'Island of Lemurs: Madagascar' Documentary: Lemurs Facing Extinction, Things to Know About the Primates in the Wild
Real lemurs finally got extensive attention as the new documentary film "Island of Lemurs: Madagascar" hits IMAX theatres on Friday, April 4, taking with it a family-oriented and educational approach regarding the real world where the lemurs exist.
Morgan Freeman, an American actor and director also known for his deep voice, will be narrating the said documentary that follows primatologist Patricia Wright as she put her efforts in saving lemurs from an apparent extinction.
"These extraordinary creatures that live in Madagascar are a lot like us," Wright told Reuters. "They have families. They raise their offspring and have problems with their offspring."
One of the most common lemurs is the ring-tailed lemur, which according to National Geographic is easily acknowledged because of its "long, vividly striped, black-and-white tail." The ring-tailed lemurs have the capability to communicate with other lemurs by just using their "unique odor" emanated from their "powerful scent glands." These lemurs are also commonly found in zoos.
NatGeo also explained that ring-tailed lemurs are unusual and mostly stay on the ground while searching "fruit, leaves, flowers, tree bark, and sap" for food.
Lemurs are considered primates that live in the wild of the African island and other tiny neighboring islands in Madagascar. The lemurs do not exist anywhere else on Earth.
A report published on sciencemag.org shows that lemurs are the "most threatened mammal group on Earth." The new documentary, showing on April 4 in 3D shows Patricia Wright attempting to find mates for the remaining lemurs in Madagascar.
According to Planet Save, 90% of lemurs are now threatened to become extinct so primatologist are now devising plans to avoid the nearing extinction. The team of primatologists built an "action plan" that can save the "101 species of lemur" living in Madagascar.
"Island of Lemurs: Madagascar" director David Douglas told Reuters that lemurs are the "last chance stage in their long existence" and by people simply having lack of knowledge about their existence on Earth and the lemurs are already "disappearing."
"We're trying to involve people and engage them with the entertainment side of the lives of these animals, because it is rich lives that they live," Douglas explained.