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So far on Life Story, | 0:00:06 | 0:00:08 | |
we've seen animals learn | 0:00:08 | 0:00:10 | |
the lessons of childhood... | 0:00:10 | 0:00:12 | |
..enter the adult world... | 0:00:15 | 0:00:17 | |
..and find a safe home. | 0:00:22 | 0:00:24 | |
Now they must battle for dominance. | 0:00:26 | 0:00:29 | |
CHIMPS SCREAM | 0:00:29 | 0:00:31 | |
Because those with power get privileges. | 0:00:31 | 0:00:34 | |
The best food, the best territory... | 0:00:35 | 0:00:38 | |
..and the chance to beat rivals for a mate. | 0:00:40 | 0:00:43 | |
But only a lucky few will ever reach the top. | 0:00:47 | 0:00:50 | |
BIRDS CHIRP | 0:01:16 | 0:01:19 | |
Senegal, West Africa. | 0:01:19 | 0:01:21 | |
A forest water hole offers this group of chimpanzees | 0:01:27 | 0:01:30 | |
a rare respite from the heat of the day. | 0:01:30 | 0:01:33 | |
They are the lowliest members of their 30-strong troop. | 0:01:38 | 0:01:42 | |
Advanced age has robbed this old male of the standing | 0:01:48 | 0:01:52 | |
he once enjoyed. | 0:01:52 | 0:01:54 | |
CHIMP HOWLS | 0:01:54 | 0:01:56 | |
And the youngsters are not old enough to really | 0:01:57 | 0:02:00 | |
worry about status while still protected by their mothers. | 0:02:00 | 0:02:03 | |
But this teenage male is too old to play with the babies any more. | 0:02:09 | 0:02:13 | |
CHIMP GRUNTS | 0:02:16 | 0:02:18 | |
The time has come for him to leave them behind | 0:02:25 | 0:02:28 | |
and try to break into the ranks of the powerful adult males. | 0:02:28 | 0:02:32 | |
This is particularly hard for a young male, | 0:02:33 | 0:02:36 | |
because competition for top spots is so intense. | 0:02:36 | 0:02:40 | |
And worse, he's an orphan, without friends, protection or guidance. | 0:02:42 | 0:02:48 | |
These males are the troop leaders. | 0:03:05 | 0:03:09 | |
They hold all the power here. | 0:03:09 | 0:03:11 | |
Joining them is every young male's ambition. | 0:03:21 | 0:03:24 | |
To be accepted into this elite is the path to privilege, | 0:03:29 | 0:03:33 | |
but it's a dangerous journey. | 0:03:33 | 0:03:35 | |
CHIMPS GRUNT | 0:03:47 | 0:03:49 | |
The youngster decides to follow. | 0:03:52 | 0:03:55 | |
At first, he has enough sense to keep his distance. | 0:03:57 | 0:04:00 | |
These males are twice his size. | 0:04:02 | 0:04:04 | |
CHIMPS HOWL AND SCREAM WILDLY | 0:04:08 | 0:04:11 | |
The low-ranking chimps retreat | 0:04:15 | 0:04:17 | |
before the troop leaders arrive at the water hole. | 0:04:17 | 0:04:20 | |
Dominant males have a highly stressful life, | 0:04:29 | 0:04:32 | |
as they constantly squabble to protect their position. | 0:04:32 | 0:04:35 | |
CHIMPS HOWL AND SCREAM | 0:04:35 | 0:04:38 | |
The youngster can't take his eyes off them. | 0:04:39 | 0:04:42 | |
CHIMPS HOWL AND SCREAM | 0:04:42 | 0:04:46 | |
This is his chance to get himself noticed. | 0:04:54 | 0:04:58 | |
If he can impress even one of the big males with | 0:04:58 | 0:05:01 | |
a show of strength, he might just be accepted into their ranks. | 0:05:01 | 0:05:05 | |
His best attempt at a macho display has certainly | 0:05:18 | 0:05:21 | |
caught their attention. | 0:05:21 | 0:05:22 | |
CHIMP HOWLS | 0:05:22 | 0:05:24 | |
CHIMPS HOWL AND SCREAM | 0:05:24 | 0:05:27 | |
But they are not impressed. | 0:05:29 | 0:05:31 | |
CHIMPS BEAT ON WOOD | 0:05:32 | 0:05:34 | |
In fact, this drumming means they're getting rather angry. | 0:05:41 | 0:05:45 | |
And they attack. | 0:05:49 | 0:05:51 | |
CHIMPS HOWL AND SCREAM | 0:05:51 | 0:05:54 | |
The youngster is not quick enough. | 0:05:57 | 0:05:59 | |
CHIMPS HOWL AND SCREAM WILDLY | 0:06:01 | 0:06:05 | |
He gets a short, sharp lesson about how hard it can be | 0:06:09 | 0:06:12 | |
to break into this close-knit gang. | 0:06:12 | 0:06:15 | |
CHIMPS BARK | 0:06:16 | 0:06:19 | |
He's lucky to escape with just an injured hand. | 0:06:19 | 0:06:22 | |
CHIMP WHINES | 0:06:22 | 0:06:25 | |
For the moment, he's neither big enough nor strong enough | 0:06:31 | 0:06:35 | |
to be taken seriously by the troop leaders. | 0:06:35 | 0:06:37 | |
Without status, he will never enjoy the privileges of the best | 0:06:41 | 0:06:46 | |
food or the attention of females. | 0:06:46 | 0:06:48 | |
But aggression may not be the only route for a youngster to gain power. | 0:06:51 | 0:06:56 | |
Being at the bottom of the pile doesn't just mean a lack of status. | 0:07:11 | 0:07:15 | |
For some, it can mean the difference between life and death. | 0:07:15 | 0:07:19 | |
By midwinter, several hundred Alaskan bald eagles | 0:07:25 | 0:07:29 | |
have gathered on the Chilkat River. | 0:07:29 | 0:07:31 | |
They're here because it is the only source of food for miles around. | 0:07:32 | 0:07:37 | |
This river holds the last of the year's spawning salmon. | 0:07:43 | 0:07:46 | |
Battles amongst adult eagles establish who holds the power, | 0:07:53 | 0:07:58 | |
and here, power means who gets food and who doesn't. | 0:07:58 | 0:08:03 | |
EAGLES SQUAWK | 0:08:03 | 0:08:05 | |
EAGLES SQUAWK | 0:08:09 | 0:08:11 | |
EAGLES SQUAWK AND CHIRP | 0:08:14 | 0:08:17 | |
So, what can a low-ranking, powerless juvenile do | 0:08:28 | 0:08:32 | |
if she isn't going to starve? | 0:08:32 | 0:08:34 | |
She must grab any opportunity that presents itself | 0:08:37 | 0:08:41 | |
before adults stake their claim. | 0:08:41 | 0:08:43 | |
EAGLE CALLS | 0:08:43 | 0:08:45 | |
She tries to sneak in, unnoticed by the adults. | 0:08:56 | 0:08:59 | |
But she's been spotted. | 0:09:12 | 0:09:15 | |
EAGLE SQUAWKS | 0:09:29 | 0:09:32 | |
The juvenile has done all the hard work. | 0:09:32 | 0:09:34 | |
But her success is short-lived. | 0:09:39 | 0:09:41 | |
CHIRPING AND SQUAWKING | 0:09:41 | 0:09:43 | |
EAGLE SQUAWKS | 0:09:49 | 0:09:52 | |
She can't afford to give up just yet. | 0:09:52 | 0:09:55 | |
EAGLE CHIRPS | 0:10:07 | 0:10:09 | |
The youngster may not be strong enough to fight for her fish. | 0:10:37 | 0:10:40 | |
But other adults will. | 0:10:43 | 0:10:45 | |
The adults' power games might just help her. | 0:10:50 | 0:10:54 | |
Now is her chance. | 0:10:56 | 0:10:58 | |
EAGLE CAWS | 0:10:58 | 0:11:01 | |
The squabble rapidly escalates into a full-blown fight. | 0:11:04 | 0:11:09 | |
FRANTIC CHIRPING | 0:11:09 | 0:11:12 | |
This isn't about the fish any more. | 0:11:28 | 0:11:31 | |
This is about one adult enforcing dominance over another. | 0:11:31 | 0:11:35 | |
The reclaimed fish is enough to keep the juvenile alive | 0:11:43 | 0:11:47 | |
for at least a few more days. | 0:11:47 | 0:11:49 | |
But there's a long, hard winter ahead. | 0:11:49 | 0:11:53 | |
Dawn in Africa's Kalahari Desert. | 0:12:05 | 0:12:08 | |
In meerkat society, | 0:12:11 | 0:12:12 | |
the success of the troop depends on decisions made by the leader. | 0:12:12 | 0:12:16 | |
Where to feed, where to sleep | 0:12:18 | 0:12:20 | |
and how to deal with danger. | 0:12:20 | 0:12:22 | |
MEERKAT CHATTERS | 0:12:22 | 0:12:25 | |
No individual can hope to climb the hierarchy | 0:12:25 | 0:12:28 | |
unless it accumulates knowledge. | 0:12:28 | 0:12:30 | |
MEERKAT CHATTERS | 0:12:34 | 0:12:36 | |
MEERKAT CHATTERS | 0:12:42 | 0:12:44 | |
As the others wake up and emerge, | 0:12:44 | 0:12:46 | |
this young meerkat is already up and on his way to his lookout post. | 0:12:46 | 0:12:51 | |
Being on watch is an excellent time | 0:13:09 | 0:13:11 | |
to learn about the complexity of the troop's world. | 0:13:11 | 0:13:14 | |
Where they forage... | 0:13:16 | 0:13:18 | |
..and who is friends with who. | 0:13:19 | 0:13:21 | |
MEERKATS CHATTER | 0:13:21 | 0:13:23 | |
But it's important not to lose concentration. | 0:13:23 | 0:13:27 | |
A quick scramble back into position before anybody notices. | 0:13:52 | 0:13:55 | |
Scanning the skies is a lookout's most important task, | 0:14:05 | 0:14:08 | |
because the troop is vulnerable to aerial attack by birds of prey. | 0:14:08 | 0:14:14 | |
BIRDS CHATTER | 0:14:14 | 0:14:15 | |
Youngsters quickly learn that weaverbirds are no danger. | 0:14:15 | 0:14:19 | |
The more he watches, the more he learns, | 0:14:22 | 0:14:24 | |
and the easier it becomes to distinguish friend from foe. | 0:14:24 | 0:14:28 | |
Or plain nuisance. | 0:14:36 | 0:14:38 | |
But there's only so much even a keen student can take in | 0:14:50 | 0:14:54 | |
at one sitting, especially on an empty stomach. | 0:14:54 | 0:14:57 | |
So, this watcher abandons his post and heads off to feed. | 0:14:59 | 0:15:03 | |
MEERKAT SCREECHES | 0:15:23 | 0:15:24 | |
A cobra. | 0:15:26 | 0:15:27 | |
There is no greater test for a young meerkat | 0:15:30 | 0:15:33 | |
than how it deals with danger like this face to face. | 0:15:33 | 0:15:37 | |
In the next few minutes, he's going to get the most important | 0:15:46 | 0:15:49 | |
lesson of his young life. | 0:15:49 | 0:15:51 | |
BIRDS CRY | 0:15:58 | 0:16:01 | |
For kangaroos, | 0:16:03 | 0:16:05 | |
the greatest challenges come from within their own society. | 0:16:05 | 0:16:09 | |
For a male, there's only really one key lesson to learn in his life. | 0:16:17 | 0:16:21 | |
To get to the top, he must become a fighter. | 0:16:24 | 0:16:28 | |
The battles are so brutal that males need years of training to prepare. | 0:16:31 | 0:16:36 | |
The effort is worth it, | 0:16:41 | 0:16:42 | |
because a champion fighter wins privileged access to the females. | 0:16:42 | 0:16:46 | |
This meadow is a boot camp for aspiring boxers. | 0:16:51 | 0:16:54 | |
Training starts as soon as a youngster is out of the pouch. | 0:16:57 | 0:17:00 | |
Its mother is a handy opponent for a young joey learning the basics. | 0:17:05 | 0:17:10 | |
But he's soon off in search of more sparring partners. | 0:17:20 | 0:17:23 | |
The other grown-ups are not so tolerant of this lightweight. | 0:17:34 | 0:17:37 | |
This male alone rules the meadow. | 0:17:56 | 0:17:58 | |
He stands eight feet tall, | 0:18:04 | 0:18:05 | |
his muscles hardened by years of sparring. | 0:18:05 | 0:18:08 | |
Today, a challenger for his title has come forward. | 0:18:12 | 0:18:15 | |
Full-blown fights are so dangerous, they're not entered into lightly. | 0:18:19 | 0:18:23 | |
But when two males square up, it's time to clear the arena. | 0:18:27 | 0:18:30 | |
Anything goes in these power struggles. | 0:18:53 | 0:18:56 | |
Eye gouging is entirely within the rules. | 0:18:56 | 0:18:59 | |
So is kicking below the belt. | 0:19:02 | 0:19:04 | |
The dominant male's skill is already telling. | 0:19:12 | 0:19:15 | |
The stakes are high. | 0:19:28 | 0:19:30 | |
They risk broken bones and internal injuries. | 0:19:30 | 0:19:33 | |
Suddenly... | 0:19:46 | 0:19:47 | |
..it's all over. | 0:19:49 | 0:19:50 | |
The champion has beaten off the challenger, at least for now. | 0:19:50 | 0:19:54 | |
Only a few of the youngsters looking on will ever reach the top. | 0:19:59 | 0:20:04 | |
And they've just seen exactly what it takes to get there. | 0:20:06 | 0:20:09 | |
This young meerkat is facing a much more immediate and pressing test. | 0:20:24 | 0:20:30 | |
Nothing can really prepare a youngster for such a moment. | 0:20:34 | 0:20:38 | |
Should he attack or run? | 0:20:38 | 0:20:40 | |
COBRA HISSES AND MEERKAT GROWLS | 0:20:43 | 0:20:45 | |
For the good of the troop, there is only one right choice. | 0:20:45 | 0:20:49 | |
He sounds the alarm to summon help. | 0:20:49 | 0:20:52 | |
MEERKAT SCREECHES FRANTICALLY | 0:20:52 | 0:20:55 | |
The rest of the clan, some 20 strong, rush to the scene. | 0:20:59 | 0:21:03 | |
MEERKATS BARK AND SCREECH | 0:21:04 | 0:21:07 | |
COBRA HISSES | 0:21:15 | 0:21:17 | |
MEERKAT GROWLS | 0:21:37 | 0:21:39 | |
Once these reinforcements arrive, | 0:21:40 | 0:21:42 | |
the confrontation becomes completely one-sided. | 0:21:42 | 0:21:45 | |
MEERKATS GROWL | 0:21:45 | 0:21:48 | |
MEERKATS GROWL AND BARK | 0:21:55 | 0:21:57 | |
COBRA HISSES | 0:22:16 | 0:22:18 | |
The cobra is fast, | 0:22:20 | 0:22:22 | |
but meerkats are faster. | 0:22:22 | 0:22:23 | |
MEERKATS GROWL AND BARK | 0:22:25 | 0:22:27 | |
COBRA HISSES | 0:22:27 | 0:22:29 | |
A clash like this is not as dangerous as it might appear. | 0:22:33 | 0:22:37 | |
COBRA HISSES | 0:22:37 | 0:22:38 | |
MEERKATS BARK | 0:22:38 | 0:22:39 | |
The cobra is on the defensive, | 0:22:39 | 0:22:41 | |
and is now simply trying to get away from the baying hordes. | 0:22:41 | 0:22:44 | |
The situation quickly turns into an open-air lesson, as the adults | 0:22:50 | 0:22:54 | |
show the youngsters how to deal with a snake. | 0:22:54 | 0:22:57 | |
Danger averted, | 0:23:08 | 0:23:10 | |
the older meerkats drift away to resume feeding. | 0:23:10 | 0:23:13 | |
Meeting a cobra for the first time is a valuable lesson, | 0:23:29 | 0:23:34 | |
which leaves a young meerkat a good deal wiser! | 0:23:34 | 0:23:38 | |
MEERKAT CHIRPS | 0:23:53 | 0:23:55 | |
In Senegal, it's been several weeks since the young chimp made | 0:24:10 | 0:24:14 | |
his disastrous attempt to break into the elite group of dominant males. | 0:24:14 | 0:24:19 | |
He's still at the bottom of the hierarchy, and alone. | 0:24:26 | 0:24:31 | |
He uses a stick to winkle out a few termites for his lunch. | 0:24:35 | 0:24:40 | |
While he feeds, he's being watched. | 0:24:51 | 0:24:54 | |
It's another subordinate male, larger and a few years older. | 0:25:00 | 0:25:05 | |
He doesn't appear threatening or aggressive. | 0:25:13 | 0:25:16 | |
This male seems keen for the youngster to follow him. | 0:25:27 | 0:25:31 | |
The older chimp leads the way up into the canopy. | 0:25:46 | 0:25:50 | |
The youngster hesitates. | 0:25:53 | 0:25:55 | |
Perhaps his last encounter with older chimps is still | 0:25:55 | 0:25:58 | |
fresh in his memory. | 0:25:58 | 0:26:00 | |
Does he follow or turn his back on what may be an opportunity? | 0:26:04 | 0:26:08 | |
Finally, he climbs up towards the older chimp. | 0:26:15 | 0:26:18 | |
One false move could lead to another beating. | 0:26:30 | 0:26:33 | |
He makes an appeasing smile. | 0:26:42 | 0:26:44 | |
It seems to be accepted. | 0:27:02 | 0:27:04 | |
Emboldened, he takes a big risk and moves closer | 0:27:10 | 0:27:15 | |
and reaches out to the older male. | 0:27:15 | 0:27:17 | |
His instinct was right. | 0:27:28 | 0:27:31 | |
Grooming is a sign of acceptance and trust. | 0:27:33 | 0:27:36 | |
The youngster has made a friend and perhaps gained a mentor. | 0:27:36 | 0:27:40 | |
Now he has someone he can learn from, someone to look out for him. | 0:27:42 | 0:27:47 | |
With this new-found partnership, the orphaned youngster has taken | 0:27:53 | 0:27:57 | |
that crucial step onto the social ladder. | 0:27:57 | 0:28:00 | |
For the first time, he has some status within the troop. | 0:28:02 | 0:28:06 | |
It will change his life. | 0:28:09 | 0:28:11 | |
Among Asian archerfish, it's the biggest that gets the most food. | 0:28:25 | 0:28:30 | |
And they have an extraordinary method of catching prey. | 0:28:33 | 0:28:37 | |
They fire a powerful jet of water at their target. | 0:28:46 | 0:28:49 | |
The best shooters will grow quickest. | 0:29:04 | 0:29:07 | |
With food scarce, | 0:29:12 | 0:29:13 | |
there's a race among small fish to master the water-jet technique. | 0:29:13 | 0:29:18 | |
But it's difficult to perfect. | 0:29:26 | 0:29:29 | |
A fish must adjust its jet based on the prey's size and distance, | 0:29:38 | 0:29:43 | |
and then compensate for the way light bends as it passes | 0:29:43 | 0:29:47 | |
through the water surface. | 0:29:47 | 0:29:48 | |
Getting it right can take hundreds of attempts. | 0:29:50 | 0:29:53 | |
But there is a way to shortcut the learning process. | 0:29:56 | 0:29:59 | |
A youngster can seek out a larger archerfish. | 0:30:01 | 0:30:05 | |
It'll stick close to the sharpshooter, spending its days | 0:30:11 | 0:30:15 | |
studying the master's technique. | 0:30:15 | 0:30:17 | |
When they part company, | 0:30:34 | 0:30:36 | |
the young fish will resume his search for food. | 0:30:36 | 0:30:40 | |
Somehow, in a way not yet understood, | 0:30:45 | 0:30:48 | |
a young fish can imitate the adult's aiming and firing technique | 0:30:48 | 0:30:52 | |
and shortcut the need to practise. | 0:30:52 | 0:30:54 | |
Unfortunately, becoming a sharpshooter is only half the story. | 0:31:00 | 0:31:04 | |
There's another reason why big fish get the lion's share. | 0:31:07 | 0:31:11 | |
They're bullies. | 0:31:11 | 0:31:13 | |
But, armed with this newfound skill, | 0:31:16 | 0:31:18 | |
a young fish's future will be brighter. | 0:31:18 | 0:31:21 | |
THUNDER RUMBLES | 0:31:28 | 0:31:30 | |
In Arizona, a desert storm triggers a ruthless campaign for dominance. | 0:31:36 | 0:31:40 | |
A honey ant queen digs into the sand | 0:31:45 | 0:31:48 | |
before the sun bakes it hard again. | 0:31:48 | 0:31:50 | |
She needs to make a nest, but she can't manage to do that alone. | 0:31:59 | 0:32:04 | |
Another queen appears, | 0:32:05 | 0:32:06 | |
and in a rare example of cooperation, | 0:32:06 | 0:32:09 | |
they start digging together. | 0:32:09 | 0:32:11 | |
A third queen. | 0:32:23 | 0:32:24 | |
Soon, a number of royals are working together, | 0:32:29 | 0:32:33 | |
but such harmony will be short-lived. | 0:32:33 | 0:32:35 | |
When the nest is ready, they seal themselves in. | 0:32:40 | 0:32:44 | |
None of the queens will ever see sunlight again. | 0:32:53 | 0:32:57 | |
This bunker is a nursery. | 0:33:03 | 0:33:06 | |
Each queen begins to lay hundreds of tiny eggs, no bigger than a pinhead. | 0:33:14 | 0:33:18 | |
In a matter of weeks, the first cycle is complete. | 0:33:23 | 0:33:26 | |
Tiny, pale workers emerge from the cocoons. | 0:33:26 | 0:33:30 | |
Their arrival signals the end of all regal cooperation. | 0:33:35 | 0:33:40 | |
This colony can only have one ruler. | 0:33:42 | 0:33:44 | |
After helping create this army of workers, | 0:33:49 | 0:33:52 | |
the queens have served their purpose | 0:33:52 | 0:33:54 | |
and they are now expendable. | 0:33:54 | 0:33:56 | |
And it's the workers that do the dirty work. | 0:34:01 | 0:34:04 | |
The queens are captured, | 0:34:11 | 0:34:13 | |
stretched and dismembered. | 0:34:13 | 0:34:16 | |
It's a brutal assassination. | 0:34:22 | 0:34:24 | |
But one queen remains unharmed | 0:34:35 | 0:34:37 | |
whilst the purge continues around her, | 0:34:37 | 0:34:40 | |
until all competition is eliminated. | 0:34:40 | 0:34:43 | |
The royal carcasses don't go to waste. | 0:34:53 | 0:34:56 | |
The workers feed them to the larvae. | 0:34:56 | 0:34:58 | |
Now one queen reigns supreme | 0:35:01 | 0:35:04 | |
and the army of workers answer only to her. | 0:35:04 | 0:35:07 | |
She has manoeuvred her way to power. | 0:35:12 | 0:35:15 | |
Now she will set about establishing an empire. | 0:35:15 | 0:35:19 | |
THUNDER RUMBLES | 0:35:20 | 0:35:23 | |
In Senegal, the wet season has arrived. | 0:35:29 | 0:35:32 | |
The chimps' home is transformed. | 0:35:46 | 0:35:48 | |
The young male and his new friend have become constant companions. | 0:36:10 | 0:36:14 | |
The chimps have been starved of protein | 0:36:22 | 0:36:24 | |
during the long dry season and are now desperate for meat. | 0:36:24 | 0:36:28 | |
The young chimp's mentor knows where to look for it. | 0:36:39 | 0:36:42 | |
There may be something hiding deep inside this hollow tree trunk. | 0:36:46 | 0:36:50 | |
And the older chimp has a remarkable skill that enables him to find out. | 0:36:54 | 0:36:59 | |
Stripping the twigs off a branch, | 0:37:09 | 0:37:11 | |
he fashions it into what looks like a spear. | 0:37:11 | 0:37:14 | |
He then does something that takes hunting with tools to a new level, | 0:37:28 | 0:37:33 | |
as he probes the hollow trunk. | 0:37:33 | 0:37:35 | |
He checks the point for any signs of blood, | 0:37:46 | 0:37:50 | |
then tries again. | 0:37:50 | 0:37:52 | |
He flushes out a small mammal - a galago - | 0:38:19 | 0:38:23 | |
and quickly despatches it. | 0:38:23 | 0:38:24 | |
This is the first real meat he's had for several months | 0:38:32 | 0:38:36 | |
but his success will test | 0:38:36 | 0:38:38 | |
the growing friendship between the two males. | 0:38:38 | 0:38:41 | |
Being willing to share meat | 0:38:54 | 0:38:56 | |
reflects the strength of the bond between individual chimps. | 0:38:56 | 0:38:59 | |
He hands a morsel to the younger male. | 0:39:07 | 0:39:09 | |
With this decision, the older chimp has sealed an alliance | 0:39:13 | 0:39:17 | |
that one day may make them strong enough | 0:39:17 | 0:39:19 | |
to challenge the troop's dominant males. | 0:39:19 | 0:39:22 | |
This growing partnership has not gone unnoticed | 0:39:27 | 0:39:30 | |
by some of the other chimps. | 0:39:30 | 0:39:33 | |
The young male's status in the troop is most definitely on the rise. | 0:39:35 | 0:39:39 | |
In the Arizona desert, the honey ant queen has been busy. | 0:39:52 | 0:39:56 | |
In her underground kingdom, | 0:40:03 | 0:40:05 | |
this queen now commands thousands of workers. | 0:40:05 | 0:40:08 | |
They can carve out a huge network of interlinked tunnels and chambers | 0:40:13 | 0:40:19 | |
that may extend to a depth of nine feet. | 0:40:19 | 0:40:22 | |
Some of her subjects have become living storage barrels | 0:40:24 | 0:40:27 | |
with their bodies grossly distorted as they're filled with honey, | 0:40:27 | 0:40:31 | |
fuel for her growing army. | 0:40:31 | 0:40:33 | |
In the quest for total domination, an army of workers | 0:40:37 | 0:40:41 | |
is constantly on the offensive, eliminating any competition. | 0:40:41 | 0:40:45 | |
They especially target rival honey ant colonies. | 0:40:52 | 0:40:56 | |
Underground in one chamber, | 0:41:14 | 0:41:16 | |
the queen has been carefully nurturing a very special brood. | 0:41:16 | 0:41:20 | |
Hundreds of winged sons and daughters | 0:41:29 | 0:41:31 | |
all carrying her genes and all waiting for the right moment. | 0:41:31 | 0:41:35 | |
On a warm, still evening, they march to the surface, | 0:41:43 | 0:41:46 | |
to a specially prepared launchpad | 0:41:46 | 0:41:49 | |
from where they will take flight. | 0:41:49 | 0:41:51 | |
They mate on the wing, then the females spread out | 0:42:03 | 0:42:07 | |
across the desert, each carrying their queen's bloodline. | 0:42:07 | 0:42:11 | |
Many perish... | 0:42:24 | 0:42:25 | |
..but each that succeeds in establishing her own colony | 0:42:28 | 0:42:31 | |
is spreading their queen's power further across this land. | 0:42:31 | 0:42:35 | |
In an individual's climb towards power and privilege, | 0:42:44 | 0:42:47 | |
there comes a point | 0:42:47 | 0:42:48 | |
when the ultimate rewards are finally within reach. | 0:42:48 | 0:42:51 | |
It's the time to find out | 0:42:57 | 0:42:58 | |
if you really have what it takes to make the last step. | 0:42:58 | 0:43:01 | |
It's winter in Montana. | 0:43:10 | 0:43:12 | |
Mature male sharp-tailed grouse are getting in some pre-season training. | 0:43:13 | 0:43:18 | |
Here, on their traditional display grounds | 0:43:21 | 0:43:23 | |
they're practising their courtship dancing | 0:43:23 | 0:43:26 | |
and staking a claim for the best spots | 0:43:26 | 0:43:29 | |
on what will become their stage. | 0:43:29 | 0:43:31 | |
But the real show begins with the arrival of spring. | 0:43:45 | 0:43:50 | |
The females are looking for the perfect partner, | 0:44:04 | 0:44:08 | |
choosing those males who are not just good dancers | 0:44:08 | 0:44:11 | |
but who can fight for and hold the best spots on the dance floor. | 0:44:11 | 0:44:17 | |
This young male is big enough to enter the contest | 0:44:26 | 0:44:30 | |
for the first time. | 0:44:30 | 0:44:32 | |
There is only one way to find out | 0:44:33 | 0:44:35 | |
whether he's got what it takes. | 0:44:35 | 0:44:37 | |
GROUSE CALLS | 0:44:37 | 0:44:38 | |
He must go out there and dance. | 0:44:42 | 0:44:45 | |
But his debut performance appears to have stopped the show. | 0:44:54 | 0:44:58 | |
In fact, none of the others have noticed him at all. | 0:45:07 | 0:45:12 | |
They've spotted approaching danger. | 0:45:14 | 0:45:16 | |
A short-eared owl. | 0:45:18 | 0:45:20 | |
BIRD CALLS OUT | 0:45:28 | 0:45:29 | |
When the threat has passed, they can all pick up where they left off. | 0:45:29 | 0:45:35 | |
But this youngster has now strayed into another male's space. | 0:45:39 | 0:45:44 | |
He's about to find out whether he really has what it takes. | 0:45:51 | 0:45:55 | |
It's a close-run thing, but the younger male is finally driven away. | 0:46:43 | 0:46:49 | |
If he is ever to claim one of the top spots and attract a female, | 0:46:59 | 0:47:03 | |
he will have to fight again and again | 0:47:03 | 0:47:06 | |
until he is victorious. | 0:47:06 | 0:47:09 | |
The young chimp has already learnt the dangers | 0:47:29 | 0:47:32 | |
of having to fight for power, | 0:47:32 | 0:47:34 | |
and has discovered that there may be a subtler path to privilege. | 0:47:34 | 0:47:39 | |
He's back with the nursery group, | 0:47:44 | 0:47:46 | |
but his attitude is now very different. | 0:47:46 | 0:47:50 | |
Playing with youngsters is not a backward step for him. | 0:48:01 | 0:48:05 | |
On the contrary, this is part of a plan. | 0:48:20 | 0:48:23 | |
Because where there are babies, there are mother chimps. | 0:48:36 | 0:48:40 | |
And they're now starting to take notice of him for the first time. | 0:48:49 | 0:48:53 | |
With his growing status within the troop, he's becoming | 0:49:05 | 0:49:08 | |
an attractive proposition... | 0:49:08 | 0:49:10 | |
And that will one day prove critical | 0:49:13 | 0:49:17 | |
because in nature, the ultimate expression of power is to win a mate | 0:49:17 | 0:49:22 | |
and so have the chance to leave a legacy in the form of offspring. | 0:49:22 | 0:49:26 | |
That is the next challenge to be faced in Life Story. | 0:49:30 | 0:49:35 | |
COCKEREL CROWS | 0:49:42 | 0:49:46 | |
Senegal, West Africa. | 0:49:46 | 0:49:48 | |
The Life Story team are setting out to film | 0:49:48 | 0:49:51 | |
a unique hunting behaviour in chimpanzees. | 0:49:51 | 0:49:54 | |
For director Emma Napper, | 0:49:56 | 0:49:57 | |
the chance to meet these chimps has been a long time coming. | 0:49:57 | 0:50:01 | |
SHE WHISPERS: We first heard about this site about nine months ago. | 0:50:01 | 0:50:05 | |
So I know the chimps' names, I've seen little videos of them, | 0:50:05 | 0:50:08 | |
I've seen pictures of them. | 0:50:08 | 0:50:10 | |
I've just now got to wait until it's light | 0:50:10 | 0:50:13 | |
and I'll be able to see them. It's really... | 0:50:13 | 0:50:16 | |
I can hear them in the trees. It's really cool. | 0:50:16 | 0:50:18 | |
Field researcher Michel Sadiakhou | 0:50:21 | 0:50:23 | |
has been tracking the chimps for the last four years. | 0:50:23 | 0:50:27 | |
CHIMPS HOWL AND SQUEAL | 0:50:27 | 0:50:32 | |
Oh, my God. They're so loud! | 0:50:32 | 0:50:34 | |
But for Emma and cameraman Richard Jones, | 0:50:34 | 0:50:37 | |
this is the first time they've been so close to wild chimpanzees. | 0:50:37 | 0:50:42 | |
These first encounters can be risky. | 0:50:53 | 0:50:55 | |
Humans and chimps are so closely related | 0:50:57 | 0:50:59 | |
that the crew could introduce disease into the troop. | 0:50:59 | 0:51:03 | |
There's a group about ten metres away from us | 0:51:07 | 0:51:10 | |
in the tree, which is why we've got to wear the facemasks. | 0:51:10 | 0:51:15 | |
CHIMPS HOWL | 0:51:15 | 0:51:17 | |
There are 30 chimps in the troop. | 0:51:17 | 0:51:20 | |
What? | 0:51:20 | 0:51:22 | |
Joff. | 0:51:22 | 0:51:24 | |
That's Joff? OK. | 0:51:24 | 0:51:25 | |
-And Dawson. -Dawson. | 0:51:25 | 0:51:27 | |
Michel can not only recognise and name them, | 0:51:27 | 0:51:30 | |
but he knows their histories and social status, too. | 0:51:30 | 0:51:33 | |
Making sense of this chaotic family | 0:51:37 | 0:51:40 | |
is going to be key to the success of the shoot. | 0:51:40 | 0:51:42 | |
And that means winning the troop's trust. | 0:51:46 | 0:51:48 | |
Researcher Jill Pruetz has been studying the troop for ten years. | 0:51:56 | 0:52:00 | |
And she knows that the key to earning their trust | 0:52:01 | 0:52:04 | |
is adopting the right etiquette. | 0:52:04 | 0:52:06 | |
It's not like with gorillas either, where you can't | 0:52:06 | 0:52:09 | |
-look them in the eye or anything like that. -Oh, really? | 0:52:09 | 0:52:12 | |
It's basically the same way you would look at a person. | 0:52:12 | 0:52:14 | |
If you look too hard at a person, it's going to be rude. | 0:52:14 | 0:52:16 | |
The same with the chimps. | 0:52:16 | 0:52:19 | |
Over the next few weeks, | 0:52:19 | 0:52:20 | |
the crew has to track the troop all over the forest. | 0:52:20 | 0:52:23 | |
This means gruelling 18-hour days | 0:52:25 | 0:52:27 | |
in temperatures above 40 degrees centigrade. | 0:52:27 | 0:52:30 | |
The chimps are a volatile bunch, always squabbling among themselves. | 0:52:32 | 0:52:36 | |
CHIMP SQUEALS | 0:52:36 | 0:52:39 | |
Emma starts to pick out some of the characters. | 0:52:39 | 0:52:42 | |
Looks like a lot of teenage boys I used to know, | 0:52:43 | 0:52:46 | |
and they act like them, too. | 0:52:46 | 0:52:47 | |
A young male called Dawson | 0:52:51 | 0:52:52 | |
particularly catches the crew's attention. | 0:52:52 | 0:52:56 | |
We've decided to follow Dawson | 0:52:56 | 0:52:58 | |
because he's at an interesting point in his life because he is | 0:52:58 | 0:53:02 | |
junior amongst the males here. | 0:53:02 | 0:53:05 | |
So he's really trying to fight | 0:53:05 | 0:53:07 | |
to get the respect of the other males and to climb the hierarchy. | 0:53:07 | 0:53:11 | |
By concentrating on Dawson, | 0:53:11 | 0:53:13 | |
the crew may be able to film a much richer story than they had expected. | 0:53:13 | 0:53:17 | |
It's the low-ranking chimps like Dawson that use spears to hunt. | 0:53:22 | 0:53:26 | |
It's such an unusual behaviour that many researchers | 0:53:28 | 0:53:31 | |
couldn't believe it was true when Jill first reported it. | 0:53:31 | 0:53:34 | |
Capturing it on film would be a real coup for the team. | 0:53:36 | 0:53:40 | |
The crew have spent nearly 300 hours in the forest | 0:53:47 | 0:53:50 | |
and covered hundreds of miles, | 0:53:50 | 0:53:52 | |
before the more dominant chimps accept them. | 0:53:52 | 0:53:55 | |
But to gain the acceptance of the shyer chimps will take more time, | 0:54:04 | 0:54:09 | |
and Emma is starting to get to grips with the family. | 0:54:09 | 0:54:12 | |
When we first came here, Michel was saying, "Dumbo, | 0:54:13 | 0:54:16 | |
"that's the one with the big ears. | 0:54:16 | 0:54:18 | |
"David, that's the one that's really black." | 0:54:18 | 0:54:21 | |
And you're sitting there thinking, | 0:54:21 | 0:54:23 | |
"Oh, the black chimp with the big ears? | 0:54:23 | 0:54:25 | |
"Well, they've all got big ears, they're all black." | 0:54:25 | 0:54:29 | |
But a couple of weeks later it's different. | 0:54:29 | 0:54:31 | |
You can see really see the differences. | 0:54:31 | 0:54:33 | |
They act different, they look different. | 0:54:33 | 0:54:35 | |
It's just a matter of getting to know them. | 0:54:35 | 0:54:38 | |
Finally, Dawson walks directly towards the crew. | 0:54:40 | 0:54:44 | |
A sign of trust at last. | 0:54:44 | 0:54:46 | |
They're able to film the critical moment | 0:54:46 | 0:54:49 | |
when he makes friends with a chimp called Lupin. | 0:54:49 | 0:54:52 | |
This friendship will bring about a change of fortune for Dawson | 0:54:54 | 0:54:58 | |
and for the film crew, too. | 0:54:58 | 0:55:00 | |
THUNDER RUMBLES | 0:55:00 | 0:55:02 | |
After six long weeks in the bush, there's a change in the weather. | 0:55:07 | 0:55:11 | |
It's what the crew have been waiting for. | 0:55:14 | 0:55:18 | |
MICHEL LAUGHS | 0:55:18 | 0:55:19 | |
The only times Michel has ever seen spear hunting | 0:55:19 | 0:55:22 | |
is immediately after a downpour. | 0:55:22 | 0:55:25 | |
And rainstorms are rare in this forest. | 0:55:25 | 0:55:28 | |
The chimps' mood changes with the weather. | 0:55:31 | 0:55:34 | |
Suddenly, they seem more serious and focused. | 0:55:36 | 0:55:39 | |
It's a good sign. | 0:55:42 | 0:55:44 | |
With the noise and the rain, it's hard to keep up, | 0:55:52 | 0:55:54 | |
but it's vital that the crew stick close to Dawson. | 0:55:54 | 0:55:57 | |
As the rain subsides, | 0:56:10 | 0:56:11 | |
the chimps behave in a way the crew have not seen before. | 0:56:11 | 0:56:15 | |
The youngsters probe inside hollow trees with sticks. | 0:56:17 | 0:56:20 | |
Then suddenly Lupin starts to make a full-sized spear. | 0:56:21 | 0:56:25 | |
Dawson watches from the sidelines. | 0:56:27 | 0:56:30 | |
It's a remarkable moment. | 0:56:35 | 0:56:37 | |
That's what we were hoping for, | 0:56:39 | 0:56:40 | |
but it looks more deliberate than I could have ever imagined. | 0:56:40 | 0:56:44 | |
That's absolutely amazing. | 0:56:50 | 0:56:52 | |
Being able to capture this behaviour | 0:56:57 | 0:56:59 | |
is the result of a decade of study by Jill and her team, | 0:56:59 | 0:57:03 | |
and by the crew spending over 700 hours tracking the troop. | 0:57:03 | 0:57:07 | |
Yet the hunt lasted just three minutes. | 0:57:08 | 0:57:11 | |
It's hardly surprising only a handful of people | 0:57:11 | 0:57:14 | |
have ever witnessed this before. | 0:57:14 | 0:57:16 | |
When I still see it, I get really excited, you know? | 0:57:17 | 0:57:20 | |
I still... Like, that newness of it hasn't worn off, that's for sure. | 0:57:20 | 0:57:25 | |
The Life Story team have filmed more than they ever hoped - | 0:57:27 | 0:57:31 | |
both the moving story of Dawson's climb to power | 0:57:31 | 0:57:34 | |
and a remarkable new behaviour. | 0:57:34 | 0:57:37 | |
In the next stage of Life Story, | 0:57:43 | 0:57:45 | |
we will see animals attempt to win a mate. | 0:57:45 | 0:57:48 | |
There'll be glamour... | 0:57:49 | 0:57:51 | |
..naked aggression... | 0:57:53 | 0:57:54 | |
..remarkable dance moves... | 0:57:56 | 0:57:58 | |
..and extraordinary artistry. | 0:58:00 | 0:58:02 |