0:00:02 > 0:00:04Everyone, it seems, is looking for a mate.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08Just like us, animals have developed some intriguing
0:00:08 > 0:00:11ways of attracting the perfect partner.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14But what really lies at the heart of these behaviours?
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Science is making new and surprising discoveries
0:00:19 > 0:00:22about how animals attract a partner.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29I am Liz Bonnin and I am going on a worldwide journey to discover
0:00:29 > 0:00:33the extraordinary lengths animals go to find a mate.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Is it about singing the perfect love song?
0:00:41 > 0:00:45The most extraordinary set of events unfolding!
0:00:45 > 0:00:50Or developing the most outrageous flirting technique.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54"He's not paying me any attention - what if I throw it?"
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Or perhaps it's about adopting a more modern approach.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04I'm going to meet the scientists who have devoted their lives
0:01:04 > 0:01:07to understanding the weird and wonderful world of dating
0:01:07 > 0:01:09in the animal kingdom.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13I've often thought it's a bit like a primary school disco.
0:01:13 > 0:01:14It's very complicated, isn't it?
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Yeah, they don't do anything by halves.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22And I'll discover just what it takes to find the perfect mate.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38For any animal,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42the first step to finding a mate is to attract their attention.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I've heard of a South America animal that's taken flirting to
0:01:47 > 0:01:49an entirely new level.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57It's a behaviour scientists have just discovered
0:01:57 > 0:02:01and so far it's only ever been observed in one troop of monkeys -
0:02:02 > 0:02:04capuchins.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Capuchins are highly intelligent animals
0:02:10 > 0:02:13and are renowned for their remarkable use of tools.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24So how does one of cleverest monkeys on planet crack the difficult
0:02:24 > 0:02:25world of dating?
0:02:30 > 0:02:33To answer that, I've come Southlake Zoo in the UK
0:02:33 > 0:02:35to meet Dr Camila Coelho.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Camila has just spent two years in Brazil studying the
0:02:39 > 0:02:42love lives of these intriguing little primates.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47In capuchin society, it's the females who do the chasing.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52And the alpha male is considered the ultimate catch.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58How does the female go about getting the attention of, hopefully,
0:02:58 > 0:02:59the dominant male?
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Well, she starts off by making vocalisations and trying to
0:03:02 > 0:03:06get his attention and he'll just ignore her most of the time.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Camila and her colleagues have filmed this behaviour in the wild.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16The alpha male on the right has clearly caught
0:03:16 > 0:03:17the eye of an eager female.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Flirting starts with a spot of stalking.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25# I will follow him
0:03:25 > 0:03:29# Follow him wherever he may go
0:03:29 > 0:03:32# There isn't an ocean too deep... #
0:03:32 > 0:03:35She may have her sights set on him,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38but he's more interested in finding food.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Alpha males are surprisingly reluctant to take a hint.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50Her intentions are written all over her face but even her most
0:03:50 > 0:03:55enthusiastic raising of eyebrows is going completely unnoticed.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Gradually on the second and third day,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06she'll take it up a notch and start pulling at his fur,
0:04:06 > 0:04:11some hit and run, like slapping him and running away from him.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12You kind of feel sorry for her
0:04:12 > 0:04:16because by the fourth or fifth day she's hardly eating anything,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19she's just following him around all day long.
0:04:19 > 0:04:20Is it somewhat unusual
0:04:20 > 0:04:22when you compare other species in the animal kingdom?
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Yes, it's quite rare that females have to invest so much energy
0:04:25 > 0:04:29and be so insistent in getting a male's attention, as it happens.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31But why is that? Why do they have to do that?
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Well, because they have no other physiological evidence to
0:04:34 > 0:04:38show that they're ready for breeding, unlike chimpanzees where they
0:04:38 > 0:04:42have swellings that gradually build up and he'll know the moment she's
0:04:42 > 0:04:47most fertile, in capuchins, they can only tell by the behaviour.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52At any one time, an alpha male may have several females in hot pursuit.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58It may sound like a lost cause for the females
0:04:58 > 0:05:01but they will stop at nothing to get that alpha male's attention.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06In the forests of Brazil, Camila and her colleagues have filmed the
0:05:06 > 0:05:11females of one troop behaving in a way that has never been seen before.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Forget Cupid's arrow, these females have resorted to firing
0:05:16 > 0:05:18rocks at the alpha male.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27And if that doesn't grab his attention,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29you can always try a larger stone!
0:05:31 > 0:05:34How do you keep a straight face when you're observing this?
0:05:34 > 0:05:36You can't really, I just... It's such a funny scene to watch.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40And there's no question as to the intent there.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42You know, your heart goes out to her.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44How common is this then?
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Well, this is the only group we've ever seen this happen in.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50We studied several other populations in the same national park
0:05:50 > 0:05:52and none of them use this as a technique.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55So it takes one female to actually go,
0:05:55 > 0:05:59"He's not paying me any attention, what if I throw it"?
0:05:59 > 0:06:02And it has to be effective for it then to spread in the population.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05So how many females in that group are actually doing that now?
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Well, when we started looking at them,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10there were three females who used it, routinely.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13The interesting thing here is that it spread throughout the group
0:06:13 > 0:06:14so it's become a tradition.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Since we started studying them, more females have acquired the behaviour.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23Do you expect this behaviour to arise in different groups? Or...?
0:06:23 > 0:06:24In this case,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27we don't expect it to spread because females stay within their group.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31All the same, this is extraordinary behaviour in capuchins. And it just
0:06:31 > 0:06:36goes to show how hard the females work at getting male attention.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37They're very insistent.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39# It's oh so quiet...
0:06:39 > 0:06:45For these enthusiastic females romance doesn't come easily,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47it might look like they're coming on too strong,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51but what they're demonstrating is a level of creative intelligence
0:06:51 > 0:06:54that surpasses anything that's been seen before.
0:06:54 > 0:06:59# ..And so peaceful until
0:07:00 > 0:07:02# You fall in love...
0:07:02 > 0:07:05The alpha male seems to have it made.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Assuming he can avoid a head injury, all he has to do is sit back
0:07:09 > 0:07:11and take his pick of the ladies.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15# When you fall in love. #
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Female capuchins may have their work cut out
0:07:30 > 0:07:34but it's nothing compared to what some males have to go through.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40I've travelled to KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa to see how one of
0:07:40 > 0:07:44the most ferocious predators on the planet approaches the mating game.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Hyenas have one of the most complicated love lives
0:07:51 > 0:07:53of any mammal.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Finding a mate is a dangerous game, especially if you happen to be male.
0:08:03 > 0:08:08This is a society where large, intimidating females call the shots.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Powerful, aggressive and extremely unpredictable,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16these females are a force to be reckoned with.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21So how does a male hyena go about attracting a mate?
0:08:24 > 0:08:26To find out,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29I've teamed up with Axel Hunnicutt from Pretoria University.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Axel has spent months earning the trust of a wild clan of hyenas
0:08:36 > 0:08:38so he can study their relationships.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41His hard work has allowed us
0:08:41 > 0:08:44access to a very important member of the group.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I'm about to meet hyena named Ursula.
0:08:55 > 0:09:01So below us in those trees is a beautiful female hyena
0:09:01 > 0:09:04who has a three-week-old cub, is that right?
0:09:04 > 0:09:05Three weeks old.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10Who, every evening when it gets cooler, will come out of the den
0:09:10 > 0:09:14and suckle. So what do we know about this particular female?
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Is she an important female?
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Yeah, this is actually what we call the matriarch.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Which means she outranks all the other females
0:09:21 > 0:09:23and definitely all the other males.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28Adult males within hyena societies are below every other female.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32This three-week-old female cub will be more dominant than even
0:09:32 > 0:09:36a 20-year-old hyena male that's part of this clan.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38I knew male hyenas had it tough,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41but I didn't realise it was quite that tough on them.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43I kind of feel sorry for them.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48It hard to believe a helpless newborn cub outranks even
0:09:48 > 0:09:50the oldest male in the clan.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52With a ranking system like this,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55finding a mate can't be easy for the males.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02To try and understand the relationship between males
0:10:02 > 0:10:06and females, I'm going to joining Axel on one of his night-time
0:10:06 > 0:10:07research trips.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Wild hyenas are notoriously difficult to observe,
0:10:12 > 0:10:14so we're going to draw them in with sound.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21So what we are setting up right now is something called a 'call up.'
0:10:21 > 0:10:23Using these speakers and a wee laptop we have, we've got
0:10:23 > 0:10:26the recordings of lions and hyenas at kill sites.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30And we play these at dusk and hopefully that will attract
0:10:30 > 0:10:34hyenas to the carcass that we've placed under that tree over there.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37We just sit completely still and there's absolutely no chance
0:10:37 > 0:10:40of them coming to us because that's where the sound's coming from?
0:10:40 > 0:10:42- We'll kill the sounds as soon as we see them.- OK.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46I trust you, I think. I'm in your hands, so let's do this,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- let's do this.- Awesome, let's go.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50I'm excited and a little bit afraid right now.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02The sound of a rival clan calling
0:11:02 > 0:11:05will be the first thing to attract their attention.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11HYENA CALLS
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Combined with their powerful sense of smell,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19the call-up could entice hyenas from as far as 10km away.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23HYENA CALLS
0:11:30 > 0:11:32- SOFTLY:- Listen.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36'After just 20 minutes, the clan begins to close in.'
0:11:36 > 0:11:39- Looks like three sets of eyes. - Where?
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Just straight in front of us.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46'The females are the first to arrive on the scene.'
0:11:48 > 0:11:50There she is. OK.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52I've got her on the infrared.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55'And leading the way is Ursula.
0:11:59 > 0:12:05'What's unusual about hyenas is that females get to eat before the males.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08'Axel suspects that any males in the area will be
0:12:08 > 0:12:10'keeping their distance, for now.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14'One of the first rules the males have to learn is
0:12:14 > 0:12:17'never come between a lady and her lunch.'
0:12:17 > 0:12:23I never thought I'd say this but hearing bones crunching underneath
0:12:23 > 0:12:28the incredibly powerful jaws of hyenas is a pretty cool sound.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Go figure.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36'An hour passes before another solitary hyena emerges.'
0:12:39 > 0:12:41- WHISPERING:- Is this the male here?
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Yes, so this individual right here, he was the last one of all
0:12:44 > 0:12:46- the hyenas to come in.- Yeah.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50You can see he's being very submissive.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Bowing his head every time females come by and laying very low.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Why is it that the males are so incredibly timid
0:12:57 > 0:13:01and hesitant around female hyenas? What's that about?
0:13:01 > 0:13:06Anatomically, they're much smaller than females.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10They tend to be lighter in weight, lighter in build
0:13:10 > 0:13:15and females tend to be much more masculine, much more muscular.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19They definitely have the weight and the ability to overpower
0:13:19 > 0:13:20and dominate males.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26Among mammals, this relationship between male and female hyenas
0:13:26 > 0:13:31is unique and scientists are still not sure why it evolved like this.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36He didn't even get to the carcass yet, did he?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39No, and I don't think he will unless the other ones back off.
0:13:39 > 0:13:45The quintessential male hyena is always being on the lookout,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48always having to look over his back for females
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and never really being able to get a bite to eat.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56If it's this hard for a male to get a meal, I'm starting to appreciate
0:13:56 > 0:13:59just how difficult it must be for him to win over a mate.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Suddenly, one of the females turns her attentions
0:14:03 > 0:14:05away from the carcass to us...
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Hyenas are often mistaken for scavengers
0:14:09 > 0:14:14but these predators can kill up to 95% of what they eat.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16It's coming, it's coming, still, still, still.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19This is a potentially dangerous situation.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24(There is an extremely curious hyena wandering around.)
0:14:28 > 0:14:30We're sitting in total darkness.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Without the infrared camera, I can't see a thing.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35Here...
0:14:39 > 0:14:41- WHISPERING:- Oh, my God.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43He's right here, he's right here!
0:14:46 > 0:14:49With the whole clan starting to show an interest in us,
0:14:49 > 0:14:50it's time to leave.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55But I still want to find out
0:14:55 > 0:14:57more about the role of males in hyena clans.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01What is this male's story?
0:15:01 > 0:15:05How is it that he could still hang out in the company of those
0:15:05 > 0:15:08four very strong females who are running the show tonight?
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Males have their own hierarchy that's separate from the females -
0:15:11 > 0:15:13still well below the females.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16But they have their own hierarchy among themselves,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20and so this individual may be the highest ranking male in this clan
0:15:20 > 0:15:24and because of that, he's slightly tolerated.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26It might not sound like much,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30but being slightly tolerated is actually quite a privilege.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35As the top male, he's got the best chance of mating with Ursula.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42He would have waited years to attain this position
0:15:42 > 0:15:47because unlike the females, male hyenas don't fight for dominance.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Their rank is determined by how long they've been in the clan.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Quite often what happens is, when a new male comes into an area
0:15:56 > 0:16:01and he's looking for a new clan to join, he will whoop in that
0:16:01 > 0:16:06area and listen to see how long the queue is going to be.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10So he'll figure out how many other males are in that clan and he'll
0:16:10 > 0:16:14be able to assess, "OK, I've got to wait for five other guys in this
0:16:14 > 0:16:18"clan but only three in that one." Which queue are you going wait in?
0:16:18 > 0:16:23Having fewer males to outrank is certainly an advantage
0:16:23 > 0:16:27but it's the females in any clan that are the real challenge.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31When you think about the females being so dominant
0:16:31 > 0:16:34and so hyper aggressive, you'd kind of think that when it came to
0:16:34 > 0:16:37breeding that they would be the ones to call the shots as well -
0:16:37 > 0:16:40because they call the shots with everything else.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42But actually, in this hyena society,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44they still want the males to woo them.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47So it's like, "Good luck to you, I know I give you grief every day
0:16:47 > 0:16:50"but you need to woo me, otherwise you're not getting anywhere."
0:16:50 > 0:16:52It's a bit of a paradox
0:16:52 > 0:16:56because now you have males that don't necessarily want to approach
0:16:56 > 0:17:01the females but they have to, of course, to continue the species.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04It can take a male months before he plucks up the courage
0:17:04 > 0:17:06to finally approach a female.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10First date nerves are understandable
0:17:10 > 0:17:14when the object of your desire has bone crushing jaws!
0:17:15 > 0:17:17His submissive head bow let's her know,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20he's interested but she's in charge.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23It tends to be the ones that are most submissive
0:17:23 > 0:17:25but also the most persistent.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28If I would give any animal in the kingdom, as far as being
0:17:28 > 0:17:31the most persistent, I'd say it was the male hyena.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44It's not his lucky day but hopefully his perseverance will pay off.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50Male hyenas get a raw deal when it comes to romance,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54but in nature it's often the males who have to work the hardest.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57It's astonishing the hoops some of them have to jump through.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00# Jump for my love
0:18:00 > 0:18:01# Jump in...
0:18:01 > 0:18:03When you're smaller than your surroundings,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05you need a spring in your step to get noticed.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08# ..If you want my kisses in the night...
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Sometimes an eye-catching display can do the trick.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15# ..I know my heart can make you happy... #
0:18:15 > 0:18:18And for others, a great gift always goes down a treat.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28From extreme flirting to patience and persistence,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32animals use a wide range of techniques to find a mate.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36But one story I've heard of almost defies belief.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44I've come to the Centre for Great Apes in Florida to meet
0:18:44 > 0:18:48a female who chose her partner in a very unusual way.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Patty Ragan opened this rescue sanctuary 20 years ago
0:18:55 > 0:18:59to provide a safe place for great apes that couldn't be
0:18:59 > 0:19:00released back to the wild.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06She's taking me to meet an orang-utan named Mari.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Mari is very special, she is 32 years old.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Her spirit, her character is very strong.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18She is a feisty girl, nobody takes advantage of Mari.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Mari has had to be strong.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26As an infant she lost both her arms in an accident
0:19:26 > 0:19:29but she's adapted well and it's never held her back.
0:19:31 > 0:19:3613 years ago, Mari's previous keepers in Atlanta started
0:19:36 > 0:19:40looking for a new home for her and a suitable mate to keep her company.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46What's remarkable about Mari's story is how she chose her partner.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Which one do you want?
0:19:51 > 0:19:52Do you want this one?
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Her keepers in Atlanta had asked Patty to send photos of her
0:19:56 > 0:19:58two eligible males.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02They asked us to send pictures of Pongo and Christopher.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05And so we sent some big 8x10 photos of these two orang-utans
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and they laminated them and gave them to Mari.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Mari was shown the photographs to see
0:20:11 > 0:20:14if either of the males would grab her attention.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18..and the yellow long things.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Spoilt for choice, it was a decision Mari wouldn't rush.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41But in the end, there was a very clear winner.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Do you want that one?
0:20:45 > 0:20:46We can give you that one.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48This is the one Mari wanted.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53That was a very nice selection, Mari. Good job.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02The ape of Mari's dreams was a dashing 240lb male called Pongo.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10But had Mari really picked her potential
0:21:10 > 0:21:12partner from a selection of photos?
0:21:14 > 0:21:17They wouldn't know until Mari and Pongo met in person.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21When Mari arrived at the sanctuary,
0:21:21 > 0:21:26just to make sure, Patty introduced her to both males.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Pongo on the left and on the right, the younger male, Christopher.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33So when she first came in she was in quarantine
0:21:33 > 0:21:36across from their night house, in a separate area,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39and these boys would watch her all the time.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44But she'd already shown she had a preference for mister over here.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47Yes, and the whole time he was very aloof, he wouldn't look at her.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50He would look away. Whereas Christopher, who was younger,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53would take whole pieces of celery and put it all over his head
0:21:53 > 0:21:56and shoulders and kind of walk along in front of her,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58seeing if she'd notice him being so silly.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01- This is just adorable. - And she was pretty aloof to him.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04But Pongo would only sneak peeks at her.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08- He was playing hard to get. - He didn't seem to be very interested
0:22:08 > 0:22:12but their relationship really evolved to be stronger.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15When they're alone and it's just the care staff, and they're
0:22:15 > 0:22:18doing their own thing, he will sit with her a great deal of the day.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Every once in while we'll see him put his hand around the back
0:22:21 > 0:22:23of her head, pull her over and he'll kiss her eyes.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26I've seen it maybe 15, 20 times.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30Whether he's, you know, pulling things, grooming her eyes,
0:22:30 > 0:22:34getting little particles out of it or just feeling affectionate
0:22:34 > 0:22:37towards her, he does enjoy being next to Mari.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39What do you think that tells us
0:22:39 > 0:22:43about the about the capacity for emotional intelligence
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and for bonds that are incredibly strong in these apes?
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I think it's unlimited, I do.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52I think that he sees her as his mate, as his companion,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54and she prefers him.
0:22:55 > 0:23:0013 years later, the bond between Mari and Pongo is undeniable.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06And when you think about how she seems to have picked him
0:23:06 > 0:23:07out of a photo line-up...
0:23:07 > 0:23:10That was a very nice selection, Mari.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13..that makes this story all the more extraordinary.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18Pongo has proved to be the perfect partner for Mari.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23While some animals might employ 21st-century techniques
0:23:23 > 0:23:26to find a mate, others take a more traditional approach.
0:23:33 > 0:23:38I'm about to meet an animal with 150 million years of experience
0:23:38 > 0:23:42to draw on and one of the oldest love songs on the planet.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48It may not be a species we would associate with tender
0:23:48 > 0:23:53displays of affection but these animals are surprisingly gentle
0:23:53 > 0:23:54when it comes to the mating game.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03Florida is home to 1.5 million alligators.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08To find out how these solitary reptiles seduce their mates,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11I've teamed up with Professor Lou Guillette.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18I've got to say this is a very special scene to witness.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21For me, this is one of most peaceful scenes I've
0:24:21 > 0:24:24experienced in the United States of America and yet these
0:24:24 > 0:24:29animals have a reputation for being evil, nasty, killing monsters,
0:24:29 > 0:24:31which really hasn't done them any service, has it?
0:24:31 > 0:24:33It's actually one of these things where we
0:24:33 > 0:24:38think of these as ferocious animals - the terrors of the swamp. Right?
0:24:38 > 0:24:40The fact is that they're not terrors,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43they are perfectly suited for their environment.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48They are predators and yet courtship is something that actually appears
0:24:48 > 0:24:52to be quite tender, so there's a gentle side to these animals.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56Lou and I are here at the perfect time of year to see
0:24:56 > 0:24:59the softer side of these impressive predators.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01It's May and this is the height
0:25:01 > 0:25:04of their two-month long breeding season,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06but before a male can win over a female,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10he needs to have found himself an impressive territory.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12It's one of those things, it's female choice.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15It's the female that chooses to go out and see the male
0:25:15 > 0:25:18but, of course, she chooses the males that have the nicest territory
0:25:18 > 0:25:19with the best view!
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Having a prime piece of real estate is one thing,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27but they still have to attract the females to it.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30TUBAS SOUND
0:25:33 > 0:25:37And for alligators, the best way to do that is with a song.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Are you all set?
0:25:40 > 0:25:43To help get these alligators in the mood
0:25:43 > 0:25:46we've invited some musicians along from the Florida Orchestra.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48THEY WARM UP
0:25:48 > 0:25:51As our brass section warms up
0:25:51 > 0:25:53no-one seems at all interested in joining in.
0:26:00 > 0:26:05As much as alligators love to sing, when it comes down to it,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08there is actually only one note that they'll respond to.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13It's not until our tuba players hit B-flat that the concert
0:26:13 > 0:26:15finally kicks off.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22The most extraordinary set of events is unfolding.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24ALLIGATORS BELLOW
0:26:28 > 0:26:30And they're all joining in now.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33What you're seeing is the big males doing it, then the younger
0:26:33 > 0:26:36males start doing it because the big males are doing it.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37It's a virtual...
0:26:39 > 0:26:41- Chorus.- ..chorus of bellowing.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Bellowing not only advertises your territory,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48it also let everyone know how big you are.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53It's thought that the alligators are responding
0:26:53 > 0:26:57because they think there's another large male in the area.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06TUBAS PLAY ALLIGATORS ROAR
0:27:11 > 0:27:15In the competitive world of alligator mating, size matters.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17The biggest males seem to have it made.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Not only can you see off the competition
0:27:28 > 0:27:32but the beefier you are, the more female attention you get.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41But the biggest alligators have another remarkable advantage.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Only they can produce what is known as the water dance.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Their bellows are so low and powerful
0:27:57 > 0:28:01they cause vibrations that make the water bounce off their backs.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09It's another way of getting you noticed.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12If you're standing in the water when that happens, your skeleton
0:28:12 > 0:28:15turns into a tuning fork, it's the most amazing experience.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16Have you been in the water?
0:28:16 > 0:28:18I've been in the water when they do it, up to my knees.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21You've been in the water when alligators are bellowing like that?
0:28:21 > 0:28:24- Yes, yes.- Good grief. - It's an amazing experience,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28and the funny part is - the first thing in your head is,
0:28:28 > 0:28:32there's a huge, huge guy in this area and I have to get out.
0:28:32 > 0:28:37A large male is exactly what these females are looking for and
0:28:37 > 0:28:41if they hear an impressive song, they may bellow back.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44ALLIGATOR BELLOWS
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Scientists think it's their way of letting the males know
0:28:48 > 0:28:50they are ready to mate.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53I love the sound!
0:28:53 > 0:28:57How did we know that that particular note, the B-flat,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59was going to work so well?
0:28:59 > 0:29:03The story goes, Leonard Bernstein is practising the Philharmonic.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06They can't practice in Carnegie Hall because it's being refurbished
0:29:06 > 0:29:09so they go to the Natural History Museum.
0:29:09 > 0:29:10They play the symphony,
0:29:10 > 0:29:14they hit certain notes and they realise most notes don't do it,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17but when they hit B-flat, all of a sudden the gators start bellowing.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20So, at the time, they had alligators at the Natural History Museum?
0:29:20 > 0:29:23They actually had live animals at the Natural History Museum.
0:29:23 > 0:29:24Today, of course, we go
0:29:24 > 0:29:26and they're just all stuffed animals or skeletons.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29The interesting part today is that we know that you can go out
0:29:29 > 0:29:32here and play all different kinds of notes but it's only
0:29:32 > 0:29:36when you hit those very low notes, where you send out that
0:29:36 > 0:29:40low-frequency vibration, that's the note that these guys respond to.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42That's the note!
0:29:46 > 0:29:50Bellowing is an extremely effective way of announcing
0:29:50 > 0:29:52yourself as a suitable mate.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57These impressive individuals can be heard as far as 1.5km away.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00But it's once they've attracted a mate
0:30:00 > 0:30:03that alligators really show their tender side.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10Few people have witnessed a complete courtship and mating in the wild,
0:30:10 > 0:30:13but Lou has been lucky enough to see this a handful of times.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19Male and females will actually find themselves in the water, usually
0:30:19 > 0:30:23they'll actually go and basically see one another from the side.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26Then the male will actually come around the back of the female,
0:30:26 > 0:30:28and slide up over the back of the female.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35He'll actually start to nuzzle the back of her jaw with his.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41They literally will sit in that position for a while,
0:30:41 > 0:30:44and it'll come, it'll and go, they will rub one another,
0:30:44 > 0:30:48it'll come, it'll and go, they'll rub one another,
0:30:48 > 0:30:53but eventually the female will give him the appropriate signal.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57He will in fact wrap himself around her body
0:30:57 > 0:31:00and the courtship ends in mating.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Clearly, this is not an aggressive event,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08this is actually an event where the two of them
0:31:08 > 0:31:11are coming together to produce the next generation.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22Alligator courtship is a much more tender affair than I imagined,
0:31:22 > 0:31:25but to find out why they rub their jaws together
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Lou is letting me come out on one of his research trips.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41The alligators Lou is studying live in the shadow
0:31:41 > 0:31:43of NASA's Kennedy Space Centre.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54OK, we got one.
0:31:54 > 0:31:55OK, we got one.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Can I help with anything? Can I pull?
0:32:06 > 0:32:09- You can help pull.- Great idea. - Yep.- Pull.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12- Pull.- Yeah.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14No, I got him, don't pull.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18- OK, tape.- You want tape?
0:32:22 > 0:32:24I want you to grab the head.
0:32:24 > 0:32:25Oh, good grief!
0:32:25 > 0:32:27It's OK, you can do it.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30- He's young but...he's strong. - They're incredibly strong.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33- We have this mouth taped up, so... - He's so strong.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Let's go, up the hill.
0:32:36 > 0:32:37Oh, my God!
0:32:37 > 0:32:40And so, how quickly do we need to work before we get him
0:32:40 > 0:32:43- back in the water?- The blood sample we have to take almost immediately.
0:32:43 > 0:32:44Yeah.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49'Lou has just 15 minutes to get all the data he needs.'
0:32:50 > 0:32:51So we go in...
0:32:51 > 0:32:56Determining the identity, size, and sex of each alligator he captures
0:32:56 > 0:33:00helps builds a comprehensive picture of population.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04Lou is also monitoring how well they're breeding in area.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10Once he has taken all measurements he needs, we have a brief
0:33:10 > 0:33:14opportunity to take a closer look at this alligator's powerful jaw.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19OK, so lift him up, and tilt it sideways.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22So you see every one of these little dots,
0:33:22 > 0:33:25the receptors, they sense pressure.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28And how sensitive are they?
0:33:28 > 0:33:30Much more sensitive than your fingers.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33There's a suggestion, they may be ten times more sensitive.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36Others say it's 20, 30 or 40 times more sensitive.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39So what do alligators use these for?
0:33:39 > 0:33:42For food, so if a fish swims by they know
0:33:42 > 0:33:44if it's on the right or the left.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46But the other thing is, during courtship and mating,
0:33:46 > 0:33:49the male will come up and nuzzle the side gently.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52So that's a tactile response.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56And what that actually means to the female, we're not exactly sure,
0:33:56 > 0:33:59but we know it's central to courtship and mating.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01Let's get her back in the water, Lou.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04Yes, we need to do that. Everybody good?
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Here we go, lovely. Do I pull now?
0:34:07 > 0:34:09- Go ahead and pull.- One, two, three.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11SHE GASPS
0:34:11 > 0:34:12She's in the water.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14The water sound there, she's back where she belongs.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19It's fascinating that these armoured reptiles can also be
0:34:19 > 0:34:24so sensitive and hearing their extraordinary bellows drives
0:34:24 > 0:34:29home just how important it is to get your message out there.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33ALLIGATORS BELLOW
0:34:44 > 0:34:46While alligators rely on song,
0:34:46 > 0:34:49for others it's the right smell that can make all the difference.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52# I don't know what it is that makes me love you so...
0:34:52 > 0:34:54All across the animal kingdom
0:34:54 > 0:34:57creatures are following their noses to find a mate.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00From tamarins to wolves,
0:35:00 > 0:35:05many species use chemical signals or pheromones to attract a mate.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07# It happens to be true
0:35:07 > 0:35:10# I only want to be with you... #
0:35:10 > 0:35:13And the largest land mammal on Earth is no exception.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17For the most part,
0:35:17 > 0:35:21male and female elephants live completely separate lives.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Mating opportunities tend to be few and far between,
0:35:25 > 0:35:29so when the time is right, the females release a seductive scent.
0:35:32 > 0:35:37These powerful chemicals lure a potential mate for miles around.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44The Alaskan moose uses the pheromones in his urine
0:35:44 > 0:35:47to advertise his credential.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53And if a female approves, she'll allow him to make a move.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59But it's not just the large mammals
0:35:59 > 0:36:02who rely on smell to seduce their mates,
0:36:02 > 0:36:07even the smallest of creatures use scent to seek them out.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12Butterflies may be renowned for their beautiful wings
0:36:12 > 0:36:13but when it comes to courtship,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16surprisingly for these colourful characters,
0:36:16 > 0:36:18it's not all about looks!
0:36:20 > 0:36:23The signature colours and patterns on butterfly wings
0:36:23 > 0:36:27play an important role in attracting potential mates to each other.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30But once they've got close, an entirely different sense
0:36:30 > 0:36:35takes over, in the butterfly mating game, scent is paramount.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43Male butterflies produce an alluring perfume during courtship.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47To attract a potential mate,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50he wafts his unique scent towards her with his wings.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55# I put a spell on you...
0:36:55 > 0:36:58The female will then assess his suitability as a mate
0:36:58 > 0:37:00through the scent.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02# ..Cos you're mine... #
0:37:03 > 0:37:08But some butterflies, like the longwings, take it one step further
0:37:08 > 0:37:11and give the females a rather ingenious parting gift.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17To find out more, I've come to meet Dr Neil Gale at his
0:37:17 > 0:37:19butterfly house in Aberystwyth in Wales.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23I want to know how a longwing butterfly
0:37:23 > 0:37:26makes sure no other male goes near his female.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30So, once they've mated, is that it?
0:37:30 > 0:37:35It is essentially. He pretty much flies off, away from her.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37But he has left a scent.
0:37:37 > 0:37:42His scent, on her, which is going to put off all the other males
0:37:42 > 0:37:44that are going to come and try and court with her.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46It's an anti-aphrodisiac.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49An anti-aphrodisiac? How does the anti-aphrodisiac work then?
0:37:49 > 0:37:53By actually smelling of a male longwing.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57Which puts off all future males that are going to come.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01Putting off other potential mates is a clever tactic
0:38:01 > 0:38:02on the male's behalf.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06His scent will last for two weeks, it's his insurance that he,
0:38:06 > 0:38:10and he alone, will father her offspring during that time.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16It might sounds like the male is getting one up on the female,
0:38:16 > 0:38:19but surprisingly, there are some advantages for her too.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24She can use the male's anti-aphrodisiac to
0:38:24 > 0:38:26ward off unwanted advances.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30The female stores that chemical in a gland,
0:38:30 > 0:38:35and she waits until another male comes along and courts with her,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38and what she does is, if she's getting courted or approached
0:38:38 > 0:38:42by a male, she lifts up her abdomen and she does a little spray.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46And you can see these yellow glands and this scent is coming out.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50Containing - the male she's just mated with - his anti-aphrodisiac.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52Yep, his smell.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54And so to another other male, it's just, "Oh, my God!"
0:38:54 > 0:38:56It's fascinating,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59I never for a moment imagined how beautifully complex
0:38:59 > 0:39:03the mating game was in these gorgeous little insects.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07For many species, scent can be a deal-breaker,
0:39:07 > 0:39:10but for others, it's all about showing off your moves.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20In the animal kingdom,
0:39:20 > 0:39:24an enthusiastic dance is sure to get you noticed.
0:39:24 > 0:39:30MUSIC: Crazy In Love by Beyonce
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Male wolf spiders certainly don't hold back.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42In the mating game, there are no prizes for coming second.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50Sea dragons take a more leisurely approach,
0:39:50 > 0:39:54waltzing gently in unison to get to know each other.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57And there's one bird who's willing to walk on water
0:39:57 > 0:39:59to make a good impression.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06Grebes try to coordinate their moves to see if they're compatible.
0:40:08 > 0:40:14Dancing is something lots of animals do to find a mate
0:40:14 > 0:40:17but I'm about to meet a bird that knows exactly what to do
0:40:17 > 0:40:19to steal the spotlight.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25There are six different species of flamingo
0:40:25 > 0:40:28and I've come to Slimbridge Wetland Centre in the UK
0:40:28 > 0:40:31to find out more about the greater flamingo.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35In their efforts to attract a mate,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38they do something no other flamingo species does.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Flirting for these flamboyant birds is all about producing
0:40:42 > 0:40:46your best moves and looking fabulous while you're doing them.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51Paul Rose from Exeter University has spent the last three years
0:40:51 > 0:40:54studying how these birds pick their partners.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Everything about flamingos is about doing stuff with your friends,
0:40:57 > 0:41:00and I've often thought it's a bit like a primary school disco
0:41:00 > 0:41:03in that there are some kids that really want to go on the dance floor
0:41:03 > 0:41:06and get their boogie on and the others are like, hmmm...
0:41:06 > 0:41:09- They're like, "Come on, do it with me!"- "Maybe, I'm not sure."
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Eventually, it kind of spreads and you get everyone, going,
0:41:11 > 0:41:13"Oh, we can do this as well."
0:41:13 > 0:41:15They'll go and do their dance together.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17But you don't often get flamingos where one is shuffling
0:41:17 > 0:41:20out into the middle going, "Oh, I'm really beautiful."
0:41:20 > 0:41:24You have to have every single bird doing it at the same time.
0:41:24 > 0:41:25Of course, there is
0:41:25 > 0:41:29always that awkward moment where someone has to make the first move.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37Fortunately, experience steps in to lend a hand -
0:41:37 > 0:41:38typically it's the oldest,
0:41:38 > 0:41:43tallest males in the flock who are first to grace the dance floor.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46The first display you're likely to see is something called
0:41:46 > 0:41:49head flagging, so the bird stands very tall, it extends its head
0:41:49 > 0:41:52- and its neck and moves its head from side to side.- OK.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55And that's normally started by the tallest males in the flock.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58- OK.- Not to say the females don't get involved.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00They're not like the peacock, where you have the boys display
0:42:00 > 0:42:03and the females go, "Hmmm, maybe you. Hmmm, I'm not sure."
0:42:03 > 0:42:06They all do it at the same time.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09But putting yourself out there doesn't always go according
0:42:09 > 0:42:12to plan, timing is everything.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17I do feel sorry for them sometimes
0:42:17 > 0:42:19when they want to do the head flagging and they look really
0:42:19 > 0:42:22tall and beautiful and everyone else in on one leg fast asleep.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24- Awwww!- It's a bit sad.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28Overly eager youngsters are the ones who it wrong most often.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32Being ignored by the rest of the flock is never a good look.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37Sticking your neck out is only the start.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41Scientists have discovered that flamingos have nine signature
0:42:41 > 0:42:44moves designed to show off their best assets.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Another display that normally follows the head flagging
0:42:46 > 0:42:49which is called wing saluting.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53It's to basically give a sudden shock of colour
0:42:53 > 0:42:56against their uniform, their pale body colour.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07Ohh, what are they all doing, what's going on?
0:43:07 > 0:43:10This is this whole, let's all run in that direction.
0:43:10 > 0:43:11Are we all fit? Are we all ready?
0:43:11 > 0:43:14Let's go and try and see if we can get everyone together
0:43:14 > 0:43:16doing the same thing at the same time.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19- It's very complicated, isn't it? - They don't do anything by halves!
0:43:20 > 0:43:23It seems this bunch are still warming up.
0:43:23 > 0:43:28But when flamingos do get it right, the dancing is contagious.
0:43:34 > 0:43:37# If you want my body
0:43:37 > 0:43:39# And you think I'm sexy
0:43:39 > 0:43:42# Come on, sugar, let me know... #
0:43:42 > 0:43:45Andean flamingos have mastered the ultimate strut.
0:43:47 > 0:43:51It might look comical but it serves an important purpose,
0:43:51 > 0:43:55flamingos only perform when conditions are best for breeding.
0:43:59 > 0:44:01Once you've proved you've got the moves,
0:44:01 > 0:44:04picking a partner is the next big step.
0:44:06 > 0:44:10So what makes one flamingo more attractive than the next?
0:44:11 > 0:44:14It seems the pinker you are the better.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19But flamingos have been living with a little white lie.
0:44:21 > 0:44:27Now flamingos are not naturally pink, is that right?
0:44:27 > 0:44:29Yep, a flamingo is actually white.
0:44:29 > 0:44:31Apart from their black bits on its feathers,
0:44:31 > 0:44:35all of the other pigmentation in its plumage comes from its diet.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38OK, so what is it in their diet that gives them this pink colour?
0:44:38 > 0:44:42They're carotenoids, the same thing as what makes carrots orange
0:44:42 > 0:44:45so they ingest those carotenoids from their food.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49When they were first kept in captivity
0:44:49 > 0:44:53no-one knew just how important being pink was to these birds.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58The flamingos here are given the supplements
0:44:58 > 0:45:00they would naturally get in the wild.
0:45:00 > 0:45:04It helps turn their feathers into the colour they need to impress.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09Looking your best has a major bearing on your love life
0:45:09 > 0:45:13but the greater flamingo has an extra trick up its sleeve.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19Tucked away beneath their tail feathers is a preen gland
0:45:19 > 0:45:21which produces an oily pink dye.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27The flamingos apply it liberally during the breeding season,
0:45:27 > 0:45:30the more they apply, the pinker they get.
0:45:30 > 0:45:32You could call it the flamingo equivalent to make-up.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37And it's not just the females who put in the effort,
0:45:37 > 0:45:40the males are just as keen to look good.
0:45:43 > 0:45:44In the breeding season,
0:45:44 > 0:45:48when they need to make themselves look more beautiful, they can
0:45:48 > 0:45:52preen the oil preferentially on to the head and neck
0:45:52 > 0:45:56and that means the head and neck become a lot brighter in colour.
0:45:56 > 0:46:00Are greater flamingos the only flamingos known to do this?
0:46:00 > 0:46:01Yes, this is from our knowledge,
0:46:01 > 0:46:07the only species that use this cosmetic property of its oil
0:46:07 > 0:46:10so that it becomes pink on its head and its neck.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17One flamingo might look much like the next, but even subtle
0:46:17 > 0:46:21differences in colour can reveal a lot about a potential partner.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27Taking good care of yourself lets everyone else know,
0:46:27 > 0:46:30you're in the best possible condition to breed.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37But it's a truth universally acknowledged that some males
0:46:37 > 0:46:40will try their luck no matter what.
0:46:40 > 0:46:46This tall pale male, is doing his level best...
0:46:47 > 0:46:50..but the object of his desires has other ideas.
0:46:50 > 0:46:54She has her eye on the pinkest flamingo in the flock.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57Working hard to look this colourful has earned this male
0:46:57 > 0:46:59the most female attention.
0:47:08 > 0:47:13From dancing flamingos, to stone-throwing capuchins,
0:47:13 > 0:47:19singing alligators, to persistent male hyenas,
0:47:19 > 0:47:23I've been astonished by the incredible lengths
0:47:23 > 0:47:25some animals go to, to find the perfect partner.
0:47:28 > 0:47:32But perhaps one of the most heroic efforts to find a mate is made by
0:47:32 > 0:47:35a creature that lives in South Africa.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40I've travelled to the Kalahari Desert to meet an animal who
0:47:40 > 0:47:43puts his life on the line in search of love.
0:47:46 > 0:47:50So it's about half an hour after sunrise and we're very much
0:47:50 > 0:47:52working to this animal's schedule.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54Just waiting for the first one to appear.
0:48:01 > 0:48:02And here they are now.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10These charismatic characters need little introduction -
0:48:10 > 0:48:14they are, of course, meerkats, and the couple I've come to
0:48:14 > 0:48:20meet in this clan are called Tigi and McDreamy.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24They're the dominant pair in a 19-strong family
0:48:24 > 0:48:27and they've been together for three and a half years.
0:48:29 > 0:48:33Meerkats are impossibly cute but there's a lot more to these animals
0:48:33 > 0:48:38and their social lives have all the makings of a Shakespearian drama.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42Four years ago, McDreamy and Tigi would have been members of
0:48:42 > 0:48:46rival clans fighting viciously over territory, and to protect their own.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49So how did these two get together?
0:48:50 > 0:48:53To answer that I've teamed up with Dr Tom Flower.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58Tom is one of a number of scientists who have spent years studying
0:48:58 > 0:49:01the social lives of these intriguing mammals.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04Cambridge University has been following Tigi
0:49:04 > 0:49:07and McDreamy's relationship from very start.
0:49:08 > 0:49:13They may look tame, but they are still very much a wild clan.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16- 593.- 593 grams.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18- We've got a pup in there too now. - We definitely do.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20'Recording their weighs on a daily basis,
0:49:20 > 0:49:24'is all part of the data Cambridge University is collecting.'
0:49:24 > 0:49:26Do you know the name of this fella?
0:49:26 > 0:49:29- This one is called Foxy Moron. - That's brilliant.
0:49:29 > 0:49:30THEY LAUGH
0:49:30 > 0:49:34'It also has helps scientists like Tom earn the trust
0:49:34 > 0:49:35'of each individual.'
0:49:37 > 0:49:40I think we might be struggling with these pups, we've got
0:49:40 > 0:49:42more than we can handle at one time.
0:49:42 > 0:49:44Is there anyone else we need to weigh here?
0:49:44 > 0:49:46Well, we've got to weigh all of them. There's 19 of them
0:49:46 > 0:49:49and we try to do that every morning, lunch and evening.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52- That sounds like a roving call. - It is.
0:49:52 > 0:49:54They're beginning their foraging for the day.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02What I want to know is, how does a male like Tigi find his McDreamy?
0:50:05 > 0:50:10Four years ago, Tigi did what every young male meerkat must
0:50:10 > 0:50:13do in order to find a mate, he left the safety of his family
0:50:13 > 0:50:16and set off in search of a partner.
0:50:22 > 0:50:23For any young hopeful,
0:50:23 > 0:50:27leaving your clan means taking a big risk.
0:50:27 > 0:50:31At just 30cm tall, meerkats are on the menu
0:50:31 > 0:50:35for many of the Kalahari's aerial predators.
0:50:35 > 0:50:39If you go it alone, you have no-one to watch your back.
0:50:39 > 0:50:42It's an opportunity and if you're a young male in a group, there's no
0:50:42 > 0:50:45good staying at home, you're going to have to leave home some day.
0:50:45 > 0:50:48So roving is a way of getting out of there, perhaps managing to mate
0:50:48 > 0:50:51with even with a dominant female if you're lucky - that's very rare
0:50:51 > 0:50:55that that happens but it's a big pay off if it does - you hit jackpot.
0:50:56 > 0:51:00When he was a roving male, Tigi would have travelled up to
0:51:00 > 0:51:0210km a day in search of a mate.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06That's the equivalent of us
0:51:06 > 0:51:09walking 50km on the off-chance of finding a date.
0:51:11 > 0:51:16But once a young male finds another group, the real challenge begins.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21What's the best way to approach a rival clan
0:51:21 > 0:51:24when you've spotted a nice lady? It's not easy, I presume.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27No, that's right. What they do is, they sort of snorkel around the edges
0:51:27 > 0:51:30and by that, I mean they go low and they sort of pop their heads up
0:51:30 > 0:51:33every now and again and the sort of furtively run along by the ground.
0:51:36 > 0:51:38They're trying to combine getting seen by the females
0:51:38 > 0:51:40and not getting seen by the males.
0:51:43 > 0:51:47So if they do spot an approaching male, what happens?
0:51:47 > 0:51:51Well, a meerkat will make a 'meerkat is approaching' alarm call.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53MEERKAT CALLS
0:51:53 > 0:51:56And then they'll actually do a little war dance
0:51:56 > 0:51:57towards the intruder.
0:52:00 > 0:52:05Getting spotted in another clan's territory has serious consequences.
0:52:05 > 0:52:09Roving males have to be quick on their feet to avoid being caught.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Being chased away by a clan is a regular occurrence
0:52:17 > 0:52:20and not all roving males escape unscathed.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22I've been with groups where rovers have been caught.
0:52:22 > 0:52:26It's a horrible sight because all the males in the group pile in
0:52:26 > 0:52:29and they all grab a limb and tear and tear
0:52:29 > 0:52:31and I've seen one killed like that.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33I've seen two others who managed to escape.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36One of them, it was his first time ever roving,
0:52:36 > 0:52:38he looked like he didn't have a hope in hell.
0:52:38 > 0:52:39He didn't know what he was doing.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42He sort of ran up to the group all buoyant and excited
0:52:42 > 0:52:45- and they jumped on him,- "I'm here, where's the ladies?" Boof!
0:52:45 > 0:52:47Absolutely, had no idea what he was doing!
0:52:49 > 0:52:52Roving by yourself is a risky business
0:52:52 > 0:52:54but there are other tactics a male can adopt.
0:52:55 > 0:52:58It may sound counterintuitive but bringing your brothers
0:52:58 > 0:53:03along to find a potential mate can actually work to your advantage.
0:53:03 > 0:53:07If the males spread out and approach the group from different directions,
0:53:07 > 0:53:10it can make it very hard for the resident meerkats
0:53:10 > 0:53:12to defend their females.
0:53:24 > 0:53:28They, on the other hand, have no objection to gentlemen callers.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31This is the only way they'll get a chance to meet a male
0:53:31 > 0:53:32they're not related to.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38While his brothers cause a distraction,
0:53:38 > 0:53:41our young Romeo makes a daring play for his Juliet.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48These liaisons are strictly forbidden.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51Courtship has to be quick and out of sight of the rest of the family.
0:53:55 > 0:53:57She leads him into the long grass.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03If a young female is caught with a roving male,
0:54:03 > 0:54:05there's a heavy price to pay.
0:54:07 > 0:54:11So, say this roving male has successfully bred with
0:54:11 > 0:54:15a female from another clan, but then she becomes pregnant.
0:54:15 > 0:54:16What happens then?
0:54:16 > 0:54:20Well, typically, the dominant female will actually attack her
0:54:20 > 0:54:23and kick her out of the group. We call that eviction.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26And they do that when the dominant female themselves is pregnant.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31When McDreamy was just a teenager
0:54:31 > 0:54:34she and several of her sisters were banished from their clan.
0:54:35 > 0:54:37In a meerkat family,
0:54:37 > 0:54:41breeding is predominantly the privilege of the dominant pair,
0:54:41 > 0:54:45it takes the rest of the clan to help raise each litter of pups.
0:54:46 > 0:54:50McDreamy's mother had to make sure her new pups came first.
0:54:52 > 0:54:57For evicted females, life outside the clan can be extremely hard.
0:54:57 > 0:54:58With fewer eyes on the skies,
0:54:58 > 0:55:01they are even more vulnerable to predators.
0:55:02 > 0:55:05So it's a tough life for these evicted females
0:55:05 > 0:55:06but it doesn't always end in tragedy.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08Because if they're lucky enough
0:55:08 > 0:55:10they can bump into a group of roving males.
0:55:10 > 0:55:14How common is it that you have these successful meetings,
0:55:14 > 0:55:16pairings, matings, and there you have it,
0:55:16 > 0:55:17you have a new, successful clan?
0:55:17 > 0:55:20The group we're with today were made just like that.
0:55:20 > 0:55:25McDreamy and her sisters met up with dominant male and his brothers.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29So Tigi and McDreamy came from the rovers and the evictees
0:55:29 > 0:55:33and made a go of it. And they've been together three and a half years
0:55:33 > 0:55:35- so they're doing really well. - They are, that's right.
0:55:35 > 0:55:40For any meerkat, the search for a mate is fraught with danger.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43It takes courage to leave your clan,
0:55:43 > 0:55:46cunning to avoid being killed,
0:55:46 > 0:55:49and a little luck to finally find what you're after.
0:55:51 > 0:55:55For Tigi and McDreamy, the gamble paid off.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00They've claimed the ultimate prize in the meerkat world.
0:56:01 > 0:56:05They've become the dominant pair with a family of their own.
0:56:13 > 0:56:17What's really struck me about my journey is the sheer
0:56:17 > 0:56:20number of different strategies animals use to attract a mate.
0:56:20 > 0:56:24No matter what the challenge, they always seem to find a way.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27How do you keep a straight face when you're observing them?
0:56:27 > 0:56:30You can't really. It's such a funny scene to watch.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33I've often thought it's a bit like a primary school disco.
0:56:33 > 0:56:35Shuffling out in the middle going, "Oh, I'm really beautiful."
0:56:35 > 0:56:39What excites me most about all of this is that by changing
0:56:39 > 0:56:42the way we look at animals, science is revealing that they're
0:56:42 > 0:56:46capable of relationships we would have thought impossible.
0:56:46 > 0:56:47The trench between humans
0:56:47 > 0:56:51and animals is not as deep as many people would want it to be.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55I would definitely say that they feel the same emotions as we do
0:56:55 > 0:56:58and I don't see why we can't allow them that.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00We're only beginning to scratch the surface
0:57:00 > 0:57:03but I can't wait to see what else we're going to
0:57:03 > 0:57:06discover about the emotional lives of animals.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09BONOBO LAUGHING
0:57:09 > 0:57:10- LAUGHING:- Can't stop laughing.
0:57:15 > 0:57:16Oh, my God!
0:57:20 > 0:57:24We lost the boom, that's a naughty bonobo!
0:57:28 > 0:57:31He's falling over, look, he's asleep.