for outstanding student paper at the American Association of Physical Anthropologists meeting, Eugene, Oregon

Recognitions

2018 – Finalist for the St Andrews Prize for the Environment 2013 – Elected to American Philosophical Society 2011 – Finalist for the Indianapolis Prize for Conservation 2007 – Ranomafana National Park named UNESCO World Heritage Site 2006 – Cosmos Prize Selection Committee, Osaka, Japan 2006 – Explorers Club Lecture Series 2006 – 2010 Member of Smithsonian Biodiversity Task Force 2004 – Elected AAAS Fellow 2003 – 2011 Member of National Geographic Conservation Trust 2003 – Royal Geographical Society Invited Speaker, London, United Kingdom 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 2001–2009 Member of National Geographic Committee for Research and Exploration 2001 – Provost's Lecture Series, SUNY Stony Brook 2000 – Present Member of Board of Directors of Comparative and Conservation Biology Foundation 1998 – 2003 Member of International Society of Primatology Conservation Committee 1995 – 1998 Advisory Board of Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research 1995 – Women in Science Engineering Annual Award, SUNY 1994 – present Madagascar Faunal Group, International Board 1994 – 2000 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 1993 – 2001 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 – present Member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Primatology 1991 – present Member of External Advisory Board, Duke University Primate Center 1991 – present IUCN Primate Specialists Group-Madagascar 1990 – 1991 Member of National Research Council Committee for Sustained Development & Environmental Preservation of Humid Tropics 1989 – John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellow 1988 – 1994 Member of Conservation Committee for American Society of Primatologists 1984 – present IUCN Primate Specialists Group-South America

Media TV and films 2016 – featured on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, CNN 2014 – featured in IMAX film Island of Lemurs: Madagascar with Morgan Freeman 2014 – Featured in CNN's Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain 2009 – featured on Dan Rather Reports, HDNet TV 2002 – featured in David Attenborough's The Life of Mammals documentary film. 2000 – Me & Isaac Newton, directed by Michael Apted, a Clear Blue Sky Production; Emmy award winner.

Print and radio features 2009/10 – National Geographic Magazine 2008/09 – BBC Natural History Unit (UK) and NHK Japan featured NSF Project 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

Books 2014 – For the Love of Lemurs: My Life in the Wilds of Madagascar published by Lantern Books 2013 – High Moon Over the Amazon: My Quest to Understand the Monkeys of the Night published by Lantern Books 2011 – 2003 –

Taxon named in her honor The rainbowfish Rheocles wrightae, is a species of rainbowfish in the subfamily Bedotiinae, the Madagascar rainbowfishes. A new lemur species from Kalambatritra, Madagascar named Lepilemur wrighaeti, Wright's sportive lemur