0:00:05 > 0:00:08You and I belong to an extraordinary family.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15A family of hundreds of bizarre...
0:00:15 > 0:00:18MONKEYS ROAR
0:00:18 > 0:00:20..colourful...
0:00:20 > 0:00:22and characterful animals...
0:00:23 > 0:00:26I don't think I've seen anything quite like this in my whole life.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30..who lead fascinating...
0:00:30 > 0:00:33and dramatic lives
0:00:33 > 0:00:35all over the world.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41We, that is monkeys, lemurs
0:00:41 > 0:00:45and apes, are all primates...
0:00:46 > 0:00:52..and I want to introduce you to this amazing animal family...
0:00:53 > 0:00:57..to meet some relatives you never even knew you had.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13The Democratic Republic of Congo.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18The only place in the world where you can find
0:01:18 > 0:01:22some very special members of our primate family.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27- In the bucket?- No!
0:01:28 > 0:01:32This little bundle of energy is Bombo and he's a bonobo,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36a rare and very special type of ape.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45Bonobos, along with chimpanzees, are our closest cousins.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Now, it's not normal for humans to wash bonobos,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56but his story is not a normal one.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59He lost his father, his mother -
0:01:59 > 0:02:03his entire family were killed by hunters and sold as meat.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Bombo was alone in the world with no family to care for him.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15And family is hugely important.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18It's a defining feature of all primates.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Yeah, he doesn't like being washed.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Bombo's future was bleak.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38Thankfully, now Bombo has a second chance.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Bombo now has a new family and a new start,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50here at Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56A family that will give him the best possible chance of survival.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02These wonderful ladies are known as the Mamas
0:03:02 > 0:03:05and they've got the enviable task
0:03:05 > 0:03:08of looking after this boisterous rabble.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Just like we play with our own babies,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14it's their job to engage and play with the orphans,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16and it's a full-time job.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25MONKEY SQUEALS
0:03:32 > 0:03:35LOUD SQUEALS
0:03:35 > 0:03:38LAUGHTER
0:03:45 > 0:03:48In the wild, physical contact and play
0:03:48 > 0:03:51are a vital preparation for adult life.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Here, the Mamas are their adopted family,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59teaching them the dos and the don'ts of being a bonobo.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I've studied animals all my life...
0:04:06 > 0:04:10..but I've never met such a rowdy bunch as this.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20MONKEY SQUEALS
0:04:22 > 0:04:26For us primates, being part of a family is what life's all about.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29It's about security, support and shared goals.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32It's about friends and foes,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35knowing who to trust and who to avoid.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47But living in families isn't always easy.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Family life is as varied,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57challenging, and rewarding for other primates
0:04:57 > 0:04:59as it is for us.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Primate families aren't always what you'd expect.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13In the far-flung forests of Peru...
0:05:19 > 0:05:22..lives a secretive little monkey...
0:05:23 > 0:05:26..as small as a squirrel.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31..with a very modern take on childcare.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38This is a female emperor tamarin.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43Scientist have named her RC, short for Radio Collar.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51Tamarins almost always have twins, which is rare in primates.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55And they can be quite a handful.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05But RC has some help.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13It looks like Dad to the rescue.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16This is Purple Beads.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24The beads help scientists know which tamarin is which.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31He's on his way to look after the twins...
0:06:35 > 0:06:37..to take the pressure off RC.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49But this family isn't as straightforward as it first seems.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59This is Red Beads.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04He also seems to want to help out.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18And a third male, No Beads.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26He too wants to lend a hand with the twins.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37All three males take a turn with the twins.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42They make a great team.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52With all this help...
0:07:52 > 0:07:56RC has some time to herself.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Without the twins slowing her down,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09she's a much better hunter and can feed till her heart's content.
0:08:10 > 0:08:16But how has RC managed to string along all three males?
0:08:17 > 0:08:20She's played a rather cunning trick on them.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26Four months ago, she mated with each of them.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Now she's had the twins, they're all a little confused.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36No-one seems to know who's the real father.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40But as long as there's a chance it's them,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43they all play their part in raising the twins.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50With the three dads helping out,
0:08:50 > 0:08:55RC has the best chance of raising the twins successfully.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04All primates invest huge amounts of time
0:09:04 > 0:09:08and energy into looking after and raising their babies.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29We care for our young for far longer than most other animals.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Only with the support of a family can they grow up so slowly.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Beautiful.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58And you are just adorable.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03This is Drusilla and she's a sifaka
0:10:03 > 0:10:05and she's got her two-month-old son,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Pilot, with her.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10He's wrapped around her back here.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13We love our children, we want to protect and care for them,
0:10:13 > 0:10:15we'd do anything for them.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18I remember when my Amy was first born,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20I would have fought a bear to save her
0:10:20 > 0:10:23and it's just the same for the rest of the primate family.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26They're equally obsessed with their young.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Wow.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44The need to protect and care for their young
0:10:44 > 0:10:46shapes primate families...
0:10:46 > 0:10:50and can have surprising consequences.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00THUNDER
0:11:10 > 0:11:15These are rather soggy-looking silvery lutungs
0:11:15 > 0:11:17from Malaysia.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35THUNDER
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Like many primates, their strategy for success
0:11:43 > 0:11:46is to live in large extended families.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Plenty of hands to guard their territory
0:11:50 > 0:11:52and help raise the next generation.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03But these lutungs have a very special way
0:12:03 > 0:12:05of keeping their offspring safe.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Their babies are born bright ginger.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19They stick out like a sore thumb.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Now, you might think it would be better to keep them hidden,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29camouflaged and out of harm's way.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38But standing out in the crowd can have its advantages.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48When danger approaches,
0:12:48 > 0:12:53the whole family can instantly spot the baby and protect it.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10Predators are a constant concern for many primates.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15MONKEY SNARLS
0:13:15 > 0:13:19They're a threat to young and adults alike.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Living in big groups can mean safety in numbers.
0:13:27 > 0:13:28LOUD SQUEALS
0:13:43 > 0:13:45But that's not always enough.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05The African savannah is a dangerous place to live.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13Out here, many predators would target an unwary monkey.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21They all attack in different ways
0:14:21 > 0:14:25so the monkeys here need different responses
0:14:25 > 0:14:27to avoid being eaten.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32One clever monkey has come up with a system
0:14:32 > 0:14:35to stay one step ahead of the predators.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42I'm hoping I can show you how.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54These guys are vervet monkeys
0:14:54 > 0:14:56and in a minute I'm going to predict
0:14:56 > 0:14:59exactly what they're going to do next.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06All I need is a loudspeaker,
0:15:06 > 0:15:07a length of cable...
0:15:09 > 0:15:11..and one of these.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27In just a moment, they're all going to stand up on their hind legs
0:15:27 > 0:15:29and look very nervous.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39PLAYS MONKEY ALARM CALL
0:15:43 > 0:15:44(Look at that!)
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Well, that was pretty clear.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53They all stood stretched up on hind legs, looked around and ran off.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57They did just what I predicted.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Once the vervets have regrouped, I'll show you my next trick.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10If it works, they should react in a different way.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15I predict what they're going to do is, in a split-second,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18they're going to run for cover or head up the nearest tree.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21Let's see.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29PLAYS MONKEY ALARM CALL
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- PANICKED SQUEALS - (Look at that!)
0:16:38 > 0:16:41That was instantaneous.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45They were gone in a fraction of a second and up the nearest tree.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Exactly as I predicted.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49So, what's actually going on here?
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Well, let me give you a little bit of background.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Just as we can shout a warning to each other
0:17:03 > 0:17:06about what kind of danger is threatening us...
0:17:07 > 0:17:11..the vervets warn each other exactly what the threat is
0:17:11 > 0:17:13and so, how to react.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15MONKEY CALLS
0:17:15 > 0:17:18SQUEALING
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Vervet monkeys have a number of distinct calls
0:17:28 > 0:17:30in response to different threats.
0:17:30 > 0:17:35Each call prompts a specific response by the rest of the troop.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37That's why I was able to predict
0:17:37 > 0:17:40exactly how they were going to behave earlier.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46The first call was the alarm for snake.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Instantly, they all knew what the threat was,
0:17:49 > 0:17:54standing bolt upright to try and spot the sneaky serpent.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58The second call was for bird of prey.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01They all dashed for cover.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03(Look at that!)
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Hiding in the densest bushes.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09The best place to avoid a swooping attack.
0:18:10 > 0:18:15Vervets also have alarms for leopard, baboon and even human.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21It's a remarkably sophisticated way of working together
0:18:21 > 0:18:23to protect everyone in the group.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33In West Africa, the same early warning system
0:18:33 > 0:18:37has resulted in an unlikely alliance between two different monkeys.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46These green monkeys, close cousins of the vervets,
0:18:46 > 0:18:50also use alarm calls to warn each other about different threats.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Watching them from above is a monkey
0:18:58 > 0:19:03from a separate branch of the family, western red colobus.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09The green monkeys hold an unusual attraction for the colobus.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19They have an ulterior motive.
0:19:24 > 0:19:25MONKEY CALLS
0:19:25 > 0:19:28A green monkey calls snake.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Both monkeys try to spot it, then scatter to safety.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43The red colobus seem to know what the green's alarm call means
0:19:43 > 0:19:45and react in the same way.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Now it looks like the two have become firm friends.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56With no sign of danger, they're able to sit back
0:19:56 > 0:19:58and enjoy each other's company.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04PLAYFUL CHATTER
0:20:12 > 0:20:17These monkeys take their alarm calls very seriously, and rightly so.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Being able to understand what your friends are saying
0:20:20 > 0:20:22could one day save your life.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26But there's another more sinister side to all this.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Living in groups and being able to communicate with each other
0:20:29 > 0:20:35has meant other primates have turned from the hunted to the hunters.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53MONKEY CALLS
0:20:53 > 0:20:55PANICKED SQUEALS
0:21:09 > 0:21:12(This is incredible!)
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Well, I never thought I would witness this.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35I'm standing less than five feet
0:21:35 > 0:21:39from a group of six wild chimpanzees and one infant,
0:21:39 > 0:21:41and they're eating a colobus.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46And they are literally tearing this monkey apart.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53I've never seen anything quite so incredible in my life.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00Chimpanzees live in large and well-organised groups.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04These communities are made up of lots of smaller families,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06all working together for the good of everyone.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13Most of the time, chimpanzees eat leaves and fruit,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16but meat is most highly prized.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18The only way they're able to get
0:22:18 > 0:22:21such a high-value food resource as this
0:22:21 > 0:22:24is by working as a team.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26SQUEALING
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Across Africa, all chimpanzees hunt in a similar way.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51They are planned, calculated attacks,
0:22:51 > 0:22:53where every team member has a role.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Silence descends.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17The chimps pause, listening for their prey.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20FAINT MONKEY CALL
0:23:25 > 0:23:28The target, a monkey troop with infants.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31ANIMATED MONKEY CALL
0:23:33 > 0:23:36A hunt begins.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39ROARING
0:23:43 > 0:23:45PANICKED SQUEALS
0:23:47 > 0:23:50A hunter climbs directly beneath the prey.
0:23:59 > 0:24:00Others push ahead.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07The monkeys get spooked. They scatter.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14On either side, chimps will block their escape.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Driving them forward.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25It's a trap.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35They've forced them right into the arms of the most experienced hunter.
0:24:48 > 0:24:49SQUEALING
0:24:51 > 0:24:54It's over, and the chimps have their prize.
0:25:02 > 0:25:07Chimpanzee hunts end in a kill three times more often than lion hunts.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Only by working as a team can they be so ruthlessly efficient.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Meat is highly nutritious. An incredibly valuable food.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29By joining forces, the community can provide for each other.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Giving their young a great start in life.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48Living in families has huge benefits.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Youngsters are cared for for longer
0:25:52 > 0:25:54and grow up surrounded and protected.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Primates work together to keep each other safe.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02(Look at that!)
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Or join forces for the good of the group.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11But there's also a downside to living in groups.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Something every primate has to face.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21And it can make an individual's life a misery.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Since the '60s, these ingenious monkeys, Japanese macaques,
0:26:38 > 0:26:43have enjoyed the benefits of these natural thermal pools.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49With all this bathing in hot springs,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52these monkeys have become global superstars.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56They're probably the most photographed monkeys in the whole world.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06But it's not the stress-free,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08chilled-out lifestyle it might appear.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Despite what it seems, it's a tough life being a snow monkey.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Sure, there's a luxuriant hot tub
0:27:23 > 0:27:26to while away the long, cold, winter days,
0:27:26 > 0:27:30but round every corner, there's another monkey out to ruin your day.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Not all monkeys are created equal.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40They're born into societies governed by a strict order of rank.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43The haves and the have nots.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Aristocracy, high class,
0:27:45 > 0:27:48middle class and low class.
0:27:57 > 0:27:58When temperatures drop,
0:27:58 > 0:28:02this exclusive spa can get very overcrowded.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06That's when your place on the social ladder really becomes important.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09When the spa is full to bursting,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12poolside politics become important.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15And that results in low rankers being shown the door.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Quite literally left out in the cold.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31For this little monkey, there's no guarantee of a place in the warmth.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38SQUEALING
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Whether you're born into high society or the lowest of the low,
0:28:54 > 0:28:58your rank affects every aspect of your life.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Fortunately, there are ways to change your lot.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19Impress those around you and sneak up the pecking order.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21The first skill to master
0:29:21 > 0:29:24is something for which monkeys are famous.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33PLAYFUL CHATTER
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Everybody knows monkeys love to groom each other.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42And that, in this instance, includes me.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44The practical reason for it
0:29:44 > 0:29:47is to rid each other's fur of tics and lice
0:29:47 > 0:29:49and other parasites, which hopefully,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52they're not finding too many of right now.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54However, the social function,
0:29:54 > 0:29:57how they gain advantage from grooming,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00is actually a lot more interesting.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07Being groomed helps keep you healthy.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13But monkeys do it far more than is strictly necessary.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17They'll take time out just to pamper one another.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23But there's always something in it for the groomer, as well as the groomed.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26Grooming's become a way to win favour,
0:30:26 > 0:30:29to manipulate and influence others.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31A currency exchanged for food,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34tolerance and even for mating.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44It's a way to ease tension, or curry favour with someone important.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54If you're a low ranker, you can groom your way up the ladder.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Grooming is the oil that lubricates monkey life.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38So, what do you do when grooming isn't really an option?
0:31:42 > 0:31:44MONKEY CHATTER
0:31:56 > 0:32:00A ruined Mayan city in the depths of the Mexican jungle.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Home to a family of spider monkeys.
0:32:25 > 0:32:30Spider monkeys are South America's ultimate treetop acrobats.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59Their whole body is perfectly evolved for a life in the trees.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Long gangly legs and arms,
0:33:02 > 0:33:06a metre-long tail that can grip as tight as a fist.
0:33:15 > 0:33:20Their hands are like hooks, with long, curved and strong fingers.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30But no thumbs.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36Their ancestors used to have thumbs, but they got in the way,
0:33:36 > 0:33:41so over generations, they've all but disappeared.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Now all that remains is a small lump,
0:33:44 > 0:33:47making their hands ideal for charging around the canopy.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56But it's bad news when it comes to grooming.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03Spider monkeys are hopeless at it.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17So instead, they've come up with an endearing alternative.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23Hugging.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26Cuddles, embraces,
0:34:26 > 0:34:28physical contact is their currency.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35Hugging makes friends in high places.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Wins a chance to play with the babies.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41And eases those tense, awkward moments.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51In small families, physical contact, like hugs and grooming,
0:34:51 > 0:34:53helps make your way in the world.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58It's the glue that binds primate societies together
0:34:58 > 0:35:00and builds relationships.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09But how do you stay in touch when your group is much, much larger?
0:35:11 > 0:35:13The highlands of Ethiopia.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18There is nowhere else on the planet
0:35:18 > 0:35:21where you can see monkeys in such vast numbers.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23MONKEY CHATTER
0:35:35 > 0:35:39These magnificent monkeys are geladas.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43They live in some of the largest groups of any primate.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45Vast herds of up to a thousand at a time.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53Geladas are unique to these mountains.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01SQUEALING
0:36:06 > 0:36:10There are more monkeys per square mile here than anywhere else.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18There are simply too many geladas
0:36:18 > 0:36:20for grooming to keep them all connected.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36To make matters worse, their diet is made up almost entirely from grass.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40And they need to eat a lot.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Their hands are constantly picking away at the shoots.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51So geladas have come up with a handy,
0:36:51 > 0:36:53or rather, hand-less, alternative.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55MONKEY CHATTER
0:37:00 > 0:37:04To stay in touch, geladas talk to each other.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11They're constantly mumbling and murmuring away.
0:37:17 > 0:37:22So far, scientists have recognised over 30 distinct calls.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26MONKEY CHATTER
0:37:33 > 0:37:36This is the incredible sound of hundreds upon hundreds
0:37:36 > 0:37:37of geladas chatting away.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40MONKEY CHATTER
0:37:49 > 0:37:53It's just an extraordinary noise. So eerily human.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10This constant chitchat helps reaffirm bonds
0:38:10 > 0:38:13and let's everybody know what's happening in the troop.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22Essentially, they're gossiping.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26And as we humans know, that's a very good way to keep up relationships.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39One monkey has the strangest way of all
0:38:39 > 0:38:42to make friends and influence others.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47And it's found surprisingly close to home.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03The Rock of Gibraltar.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08A world-famous landmark with some unexpected residents.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14Barbary macaques.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21About 200 or so live here.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29And technically, they're British.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36The only wild monkeys in all of Europe.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50These are some of the most political monkeys in the world.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56They're constantly making friends.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Forming alliances.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Backstabbing.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08And falling out.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10SQUEALING
0:40:16 > 0:40:19There's never a dull moment in a macaque troop.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24So, how can one individual monkey make their mark
0:40:24 > 0:40:26and impress those around them?
0:40:35 > 0:40:37Meet Vincent.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Vincent's a mid ranker.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45Middle management.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48But he's got ambition. He wants to go places.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55MUSIC: "Chelsea Dagger" by The Fratellis
0:41:00 > 0:41:03This is Aristotle.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05He leads this mob.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08He's the monkey Vincent's out to impress.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15Vincent has got an unusual way to suck up to the boss.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Vince has stolen a baby from its mother.
0:41:38 > 0:41:43Vincent wants a promotion, and he hopes the baby is the perfect in.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51He shuffles over to Aristotle and offers up the baby.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Their teeth chatter in an excited frenzy.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07No-one really knows why, but with the baby,
0:42:07 > 0:42:09Vincent can get closer to the boss.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12A chance to bond and prove himself.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22That's just how it works with Barbary macaques.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26Grab a baby...
0:42:28 > 0:42:30..offer it up to the other males...
0:42:34 > 0:42:35..and everyone's happy.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40Except perhaps the baby.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45It might seem a little strange.
0:42:45 > 0:42:50But somehow, it's become their way of working up the pecking order.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02For now, Vince is left holding the baby.
0:43:09 > 0:43:13And it appears childcare is not his forte.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21Perhaps it's time Vince went and found the little one's mum.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28With luck, one day, Vincent will rule the rock.
0:43:29 > 0:43:32It will be him the others are out to impress.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35But that's when his troubles will really begin.
0:43:42 > 0:43:46Once you reach the top of the troop and become the dominant animal,
0:43:46 > 0:43:50the next challenge is to stay at the top.
0:43:50 > 0:43:54One monkey does this through sheer brute force.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00Hamadryas baboons.
0:44:03 > 0:44:08The males are arguably the roughest and most aggressive of all monkeys.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15Found in arid, desolate scrublands of North Africa and Arabia.
0:44:20 > 0:44:24Hamadryas keep harems of anxious females in check
0:44:24 > 0:44:26through regular bouts of violence.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29SQUEALING
0:44:31 > 0:44:32ROARING
0:44:37 > 0:44:39For them, it's a frightening existence.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48For the males, it's simple.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50They want as many females as possible.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55ROARING AND SQUEALING
0:44:57 > 0:45:00So they're always looking to add to their harem.
0:45:07 > 0:45:11The males go on raiding missions to steal wives from others.
0:45:18 > 0:45:24For the females, it pays to stay loyal, even to a violent male.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35They literally hide behind their man as a fight kicks off.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37ROARING AND SQUEALING
0:45:50 > 0:45:53Hamadryas baboons rule with an iron fist.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57But, of course, fighting is dangerous, it takes its toll.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00A much better option is to signal your strength to others
0:46:00 > 0:46:03without having to resort to violence.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13Primate males often look very different to the females.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17And many use visual displays to avoid contact.
0:46:22 > 0:46:23ROARING
0:46:23 > 0:46:25The silverback gorilla.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31Their hair turns grey with age and maturity.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34They're the definition of a dominant male.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41The more vivid the red patch on a gelada's chest,
0:46:41 > 0:46:43the more virile he is.
0:46:47 > 0:46:52The louder a howler monkey can call, the bigger territory he rules.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56Male orangutans display with swellings around their faces,
0:46:56 > 0:46:58called flanges.
0:47:00 > 0:47:04And the brighter a mandrill's nose, the more powerful he is.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12All these different characteristics mean the same thing,
0:47:12 > 0:47:16"I'm the boss, so don't mess with me."
0:47:18 > 0:47:22But there is one display that's hard to take seriously.
0:47:28 > 0:47:31You really can't miss a proboscis monkey's nose.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42It can grow up to 13 centimetres long.
0:47:49 > 0:47:53As a dominant male, you need to protect your family, especially the kids.
0:47:53 > 0:47:57And the males use their large nose to resonate their alarm calls.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00Put simply, the bigger your nose, the louder your call.
0:48:00 > 0:48:03And, as a result, the size of your nose
0:48:03 > 0:48:07also indicates your status, your rank in society.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14What's more, the females seem to like it.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17For them, the bigger the better.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21Making them not just one of the weirdest monkeys,
0:48:21 > 0:48:25but one of strangest-looking animals on the planet.
0:48:30 > 0:48:34In the vast majority of primate families, the males are in charge.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38But sometimes it's the girls who rule the roost.
0:48:48 > 0:48:52A troop of lemurs behind enemy lines.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55They feed nervously.
0:49:00 > 0:49:05They're ring-tailed lemurs, the most female dominant of all primates.
0:49:07 > 0:49:09This is Tsara.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11She's their leader.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17Not only is she responsible for the rest of the troop,
0:49:17 > 0:49:19she's also a mother of twins.
0:49:29 > 0:49:31It's the enemy. They've been caught.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34Tsara leads the retreat
0:49:34 > 0:49:36as they're chased back to the safety of their own territory.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41PANICKED SQUEALS
0:49:43 > 0:49:45They're home.
0:49:52 > 0:49:55Ring-tailed families revolve around the females.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01They run the show and are very firmly in charge.
0:50:06 > 0:50:10Tsara must juggle being a tough boss and a caring mum.
0:50:16 > 0:50:21She also needs to ensure her troop has enough to eat.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28But it's the end of the dry season and food is scarce.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33At this time of year, ring-tails rely on tamarinds,
0:50:33 > 0:50:38a rich fruit that ripens just when everything else is dying off.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44But Tsara's territory has few tamarind trees.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52Once again, she must lead her troop into danger.
0:50:54 > 0:50:56It's a risky mission.
0:50:56 > 0:51:01If caught, the enemy will target the most vulnerable, Tsara's twins.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10They feed while they can.
0:51:10 > 0:51:11Nervously watching.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15Listening.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21PANICKED SQUEALS
0:51:25 > 0:51:27The troop scatter.
0:51:36 > 0:51:39Tsara's singled out and attacked.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51She escapes and this time, her troop fights back.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01The females lead the counterattack.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07Charging into battle, their babies clinging on for dear life.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09PANICKED SQUEALS
0:52:13 > 0:52:15The enemy has overpowered them.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19Tsara and her troop are pushed back again.
0:52:24 > 0:52:26They've lost the battle.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30Hopefully, soon, the rains will come,
0:52:30 > 0:52:34but till then, Tsara will have to risk further raiding missions.
0:52:37 > 0:52:39Whether it's males or females in charge,
0:52:39 > 0:52:42primate society can often be violent.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44But it doesn't have to be like this.
0:52:46 > 0:52:47There is another way.
0:52:55 > 0:52:57BIRDSONG
0:53:08 > 0:53:09There is one member of our family
0:53:09 > 0:53:13that doesn't have the same problems with violence and aggression.
0:53:13 > 0:53:17For them, love, not war, is the name of the game.
0:53:17 > 0:53:21Along with chimpanzees, they just happen to be our closest relative.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28Like little Bombo, these are bonobos.
0:53:34 > 0:53:38Found only here in the forests south of Africa's Congo River.
0:53:41 > 0:53:44They belong to our branch of the family tree.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54Bonobos, chimps and humans
0:53:54 > 0:53:57are more closely related to each other
0:53:57 > 0:53:59than they are to any other ape.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10Bonobos are peaceful, considerate and caring.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22Most fascinating of all
0:54:22 > 0:54:25is the rather unusual way they maintain their bonds.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46Watching bonobos like this, you quickly start to see something.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49And, in fact, it's something it would be very hard to ignore.
0:54:50 > 0:54:52Bonobos have an awful lot of sex.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03Sex for bonobos means so much more than just reproduction.
0:55:08 > 0:55:10It's for forming friendships.
0:55:11 > 0:55:13Making up after a fight.
0:55:16 > 0:55:17Or simply saying hello.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23They're the only primate that uses sex in this way.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32Sex for bonobos is casual, it's quick
0:55:32 > 0:55:35and after a while, it just begins to look like
0:55:35 > 0:55:37any other social interaction,
0:55:37 > 0:55:39like a hug or a handshake.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42But it binds them, it calms them down.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45The intimacy makes it hard to be angry for long.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52Within the troop, there's harmony, not conflict.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04Who's dominant, who's high ranking,
0:56:04 > 0:56:08just doesn't seem as important to a bonobo.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22It's the older females, the matriarchs,
0:56:22 > 0:56:24who everyone looks up to.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27But because of their experience and knowledge
0:56:27 > 0:56:29rather than because of brute force.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41Bonobos are perhaps the ultimate example
0:56:41 > 0:56:44of social harmony in all animals.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47The perfect primate family.
0:56:48 > 0:56:52For me, they prove that being nice to each other
0:56:52 > 0:56:56can make the world a friendlier, happier place.
0:56:59 > 0:57:02Watching bonobos, you can't help but feel the connection.
0:57:02 > 0:57:05It's so obvious how close we are.
0:57:05 > 0:57:08Now, you might think that they could learn from us,
0:57:08 > 0:57:10but the reality, the truth of the matter is
0:57:10 > 0:57:12that we could learn a lot from them.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27Families are at the heart of primate life
0:57:27 > 0:57:30in a way that few other animals can match.
0:57:33 > 0:57:35And managing complex relationships
0:57:35 > 0:57:39has shaped not just our bodies, but also our minds.
0:57:40 > 0:57:42That is incredible.
0:57:44 > 0:57:45It's made us intelligent.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49The bigger your troop, the smarter you need to be
0:57:49 > 0:57:51to keep ahead of the competition.
0:57:53 > 0:57:56There's no doubt that humans are the smartest primates of all,
0:57:56 > 0:58:00but just how clever are the rest of the family?
0:58:00 > 0:58:02In the next programme,
0:58:02 > 0:58:06we'll see just how ingenuous our relatives can be.
0:58:09 > 0:58:12And explore their complex thoughts and emotions.
0:58:12 > 0:58:14Ah! Who's that?
0:58:19 > 0:58:21And I'll be going to school with Dora here.
0:58:21 > 0:58:24Perhaps we humans aren't quite as clever as we think we are.