0:00:13 > 0:00:17In the deserts of Ethiopia, lives an extraordinary monkey -
0:00:17 > 0:00:20the Hamadryas baboon.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23REGGAE MUSIC
0:00:23 > 0:00:28They live, cheek-by-jowl, in close-knit families.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Young babes-in-arms with their mothers,
0:00:36 > 0:00:40feisty teenagers, ready to leave home,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43and wise old grandparents who've seen it all before.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48As with all families, sometimes they fall out.
0:00:52 > 0:00:53THEY SCREECH
0:00:57 > 0:00:58These are clever animals,
0:00:58 > 0:01:00with complex relationships.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07For the last five years,
0:01:07 > 0:01:11one man has given up everything to try to understand them.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13He knows them all by name.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16They trust him to walk among them,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20and he looks out for them when they run into trouble.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23HE BARKS
0:01:23 > 0:01:25They share their home with the local tribe,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28who shoot baboons for target practice.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Life with the baboons is full of ups and downs,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37and this year is going to be very special indeed.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Awash National Park
0:01:53 > 0:01:55lies in the scorched desert lowlands
0:01:55 > 0:01:56of eastern Ethiopia.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59It was once the favourite hunting ground
0:01:59 > 0:02:02of the emperor Haile Selassie,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05and his favourite spot for bathing was a volcanic hot spring
0:02:05 > 0:02:07in the middle of the desert.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Today, this very same palm oasis
0:02:10 > 0:02:15is home to a very special band of Hamadryas baboons.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23They live high in the cliffs in one large group, over 200-strong.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26There's no single leader in the group,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28but the lion-like males rule the roost,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32and lord it over their harems of females.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35For the last five years,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37every detail of the baboons' lives
0:02:37 > 0:02:40has been intimately observed
0:02:40 > 0:02:42by a pair of biologists -
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Australian Mat Pines,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47and his Ethiopian assistant, Teklu Tesfaye,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51are now honorary members of the family.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54It's a very special feeling to be amongst wild animals,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56and to be accepted by them -
0:02:56 > 0:02:58to be considered almost part of their environment.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01I don't know if they actually consider me as another baboon,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04or whether they consider me just another animal in their environment
0:03:04 > 0:03:06that's safe to be around.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09Being amongst them is almost like watching a soap.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Watching the day-to-day things going on.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15There are a number of individuals here
0:03:15 > 0:03:18that I absolutely adore.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Every time I cross their path, I just give a little greeting to them.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Back here, we have Critical,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27and he has now got himself four females, quite quickly.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29What breaks my heart is,
0:03:29 > 0:03:31the young, skinny one on the edge is one of my favourites.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34These two come and visit me quite regularly.
0:03:34 > 0:03:35Now that she's with him,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37she doesn't come and see me any more.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Calm is now the fourth female in Critical's harem,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43and still has a lot to learn.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Mat has watched Critical grow up over the years,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49and hopes that this year
0:03:49 > 0:03:51he'll see Critical become a father
0:03:51 > 0:03:52for the first time.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56He'll have to keep a constant lookout for rival males,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58who are always waiting for a chance
0:03:58 > 0:04:01to kidnap one of his females.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06A large male called Frodo
0:04:06 > 0:04:10is already trying to move in on Critical's harem.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Critical has to fight him off,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22and make sure his females stay close behind him for protection.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27If they don't stick with him, they'll be stolen.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34With order restored,
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Critical and his family settle down for the night.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46These cliff tops are a precious sanctuary for the baboons -
0:04:46 > 0:04:49safe from prowling predators on the plains below.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26For five years,
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Mat and Teklu have emerged from their tents each dawn,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32to prepare for another long, hot day in the desert.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36But this year will be Mat's last.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39He's decided it's time to move on,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42even though life as a volunteer has its attractions.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50My life is such a simple existence.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54I drink and wash in these hot springs.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58I'm far away from my friends and family.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02And I've had no salary for the last five years.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05It's a sacrifice, but it's worth it -
0:06:05 > 0:06:11to be with these baboons is an experience that no money could buy.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Mat and Teklu spend every day,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16from dawn to dusk,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18following the baboons.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23They're now fluent in the subtle signs and sounds of baboon language.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Hamadryas baboons
0:06:26 > 0:06:28have a very animated face.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30They have a whole wide range of expressions
0:06:30 > 0:06:33to really let you know exactly what they're feeling.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35They've got the eyebrow-raise,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38which is your first warning that they're a little bit annoyed.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39If you don't take that hint,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41they'll lunge at you a bit.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43An eyebrow-raise again,
0:06:43 > 0:06:44so I'm getting frustrated here.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47If that doesn't work, they start to...
0:06:47 > 0:06:48HE MOUTHS
0:06:48 > 0:06:49..grind their teeth.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53If that doesn't work, you get these...
0:06:53 > 0:06:54kind of look,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56almost like, "I can't believe he's still there.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59"Can't believe I have to keep threatening him."
0:06:59 > 0:07:00There's always disbelief in them.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Then finally, if you still haven't got the message,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06they charge at you, and come right up to you,
0:07:06 > 0:07:10and really give you the full force of their power and their strength.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Believe me, it is intimidating.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17The first fight of the day is brewing on the edge of the cliff.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22Once again, Critical is defending his family from attack.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24He's threatening another male, called Zaph,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27who's trying to steal one of his wives.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30THEY SQUEAL
0:07:41 > 0:07:43The fight is over quickly.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Critical has come out on top,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49whilst Zaph is left screaming in surrender.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Zaph's upset one of Critical's females.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57They started threatening each other,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59and Critical managed to grab Zaph in the mouth,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01and he's torn his cheek a good centimetre.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02There's a big hole there.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05As soon as he got that hole, Zaph screamed in surrender,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08this, "Ah! Don't hurt me any more".
0:08:08 > 0:08:09No wonder he was screaming.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13I can just feel that hole. Eurgh!
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Critical has acquired females very quickly,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21and I think it's cos he's prepared to fight.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23And he's not the biggest baboon around.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26But I guess it's not the size of the dog in the fight,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29but the size of the fight in the dog. And he is a real fighter.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34Critical has done his job, and kept his family safely together.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37His next big step as a new leader male
0:08:37 > 0:08:39is to produce his first offspring.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48With the fighting over, the group is calm once gain,
0:08:48 > 0:08:50and they slowly start to move off for the day.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52REGGAE MUSIC
0:09:16 > 0:09:21Mat and Teklu follow the group up to 20 miles a day,
0:09:21 > 0:09:27as they forage for food and water on these harsh, arid plains.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Hamadryas are desert baboons.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42To eke out a living here, they can't afford to be fussy feeders.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44They'll eat plants, insects,
0:09:44 > 0:09:46even small mammals.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Surviving in the desert is hard enough,
0:09:51 > 0:09:55but the baboons face an even bigger threat to their daily existence.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01The Afar people and their cattle.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03THEY SCREECH
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It's a bit hard on the poor baboons right now.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09They really get pushed around by the livestock.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11There's a herd of livestock here,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14another down this side, and another coming up behind us.
0:10:14 > 0:10:15So the baboons
0:10:15 > 0:10:19are now trying to get out of their way.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21If they're getting pushed, it means they miss out on water,
0:10:21 > 0:10:25miss out on time to rest, and on the opportunity to feed.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28It really can make for a difficult day for them.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32The Afar shoot baboons if they stray too close to their livestock.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34As a result,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37the baboons are terrified of them.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41The Afar have a violent reputation.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43For them, guns are a way of life.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47They're notorious for cutting off the testicles of their enemies,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50and wearing them as trophies.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52When we're following our baboons,
0:10:52 > 0:10:54we constantly encounter people with guns.
0:10:54 > 0:10:55They are everywhere here.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I constantly find I'm talking to someone,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00and their gun is pointing at my face.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02"Just push that aside a bit, please".
0:11:02 > 0:11:05I've had guns pointed at me.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07I've had someone try to club me in the head
0:11:07 > 0:11:09with the butt of their Kalashnikov.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Afars are not easy people to have as neighbours.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16We've had some very tense moments,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19where you're just not sure how it's going to pan out.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21It's unnerving - really quite scary.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29When they see Mat, the Afar freely admit to killing baboons,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32and make no bones about it.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46The Afar are taught to kill baboons from an early age,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49to help them improve their aim.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Can you tell them that the baboons
0:12:08 > 0:12:11are for us what their cattle are to them.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13They're very important to us,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16so we'd really appreciate if they don't shoot...
0:12:16 > 0:12:17HE SPEAKS AFAR
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I can understand why they would defend their animals,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45cos their animals are their whole bank balance, their way of life.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49It's just this conflict of Afar
0:12:49 > 0:12:51and park wildlife.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Sometimes there is problems when the two overlap.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03The Afar are not just killing individual baboons,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05they're also destroying their home.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Awash National Park is literally being grazed to dust
0:13:11 > 0:13:13by the Afar's livestock.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Where these plains once teemed with wildlife,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23now just a handful of animals remain.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Some species have crashed by 80%
0:13:26 > 0:13:27in just ten years.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33If the illegal grazing continues in Awash,
0:13:33 > 0:13:39Mat's baboons, and the other wildlife, could disappear forever.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Something has to change.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Every evening, the baboons
0:13:52 > 0:13:54return to the safety of the cliffs,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57for a long grooming session before bed.
0:13:59 > 0:14:00Critical's new female, Calm,
0:14:00 > 0:14:04is carefully combing his mane.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07But grooming is not just about getting clean,
0:14:07 > 0:14:09it's an intimate family ritual
0:14:09 > 0:14:13that bonds them closer together.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17And Critical isn't the only one to get a grooming.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20I've got someone grooming me on the back.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Teklu has been studying these baboons for ten years,
0:14:33 > 0:14:36and has been fully accepted as one of the group.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Some juveniles, they're curious about my legs.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41They start to approach me,
0:14:41 > 0:14:43then they start grooming.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46They're pulling my hair sometimes. It hurt!
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Like all male baboons,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Critical keeps a close eye on his wives.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54THEY SCREECH
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Calm is still learning the ropes,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00and has strayed too close to another male.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04You recall the cat calls - "Ah! Ah!"
0:15:04 > 0:15:05SHE BLEATS
0:15:05 > 0:15:07She's being submissive to him now,
0:15:07 > 0:15:09in the hope he doesn't bite her again.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10CRITICAL GRUNTS
0:15:10 > 0:15:11This grunting of his
0:15:11 > 0:15:15is sort of saying, "I'm not going to hurt you."
0:15:15 > 0:15:18She didn't do exactly what he wanted when he wanted,
0:15:18 > 0:15:20so, "Bam!" - he gets her.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26In the world of the Hamadryas,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29females have a very tough time.
0:15:29 > 0:15:34When it come to punishments, some males can be extremely brutal.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35SHE SQUEALS
0:15:37 > 0:15:39If you're ever reincarnated and come back to this world,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I wouldn't suggest coming back as a female Hamadryas.
0:15:42 > 0:15:43Their life is pretty tough.
0:15:51 > 0:15:52SHE SQUEALS
0:15:56 > 0:15:58These females get very little say
0:15:58 > 0:16:00in which males they're with.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02It's the males who make that decision.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05If they stray too far from the male, he punishes them.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09You often see some females with bloody neck, torn ears.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Life's pretty rough for them.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42The next morning, as Mat and Teklu arrive at the cliffs,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Critical, and several other males, are on the rampage.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48THEY SQUEAL
0:16:52 > 0:16:53That's a male frenzy going on.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56All the males are showing their size and speed, just like this.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58It's all about power,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01and to demonstrate to the rest of the males how big and strong they are.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05All the males are jumping in the tree,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07giving it a good shake.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09They work themselves up into this frenzy.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11The females are just taking cover, they're squealing.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19It really is impressive.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Hamadryas males love showing off.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28To survive as a leader male, they have to make it clear
0:17:28 > 0:17:30that they're not to be messed with.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Now again, calm just settles over the group.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Almost like nothing ever happened.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42That's Ken, named after my father.
0:17:44 > 0:17:45Good man, that one.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Good man.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58Not all the males of the group are born leaders.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Some are naturally weaker, and for them,
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Awash can be a particularly tough and unforgiving place to live.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07If any members of the group fall ill,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10they're simply left behind to die.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15This morning, Mat has noticed that one of the baboons
0:18:15 > 0:18:17is struggling to keep up with the rest of the band.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21He's an eight-year-old male called Serious,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23and he's clearly suffering.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24We can see straightaway
0:18:24 > 0:18:26that Serious, just in front of me,
0:18:26 > 0:18:28has already fallen to the back of the group.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31He's really struggling now to keep up with them.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34He's limping there,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36and you can see at the back end, he's really quite skinny -
0:18:36 > 0:18:39he's lost a lot of condition.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43There is something wrong with Serious' front right hand,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45and he's developed a nasty cough.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48SERIOUS COUGHS
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Serious can no longer climb trees
0:18:54 > 0:18:55to escape from predators,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58and he can't reach the baboon's most important food -
0:18:58 > 0:19:01the palm fruit which sustains them
0:19:01 > 0:19:04for five months of the year.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08Serious has to wait for scraps to rain down from above.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Serious would normally live for another ten years,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18but Mat suspects he won't survive for long
0:19:18 > 0:19:21in this harsh environment.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25He does have this cyst or growth, or something, on his wrist.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28And he has a hacking cough.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32One of the dilemmas I face as a wildlife biologist
0:19:32 > 0:19:35is whether to interfere or not.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Potentially, we might be able to help him and save his life,
0:19:38 > 0:19:42but the other side of the coin is our position here
0:19:42 > 0:19:45is to observe and see what happens.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48While for me personally, it's actually quite sad
0:19:48 > 0:19:51if Serious does die, cos I've known him for many years,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54I guess the harsh reality is
0:19:54 > 0:19:57his death may mean life for other animals.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59For jackals, for hyena, for vultures.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01It's the way things are here.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04SERIOUS COUGHS
0:20:12 > 0:20:17The dry season is approaching, and Mat has nine months left.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21The baboons are on their way to find water.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Even for these desert specialists,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25the mid-day sun is fierce,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28and the baboons have to retreat to the shade.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35At this time of the day, the baboons just like to hang out in the shade,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38and just rest, cos it's just too hot for them.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Unfortunately, the baboons have stolen the best shady spots.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45but I'll see if I can sneak in on the side without disturbing them.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00I'm envious of these young ones' energy.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Almost any time of the day,
0:21:02 > 0:21:03they'll play.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06They chase each other around like tag, and play hide and seek.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Anywhere, any place, there's always something they can play on -
0:21:09 > 0:21:12whether it's a termite hill, in the dust, in the mud...
0:21:12 > 0:21:14REGGAE MUSIC
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Though it may look like pure fun,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42there is a point to all this activity.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45In the rough and tumble of playtime,
0:21:45 > 0:21:49young baboons learn the fighting skills they'll need as adults.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Today's king of the castle will be tomorrow's top male.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Critical is clearly performing well
0:21:59 > 0:22:02in his new role as head of the family.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05His oldest female, Gunsch, is now pregnant,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07and his youngest female, Calm,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11Mat's favourite, is on heat and could soon be joining her.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15This is Critical coming in here now, with his four females.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18You can see the one closest to him
0:22:18 > 0:22:20is getting this swelling, so she's on heat.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23It's her oestrous cycle.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25She has to stay close to him.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27If she strays, he attacks her.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Because he doesn't want
0:22:29 > 0:22:31any other males reproducing with her right now.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34You can see that female to his right - the biggest one -
0:22:34 > 0:22:37that intense red colour indicates pregnancy.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40So, probably within the next few months,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43we'll see Critical have his first baby.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45It's the start of his family.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57Mat has been working on the baboons project for free
0:22:57 > 0:22:59for five years.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Now, aged 35, he wants to start his own family,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05and needs to find a job that pays.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07But he wants to leave
0:23:07 > 0:23:11knowing the future is safe for his beloved baboons.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13In just a matter months, I'll be leaving this place,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15leaving these baboons.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19So, my goal for this year
0:23:19 > 0:23:23is to do whatever I can to ensure that they do have a future.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27I think this is going to entail me
0:23:27 > 0:23:31really sitting down and discussing with the community here - the Afar,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33to try and come up with a solution
0:23:33 > 0:23:35that will allow both the baboons and the Afar
0:23:35 > 0:23:37to co-exist.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Mat and Teklu have come to the Afar village of Wasaro
0:23:46 > 0:23:47to visit the chief.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Mat has the daunting task
0:23:50 > 0:23:54of trying to change the way the Afar see baboons.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59To them, the baboons are simply pests that need shooting,
0:23:59 > 0:24:01and are no good to anyone.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24The chat plant is a natural narcotic that's sacred to the Afar.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Chewing chat together
0:24:26 > 0:24:29is a social ritual that dates back thousands of years.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45Only after all the necessary customs have been observed
0:24:45 > 0:24:49can the meeting formally begin.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Baboons in Awash... You don't find them in many places around the world,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05so it's quite special.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07We're interested in learning more about them.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28The Afar were here long before the national park was created.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30They were cleared by force from their lands,
0:25:30 > 0:25:32and have nowhere else to go.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Their ancient way of life is all they know.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53The Afar believe the baboons were once people
0:25:53 > 0:25:57who were punished by God and banished to the wilderness.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00They're seen as outcasts.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05It won't be easy to stop the Afar from killing baboons,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09but Mat can't just walk away - he has to try and make peace.
0:26:14 > 0:26:19There is a direct conflict between our baboons and the Afar.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22The baboons don't have a voice, they don't have guns.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27It hasn't been an easy relationship I've had with the Afar.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30I do want to improve, but more so
0:26:30 > 0:26:33I want the baboons' relationship with the Afar to improve,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36so the baboons are safe and do have a future here.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50This is a conflict that's being played out
0:26:50 > 0:26:54in almost all the national parks across East Africa.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Both the wildlife and the people have a right to be here.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02The baboons have lived on these cliffs for thousands of years,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06but if the destruction of the national park continues unabated,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08their home will be destroyed,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11and there will be nowhere left for them to live.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37The dry season has begun in earnest.
0:27:37 > 0:27:43Within a few hours, temperatures will climb to over 40 degrees.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47At this time of year, the weak and the infirm
0:27:47 > 0:27:49struggle to survive.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Serious, the sick eight-year-old male,
0:27:53 > 0:27:54is in grave danger.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56SERIOUS COUGHS
0:27:59 > 0:28:01He's been left behind by the rest of the band,
0:28:01 > 0:28:03and is all alone on the cliffs.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Hamadryas baboons stick together for safety.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Serious is now highly vulnerable to attack
0:28:10 > 0:28:13from leopards and hyenas.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Without the protection of the group,
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Serious is unlikely to survive another night.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32SERIOUS COUGHS
0:28:35 > 0:28:38Mat knows he may never see Serious again.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Mat and Teklu have walked an hour from camp
0:28:54 > 0:28:55to find the rest of the band,
0:28:55 > 0:28:58who've spent the night on a different cliff.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02When they find the baboons,
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Mat notices that Beth
0:29:04 > 0:29:07has a brand-new infant.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13When they're first delivered, new babies are covered in black fur,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16and a source of great excitement to all the females.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19But this infant is not moving.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21It's suspected murdered.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25We just got here this morning,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28and it looks like Beth's black infant is dead.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30I can't see any sign of injury on him.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Frodo recently stole Beth from another male.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37It looks like he's just killed Beth's infant.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Infanticide is really common in these situations.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Males kill the infants so that the new wife
0:29:43 > 0:29:46will give birth much sooner to their own infant.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51It's a really sad thing to see.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05As the band moves off for the day, Beth struggles to keep up.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10Normally, even a brand-new infant would naturally grip
0:30:10 > 0:30:12onto its mother from below as she travels.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Sometimes they will ride on top of her back.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22But Beth has to carry the full weight of her dead baby,
0:30:22 > 0:30:24and it's slowing her down.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37For days on end, Beth refuses to abandon her baby.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46For her it's very difficult.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48She has to take care of her infant the whole day.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51She never let go for five or six days.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54Even when she sleeps, she never lets go.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58The whole night she will be screaming. She feels very sad.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01Me too, I get sad. Can't do anything.
0:31:12 > 0:31:17It's now seven months until Mat leaves.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21He's got a plan for the next step in building bridges with the Afar.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34Having asked the chief at his meeting what he could do to help,
0:31:34 > 0:31:37Mat has raised funds to buy a new solar-powered light
0:31:37 > 0:31:39for the village mosque.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42The Afar are Muslim, and for them,
0:31:42 > 0:31:45prayer is an incredibly important part of their life,
0:31:45 > 0:31:49so one of the things they've asked us to do is to provide solar lighting,
0:31:49 > 0:31:53so that the children can learn the Koran during the night time.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57So this is, for us, a really positive way that we can help the community,
0:31:57 > 0:32:01and it's a good way to strengthen our relationship with the Afar.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31It's a small step, but gives Mat a little more hope.
0:32:38 > 0:32:43As the dry season peaks, the temperature moves up to 45 degrees.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50Everyone is feeling the pressure, especially the baboons.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Today, the group is in a strange and hostile mood.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59BABOON SHRIEKS
0:33:07 > 0:33:08He wasn't really threatening me there,
0:33:08 > 0:33:12but he was indicating to the others that he was upset,
0:33:12 > 0:33:14and this is a call for the others to come and help me,
0:33:14 > 0:33:17but he wasn't really giving me the eyebrow raise and everything.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20It was just a, "This guy's a threat! Come here!"
0:33:21 > 0:33:23They're really stirred up at present.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26You can hear them.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Something is in the air.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34The baboons are restless and feeling threatened,
0:33:34 > 0:33:38and when they arrive back at their sleeping cliffs, Mat discovers why.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Now the baboons have arrived at their cliff,
0:33:42 > 0:33:46they've found that another band has actually moved in and occupied it.
0:33:48 > 0:33:49With the two bands together,
0:33:49 > 0:33:53there are over 500 baboons trying to squeeze onto the cliffs.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58The tension is rising, and they're about to go to war.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Oh, here we go. It's kicking off.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10They both want to share the same cliff.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18The chaos of battle presents a perfect opportunity to steal
0:34:18 > 0:34:20females from the other band.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33The two different bands are running a couple of metres apart,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37and you see individuals charging in, trying to disperse them.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40But the noise, the noise is so loud!
0:34:40 > 0:34:43BABOONS SHRIEK
0:34:46 > 0:34:50You have these moments of quietness when everything just settles,
0:34:50 > 0:34:51and then it can just build up again.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55It only needs someone to charge, and suddenly they're back at each other.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59It's females screaming, so they squeal to bring up their male,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01and it's working.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03She's going to start a war here.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07Over here it's building up again.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22Listen to that noise.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24BABOONS SHRIEK
0:35:24 > 0:35:27As Mat moves closer to the centre of the action,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30he can barely make himself heard above the roar of baboons.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35This is the front line just here.
0:35:35 > 0:35:40The noise is massive, and they're pushing them away. Wow!
0:35:40 > 0:35:43There is now 500 or 600 baboons here, all back and forth.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45They're trying to scoop them up,
0:35:45 > 0:35:47and also have a cliff to sleep on tonight.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54I suspect this is going to be a really wild night.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57The two groups fight on into the darkness.
0:35:57 > 0:36:02Mat leaves his baboons, not knowing what may happen overnight.
0:36:12 > 0:36:17The next morning, Mat and Teklu return to the cliffs
0:36:17 > 0:36:21to assess the damage to the group in the aftermath of battle.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24You can see, they're still a bit nervous.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Still giving me a bit of space.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32I've been doing a roll call of our baboons this morning
0:36:32 > 0:36:36since that big fight, just to see if they've lost any females
0:36:36 > 0:36:39or actually gained any, and there doesn't appear to be any change.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42I think Critical has managed to keep all of his females.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45It's not an easy feat, to hang onto all those females
0:36:45 > 0:36:48when all this chaos is happening around him, so he's done really well.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53But in his valiant efforts to keep his family safely together,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Critical has been injured.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00It looks like Critical's front tooth is very loose.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02It looks like it's causing him discomfort,
0:37:02 > 0:37:04because he's constantly licking it.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07Oh!
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Somebody call a dentist.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14It will be interesting, now, to see just how it affects his behaviour,
0:37:14 > 0:37:18because he wouldn't want to be fighting while he's got this problem.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23It sends shivers down my spine to see his tooth flopping about.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28It seems that this is one battle he didn't win.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30He's now got himself an injury.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Critical is not the only casualty.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39A young infant has received a severe bite on the arm.
0:37:40 > 0:37:45That injury is like having a shark bite. There's really a chunk missing.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47Normally, they tear each other, rip each other,
0:37:47 > 0:37:49but not tear chunks of flesh.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52That's as bad as I've ever seen.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54I don't think this guy's going to last, unfortunately.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57With that arm completely out of action,
0:37:57 > 0:37:59he's going to struggle to survive.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05Critical's injury makes him vulnerable,
0:38:05 > 0:38:10and the other males waste no time in trying to take advantage.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Sensing his weakness, a gang of three males are trying
0:38:15 > 0:38:19to steal his females, but Critical is not backing down.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25There goes Critical. He's chasing them.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Critical against three males, there, and able to keep them all at bay.
0:38:34 > 0:38:35He's played his hand very well here.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44The baboons must now travel further and further each day
0:38:44 > 0:38:46to find food and water.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54The searing desert heat is taking its toll.
0:39:00 > 0:39:05At this time of year, the Afar and their cattle are starving.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08Every night, after bringing in their livestock,
0:39:08 > 0:39:11the men gather together to pray to God to bring them rain.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20For the Afar, the drought is the hardest time of the year.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23It's a time of death and hunger.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28Their only hope is for God to bring rain to end the suffering.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07The next day, the sun is as hot as ever,
0:40:07 > 0:40:10and the baboons are on the move early.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14As usual, they head straight for the palm fruits, their favourite food.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18Critical has now lost his wobbly tooth,
0:40:18 > 0:40:22and he's finding it hard to break through the fruit's tough shell.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28The Hamadryas baboons in this part of Ethiopia
0:40:28 > 0:40:30are amongst the biggest in the world,
0:40:30 > 0:40:33and the key reason for this is the palm fruit.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37The palm fruit here is able to sustain the baboons for up to
0:40:37 > 0:40:40four to five months per year.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42It's a food that both the Afar and the baboons like.
0:40:47 > 0:40:52The palm trees of Awash are essential to the baboons' survival.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Without them, they would not be here.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59But the palms are being systematically cut down by the Afar,
0:40:59 > 0:41:04who sell them for cash during the dry season when times are hard.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11Every palm that's taken is one less fruit tree for the baboons.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15Their most important food supply is rapidly dwindling.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38Is there as much palm today as there was when he was a small boy?
0:42:08 > 0:42:10It's actually well worth just chatting to those guys to hear
0:42:10 > 0:42:14about this problem, how they can't support themselves any more
0:42:14 > 0:42:17with just livestock alone, and they're now turning to the palm,
0:42:17 > 0:42:21even though they recognise that the palm population is decreasing.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26As the baboons return to the cliffs, once again,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28they're all on edge.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36Two hyenas are prowling at the bottom of the cliffs,
0:42:36 > 0:42:39and Critical and the rest of the group are alarm-barking.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49By alerting each other to the presence of predators,
0:42:49 > 0:42:53the baboons have successfully driven off the hyenas.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57But as one threat goes away, another rears its head.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00The Afar have been at the baboons' precious sleeping spot,
0:43:00 > 0:43:02cutting down palm leaves.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04This is unbelievable.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07Just here, on top of the cliff where our baboons sleep,
0:43:07 > 0:43:10the Afar have been busy cutting the palm leaf.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14If it's overdone, it just kills the tree.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17And this is really bad news for the baboons.
0:43:17 > 0:43:22If we lose these trees, that will decimate this whole group.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24I have such an emotional attachment to these animals,
0:43:24 > 0:43:27I would hate to see anything happening to them.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29This is so disappointing.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38Sometimes I think, "Why am I here?"
0:43:41 > 0:43:44Five years without a salary, five years of struggling,
0:43:44 > 0:43:47very difficult conditions, and at the end of it,
0:43:47 > 0:43:49am I going to have anything to show
0:43:49 > 0:43:51for the conservation work I've done here?
0:43:54 > 0:43:57It's very good right now just to be amongst the baboons, because
0:43:57 > 0:44:00they really do take my mind off some of the difficulties I sometimes face.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03This is a gift that they don't even know they give me.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19The Afar's prayers have been answered.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22Finally, the rainy season has arrived.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37Baboons hate the rain.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42These once-majestic males look truly miserable.
0:44:45 > 0:44:47They're in no rush to move off for the day,
0:44:47 > 0:44:50and are staying put in their sleeping spot.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00At least they can have a drink without having to travel.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10It's funny watching the baboons in the rain.
0:45:10 > 0:45:11It's almost like they're a wet dog.
0:45:12 > 0:45:17They just pull their head in and curl up into a ball,
0:45:17 > 0:45:20and the youngsters tend to cuddle up amongst their mother or the father.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27At long last, the pressure of the dry season has been released.
0:45:36 > 0:45:39Once the storm has passed, the baboons dry out
0:45:39 > 0:45:41and then venture into a whole new world.
0:45:57 > 0:46:01The sparse desert is transformed overnight into a land of plenty.
0:46:11 > 0:46:16The wet season shows Awash in its greatest glory.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19It's a unique place, home to some very special animals.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31This is Mat's favourite time of year.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35With so much grass around, the Afar don't need to graze their cattle
0:46:35 > 0:46:38in the park, and don't harass the baboons.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41It's a time of peace and abundance for all.
0:46:42 > 0:46:45Since the wet season, this whole area is completely transformed.
0:46:45 > 0:46:47Before it was just dust,
0:46:47 > 0:46:50and now the baboons are just moving through this sea of grass.
0:46:50 > 0:46:52There's food everywhere for them.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55So for the baboons, this is the best time of the year.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07Mat's time in Awash will soon be over.
0:47:11 > 0:47:15He knows that if the baboons and their home are to have a future,
0:47:15 > 0:47:19he has to persuade the Afar to see them differently.
0:47:20 > 0:47:26These baboons are a valuable asset to this region, to the people,
0:47:26 > 0:47:29attracting researchers, attracting tourists.
0:47:29 > 0:47:35We really need to show the community just how valuable these baboons are.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40Mat has worked hard all year to make friends with the Afar,
0:47:40 > 0:47:42and he's starting to earn their trust.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45Now he wants to show them a way of living with baboons
0:47:45 > 0:47:48that could actually be of benefit to them.
0:47:52 > 0:47:56With time running out, Mat has come up with a plan.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59He and Teklu are heading off on a road trip.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05In the back are three Afars from the local village.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08The two Alis, and Muhammad in the middle.
0:48:10 > 0:48:14They're travelling 240 miles north to the highlands of Ethiopia,
0:48:14 > 0:48:16to the Guassa grasslands,
0:48:16 > 0:48:19home to another type of monkey called the Gelada.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22Gelada are a really special primate
0:48:22 > 0:48:24found only in the Ethiopian highlands.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28What I want these guys to see is how the community
0:48:28 > 0:48:31is benefiting from conserving these primates.
0:48:33 > 0:48:36The area where we're going is well over 3,000 metres above sea level.
0:48:36 > 0:48:41It's an absolutely beautiful landscape, but very cold.
0:48:41 > 0:48:43For these guys, they've never been to the highlands,
0:48:43 > 0:48:45so it's completely new for them.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22Finally, after nine hours' driving, they arrive at the lodge
0:49:22 > 0:49:25owned and run by the local community.
0:50:03 > 0:50:06After warming up and borrowing boots and waterproofs,
0:50:06 > 0:50:09the Afar are ready to go and see the Gelada.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24Gelada are totally unique to Ethiopia,
0:50:24 > 0:50:27and with their long, woolly coats,
0:50:27 > 0:50:31they're perfectly adapted to life on this cold, wet plateau.
0:50:34 > 0:50:39It's such a different environment, a different situation to Awash,
0:50:39 > 0:50:42and yet these animals kind of look similar,
0:50:42 > 0:50:45but in a completely different context.
0:50:45 > 0:50:48They call these the Bleeding Heart Gelada,
0:50:48 > 0:50:51because of this red patch they've got on their chest, there.
0:50:51 > 0:50:53They're superb animals, they really are.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56Not as good as Hamadryas, but still good.
0:51:01 > 0:51:05For the Afar, it's unusual to get this close to wild animals,
0:51:05 > 0:51:07as they normally scare them off.
0:51:41 > 0:51:45Do you think you'd like to move up here and study these guys instead?
0:51:45 > 0:51:48No, I'd like to move these guys over there.
0:51:49 > 0:51:53I think I might have a few new field assistants to help me study the Hamadryas.
0:51:53 > 0:51:56These guys are really getting into it.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59They're absolutely fascinated by these Gelada.
0:52:19 > 0:52:22The grasslands have been carefully protected
0:52:22 > 0:52:24by the community for over 400 years.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28They use the grasses for thatching their roofs,
0:52:28 > 0:52:31and have strict limits on grazing
0:52:31 > 0:52:34to ensure the survival of this precious resource.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37The people here have found a way of living on their land
0:52:37 > 0:52:38without destroying it.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43And they're happy to share it with the Gelada,
0:52:43 > 0:52:45as they bring in visitors and extra income.
0:52:50 > 0:52:55After a long day following the Gelada up and down steep slopes,
0:52:55 > 0:52:59the lowland visitors are exhausted, but Mat's plan
0:52:59 > 0:53:03to open their eyes to a new way of looking at wildlife
0:53:03 > 0:53:04seems to have worked.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50My hope is now that when they go back to their villages,
0:53:50 > 0:53:54they can really sit down and discuss with their other community members
0:53:54 > 0:53:57and tell them about their experience here, and what they've learned,
0:53:57 > 0:54:00and hopefully we might see a bit of an attitude change
0:54:00 > 0:54:04in the Afar towards the Hamadryas. That's the big goal here.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07I think we've taken a step towards it.
0:54:33 > 0:54:37The time has come for Mat to leave his baboons.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43He's come for one last visit. A chance to reflect on their future.
0:54:45 > 0:54:49It's a future intertwined with that of the Afar people.
0:54:49 > 0:54:51But can they change their ancient way of life
0:54:51 > 0:54:54and stop destroying the baboon's home?
0:54:58 > 0:55:00It's not an easy process just to make them
0:55:00 > 0:55:02switch from one thing to another.
0:55:02 > 0:55:03This takes a long time,
0:55:03 > 0:55:06and we're talking maybe decades for this change to happen.
0:55:06 > 0:55:12The question here is will this land survive decades? I don't know.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15I don't think there's that much time left now.
0:55:15 > 0:55:16I think we're really at a critical point
0:55:16 > 0:55:19where something needs to change, and change soon.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28Mat is doing a final check on his favourite individuals
0:55:28 > 0:55:29before saying his goodbyes,
0:55:29 > 0:55:33and there's a little surprise waiting for him.
0:55:35 > 0:55:38The infant with the badly injured arm is now thriving.
0:55:39 > 0:55:44What's really promising is the infant is actually looking quite healthy
0:55:44 > 0:55:46despite his really severe injury.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49I think he's going to be OK. I have a good feeling about this one.
0:55:53 > 0:55:56And Critical has become a father.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01His oldest female, Gunsch, has a new infant,
0:56:01 > 0:56:03and she's keeping a tight hold of him
0:56:03 > 0:56:05as he tries to explore his world.
0:56:08 > 0:56:12And just last night, his youngest wife, Calm - Mat's old favourite -
0:56:12 > 0:56:16gave birth to a baby girl, and she's attracting
0:56:16 > 0:56:20a great deal of attention from the other admiring females.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29His family just continues to grow.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33This is really positive news for Calm, the new mother.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37This is a whole new experience for her. She's never had a baby before.
0:56:38 > 0:56:39The early sign seems like
0:56:39 > 0:56:42she's taking really good care of the infant.
0:56:43 > 0:56:46I don't think Critical's going to get Father of the Year.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49Some of the males are very tolerant with their black infants.
0:56:49 > 0:56:51They allow them to climb all over them.
0:56:51 > 0:56:53I really just don't think Critical's that kind of guy.
0:56:55 > 0:57:00The most important thing he can do is just to take care of the mothers
0:57:00 > 0:57:04and defend their babies, and if he does that, then he's done his job.
0:57:12 > 0:57:15In his five years here, Mat has made a difference.
0:57:20 > 0:57:21Thanks to him and Teklu,
0:57:21 > 0:57:24the Afar are starting to see the animals around them differently.
0:57:26 > 0:57:27Keep in touch.
0:57:28 > 0:57:32It's a small seed of change, but if it grows,
0:57:32 > 0:57:36then there's real hope for the baboons and their desert home.
0:57:41 > 0:57:46To say goodbye to these baboons, I think that's the hardest part.
0:57:48 > 0:57:52For me, they have been the highlight of this place.
0:57:53 > 0:57:57To share in their life, to almost be accepted by them
0:57:57 > 0:58:01as one of their group, their social order,
0:58:01 > 0:58:03it's going to be really sad to leave these guys.
0:58:07 > 0:58:11My one big hope is that both the baboons and the Afar
0:58:11 > 0:58:13can peacefully coexist
0:58:13 > 0:58:18and that this magnificent place could have a really good future.
0:58:46 > 0:58:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd