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 has led over 60 field expeditions in countries such as Borneo, East Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Paraguay, Peru and Philippines. 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.
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.
Education Wright obtained a bachelor's degree in biology in 1966 from Hood College. Although Wright graduated with a biology degree, the lack of job opportunities led her to become a social worker before returning to scientific research. Wright's path to primatology began after acquiring a South American monkey from a pet store. 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. 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. 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. She earned a Ph.D. focused on night monkey behavior in the Peruvian rainforest, conducting research while also raising her daughter. 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.
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. 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. Local communities around Ranomafana National Park are employed in education, reforestation, and ecotourism with aid from Wright and her colleagues. 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.
Scientific contributions Dr. Wright’s research has yielded vital insights into primate behavior, social structure, and genetics. She has done studies on predation, microbiomes, social demography, and genetics within lemur species. Recent findings from her team have uncovered unique genetic traits in lemurs, such as adaptations to cyanide-rich bamboo in bamboo lemurs. She has also maintained a 30-year environmental database tracking climate, phenology, and disease spread in rainforest ecosystems, contributing to broader ecological understanding.
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.
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. 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
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