Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this nature documentary journeys to the island of Madagascar, home to Earth's oldest primates: lemurs. More than 60 million years ago, the ancestors of these lemurs floated on rafts of vegetation from East Africa to Madagascar. With no predators, these primitive primates flourished, developing into a variety of species, some as large as a gorilla. Now, thanks to encroaching civilization, over 90% of their forests have been destroyed. Giant lemurs are extinct, and the types that are left are in danger. Filmmakers David Douglas and Drew Fellman explore the elusive lemurs' exotic habitats, working with primatologist Patricia C. Wright, Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University, who describes the animals' female-centric power structure. Dubbed the “Eighth Continent,” Madagascar is about the size of Texas, and it sports a varied topography. Established in 1991, Ranomafana National Park features over 100,000 acres of protected rainforest and has become the only indigenous home for many species—including the greater bamboo lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs, and mouse lemurs, the smallest primates in the world (which have the same genetic foundation as humans). While the large Indri lemurs are shrill choral masters, it's the dancing Sifakas that will steal viewers' hearts—playful, arboreal acrobats that leap great distances between trees that are covered in needle-sharp spines. An enchanting and educational film that delivers an ecological message about conservation in a most delightful way, this is recommended. [Note: Blu-ray extras include “The Story of Lemurs” segment (6 min.), a “making-of” featurette (5 min.), a behind-the-scenes featurette (2 min.), “Meet Patricia Wright” (4 min.), “Go-Kart Racers” (2 min.), and three more lemur-related segments—“Five Things About Indri” (2 min.), “A Baby Indri” (2 min.), and “The Cutest Lemur” (2 min.)—as well as bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid nature documentary.] (S. Granger)
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar
Warner, 41 min., G, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $35.99, Mar. 31 Volume 30, Issue 3
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar
Star Ratings
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