Original subtitles

[MONKEYS CALLING]

Patrick Aryee: PREPARE TO MEET \h\hA FEW MEMBERS OF THE CLAN.

[ORANGUTAN SCREECHING]

MISCHIEVOUS MONKEYS...

INTELLIGENT APES...

\h\h\h\hAND A CAST OF STRANGE AND ENCHANTING LITTLE COUSINS.

[MONKEY SCREECHES]

THIS IS THE STORY OF OUR CLOSEST RELATIVES ON EARTH.

FROM THE MIGHTY GORILLA

TO A PRIMATE SO SMALL IT COULD FIT IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND,

WE’RE ALL PART OF THE SAME \h\h\hAMAZING ANIMAL ORDER.

\h\h\h\h\hTODAY, THERE ARE OVER 400 DIFFERENT MEMBERS

OF OUR PRIMATE ORDER.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY ARE UNRIVALED ACROBATS...

DOTING PARENTS...

\h\h\hAND SOME OF THE SMARTEST CREATURES IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

\hSO, HOW DID PRIMATES BECOME SO SUCCESSFUL?

[PRIMATES CALLING]

WE’RE ON A JOURNEY TO RETRACE THE ASTONISHING RISE TO POWER

\h\h\hOF OUR VERY OWN PRIMATE FAMILY TREE.

[SCREECHING]

WE’RE IN AFRICA TO FIND OUT

\h\h\h\h\hHOW PRIMATES BECAME BIGGER, STRONGER, AND SMARTER

THAN ANYWHERE ELSE \h\hON THE PLANET.

[LEMUR SCREECHES]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPREPARE TO MEET SOME OF YOUR CLOSEST RELATIVES.

[PRIMATES CALLING]

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOUR STORY STARTS IN THE LUSH JUNGLES OF UGANDA.

IT’S HERE IN AFRICA

\hTHAT PRIMATES PUSHED THEIR BODIES AND MINDS

TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

THEY BECAME BIGGER, \h\h\h\h\hSTRONGER,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND FORMED MORE COMPLEX SOCIETIES

THAN ANYWHERE ELSE \h\h\h\hON EARTH.

AND IT’S IN THESE FORESTS \hTHAT ONE GROUP EVOLVED

SOMETHING QUITE EXTRAORDINARY,

\h\h\hBECAUSE FOR THE APES LIVING UNDER THIS CANOPY,

IT’S ALL ABOUT ONE THING-- \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBRAIN POWER.

♪

FOR THESE JUNGLES ARE HOME

TO ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST SPARKS \h\h\hIN THE PRIMATE FAMILY...

THE CHIMPANZEE.

♪

THEIR FACES CAN EXPRESS \h\h\hCOMPLEX EMOTIONS

WITH A SINGLE GLANCE.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY YAWN WHEN THEY’RE TIRED,

LAUGH WHEN THEY’RE \h\hHAVING FUN...

[SCREECHING]

AND EVEN KISS TO MAKE UP \h\h\h\h\h\hAFTER A SPAT.

♪

AND JUST LIKE US, THEY ARE \h\hENDLESSLY INQUISITIVE.

\h\hAND IT’S THIS NATURAL CURIOSITY

THAT HAS BEEN KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS.

[SCREECHING]

I’M MEETING SOME ENERGETIC \h\h\h\h\h4-YEAR-OLD CHIMPS

AT A JUNGLE RESCUE CENTER

\hTO SET UP AN EXERCISE THAT SHOULD DEMONSTRATE

JUST HOW SMART THEY REALLY ARE.

[CHATTERING]

JUST LIKE US, CHIMPS HAVE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

SOME ARE SHY,

OTHERS SHOW-OFFS.

SOME LIKE TO TAKE THE LEAD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hOTHERS ARE A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY THING

\hWE SHARE WITH CHIMPS IS THE ABILITY TO LEARN

FROM EACH OTHER.

[CHATTERING]

\h\hTO DEMONSTRATE, I’VE SET UP A TEST

WITH AN UNUSED TERMITE MOUND

THAT’S BEEN FILLED \h\h\hWITH HONEY.

♪

\hTHE CHIMPS HAVE HAD TO FIGURE OUT

HOW TO GET AT THE HONEY \h\h\h\h\hDEEP INSIDE.

♪

\h\h\h\hA FEW SUPER-SMART CHIMPS FIRST LEARNED THAT IF THEY COULD

FASHION A DIPPING STICK,

THEY COULD GET AT THE SUGARY TREAT.

[SLURPING]

\hAMAZINGLY, THE OTHERS WATCHED...AND LEARNED.

\h\h\hOVER A FEW YEARS, THIS INTRICATE BEHAVIOR

\h\hSPREAD THROUGH MOST OF THE GROUP.

♪

ONE OF OUR BOISTEROUS \h\h\h\h\h4-YEAR-OLDS

HASN’T QUITE MASTERED IT YET,

SO I’M GIVING HIM A LESSON.

♪

IT’S NOT LOOKING PROMISING,

BUT AFTER SOME PERSEVERANCE...

♪

[LAUGHS]

\h\hPERFECT. HE’S SEEN ME USING THAT STICK TO GET TO THE HONEY,

AND HE’S COPIED IT,

AND THAT’S THE PROCESS \h\h\h\h\hOF LEARNING.

THE CHIMPANZEE’S ABILITY \hTO FIGURE OUT PROBLEMS

AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER

HAS LED TO DIFFERENT GROUPS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF CHIMPS

\hDEVELOPING DISTINCT BEHAVIORS AND SKILLS.

♪

\h\h\hTHESE ARE SO UNIQUE TO DIFFERENT POPULATIONS

THAT CHIMPS, LIKE HUMANS,

\hARE SAID TO HAVE DIFFERENT CULTURES.

♪

\h\h\hCHIMPANZEES ARE EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THEY USE THEIR RAZOR-SHARP MINDS

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PUZZLE OUT AND REMEMBER HOW TO SOLVE

EVEN THE TRICKIEST OF PROBLEMS.

\hBUT HAVING A BIG BRAIN ISN’T JUST A CHIMP THING.

\h\h\h\h\hIT RUNS RIGHT THROUGHOUT THE FAMILY,

\h\hAND IT’S THIS COMBINATION OF INTELLIGENCE AND CURIOSITY

\h\hTHAT HAS PUSHED PRIMATES BEYOND OTHER ANIMAL FAMILIES,

\h\hALLOWING THEM TO CONQUER SO MUCH

\hAND SPREAD RIGHT ACROSS THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

AS PRIMATES VENTURED ACROSS AFRICA’S VARIED LANDSCAPES,

THEY EVOLVED INTO NEW SPECIES \hON THE PRIMATE FAMILY TREE.

\hIT’S A FAMILY TREE THAT BURST INTO LIFE

AROUND 55 MILLION YEARS AGO.

[PRIMATES CALLING]

ONE OF THE EARLIEST BRANCHES \h\h\h\h\hBELONGS TO A GROUP

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT INCLUDES INQUISITIVE LITTLE LEMURS.

THEN COME THE TINY NOCTURNAL TARSIERS.

IN AFRICA, THE MONKEY BRANCHES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWOULD FLOURISH,

\h\hWITH AROUND 70 DIFFERENT SPECIES.

FINALLY, THERE’S OUR BRANCH, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE APES,

\h\h\hHOME TO THE BIGGEST, BRAINIEST PRIMATES OF ALL.

\hTODAY, ACROSS THE WORLD, THERE ARE OVER 400 SPECIES

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT MAKE UP OUR AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILY.

[PRIMATES CALLING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO FIND OUT HOW THE VERY FIRST PRIMATES

SPREAD INTO AFRICA,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE BEGIN ON ONE OF THE OLDEST BRANCHES OF ALL.

AROUND 50 MILLION YEARS AGO,

LONG BEFORE MONKEYS \h\hAND APES AROSE,

PRIMATES SET FOOT IN AFRICA.

TODAY, THE DESCENDANTS OF THESE EARLY PIONEERS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE ONLY FOUND ON ONE VERY SPECIAL ISLAND,

THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR.

♪

MOST OF THE ANIMALS \h\hAND PLANTS HERE

ARE COMPLETELY UNIQUE.

\h\h\h\hIN THE ARID SOUTH, WEIRD CACTUS-LIKE FORESTS

DOMINATE THE SCENERY.

IN THIS UNUSUAL SPINY LANDSCAPE

LIVES AN EQUALLY UNUSUAL \h\h\h\hLITTLE CHARACTER.

\hTHE LOCALS HERE CALL THESE BIZARRE ANIMALS

THE GHOSTS OF THE FOREST,

\h\h\h\hBECAUSE AS THE FLIT SILENTLY THROUGH THE TREES,

\h\h\h\h\hALL YOU CATCH ARE FLEETING GLIMPSES,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IF YOU’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE ONE,

YOU’RE IN FOR ONE OF THE MOST \h\h\h\h\hFLAMBOYANT DISPLAYS

IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

\h\hTHESE GHOSTLY CREATURES ARE A TYPE OF LEMUR CALLED SIFAKAS.

♪

THEY HAVE LONG BACK LEGS...

\h\h\hPOINTED SNOUTS, AND WET LITTLE NOSES.

THEY LEAP THROUGH THE FOREST \hWITH PINPOINT PRECISION...

MOST OF THE TIME.

BUT THESE LITTLE ACROBATS HAVE AN EVEN WEIRDER WAY

OF GETTING ABOUT THE FOREST.

♪

\h\hOH, WOW. HELLO. HELLO, LITTLE GUY.

♪

\h\h\h\hI CAN’T BELIEVE I’M THIS CLOSE TO THEM,

WILD, COMPLETELY WILD SIFAKAS.

HELLO.

SIFAKAS LIVE IN SMALL TROOPS,

USUALLY AROUND 6 INDIVIDUALS,

\h\h\hAND THEY GET THEIR NAME FROM THEIR DISTINCTIVE CALLS.

[SIFAKAS CALLING]

WE’VE JUST BEEN FOLLOWING \hTHIS TROOP OF SIFAKAS,

AND THIS ONE HERE, \hALL OF A SUDDEN,

IT MADE THIS SOUND-- "SHI-FAK, SHI-FAK"--

AND THAT’S THE ALARM CALL,

AND THAT’S WHERE THEY GET \h\h\h\hTHEIR NAMES FROM.

[SIFAKA CALLING]

BUT THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING \h\h\h\h\h\hABOUT THESE GUYS

ISN’T THE WAY THEY SOUND.

IT’S THE WAY THEY MOVE.

\h\h\h\hESPECIALLY WHEN THEY LEAVE THE BRANCHES

TO CROSS OPEN GROUND...

♪

BECAUSE SIFAKAS HAVE EVOLVED

ONE OF THE MOST PECULIAR WALKS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON EARTH.

♪

THEIR POWERFUL HIND LEGS \h\h\h\hACT LIKE SPRINGS,

PROPELLING THEM FORWARD.

THEIR STRANGE WALK IS CALLED \h\h\h\h\hBIPEDAL GALLOPING,

AND THEY ARE THE ONLY MAMMALS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT DO IT.

IT MAY LOOK A LITTLE UNGAINLY,

BUT THEY CAN COVER 4 FEET \h\h\hIN A SINGLE BOUND...

WHICH MEANS THEY CAN \h\hQUICKLY GET BACK

INTO THE SAFETY OF THE TREES.

BUT UP HERE, THE CHALLENGES \h\h\h\h\h\hOF GETTING ABOUT

BECOME EVEN TRICKIER.

THE VERTICAL BRANCHES \hOF THE OCOTILLO TREE

\h\h\h\h\h\hARE COVERED IN NEEDLE-LIKE THORNS.

\h\h\h\hBUT THIS IS THE SIFAKAS’ REALM.

UP HERE, THEY BECOME THE MOST GRACEFUL MOVERS IN THE FOREST.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY CAN LEAP 20 FEET BETWEEN BRANCHES.

♪

\h\hTHICK LEATHERY PADS ON THEIR HANDS AND FEET

\h\h\hARE THOUGHT TO OFFER PROTECTION FROM THE SPIKES

AS THEY LAND.

♪

THIS IS AN AERIAL BALLET

SEEN ONLY IN THE ANCIENT FORESTS OF MADAGASCAR.

♪

SIFAKAS ARE JUST ONE OF OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT SPECIES

OF LEMUR IN MADAGASCAR.

MOST LIVE IN THE TREES,

\h\h\hBUT THERE’S ONE UNUSUAL LITTLE LEMUR

THAT PATROLS THE FOREST FLOOR,

AND THEY CAN BE RECOGNIZED \h\h\h\hBY A TELLTALE SIGN.

[LEMURS SQUEAKING]

♪

[SQUEAKING]

RING-TAILED LEMURS,

\h\h\hTHE GANGSTERS OF THE LEMUR WORLD.

THESE HARDY LITTLE BANDITS

SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME \h\h\h\h\hON THE GROUND.

THEY LIVE IN FEISTY GROUPS \h\h\hOF UP TO 30 MEMBERS,

\h\hAND THEY CAN BE HIGHLY TERRITORIAL.

[SCREECHING AND SQUEALING]

BUT IT’S NOT THE MALES \hTHAT LEAD THE TROOP,

IT’S THE FEMALES.

[SQUAWKING]

THEY’LL CHASE OFF RIVALS AND DEFEND THEIR TURF...

♪

ALL WHILE CARRYING BABIES \h\h\h\h\hON THEIR BACKS.

[SQUEAKING]

♪

THE FEMALES IN THESE TROOPS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE SO CLOSE

THEY EVEN COINCIDE THEIR PREGNANCIES.

\h\h\h\hSO THEY ALL GIVE BIRTH AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME EACH YEAR,

WHEN FOOD IS MOST PLENTIFUL.

\h\hFOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS,

\hTHEIR TINY OFFSPRING GET A PIGGYBACK RIDE,

BUT THERE COMES A TIME

WHEN THEY HAVE TO FIND \h\h\h\hTHEIR OWN FEET.

♪

\h\h\hTHIS YOUNGSTER THINKS HE’S READY TO GO IT ALONE,

BUT HIS FIRST STEPS \h\h\hIN THE TREES

PROVE TO BE PRECARIOUS.

[SQUEAKING]

UNDER MUM’S WATCHFUL EYE,

OUR YOUNG EXPLORER SOON GETS \h\h\hA LITTLE MORE DARING.

[SQUEAKING]

\hAND WHEN HE’S DONE, HE CAN ALWAYS JUMP ONTO MUM’S BACK.

[SQUEAKS]

\h\h\h\hYOUNG LEMURS NEED TO GROW UP FAST.

MALES USUALLY LEAVE THE TROOP

WHEN THEY’RE JUST \hA FEW YEARS OLD,

\h\h\hBUT YOUNG FEMALES STAY IN THE SAME TROOP FOR LIFE.

AND IF THEY’RE STRONG \h\h\h\hAND HEALTHY,

\h\h\h\hTHEY COULD GROW UP TO BE LEADER OF THE PACK.

LEMURS MIGHT NOT BE THE BIGGEST,

BUT THEY ARE FANTASTICALLY HARDY LITTLE ANIMALS.

\h\h\hTHEY ARE THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE NON-HUMAN PRIMATE FAMILY

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO MAKE IT TO THIS REMOTE ISLAND.

\h\h\h\hISOLATED HERE FOR 50 MILLION YEARS,

THEY’VE BEEN ABLE TO THRIVE,

\h\h\hBECAUSE BACK ON MAINLAND AFRICA,

THINGS WERE CHANGING.

A NEW CHAPTER WAS UNFOLDING

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WOULD CHANGE THE PRIMATE FAMILY FOREVER.

[PRIMATES CALLING]

ON OUR PRIMATE FAMILY TREE,

\hNEW SPECIES WERE EVOLVING AND FILLING UP THE BRANCHES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hLEMURS OCCUPIED ONE OF THE OLDEST BRANCHES,

\h\h\h\hBUT THEIR NOISY NEIGHBORS THE MONKEYS WERE GAINING GROUND,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSPREADING ONTO THE GREAT PLAINS OF AFRICA.

[MONKEYS CALLING]

HERE, THEY WOULD GROW \hBIGGER AND STRONGER

THAN ANYWHERE ELSE \h\hON THE PLANET.

[PRIMATES CALLING]

AROUND 10 MILLION YEARS AGO,

THE CLIMATE ACROSS AFRICA \h\h\hBEGAN TO DRY OUT...

♪

\hOPENING UP VAST, EXPANSIVE SAVANNA.

\h\hFOR THE PRIMATE FAMILY, THIS BROUGHT NEW CHALLENGES

AND DANGERS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hOUT HERE, THERE WAS NOWHERE TO HIDE FROM PREDATORS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CONQUER THESE HAZARDOUS PLAINS,

MONKEYS WOULD HAVE TO ORGANIZE THEIR TROOPS

WITH MILITARY PRECISION.

I’M ON MY WAY TO MEET A GROUP \hOF VERY MISCHIEVOUS MONKEYS

\h\h\h\hTHAT THRIVE OUT ON THESE PLAINS,

AND TO SURVIVE OUT HERE, \hTHEY’VE EVOLVED TO LIVE

IN SOME OF THE BIGGEST, \h\hMOST COMPLEX GROUPS

OF ANY PRIMATE.

\h\hAND TO FIND OUT HOW SO MANY MONKEYS

CAN LIVE IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY,

\h\h\hI’M HOPING TO GET RIGHT INSIDE THE TROOP.

[GRUNTING]

CHACMA BABOONS.

THESE GUYS ARE THE MOST AT HOME \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE GROUND.

THEY ROAM THE SAVANNA \hIN SPRAWLING TROOPS

THAT REACH UP TO 80 STRONG.

THIS TROOP IN SOUTHERN NAMIBIA \hIS MADE UP OF YOUNG ORPHANS.

♪

THEY’RE USED TO HUMANS

BUT STILL INTERACT VERY MUCH \h\h\h\h\hLIKE A WILD TROOP,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT MEANS PLENTY OF MONKEYING AROUND.

[SCREECHING]

LIKE BOISTEROUS CHILDREN ON THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND,

THERE ARE ALL SORTS \h\h\hOF HIJINKS...

[SCREECHING]

FROM TUSSLES ON THE TREETOP...

[SCREECHING]

[CLAPS]

TO ENDLESS ROUGHHOUSING.

[SCREECHING]

IT APPEARS FUN,

BUT THERE’S MORE TO THIS CHAOS \h\h\h\h\hTHAN MEETS THE EYE.

ON FIRST GLANCE, IT MIGHT SEEM

LIKE THEY’RE ALL BEST OF FRIENDS,

\h\h\h\hBUT THE TRUTH IS THAT NO TWO BABOONS ARE BORN EQUAL.

\hIN EVERY TROOP, THERE’S A VERY STRICT HIERARCHY,

THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS.

\h\hAND THAT STATUS QUO IS RUTHLESSLY ENFORCED

BY THE MORE DOMINANT MEMBERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE TROOP.

[SCREECHING]

MALES SPEND MOST OF THEIR LIVES

FIGHTING THEIR WAY \h\hUP THE RANKS.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT FOR FEMALES, IT’S A DIFFERENT STORY...

[SCREECHING]

BECAUSE EVERY FEMALE IS BORN WITH A RANK,

\h\h\hA RANK THAT USUALLY STAYS WITH HER FOR LIFE.

IN THIS TROOP,

ONE WAY THE PECKING ORDER \h\h\h\h\h\hSHOWS ITSELF

IS IN WHO GETS TO HOLD \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE BABIES.

♪

THIS LITTLE 6-WEEK-OLD ORPHAN

\h\h\h\hHAS RECENTLY BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE GROUP.

\h\h\h\hALL THE FEMALES WANT TO PLAY WITH HIM.

BUT WITH SO MUCH COMPETITION, IT COMES DOWN TO PULLING RANK.

IT’S NOT SO MUCH BABY-SITTING-- \h\h\h\h\h\hMORE BABY-STEALING.

[SCREECHING]

♪

[SCREECHING]

BUT IT’S THE HIGHEST-RANKING \h\h\hFEMALE WHO ULTIMATELY

WINS THE BATTLE FOR BABY.

\hALL THIS ATTENTION IS QUITE EXHAUSTING.

[YAWNS]

[SCREECHING]

THE PECKING ORDER IN THIS TROOP \h\hIS CONSTANTLY BEING TESTED.

[SCREECHING]

BUT THE BABOONS AT THE TOP \h\h\h\hSHOULD ALWAYS WIN.

[SCREECHING]

I WANT TO PUT THIS STRICT \hHIERARCHY TO THE TEST,

SO I’M ENLISTING THE HELP

\hOF CONSERVATIONIST MARLISSE VAN VURREN.

SHE RAISED THESE ORPHAN BABOONS

AND KNOWS THE INNER WORKINGS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE TROOP

BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.

SO WE KNOW THEY LIKE TO PLAY WITH BABIES.

\h\h\h\hAND WHAT ABOUT NEW OBJECTS AND TOYS?

Marlisse: WELL, IF IT’S NOT SOMETHING NATURAL, YOU KNOW,

A FOOD THAT THEY FOUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

THEN IT’S POWER, WHO ENDS UP \h\h\h\hON THE END WITH IT,

UM, AND THE WINNER NORMALLY \h\h\h\h\hIS THE HIERARCHY,

THE TOP OF THE GROUP,

AND THERE’S ONE FEMALE \h\h\h\hIN THIS GROUP,

AND HER NAME IS KLICKI, \h\h\hAND SHE WILL PUSH

AND MAKE SURE SHE HAS IT. \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSO SHE’LL--

THERE’S NO GRAY AREAS.

\h\hSHE’LL BEAT THEM UP IF SHE DOESN’T GET IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: PERFECT. I WANT TO SEE THIS IN ACTION.

NOW, I’VE BROUGHT \hA TOY FOR THEM.

Marlisse: OK.

Patrick: IT’S A LITTLE CAMERA.

SO THIS IS, LIKE YOU SAID,

\hSOMETHING WHICH THEY NORMALLY WOULDN’T SEE.

SO THE HOPE IS, REALLY, \h\h\h\hWE’LL GIVE THIS

TO ONE OF THE LOW-RANKING \h\hMEMBERS OF THE TROOP,

\h\hAND IT WILL KIND OF WORK ITS WAY UP THE PECKING ORDER

UNTIL IT GETS TO KLICKI.

Marlisse: YEAH. \h\h\hLET’S SEE.

Patrick: SO, WHO SHOULD WE \h\h\h\h\hGIVE IT TO FIRST?

\h\hMarlisse: HEY, GIVE IT TO THIS ONE COMING TO YOU.

[GROANING]

Patrick: HERE YOU GO. LOOK. PLAY WITH THIS.

DON’T BITE IT, THOUGH.

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS BOBBY. HE’S A LOW-RANKING MALE,

WHICH SHOULD MEAN \h\h\h\hTHE CAMERA

IS QUICKLY PASSED UP THE HIERARCHY.

AT FIRST, NO ONE ELSE \h\hSEEMS INTERESTED,

\h\h\hAND BOBBY WANTS TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

SO ACTUALLY, HE’S PLAYING \h\h\hA VERY CLEVER GAME.

\hHE’S MAKING SURE HE’S KEEPING AN EYE

ON ALL THE DOMINANT MALES, \hALL THE DOMINANT FEMALES,

\h\h\hAND JUST KEEPING JUST ENOUGH DISTANCE.

[SCREECHING]

\h\h\h\h\hWHEN THE OTHERS START GETTING INTERESTED,

BOBBY TAKES TO THE TREES.

♪

[SCREECHING]

SO FAR, SO GOOD.

Marlisse: HERE HE COMES. \h\h\h\hHE STILL HAS IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND LOOK AT HIM. HE’S VERY PROUD OF HIMSELF.

♪

Patrick: BUT THEN KLICKI, \h\h\hTHE DOMINANT FEMALE,

STAKES HER CLAIM ON THIS NEW TOY.

[SCREECHING]

AH, HERE WE GO. LOOK. \hNOW THEY’RE CHASING.

[SCREECHING]

BECAUSE OF HER HIGH RANK,

SHE THINKS THE CAMERA \hIS RIGHTFULLY HERS,

AND KLICKI IS PREPARED \h\h\hTO FIGHT FOR IT.

[MARLISSE SHOUTS]

[BABOONS SCREECHING]

\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: JUST AS MARLISSE PREDICTED,

KLICKI, THE HIGH-RANKING FEMALE, GETS WHAT SHE WANTS.

[SCREECHING]

POOR BOBBY HAS BEEN PUT \hFIRMLY IN HIS PLACE,

PROVING THAT HIERARCHY \h\h\h\hIS EVERYTHING.

♪

WITH ALL THIS INFIGHTING,

BABOON SOCIETY MIGHT SEEM TOUGH,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE \h\h\hA LOW-RANKER.

♪

BUT CHACMA BABOONS, LIKE MANY MONKEYS,

HAVE A WAY OF KEEPING \h\h\h\h\hTHE PEACE--

GROOMING.

THEY SPEND SEVERAL HOURS A DAY \h\h\h\hPAMPERING EACH OTHER.

FOR ALL THEIR NITPICKING,

LOWER-RANKING BABOONS \h\hCAN FORM ALLIANCES

WITH THOSE OF HIGHER STATUS.

WHEN MONKEYS MOVED OUT OF THE FORESTS

ONTO THE OPEN PLAINS,

LIVING IN LARGER GROUPS \h\h\h\hWAS ESSENTIAL.

WITH NOWHERE TO HIDE \h\h\hFROM PREDATORS,

MANY EYES WERE NEEDED \hTO SCAN FOR DANGERS

AND SEARCH FOR FOOD.

♪

[BABY BABOON WHINING]

\hCHACMA BABOONS LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX SOCIETIES

OF ANY PRIMATE.

BUT SOME OF THEIR CLOSE COUSINS \h\h\h\h\hWILL TAKE TROOP LIFE

TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

[BARKS]

THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS, \h\h\h\h\h\hETHIOPIA.

♪

RISING TO NEARLY 3 MILES \h\h\h\hABOVE SEA LEVEL,

THIS IS THE ROOF OF AFRICA

AND HOME TO PERHAPS THE MOST \h\hMAJESTIC OF ALL MONKEYS,

THE GELADA.

♪

\hTODAY, THEY’RE ONLY FOUND IN THESE VERDANT HIGHLANDS.

[GELADAS CALLING]

\hGELADAS SPEND THEIR NIGHTS ON THE STEEP, ROCKY SLOPES,

OUT OF REACH OF PREDATORS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND EVERY MORNING, THEY CLAMBER UP TO THE SUMMIT.

♪

\h\h\h\hTHE MALES HAVE LUXURIANT GOLDEN LOCKS

AND DEEP RED MARKINGS \h\h\hON THEIR CHESTS.

MOST SURPRISING, WHEN THEY YAWN,

THEY REVEAL THESE.

TEETH LIKE THIS ARE USUALLY ONLY SEEN IN TOP PREDATORS.

[YAWNING]

\h\h\h\hBUT THESE GUYS ARE MOSTLY VEGETARIAN.

\h\h\hSO WHY ARE THEY SO LONG IN THE TOOTH?

[SCREECH]

WELL, IT’S PARTLY DUE \h\hTO SHEER NUMBERS.

[SCREECHING]

GELADAS LIVE IN MEGA-TROOPS OF UP TO 1,200 INDIVIDUALS.

EVERY MORNING, THEY MOVE AS ONE \h\h\hACROSS THE HIGH PLATEAUS

IN SEARCH OF FRESH \hFEEDING GROUNDS,

THE MASS MARCH OF THE MONKEYS.

BUT WHEN THEY STOP TO FEED,

YOU NOTICE THIS HUGE CROWD

\h\hIS MADE UP OF MANY SMALLER FAMILY GROUPS.

EACH ONE HAS A MALE, \h\hSEVERAL FEMALES,

AND THEIR BABIES.

[SQUEAKING]

THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS FEEDING \h\h\h\hON FRESH GRASS SHOOTS

AND PLAYING AROUND.

[SCREECHING]

IT SEEMS A PEACEFUL LIFE.

BUT THERE’S TROUBLE \h\hON THE HORIZON.

GANGS OF BACHELOR MALES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWATCH ON.

LIKE TROUBLESOME TEENAGERS, \h\h\h\h\hTHEY WAKE UP LATE

AND SPEND THEIR DAYS PLOTTING.

THEIR AIM IS TO CHALLENGE \h\h\h\hTHE RESIDENT MALES

AND WIN CONTROL OF A HAREM.

♪

THEY BEGIN TO CLOSE IN \h\h\hON THEIR TARGET,

\h\h\h\hSINGLING OUT ONE INDIVIDUAL MALE.

\hBUT DOWN BELOW, HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THEY’RE UP TO.

IT’S A GELADA STANDOFF.

♪

\hBOTH SIDES WANT TO APPEAR AS THREATENING AS POSSIBLE.

\h\h\hTHIS IS WHERE THOSE TEETH COME IN.

♪

THE BIG RESIDENT MALE \h\h\hLEAVES HIS HAREM

AND APPROACHES THE GANG.

\hHE NEEDS TO SHOW THEM WHO’S BOSS AROUND HERE.

♪

THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST HIM, 6 TO 1.

♪

[SCREECHING]

[SCREECHING]

HE SEEMS FEARLESS,

BUT WHAT’S SURPRISING IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

[SCREECHING]

HE TURNS AND SCAMPERS.

BUT THIS ISN’T COWARDICE.

IT’S A PLANNED TACTIC TO SHOW \hTHOSE YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPERS

WHO’S GOT THE MOST STAMINA.

[SCREECHING]

AND THEY QUICKLY TIRE.

THE BACHELOR BOYS ARE DEFEATED,

BUT THEY’LL BE BACK TOMORROW,

\h\h\h\hAND OUR RESIDENT MALE RETURNS TO HIS FAMILY A HERO.

\h\h\h\hIN GELADA MEGA-TROOPS WITH MORE THAN 1,000 MONKEYS,

\h\h\hMALES NEED A WAY TO SCARE OFF RIVALS...

[SCREECHING]

AND KEEP THEIR FAMILIES SAFE.

\h\hAND THAT’S WHY THESE VEGETARIANS

\h\h\hHAVE EVOLVED THOSE FEROCIOUS-LOOKING FANGS.

[YAWNING]

\h\h\hTHE GELADAS AND BABOONS ON THE OPEN PLAINS AND PLATEAUS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE JUST SOME OF THE HUGE RANGE OF MONKEYS

THRIVING ON MAINLAND AFRICA.

[CHATTERING]

WHILE ON THE ISLAND \h\hOF MADAGASCAR,

\h\h\h\hTHE LEMURS ARE STILL LEAPING THROUGH THE FOREST.

♪

[LEMUR SCREECHING]

BUT THE PRIMATE STORY IN AFRICA \h\hHAS ONE MORE EPIC CHAPTER.

♪

[PRIMATES CALLING]

ON OUR PRIMATE FAMILY TREE,

THE MONKEY BRANCHES WERE FULL \h\hOF CHATTERING CHARACTERS.

[PRIMATES CALLING]

BUT THERE’S ONE MORE BRANCH \h\hCRUCIAL TO OUR STORY...

[PRIMATES CALLING]

OUR BRANCH, THE APES.

MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO,

THERE WERE NUMEROUS DIFFERENT SPECIES.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

TODAY, ONLY A HANDFUL REMAIN.

WE’VE ALREADY MET \hTHE CHIMPANZEE,

AN APE WITH EXTRAORDINARY \h\h\h\h\h\hINTELLIGENCE.

BUT IN THE REMOTE MOUNTAINS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF UGANDA

LIVES ONE GIANT APE OF MYTHICAL STATUS.

THIS JUNGLE HERE IN UGANDA

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS KNOWN AS THE IMPENETRABLE FOREST,

AND AS ITS NAME SUGGESTS,

IT’S ONE OF THE WILDEST \h\h\hPLACES IN AFRICA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ALSO ONE OF THE FEW PLACES ON EARTH

WHERE YOU CAN STILL SEE

ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL \h\h\hOF ALL PRIMATES...

♪

THE MOUNTAIN GORILLA.

IN TERMS OF SIZE,

\h\h\hGORILLAS ARE UNDOUBTEDLY THE GREATEST OF THE GREAT APES.

[GORILLA GROWLS SOFTLY]

THEY WEIGHT AROUND 2 1/2 TIMES AS MUCH

AS AN AVERAGE HUMAN MALE

AND CAN REACH UP TO 420 POUNDS.

♪

SO, WHY DID THEY GROW \h\h\h\hSO COLOSSAL?

TO FIND OUT, I’M HOPING \hTO COME FACE TO FACE

WITH OUR GIANT PRIMATE COUSINS.

AS THEIR NAME SUGGESTS,

\h\h\hMOUNTAIN GORILLAS LIVE ONLY AT ALTITUDE,

MOST MORE THAN A MILE \h\h\hABOVE SEA LEVEL.

SO THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY \h\h\h\hTO GET TO THEM,

AND THAT’S UP.

YOU CAN SEE WHY THIS IS CALLED \h\h\hTHE IMPENETRABLE FOREST.

IT’S A DENSE, TANGLED WEB \h\h\h\h\h\hOF VEGETATION.

AND FOR THOSE EARLY EXPLORERS

WHO WERE TRYING TO FIND \hTHE MOUNTAIN GORILLA,

IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN EXCITING \h\h\hBUT DAUNTING CHALLENGE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMOUNTAIN GORILLAS WERE FIRST DOCUMENTED IN 1902

BY A GERMAN EXPLORER, \h\h\hCAPTAIN BERINGE.

IN HIS DIARY, HE DESCRIBES

THE LOW, RUMBLING NOISE \h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY MAKE.

WHEN YOU HEAR THAT NOISE, \hYOU KNOW YOU’RE CLOSE.

[GORILLAS GROWLING SOFTLY]

WE CAN FINALLY HEAR THEM.

\h\hAND I WAS TOLD THAT YOU DEFINITELY HEAR THE GORILLAS

BEFORE YOU SEE THEM.

[LEAVES RUSTLING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU’VE GOT THIS THICKET OF JUNGLE.

YOU CAN’T SEE ANYTHING.

\h\h\hAND THEN ALL YOU HEAR IS THIS LOUD, DEEP BELLOW,

AND YOU KNOW THAT \hIT’S COMING FROM

\h\hA CREATURE THAT IS 2 1/2 TIMES YOUR SIZE.

SO, UH, YEAH, IF I SAID \h\h\hI WASN’T NERVOUS,

\hMAYBE THAT...MAYBE THAT WAS A LITTLE LIE. [LAUGHS]

AND THEN, AFTER 3 HOURS \h\h\hOF BUSHWHACKING,

\h\hI FINALLY GET MY FIRST GLIMPSE.

♪

\h\h\hWHOA. THAT’S ONE OF THE FEMALES.

\h\hWHAT STRIKES ME IS HOW GENTLE THEY APPEAR,

CONSIDERING THEY ARE THE LARGEST PRIMATE ON THE PLANET.

BUT THEN I NOTICE \hSHE ISN’T ALONE.

♪

THIS ADORABLE BABY GORILLA \h\h\hIS ABOUT A YEAR OLD,

\h\h\h\h\hAND BABY GORILLAS WILL STICK BY THEIR MOTHERS

FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS.

\h\h\hTHEY WON’T STRAY MORE THAN A FEW METERS.

GORILLA FAMILIES ARE MADE UP \h\h\h\h\hOF SEVERAL FEMALES

AND THEIR BABIES.

THEY’RE LED BY ONE GIANT MALE, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SILVERBACK.

[LEAVES RUSTLING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S NOT TOO LONG BEFORE HE MAKES HIS ENTRANCE.

AH. WHOA.

[LAUGHS]

RIGHT. SO, I CAN NOW SEE THE SILVERBACK,

\h\h\hTHE LEADER OF THIS FAMILY, AND WHAT A MAGNIFICENT CREATURE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT HE IS \hNOTICEABLY DIFFERENT

IN COMPARISON TO THE FEMALES--

THAT HUGE FOREHEAD, THAT CREST \h\h\hON THE TOP OF HIS HEAD.

THAT’S WHERE ALL THOSE \h\hJAW MUSCLES ATTACH.

THAT’S WHERE HE GETS THAT POWERFUL BITE.

AND HIS HANDS AND ARMS \h\hARE JUST ENORMOUS.

THE SILVERBACK IS NOT ONLY \hTHE LEADER OF THE FAMILY,

BUT ALSO THE PROTECTOR.

\h\h\h\hTHIS MALE BEARS THE SCARS TO PROVE IT.

WELL, THIS SILVERBACK LOOKS \h\h\h\hLIKE A GENTLE GIANT,

BUT HE CAN BE FEROCIOUS,

\hAND A FEW DAYS AGO, HE WAS IN A FIGHT WITH ANOTHER MALE,

AND HE’S GOT TWO SCARS \h\h\h\hTO SHOW FOR IT,

\h\hONE ON HIS HEAD, AND ONE ON HIS HAND.

BUT THAT IS THE LIFE \h\h\hOF A SILVERBACK

THAT HAS A FAMILY TO PROTECT.

\h\h\hHIS AIM IS TO LOOK AFTER HIS FEMALES AND HIS OFFSPRING.

PROVIDING SECURITY \h\hIS ONE REASON

MALE GORILLAS HAVE BECOME SO ENORMOUS.

\h\h\h\hTHE BIGGEST MALES ATTRACT THE MOST FEMALES

AND SO HAVE THE MOST OFFSPRING.

FOR GORILLAS, BIG IS BEST.

BUT THERE’S ANOTHER REASON \h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE BECOME

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE GIANTS OF THE PRIMATE FAMILY.

[LEAVES RUSTLING]

AND I CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THIS

WHEN ANOTHER SILVERBACK UNEXPECTEDLY STEPS OUT

INTO A JUNGLE CLEARING.

♪

I AM JUST IN AWE \hOF THIS ANIMAL.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS \hARE VEGETARIANS,

BUT AT THIS ALTITUDE,

THERE’S VERY LITTLE ENERGY-RICH FRUIT,

SO 85% OF THEIR DIET IS MADE UP \h\h\hOF NUTRIENT-POOR LEAVES.

IT’S INCREDIBLE TO THINK

THAT THE MASSIVE BULK OF A MOUNTAIN GORILLA

\h\h\h\h\hCOMES ONLY FROM THE VEGETATION THEY EAT,

AND AN ADULT CAN MAKE ITS WAY \hTHROUGH 25 KILOGRAMS A DAY.

TO DIGEST SUCH A HUGE BULK \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF VEGETATION

REQUIRES AN EQUALLY \h\h\hHUGE STOMACH,

\hAND BIG STOMACHS REQUIRE BIG BODIES.

\h\hSO IT’S EATING A POOR-QUALITY DIET

AND HAVING TO PROTECT \h\h\h\hTHEIR FAMILY

THAT EXPLAINS WHY GORILLAS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAVE BECOME

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE GIANTS OF THE PRIMATE FAMILY.

[GRUMBLING]

BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME,

\hWHEN A PASSING 3-YEAR-OLD MALE

STOPS TO CHECK ME OUT.

THIS IS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED \h\h\h\hAND SO UNBELIEVABLE.

HELLO. HELLO. HELLO.

[CHUCKLES]

MY GOODNESS.

I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT.

THAT IS ME COMING FACE TO FACE, \h\h\h\hNOT ONLY FACE TO FACE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT HAND TO HAND WITH A YOUNG MOUNTAIN GORILLA.

UNBELIEVABLE.

I’VE BEEN INCREDIBLY LUCKY \h\h\h\h\h\hTO GET SO CLOSE

TO THESE GENTLE GIANTS.

\h\h\h\h\hMOUNTAIN GORILLAS ARE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

\h\h\hTODAY, THERE ARE ONLY AROUND 900 LEFT.

\hTHEY ARE PERHAPS THE MOST PRECIOUS

OF ALL OUR PRIMATE COUSINS.

♪

PRIMATES HAD CONQUERED EVERY CORNER OF AFRICA,

FROM THE ISLAND OF MADAGASCAR

TO THE HIGHLANDS OF ETHIOPIA.

TO DO SO, SOME HAD \hBECOME ACROBATS,

OTHERS GANGSTERS,

AND SOME HAD BECOME MASTERMINDS.

♪

BUT ALL BECAME SUCCESSFUL...

[HOWLING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT ADAPTING TO SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTS.

THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN \h\h\h\hFROM EACH OTHER

AND COOPERATE AS A GROUP

\h\h\h\h\hSET THE STAGE FOR OUR OWN EVOLUTION.

[BANG]

♪

[SCREECHING]

♪