Patricia Wright (primatologist)

Last updated
Patricia Wright
Born
Patricia Chapple Wright

(1944-09-10) September 10, 1944 (age 80)
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater Hood College
City University of New York
Occupation(s) Primatologist, anthropologist, conservationist

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. [1] Dr. Wright established the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments at Stony Brook University. [2] She has led over 60 field expeditions in countries such as Borneo, East Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Paraguay, Peru and Philippines. [3] 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 (2014), and has also received 3 Medal of Honors from the Malagasy government for her work in Madagascar. [4]

Contents

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. [5] Her father, a University of Toronto graduate, often took her into the woods, sparking her interest in animals and the forest ecosystem. [5]

Education

Wright obtained a bachelor's degree in biology in 1966 from Hood College. [5] Although Wright graduated with a biology degree, the lack of job opportunities led her to become a social worker before returning to scientific research. [5] Wright's path to primatology began after acquiring a South American monkey from a pet store. [5] Her curiosity about the monkey’s behavior led her to begin informal research, which later evolved into formal scientific study. At the time, little was known about South American primates, particularly the nocturnal species Aotus, which piqued Dr. Wright's interest. [5]

Her early fieldwork in South America focused on the behavior and ecology of the night monkey. Encouraged by Dr. Warren Kinzey of the City University of New York, Wright published her first paper in 1978 and subsequently pursued graduate studies. [5] She later went on to obtain her Ph.D. in Anthropology from City University of New York in 1985 under the direction of Warren Kinzey. [3] She earned a Ph.D. focused on night monkey behavior in the Peruvian rainforest, conducting research while also raising her daughter. [5] Wright currently works at Stony Brook University in New York as a professor of Anthropology, where she supervises the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences and Department of Ecology and Evolution. [6]

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. [7] [8]

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. [3] Faced with threats such as deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture, and illegal logging, Wright led efforts to preserve biodiversity through scientific research and community engagement. [5] Local communities around Ranomafana National Park are employed in education, reforestation, and ecotourism with aid from Wright and her colleagues. [5] Her conservation model integrates scientific monitoring, education, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, she has helped train local communities in the cultivation and marketing of vanilla, cacao, cinnamon, and peppercorns. [5]

Scientific contributions

Dr. Wright’s research has yielded vital insights into primate behavior, social structure, and genetics. [5] She has done studies on predation, microbiomes, social demography, and genetics within lemur species. [5] Recent findings from her team have uncovered unique genetic traits in lemurs, such as adaptations to cyanide-rich bamboo in bamboo lemurs. [5] She has also maintained a 30-year environmental database tracking climate, phenology, and disease spread in rainforest ecosystems, contributing to broader ecological understanding. [5]

Centre ValBio

Patricia Wright established the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments at Stony Brook University that is dedicated to science-based conservation and research in the tropics, with a special focus on Madagascar. It coordinates the work of many natural and social scientists throughout Madagascar, especially around Ranomafana National Park. It operates a modern research station in Madagascar called Centre ValBio. [2]

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. [5] Her career, from social work to amateur primate studies to international conservation leadership, underscores her commitment to science and the natural world.

Awards and recognition

Awards

Recognitions

Media

TV and films

Books

Taxon named in her honor

References

  1. "Dr. Patricia Wright". The Lemur Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  2. 1 2 "Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University". Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Dr Patricia C Wright | Centre ValBio". www.stonybrook.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  4. Dunaief, Daniel (2022-12-15). "Named 'Conservation Warrior,' SBU's Patricia Wright seeks funds to save Madagascar wildlife | TBR News Media" . Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Wright, Patricia (March 25, 2025). Interviewed by Aubrey Pigan
  6. "Expedition Team | Lindblad Expeditions". www.expeditions.com. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  7. "Patricia Wright". www.nationalgeographic.com. 2018-04-21. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  8. Dreifus, Claudia (2014-08-18). "A Lemur Rescue Mission in Madagascar". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  9. "Conservation Warrior Award". Seneca Park Zoo. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  10. Carter, Diana Louise. "Patricia Wright, lemur expert, at Seneca Park Zoo". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  11. Admin (2014-06-19). "Madagascar Documentary Featuring Pat Wright to Open Across US - SBU News" . Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  12. Editor, News (2014-05-14). "Lemur Scientist Awarded $250,000 Indianapolis Prize | Environment News Service (ENS)" . Retrieved 2025-04-07.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (14 March 2019). "Order ATHERINIFORMES: Families BEDOTIIDAE, MELANOTAENIIDAE, PSEUDOMUGILIDAE, TELMATHERINIDAE, ISONIDAE, DENTATHERINIDAE and PHALLOSTETHIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 15 December 2023.