#patasmonkeys

Before The Lorax became a movie in 2012, Theodor Geisel (Dr. Suess) published the book on June 23, 1971.

An article about Dr. Suess’ inspiration behind The Lorax says that the book “sold more than a million copies and has been adapted into more than a dozen languages, may have drawn a more surprising element from nature, too” (Witter). The Lorax was one of the first environmental protection children’s books to be written, and since 1971, journalists and researchers have wondered where Suess’ inspiration stemmed to create such an imaginative story.

In “How Dr. Suess’ 1970 Trip to Kenya Inspired ‘The Lorax’,” author Brad Witter explains that The Lorax was published only a year after the first Earth Day was celebrated in the United States on April 22, 1970 (Witter).

At the time, Dr. Suess’ La Jolla, California home and community were suffering from deforestation of Eucalyptus trees as developers attempted to build more subdivisions.

Dr. Suess was experiencing ecological crises in his community in 1971 but experienced writer’s block when attempting to put his thoughts and feelings into words.

In September 1970, Dr. Suess traveled with his wife to Mount Kenya Safari Club in Africa to gain inspiration and clear his mind (Witter).

They explored some of Kenya’s most endangered species along the Laikipia plateau, especially the patas monkey. Suess’ biographer, Donald Pease explains how the story came to him at this resort, and the manuscript was written in just one afternoon.

There are many similarities between the Lorax character, who speaks for the Truffala trees, and the endangered patas monkies, who heavily rely on a tree called the whistling thorn acacia for survival (Witter).

Although The Lorax children’s book was written more than 50 years ago, this shows how environmental issues have been prevalent throughout history, and that this cautionary tale should be spread for years to come.