Leapin' lemurs! "Island of Lemurs: Madagascar" opens at IMAX

In May, Indianapolis will go ape for the new orangutan exhibit at the Indianapolis Zoo.

But for the month of April, it's all about the lemurs.

More than 60 millions years ago, the species washed up on the shore of the tropical island of Madagascar.

Today, there are more than 100 species of lemurs there, almost all of which are threatened with extinction. They are Earth's most endangered mammals. It's the subject of a new documentary, "Island of Lemurs: Madagascar," which will be released in IMAX theaters nationwide, including the Indiana State Museum, on April 4.

Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, the 40-minute film explores the lives of the fascinating primates that can only be found outside of captivity on Madagascar.

Dr. Patricia Wright, a 2014 Indianapolis Prize finalist, has a starring role in the film. Wright, who was also a finalist for the animal conservation award in 2012, discovered the golden bamboo lemur in 1986. This discovery helped catalyze the transformation of Madagascar's park systems. A former social worker, Wright has dedicated her life's work to the playful pro simians. The Indianapolis Prize will be awarded in Indianapolis on Sept. 27.

"Lemurs really are incredible animals. ... They're incredibly cute and fun to be around but also an incredibly endangered species," said Chris Smith, an education specialist at Duke Lemur Center in Durham, N.C., where Wright is part of the external scientific advisory committee. The center worked alongside filmmakers for a portion of the film and accompanying Scholastic materials.

The film, which was captured with IMAX 3D cameras, elicits plenty of "Oooohs" and "Awwws" from viewers, especially children who are ecstatic about reaching out and "touching" the animals. Smith hopes that viewers are entertained but also understand the importance of preserving the lemurs' environment.

"Their endangered status is directly related to humans," he said. Lemurs have lost more than 90 percent of their original habitat to the harvesting of wood for charcoal production and slash-and-burn agriculture where forests are cut and burned to create fields for farming. It's a difficult issue to tackle as the land is used for cash crops for the population of 22 million people who live almost entirely at or below the poverty level.

Locals interested in getting a look at lemurs can visit the Indianapolis Zoo, where five female lemurs are on display. Three of them, Teagan, Reilly and Quinn, will celebrate their first birthdays the first week in April.

10 fascinating lemur facts

1. Chimpanzees may be the closest living relatives to humans, but lemurs win the title of the oldest.
2. They like to sunbathe. One of many lemurs' favorite pastimes is to find a bright spot and sit in a meditative "sun-worshipper" pose.
3. Females rule. Most lemurs operate in a matriarchal society where the females are dominant to males in all areas, from feeding to selecting the best sleeping spots. However, some species, like the collard lemur, are co-dominant.
4. When traveling in their home range, ring-tailed lemurs keep their tails raised in the air, like flags, to keep group members together. However, they cannot grip with their tails.
5. They love paper and things that bounce. The Indianapolis Zoo provides its lemurs with "enrichment" like paper chains, cardboard tubes and hula hoops hanging from bungee cords.
6. They like to move it, move it. Just like the lemurs animated film, "Madagascar," lemurs are playful animals. The Coquerel's sifaka lemur is known for "dancing" around on its back legs.
7. "Lemur" stems from the Latin word lemures, which means "ghost."
8. One of a lemur's distinguishing species identifiers is a "toothcomb," a row of tightly spaced teeth that resemble a flea comb used for grooming.
9. Ring-tailed lemurs have some of the best senses of smell in the world. They can smell who they are related to, even if they've never met before, which helps them avoid inbreeding.
10. Lemurs are vocal animals, using howling, growling and "singing" to communicate with each other.

Call Star reporter Leslie Bailey at (317) 444-6094 and follow her on Twitter: @Lesalina.

Want to go?

WHAT: "Island of Lemurs: Madagascar"

WHEN: Times vary, opens April 4.

WHERE: IMAX at Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.

INFO: (317) 233 4629, www.imaxindy.com.