Documentary. Animatronic spy creatures go undercover to explore the world of animal intelligence and reveal their use of tools, self-medication, culture and subterfuge.
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The world is full of
extraordinary animals. | 0:00:02 | 0:00:05 | |
But how well do we really
understand them? | 0:00:08 | 0:00:10 | |
How do they really think and feel? | 0:00:12 | 0:00:14 | |
To find out, a team of spy creatures
is going undercover. | 0:00:15 | 0:00:20 | |
They not only look like part of
the family, | 0:00:22 | 0:00:24 | |
they behave like them, too. | 0:00:24 | 0:00:26 | |
Armed with the latest
camera technology, | 0:00:28 | 0:00:32 | |
they are going to travel the
globe... | 0:00:32 | 0:00:34 | |
..to understand the true nature
of the animals they meet | 0:00:35 | 0:00:39 | |
and reveal how intelligent they
really are... | 0:00:39 | 0:00:43 | |
..how badly behaved they can be... | 0:00:46 | 0:00:48 | |
..how important friendship
is to them... | 0:00:51 | 0:00:53 | |
..and if it's possible that
they can truly love each other. | 0:00:55 | 0:00:58 | |
What they discover will change
our perception of animals for ever. | 0:01:00 | 0:01:04 | |
Perhaps they are more like us
than we ever believed possible. | 0:01:07 | 0:01:11 | |
When it comes to solving
life's problems, | 0:01:22 | 0:01:25 | |
just how clever can animals be? | 0:01:25 | 0:01:27 | |
In the forest in Borneo lives one
of our closest animal relatives, | 0:01:33 | 0:01:38 | |
the orang-utan. | 0:01:38 | 0:01:39 | |
These great apes share
97% of our DNA. | 0:01:44 | 0:01:47 | |
They're one of the most
intelligent animals on Earth. | 0:01:56 | 0:01:58 | |
To film the behaviour of these
shrewd primates | 0:02:00 | 0:02:03 | |
requires an exceptionally lifelike
spy creature. | 0:02:03 | 0:02:06 | |
To be totally convincing, | 0:02:12 | 0:02:14 | |
Spy Orang-utan must mimic
their facial expressions. | 0:02:14 | 0:02:17 | |
Rather than bare her teeth,
she needs to appear friendly. | 0:02:20 | 0:02:24 | |
By sending out the right signals, | 0:02:27 | 0:02:29 | |
she soon draws attention. | 0:02:29 | 0:02:31 | |
Adult males are always interested
in any new female. | 0:02:35 | 0:02:38 | |
But he needs some convincing
that all is quite what it seems. | 0:02:42 | 0:02:45 | |
Spy Orang-utan pouts her mouth, | 0:02:48 | 0:02:50 | |
a sign she's not a threat. | 0:02:50 | 0:02:52 | |
As news gets around,
a young male comes to investigate, | 0:02:54 | 0:02:59 | |
and he, too, seems unsure. | 0:02:59 | 0:03:01 | |
Time for some careful reflection. | 0:03:03 | 0:03:05 | |
He keeps a safe distance, | 0:03:10 | 0:03:12 | |
and finds an imaginative way to
test the spy creature's reactions. | 0:03:12 | 0:03:16 | |
It's a somewhat unorthodox way
to make new friends. | 0:03:21 | 0:03:24 | |
Solving problems creatively
is proof of a clever mind. | 0:03:38 | 0:03:42 | |
Over time, as more orang-utans
visit the strange new creature, | 0:03:47 | 0:03:51 | |
confidence grows that she's
not a threat. | 0:03:51 | 0:03:54 | |
One youngster seems especially
curious. | 0:03:58 | 0:04:00 | |
Young orang-utans learn | 0:04:11 | 0:04:13 | |
by constantly interrogating their
surroundings, and everything in it. | 0:04:13 | 0:04:16 | |
Spy Orang-utan captures a unique
view | 0:04:19 | 0:04:22 | |
of an intelligent young mind
developing. | 0:04:22 | 0:04:25 | |
Curiosity satisfied, he heads back. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:49 | |
Among these orang-utans, | 0:04:50 | 0:04:52 | |
the thirst for knowledge has
inspired some astonishing behaviour. | 0:04:52 | 0:04:56 | |
Careful to keep her baby dry, | 0:04:59 | 0:05:01 | |
the mother leaves the jungle
to visit an old research outpost. | 0:05:01 | 0:05:05 | |
This is the human world, | 0:05:11 | 0:05:13 | |
a treasure trove for enquiring
minds. | 0:05:13 | 0:05:16 | |
She quietly helps herself. | 0:05:23 | 0:05:25 | |
A bar of soap. | 0:05:27 | 0:05:29 | |
She carries her find in
her mouth back to the forest... | 0:05:39 | 0:05:41 | |
..and joins a friend. | 0:05:56 | 0:05:58 | |
They appear to use the soap
just as we would. | 0:06:03 | 0:06:06 | |
Around 40 years ago, | 0:06:13 | 0:06:15 | |
rescued orang-utans released here
learned to use soap | 0:06:15 | 0:06:18 | |
by watching local people washing
in the river. | 0:06:18 | 0:06:21 | |
But, remarkably, these orang-utans
were born in the wild, | 0:06:21 | 0:06:25 | |
so the idea has spread among
the wild population. | 0:06:25 | 0:06:28 | |
The sharing of the soap suggests
how new orang-utans | 0:06:41 | 0:06:44 | |
may have learned the technique. | 0:06:44 | 0:06:46 | |
It's become a form of animal
culture, passed on to the young, | 0:06:48 | 0:06:52 | |
something only seen among
a few intelligent species. | 0:06:52 | 0:06:55 | |
Why they are so keen to lather up | 0:06:58 | 0:07:00 | |
is intriguing and
not completely understood. | 0:07:00 | 0:07:03 | |
But then, nearby,
a female does something | 0:07:05 | 0:07:08 | |
that might shed light on
this extraordinary behaviour. | 0:07:08 | 0:07:11 | |
She chews a piece of bark... | 0:07:11 | 0:07:13 | |
..and creates a frothy lather
in her mouth, | 0:07:16 | 0:07:19 | |
just like soap suds. | 0:07:19 | 0:07:20 | |
Rubbing it on her arm, | 0:07:24 | 0:07:26 | |
she makes the same movements
as she would if washing with soap... | 0:07:26 | 0:07:29 | |
..but then starts to eat it. | 0:07:36 | 0:07:38 | |
Orang-utans are known to use
medicinal leaves in similar ways. | 0:07:40 | 0:07:44 | |
So perhaps the bark has
therapeutic qualities, too. | 0:07:44 | 0:07:47 | |
Maybe soap washing caught on so
easily | 0:07:49 | 0:07:52 | |
because it mirrored their natural
behaviour. | 0:07:52 | 0:07:54 | |
They also eat the suds,
but strangely, | 0:07:57 | 0:07:59 | |
they seem to enjoy the taste. | 0:07:59 | 0:08:01 | |
It doesn't harm them in any way. | 0:08:05 | 0:08:08 | |
Perhaps it aids their digestion,
too. | 0:08:08 | 0:08:10 | |
And now Spy Orang-utan
gives it a try... | 0:08:13 | 0:08:17 | |
..much to the real one's
fascination. | 0:08:19 | 0:08:21 | |
Intelligent curiosity is vital
for orang-utan survival | 0:08:23 | 0:08:27 | |
in a complex jungle world. | 0:08:27 | 0:08:29 | |
In the cold and harsh conditions
of Alaska, | 0:08:36 | 0:08:39 | |
animals also rely on their wits
to stay alive. | 0:08:39 | 0:08:42 | |
Here, sea otters gather together
in congregations known as rafts. | 0:08:44 | 0:08:49 | |
They are notoriously difficult
to approach. | 0:08:49 | 0:08:52 | |
So Spy Sea Otter offers the best
chance to infiltrate their world. | 0:08:56 | 0:09:01 | |
He approaches slowly... | 0:09:09 | 0:09:10 | |
..and soon captures some of the
closest | 0:09:18 | 0:09:20 | |
and most intimate views possible. | 0:09:20 | 0:09:22 | |
Happy he's harmless, | 0:09:44 | 0:09:45 | |
the otter gets on with his
daily routine. | 0:09:45 | 0:09:48 | |
Wherever he goes, | 0:09:51 | 0:09:53 | |
Spy Otter keeps a spying eye on him. | 0:09:53 | 0:09:55 | |
Sea otters spend up to 50%
of their time feeding, | 0:09:57 | 0:10:00 | |
catching seafood delicacies
such as clams and crabs. | 0:10:00 | 0:10:04 | |
But some shells are just too tough
for their teeth to crack. | 0:10:09 | 0:10:09 | |
But some shells are just too tough
for their teeth to crack. | 0:10:09 | 0:10:12 | |
This is where their ingenuity
comes in. | 0:10:15 | 0:10:17 | |
Stones are dredged from the
seabed... | 0:10:26 | 0:10:28 | |
..then placed on their chests
as anvils. | 0:10:30 | 0:10:33 | |
He can then crack even the
toughest shell. | 0:10:37 | 0:10:39 | |
It's a brilliant solution, | 0:11:10 | 0:11:12 | |
but a mother with a newborn
faces a problem. | 0:11:12 | 0:11:15 | |
How to feed with a baby on board? | 0:11:16 | 0:11:18 | |
Newborn otters are covered
with soft, downy fur | 0:11:29 | 0:11:32 | |
to keep them warm and buoyant. | 0:11:32 | 0:11:34 | |
It takes three months to gain the
waterproof adult fur | 0:11:36 | 0:11:39 | |
needed to dive underwater. | 0:11:39 | 0:11:40 | |
So, when he's wet and bedraggled, | 0:11:42 | 0:11:44 | |
the mother grooms his fur and blows
in air to keep him dry and buoyant. | 0:11:44 | 0:11:48 | |
Having spruced him up into
a floating fuzzball, | 0:12:02 | 0:12:05 | |
she confidently leaves him
to bob about on his own. | 0:12:05 | 0:12:08 | |
She's now free to dive for food... | 0:12:12 | 0:12:14 | |
..leaving baby asleep | 0:12:20 | 0:12:21 | |
in his furry flotation suit. | 0:12:21 | 0:12:23 | |
When he awakes,
he finds his mother has gone. | 0:12:38 | 0:12:40 | |
He swims to reach her, | 0:12:47 | 0:12:48 | |
but he's now fighting the tide. | 0:12:48 | 0:12:50 | |
But his mother must eat
while she can. | 0:12:58 | 0:13:00 | |
The survival of both depends on it. | 0:13:00 | 0:13:03 | |
The baby may be struggling, | 0:13:10 | 0:13:12 | |
but here, mothers believe
in tough love. | 0:13:12 | 0:13:14 | |
She can't miss the opportunity
to feed. | 0:13:16 | 0:13:19 | |
No matter how vigorously
her baby swims, | 0:13:23 | 0:13:25 | |
the current carries him away. | 0:13:25 | 0:13:27 | |
But his mother is smarter
and more caring than she seems. | 0:13:37 | 0:13:39 | |
Far from being neglectful, | 0:13:50 | 0:13:52 | |
she's teaching her baby
a vital survival lesson. | 0:13:52 | 0:13:54 | |
He's been born into a tough world. | 0:14:01 | 0:14:03 | |
These sea swells are nothing | 0:14:03 | 0:14:05 | |
compared with what he'll face
in the future. | 0:14:05 | 0:14:07 | |
Intelligent animals spend a lot
of time teaching their youngsters. | 0:14:12 | 0:14:15 | |
It's how they pass on vital skills. | 0:14:17 | 0:14:19 | |
Now another lesson. | 0:14:24 | 0:14:24 | |
Now another lesson. | 0:14:24 | 0:14:26 | |
In rough weather, sea otters | 0:14:26 | 0:14:28 | |
wrap themselves in kelp | 0:14:28 | 0:14:29 | |
to use as an anchor. | 0:14:29 | 0:14:31 | |
Sometimes, it helps to cosy up
with someone else. | 0:14:37 | 0:14:40 | |
Spy Otter tries it out. | 0:14:47 | 0:14:49 | |
Clearly, this is harder
than it looks. | 0:15:00 | 0:15:02 | |
In this harsh environment, | 0:15:07 | 0:15:09 | |
the otters' intelligence
helps them eke out a living. | 0:15:09 | 0:15:12 | |
The arid forests of north-east
Brazil | 0:15:19 | 0:15:21 | |
could hardly be more different, | 0:15:21 | 0:15:24 | |
but here, too, necessity
is the mother of invention. | 0:15:24 | 0:15:27 | |
It's so dry, bearded capuchins
find little in the way of fruit. | 0:15:28 | 0:15:32 | |
Instead, they have to make do
with dried seeds and nuts. | 0:15:34 | 0:15:37 | |
But these nuts have incredibly
hard shells. | 0:15:39 | 0:15:42 | |
To crack them open,
they use stones as tools, | 0:15:45 | 0:15:48 | |
some almost as heavy as they are. | 0:15:48 | 0:15:51 | |
It's a cultural tradition | 0:15:52 | 0:15:54 | |
that's thought to be
at least 700 years old. | 0:15:54 | 0:15:57 | |
Spy Rock stakes out their
favourite nut-cracking site. | 0:16:00 | 0:16:04 | |
It takes both skill and intelligence
to perfect the technique. | 0:16:12 | 0:16:16 | |
But the rewards are great... | 0:16:19 | 0:16:21 | |
..even if a little bitter. | 0:16:23 | 0:16:25 | |
Rolling the nut
removes the unpleasant pith. | 0:16:28 | 0:16:31 | |
These techniques can take
three years or more to truly master. | 0:16:38 | 0:16:41 | |
First, he uses smell to
select the perfect nut. | 0:16:55 | 0:16:58 | |
Then looks for a good spot, | 0:17:04 | 0:17:06 | |
one where it won't roll away. | 0:17:06 | 0:17:08 | |
It's a frustrating business. | 0:17:15 | 0:17:17 | |
Success! | 0:17:21 | 0:17:22 | |
But it's never that easy. | 0:17:27 | 0:17:29 | |
The branch isn't a good choice. | 0:17:29 | 0:17:31 | |
He's learning the hard way | 0:17:43 | 0:17:45 | |
that wood is far too bouncy
to work as an anvil. | 0:17:45 | 0:17:47 | |
There is only so much frustration
any monkey can take. | 0:18:03 | 0:18:06 | |
Time to think this through. | 0:18:09 | 0:18:11 | |
At around 18 months old, | 0:18:14 | 0:18:16 | |
young monkeys start seriously
practising using stone tools. | 0:18:16 | 0:18:20 | |
Spy Rock is designed to be the
monkey's favourite shape and weight. | 0:18:22 | 0:18:26 | |
But it's far too heavy for
a little one to lift. | 0:18:26 | 0:18:29 | |
It may capture his interest... | 0:18:31 | 0:18:32 | |
..but it's no use to him at all. | 0:18:34 | 0:18:36 | |
But could it work for someone else? | 0:18:44 | 0:18:46 | |
Spy Rock may be the best weight
for the job, | 0:19:08 | 0:19:11 | |
but it takes all his strength
to lift it. | 0:19:11 | 0:19:13 | |
This time, he's learned from his
mistakes | 0:19:19 | 0:19:22 | |
and picks an anvil used by
the more experienced monkeys. | 0:19:22 | 0:19:25 | |
But will it do the trick? | 0:19:26 | 0:19:28 | |
He's done it. | 0:20:15 | 0:20:17 | |
It's a significant moment. | 0:20:19 | 0:20:22 | |
Capuchins only survive here
by being smart | 0:20:22 | 0:20:24 | |
and learning from trial and error. | 0:20:24 | 0:20:27 | |
But such intelligence
is not confined to primates. | 0:20:27 | 0:20:30 | |
In the cloud forests of
New Caledonia, | 0:20:34 | 0:20:36 | |
an island east of Australia, | 0:20:36 | 0:20:38 | |
lives one of the world's cleverest
birds... | 0:20:38 | 0:20:41 | |
..the New Caledonian crow. | 0:20:45 | 0:20:47 | |
These crafty characters have many
ingenious ways of finding a meal. | 0:20:49 | 0:20:53 | |
Spy Crow is here to film just what
these super-smart birds can do. | 0:20:57 | 0:21:01 | |
This one has found the fruit
of a candlenut tree. | 0:21:03 | 0:21:06 | |
It's a hard nut to crack, | 0:21:08 | 0:21:10 | |
and her beak is not up to the job. | 0:21:10 | 0:21:12 | |
Fortunately,
she has an ingenious solution. | 0:21:13 | 0:21:16 | |
She places it in the cleft
of a tree. | 0:21:18 | 0:21:20 | |
One with a stone directly beneath. | 0:21:22 | 0:21:24 | |
Spy Crow is in one of the few
secret spots | 0:21:25 | 0:21:28 | |
where a branch of the correct height | 0:21:28 | 0:21:29 | |
is perfectly aligned
with a rock below. | 0:21:29 | 0:21:31 | |
The crow takes aim with
meticulous precision. | 0:21:35 | 0:21:38 | |
Then, bombs away! | 0:21:41 | 0:21:43 | |
But these are seriously tough nuts. | 0:21:49 | 0:21:51 | |
So around here,
crows don't give up easily. | 0:21:57 | 0:22:00 | |
This time, she's cracked it. | 0:22:11 | 0:22:13 | |
But the crow's intelligence
doesn't end here. | 0:22:16 | 0:22:19 | |
To enjoy the opportunities
the forest has to offer, | 0:22:19 | 0:22:22 | |
it pays to be creative. | 0:22:22 | 0:22:23 | |
Even the rotting trunks of candlenut
trees contain hidden treasures. | 0:22:26 | 0:22:30 | |
It just takes a bit of know-how
to find them. | 0:22:32 | 0:22:34 | |
A fat and juicy
longhorned beetle larva. | 0:22:37 | 0:22:40 | |
To capture the crow's ingenious
hunting skills, | 0:22:42 | 0:22:45 | |
a Spy Grub is concealed
in the rotten wood. | 0:22:45 | 0:22:47 | |
The crow's keen vision soon
pinpoints the real larva, | 0:23:00 | 0:23:03 | |
but it won't be easy to reach. | 0:23:03 | 0:23:05 | |
However, this is a bird with a plan. | 0:23:09 | 0:23:12 | |
She selects a tool of the
perfect length. | 0:23:17 | 0:23:19 | |
Under Spy Crow's watchful eye,
she probes deep into the hole... | 0:23:23 | 0:23:27 | |
..dextrously aiming for
the larva's jaws. | 0:23:32 | 0:23:35 | |
Its bite seals its fate. | 0:23:36 | 0:23:39 | |
The crow disarms the larva | 0:23:43 | 0:23:45 | |
by removing its powerful jaws. | 0:23:45 | 0:23:46 | |
The grubs are so large and
nutritious, | 0:23:51 | 0:23:53 | |
a few a day is all she needs. | 0:23:53 | 0:23:55 | |
Caledonian crows acquire their
knowledge | 0:23:57 | 0:23:59 | |
through both practice
and learning from others. | 0:23:59 | 0:24:02 | |
The crow calls down a young
family member | 0:24:04 | 0:24:07 | |
for some one-to-one tuition. | 0:24:07 | 0:24:08 | |
CROW CAWS | 0:24:08 | 0:24:10 | |
What makes Caledonian crows
so special | 0:24:13 | 0:24:16 | |
is their skill at manufacturing
the right tool for the job. | 0:24:16 | 0:24:19 | |
First, she removes the leafy end. | 0:24:22 | 0:24:24 | |
She holds it on her left side,
a matter of personal choice. | 0:24:26 | 0:24:30 | |
She makes it look so easy. | 0:24:38 | 0:24:39 | |
Time for the juvenile to have a go. | 0:24:42 | 0:24:44 | |
But it doesn't quite reach. | 0:24:53 | 0:24:54 | |
This should do the trick. | 0:25:03 | 0:25:05 | |
But he's got to get the grub
to bite, | 0:25:09 | 0:25:12 | |
and that's not so easy. | 0:25:12 | 0:25:13 | |
It's tantalisingly close. | 0:25:19 | 0:25:21 | |
The stick is a bit too long, | 0:25:33 | 0:25:36 | |
so he decides to shorten it. | 0:25:36 | 0:25:38 | |
It's now spot-on. | 0:25:38 | 0:25:39 | |
His newly-acquired skills pay off. | 0:25:44 | 0:25:46 | |
Spy Crow tests how difficult
it really is. | 0:25:50 | 0:25:53 | |
Now, that's what's called
beginner's luck! | 0:26:03 | 0:26:05 | |
Crows are certainly smart,
but when it comes to using tools, | 0:26:09 | 0:26:12 | |
our nearest animal relatives
are king. | 0:26:12 | 0:26:15 | |
In Senegal, the chimps' favourite
snacks | 0:26:18 | 0:26:20 | |
are found in these huge
termite mounds. | 0:26:20 | 0:26:22 | |
And they, too,
use sticks to catch them. | 0:26:22 | 0:26:25 | |
The chimps fish out termites
by getting them to bite the sticks. | 0:26:27 | 0:26:31 | |
Youngsters learn to make these
simple tools by watching the adults. | 0:26:35 | 0:26:38 | |
But stealing from Mum is easier. | 0:26:46 | 0:26:47 | |
Better still, he's been
given one to practise with. | 0:26:51 | 0:26:54 | |
Even at this age, they start
adapting what they have... | 0:26:58 | 0:27:01 | |
..then graduate to selecting
and modifying their own sticks. | 0:27:02 | 0:27:05 | |
There's quite an art to using them. | 0:27:09 | 0:27:11 | |
It takes a good four to five years
to perfect the technique. | 0:27:11 | 0:27:15 | |
Termites have a painful bite, | 0:27:19 | 0:27:21 | |
so they need to be careful. | 0:27:21 | 0:27:23 | |
The chimps' mastery of sticks
doesn't end here. | 0:27:34 | 0:27:37 | |
This is Spy Bushbaby. | 0:27:41 | 0:27:43 | |
He's based on an animal
they naturally hunt. | 0:27:44 | 0:27:46 | |
Hiding in his protective log, | 0:27:52 | 0:27:54 | |
he's arousing great curiosity. | 0:27:54 | 0:27:56 | |
All seems calm, | 0:28:04 | 0:28:06 | |
but this young male is
reaching maturity. | 0:28:06 | 0:28:09 | |
So when a female arrives,
he's desperate to impress. | 0:28:10 | 0:28:13 | |
CHIMP SHRIEKS | 0:28:13 | 0:28:15 | |
And this bushbaby
is bigger than normal. | 0:28:20 | 0:28:24 | |
So it could be the male's chance
to make an impression. | 0:28:24 | 0:28:26 | |
He checks she's watching, | 0:28:27 | 0:28:29 | |
and begins his performance. | 0:28:29 | 0:28:31 | |
CHIMP SHRIEKS | 0:28:31 | 0:28:33 | |
For her eyes only, | 0:28:37 | 0:28:39 | |
an ostentatious show of bravado. | 0:28:39 | 0:28:41 | |
A classic case of showing off. | 0:28:43 | 0:28:46 | |
He checks she's still looking... | 0:28:48 | 0:28:50 | |
..then ups the ante. | 0:28:55 | 0:28:56 | |
Branches make a flamboyant weapon. | 0:29:04 | 0:29:06 | |
But she's seen straight through him. | 0:29:16 | 0:29:18 | |
It's all a bit embarrassing. | 0:29:23 | 0:29:25 | |
Trying to impress a female
by taking on Spy Bushbaby | 0:29:30 | 0:29:33 | |
was somewhat ill-advised. | 0:29:33 | 0:29:35 | |
Females are the experts
at hunting real bushbabies. | 0:29:38 | 0:29:41 | |
They use a well-crafted weapon - | 0:29:43 | 0:29:45 | |
a spear. | 0:29:45 | 0:29:46 | |
During the day, when their prey
hide in hollow trees, | 0:29:47 | 0:29:50 | |
the chimps use sharpened sticks
to catch them. | 0:29:50 | 0:29:53 | |
The best hunters continually
modify their weapon | 0:29:55 | 0:29:58 | |
to suit the shape and depth
of the hole. | 0:29:58 | 0:30:01 | |
The male has a less refined
technique. | 0:30:07 | 0:30:10 | |
His spear isn't even straight. | 0:30:10 | 0:30:12 | |
It's a huge contrast with the
considered expertise of the female. | 0:30:22 | 0:30:26 | |
The male favours brute force. | 0:30:34 | 0:30:36 | |
When the stick breaks,
he even tries to scare it out. | 0:30:44 | 0:30:47 | |
Fortunately, the youngsters
generally learn from their mother. | 0:30:50 | 0:30:53 | |
But the male perseveres. | 0:30:57 | 0:30:59 | |
And this time, he's made a bit
more effort with his spear. | 0:30:59 | 0:31:02 | |
It's just a shame he didn't make it
shorter. | 0:31:05 | 0:31:07 | |
There's little for a young one
to learn here. | 0:31:14 | 0:31:16 | |
For the youngsters, just making
a stick is an achievement. | 0:31:23 | 0:31:26 | |
Making one long and strong enough
is even harder. | 0:31:33 | 0:31:36 | |
It's both technically complicated
and hugely frustrating. | 0:31:41 | 0:31:44 | |
Even for the experts, there
are no guarantees of success. | 0:31:51 | 0:31:54 | |
The bushbaby squeezes out, | 0:32:00 | 0:32:02 | |
and in a flash, it's gone. | 0:32:02 | 0:32:04 | |
CHIMP SHRIEKS | 0:32:04 | 0:32:06 | |
But there is one bushbaby
that might just be easier to catch. | 0:32:09 | 0:32:13 | |
This female comes prepared... | 0:32:16 | 0:32:18 | |
..but uses a thicker branch
to test the reaction. | 0:32:24 | 0:32:27 | |
She fashions a better weapon... | 0:32:34 | 0:32:36 | |
..but then has second thoughts. | 0:32:42 | 0:32:45 | |
She tickles it instead. | 0:32:45 | 0:32:46 | |
Spy Bushbaby
lives to spy another day. | 0:32:52 | 0:32:55 | |
Intelligence allows animals
to solve complex problems. | 0:33:02 | 0:33:05 | |
The inhabitants of the Amazon
rainforest | 0:33:07 | 0:33:09 | |
have their own wealth
of specialist knowledge. | 0:33:09 | 0:33:11 | |
This is Spy Sloth. | 0:33:12 | 0:33:15 | |
He's here to reveal how the animals
find and use jungle remedies. | 0:33:15 | 0:33:19 | |
25% of our medicines were
discovered in the rainforest, | 0:33:23 | 0:33:27 | |
but its animal inhabitants
know of many more. | 0:33:27 | 0:33:30 | |
He soon attracts the interest
of a real three-toed sloth. | 0:33:33 | 0:33:36 | |
Their first encounter
is a very slow affair. | 0:33:45 | 0:33:50 | |
Spy Sloth's close-up view
reveals something remarkable. | 0:34:03 | 0:34:07 | |
Its fur is crawling with other life. | 0:34:10 | 0:34:13 | |
Up to 900 moths and beetles
can live on a single sloth. | 0:34:15 | 0:34:19 | |
They aerate his fur
and prevent infections. | 0:34:22 | 0:34:24 | |
As well as the insects, | 0:34:29 | 0:34:31 | |
84 different fungi also thrive here. | 0:34:31 | 0:34:34 | |
Many are antibiotic or antimalarial, | 0:34:34 | 0:34:37 | |
and some have been shown
to destroy cancer cells. | 0:34:37 | 0:34:40 | |
Usually, there is only one sloth
per tree, | 0:34:44 | 0:34:47 | |
so this requires some careful
negotiation. | 0:34:47 | 0:34:50 | |
It's not just the sloth's fur | 0:35:01 | 0:35:02 | |
that harbours a medical
treasure trove. | 0:35:02 | 0:35:05 | |
So, it seems, does the tree it eats. | 0:35:05 | 0:35:07 | |
Cecropia is renowned by indigenous
people for its curative properties. | 0:35:10 | 0:35:14 | |
It's used to ward off
aches and pains, | 0:35:16 | 0:35:18 | |
treat asthma, | 0:35:18 | 0:35:19 | |
and is even an effective diabetes
treatment. | 0:35:19 | 0:35:22 | |
But sloths aren't the only animals | 0:35:31 | 0:35:33 | |
who have discovered the rainforest's
medicinal secrets. | 0:35:33 | 0:35:36 | |
Macaws are one of the most
intelligent birds in the world, | 0:35:41 | 0:35:45 | |
and they, too, have extensive
knowledge of jungle remedies. | 0:35:45 | 0:35:48 | |
They gather on these muddy cliffs
for a very particular reason. | 0:35:53 | 0:35:57 | |
To find out why, Spy Macaw
joins the flock. | 0:35:59 | 0:36:02 | |
Cavities mined in the cliffs reveal
the reason for its attraction. | 0:36:15 | 0:36:18 | |
They eat clay, | 0:36:19 | 0:36:21 | |
a special kind, with
therapeutic qualities. | 0:36:21 | 0:36:24 | |
When food is scarce, | 0:36:29 | 0:36:30 | |
macaws are forced to eat fruit and
seeds containing natural poisons. | 0:36:30 | 0:36:35 | |
This clay provides the antidote. | 0:36:35 | 0:36:37 | |
It helps neutralise the toxins
in their stomachs | 0:36:39 | 0:36:42 | |
and prevents them being absorbed. | 0:36:42 | 0:36:44 | |
In the muddy clay pools below, | 0:36:46 | 0:36:48 | |
other jungle inhabitants are also
seeking remedies of their own. | 0:36:48 | 0:36:52 | |
These are white-lipped peccaries. | 0:36:54 | 0:36:56 | |
They, too, come for the
health-giving mud. | 0:36:58 | 0:37:01 | |
Spy Peccary has a poolside view
of all the comings and goings. | 0:37:01 | 0:37:05 | |
Like macaws, peccaries also
need help with their digestion. | 0:37:07 | 0:37:10 | |
And there are other valuable
ingredients in this special mud - | 0:37:14 | 0:37:18 | |
mineral supplements they can't
get elsewhere. | 0:37:18 | 0:37:21 | |
Trips to this rainforest pharmacy | 0:37:31 | 0:37:33 | |
are a vital part of the
peccaries' lives. | 0:37:33 | 0:37:36 | |
Spy Peccary's presence helps
reassure the nervous visitors | 0:37:38 | 0:37:41 | |
that this clay lick is safe
and predator-free. | 0:37:41 | 0:37:44 | |
Like macaws, dusky-billed parrotlets | 0:37:47 | 0:37:50 | |
use clay to combat toxins
in their diet, | 0:37:50 | 0:37:53 | |
and gain mineral supplements
in the process. | 0:37:53 | 0:37:55 | |
For male butterflies, | 0:37:59 | 0:38:00 | |
the salts they sip from the mud
are needed for breeding. | 0:38:00 | 0:38:03 | |
When they mate, they pass these
vital minerals to the females. | 0:38:05 | 0:38:09 | |
As the crowds build, | 0:38:11 | 0:38:13 | |
the most secretive creature
of them all pays a visit. | 0:38:13 | 0:38:16 | |
A tapir - a distant relative
of horses and rhinos. | 0:38:20 | 0:38:24 | |
He needs the clay to kill harmful
bacteria | 0:38:30 | 0:38:33 | |
and balance the acids
in his stomach. | 0:38:33 | 0:38:35 | |
Reassured by the gathering, | 0:38:44 | 0:38:45 | |
yet more skittish creatures arrive. | 0:38:45 | 0:38:47 | |
Black spider monkeys. | 0:38:50 | 0:38:51 | |
Spy Monkey is also filming and,
like Spy Peccary, | 0:38:56 | 0:38:59 | |
his presence reassures the troop | 0:38:59 | 0:39:01 | |
that that there are
no predators around. | 0:39:01 | 0:39:03 | |
The monkeys' diet of fruit
lacks essential minerals, | 0:39:06 | 0:39:10 | |
including magnesium, iron,
calcium and phosphorus. | 0:39:10 | 0:39:13 | |
But here, they get all
the supplements they need. | 0:39:15 | 0:39:18 | |
The knowledge of the health-giving
properties of the clay | 0:39:23 | 0:39:26 | |
is passed down the generations
from mother to baby. | 0:39:26 | 0:39:29 | |
It's a magical scene,
with so many different creatures | 0:39:33 | 0:39:36 | |
taking advantage of the healing
power of this miraculous mud. | 0:39:36 | 0:39:39 | |
Perhaps one day, | 0:39:51 | 0:39:52 | |
rainforest medicines will
lead us to more human cures. | 0:39:52 | 0:39:55 | |
Having taken their treatment, | 0:39:58 | 0:39:59 | |
the macaws return to the jungle
and its boundless riches. | 0:39:59 | 0:40:02 | |
In North America, | 0:40:10 | 0:40:12 | |
the forest's bounty is
much more fleeting. | 0:40:12 | 0:40:14 | |
So, for grey squirrels, | 0:40:16 | 0:40:17 | |
surviving the winter needs both
brain power | 0:40:17 | 0:40:20 | |
and maybe even a criminal mind. | 0:40:20 | 0:40:22 | |
Each autumn, a squirrel
buries around 10,000 nuts. | 0:40:27 | 0:40:31 | |
Its memory is so phenomenal, | 0:40:31 | 0:40:33 | |
it can retrieve up to 4,000 of them. | 0:40:33 | 0:40:35 | |
To achieve this feat,
as winter approaches, | 0:40:38 | 0:40:40 | |
the area of the brain responsible
for memory enlarges 15%. | 0:40:40 | 0:40:45 | |
The squirrels show another
brainy trait - cunning. | 0:40:47 | 0:40:50 | |
A Spy Squirrel, bearing gifts, | 0:40:53 | 0:40:55 | |
is ready to record their
devious behaviour. | 0:40:55 | 0:40:57 | |
He looks a soft touch. | 0:41:04 | 0:41:06 | |
But the squirrel needs to be sure. | 0:41:08 | 0:41:09 | |
He lashes his tail to show
confidence. | 0:41:11 | 0:41:13 | |
Fluffing it up makes him appear
bigger, | 0:41:16 | 0:41:18 | |
and shows who's boss. | 0:41:18 | 0:41:19 | |
Spy Squirrel is a pushover. | 0:41:32 | 0:41:34 | |
He's going to be popular. | 0:41:34 | 0:41:36 | |
The nut is immediately stashed away. | 0:41:40 | 0:41:42 | |
But clever minds can also
be devious... | 0:41:44 | 0:41:47 | |
..and this squirrel watches
where the nut is hidden. | 0:41:50 | 0:41:52 | |
As soon as it's buried,
she makes her move. | 0:41:55 | 0:41:58 | |
OK if you don't get caught... | 0:42:05 | 0:42:07 | |
but there's big trouble if you do. | 0:42:07 | 0:42:09 | |
The duped squirrel
needs to be craftier this time. | 0:42:38 | 0:42:41 | |
The crook may still be watching, | 0:42:47 | 0:42:49 | |
but this is what he wants. | 0:42:49 | 0:42:51 | |
In a shameless display of
overacting, | 0:42:52 | 0:42:55 | |
he pretends to bury his nut. | 0:42:55 | 0:42:57 | |
The thief waits until
the performance is over... | 0:43:06 | 0:43:09 | |
..then quietly sneaks in. | 0:43:13 | 0:43:15 | |
But there's no nut to pilfer here. | 0:43:18 | 0:43:20 | |
Hardly surprising. | 0:43:20 | 0:43:22 | |
It's stashed in his
intended victim's mouth. | 0:43:22 | 0:43:25 | |
With the nut raider preoccupied, | 0:43:30 | 0:43:32 | |
he can either eat it,
or bury it secretly. | 0:43:32 | 0:43:34 | |
But the thief hasn't abandoned
her life of crime. | 0:43:37 | 0:43:40 | |
Spy Squirrel has a new nut, | 0:43:42 | 0:43:44 | |
one with a camera. | 0:43:44 | 0:43:46 | |
Theft is such an easy option, | 0:43:57 | 0:43:59 | |
around a fifth of all squirrels
steal nuts, | 0:43:59 | 0:44:01 | |
rather than forage for them. | 0:44:01 | 0:44:03 | |
It's a crafty way of letting others
do the hard work. | 0:44:08 | 0:44:11 | |
But this time,
the thief has picked the wrong nut. | 0:44:22 | 0:44:25 | |
When the snow finally arrives, | 0:44:37 | 0:44:40 | |
the squirrel's phenomenal
memory map comes into its own. | 0:44:40 | 0:44:43 | |
Their hidden stores | 0:44:54 | 0:44:55 | |
keep these crafty little creatures
alive until spring. | 0:44:55 | 0:44:59 | |
In a cold, harsh winter, | 0:45:05 | 0:45:07 | |
deception can be a life-saver. | 0:45:07 | 0:45:09 | |
On the sun-drenched African savanna, | 0:45:13 | 0:45:15 | |
subterfuge is just as important, | 0:45:15 | 0:45:18 | |
but for a very different reason. | 0:45:18 | 0:45:19 | |
Here, a male ostrich and his mate | 0:45:21 | 0:45:24 | |
will raise the offspring of
up to five of his other females. | 0:45:24 | 0:45:27 | |
They put all their eggs in one
basket, | 0:45:37 | 0:45:39 | |
creating one huge nest. | 0:45:39 | 0:45:41 | |
Joining them is Spy Ostrich Chick. | 0:45:45 | 0:45:48 | |
For the male, it's just another
member of his ever-expanding brood. | 0:45:55 | 0:45:58 | |
Spy Chick is in the perfect spot, | 0:46:08 | 0:46:10 | |
as new life hatches all around. | 0:46:10 | 0:46:13 | |
This spy creature receives the same
devotion and protection | 0:46:26 | 0:46:29 | |
as the real chicks. | 0:46:29 | 0:46:30 | |
With a large brood to look
after, | 0:46:42 | 0:46:44 | |
ostriches are always alert for
danger. | 0:46:44 | 0:46:46 | |
A leopard. | 0:46:47 | 0:46:48 | |
All the young can do | 0:47:01 | 0:47:03 | |
is stick close to their father. | 0:47:03 | 0:47:04 | |
But the female is
a master of deception. | 0:47:12 | 0:47:14 | |
When there's nowhere to hide, | 0:47:17 | 0:47:19 | |
making yourself conspicuous
is the next-best option. | 0:47:19 | 0:47:22 | |
She launches a carefully planned
and ostentatious display, | 0:47:32 | 0:47:37 | |
one designed to catch the leopard's
attention, | 0:47:37 | 0:47:40 | |
luring him away from where the
babies are hiding. | 0:47:40 | 0:47:43 | |
She pretends she's injured and
helpless, | 0:47:48 | 0:47:50 | |
so tantalising for a predator. | 0:47:50 | 0:47:52 | |
The leopard can't resist following. | 0:47:54 | 0:47:56 | |
But he eventually realises
he's been had. | 0:48:11 | 0:48:14 | |
There will be no easy meal today. | 0:48:14 | 0:48:16 | |
With the leopard lured away, | 0:48:21 | 0:48:23 | |
the parents can relax. | 0:48:23 | 0:48:24 | |
As much as you can,
with 20 young in tow. | 0:48:33 | 0:48:36 | |
But perhaps the cleverest scam
in the animal world | 0:48:46 | 0:48:49 | |
can be found in South Africa's
Kalahari Desert. | 0:48:49 | 0:48:52 | |
At the heart of this deception
is the drongo, | 0:48:57 | 0:49:01 | |
a bird that likes to hang out
with meerkats. | 0:49:01 | 0:49:04 | |
To delve deeper into the crafty
world of the drongo, | 0:49:07 | 0:49:10 | |
a new spy camera is needed. | 0:49:10 | 0:49:12 | |
Spy Termite Mound is a natural
part of the landscape - | 0:49:15 | 0:49:19 | |
except it can move, and,
of course, it has a camera. | 0:49:19 | 0:49:24 | |
The meerkats feel at home with this
new arrival, | 0:49:29 | 0:49:32 | |
and continue to forage for insects. | 0:49:32 | 0:49:34 | |
While they eat, a meerkat is on
sentry duty, | 0:49:37 | 0:49:39 | |
looking for danger. | 0:49:39 | 0:49:41 | |
Spy Termite Mound gives
a little bit of extra height. | 0:49:44 | 0:49:47 | |
Drongos have keen eyesight,
and as they can perch higher, | 0:49:48 | 0:49:52 | |
they often spot the danger first. | 0:49:52 | 0:49:54 | |
Martial eagles are a serious threat. | 0:49:55 | 0:49:57 | |
DRONGO CHIRPS | 0:49:59 | 0:50:00 | |
The drongo's alarm
alerts the meerkats. | 0:50:00 | 0:50:02 | |
MEERKAT BARKS | 0:50:03 | 0:50:04 | |
They, in turn,
call and run for cover. | 0:50:06 | 0:50:08 | |
Having their own lookout bird | 0:50:19 | 0:50:21 | |
helps the meerkats spend more time
feeding. | 0:50:21 | 0:50:23 | |
But there is a price to pay. | 0:50:29 | 0:50:30 | |
The drongo isn't quite as selfless
as he seems, | 0:50:35 | 0:50:38 | |
and has learned to turn this alarm
to his advantage. | 0:50:38 | 0:50:41 | |
He becomes an expert on their
habits, | 0:50:43 | 0:50:46 | |
learning that when an adult
finds food, | 0:50:46 | 0:50:49 | |
it calls out to the youngsters
to share. | 0:50:49 | 0:50:51 | |
As the food is about to be
exchanged, | 0:50:54 | 0:50:57 | |
the drongo calls the alarm... | 0:50:57 | 0:50:59 | |
DRONGO CHIRPS | 0:50:59 | 0:51:01 | |
..but this time, it's a trick. | 0:51:01 | 0:51:03 | |
As the meerkats abandon their food
and flee, | 0:51:03 | 0:51:06 | |
the drongo steals their meal. | 0:51:06 | 0:51:08 | |
Onto a good thing, | 0:51:20 | 0:51:21 | |
the drongo tries again. | 0:51:21 | 0:51:24 | |
DRONGO CHIRPS | 0:51:24 | 0:51:25 | |
But the meerkats know
when they've been duped. | 0:51:27 | 0:51:29 | |
And this time,
no-one reacts at all. | 0:51:34 | 0:51:37 | |
So the drongo takes it to
the next level. | 0:51:39 | 0:51:41 | |
DRONGO CHIRPING INTENSIFIES | 0:51:41 | 0:51:43 | |
But even screaming the alarm
in their face doesn't work. | 0:51:44 | 0:51:47 | |
The meerkats are smart enough
to know a cheat when they hear one. | 0:51:51 | 0:51:55 | |
Or are they? | 0:51:55 | 0:51:56 | |
The drongo has another trick
to pull. | 0:51:56 | 0:51:58 | |
DRONGO BARKS | 0:51:58 | 0:52:00 | |
This time, the drongo mimics
the meerkats' own alarm call. | 0:52:00 | 0:52:03 | |
It's so accurate,
the meerkats are duped again. | 0:52:08 | 0:52:11 | |
Drongos get over a fifth
of their daily meals | 0:52:19 | 0:52:22 | |
by making false alarms and stealing. | 0:52:22 | 0:52:24 | |
When he's exhausted all his tricks, | 0:52:30 | 0:52:32 | |
he tries a more brazen approach. | 0:52:32 | 0:52:34 | |
But he's pushed his luck too far. | 0:52:44 | 0:52:46 | |
He must try his scams elsewhere. | 0:52:46 | 0:52:49 | |
The intelligence of animals
is sometimes so extraordinary, | 0:52:53 | 0:52:57 | |
it can truly amaze. | 0:52:57 | 0:52:58 | |
In Borneo, the orang-utans have
ventured back to the human world | 0:53:04 | 0:53:08 | |
and are bathing in the river. | 0:53:08 | 0:53:10 | |
One of the spy cameras
is soon spotted... | 0:53:14 | 0:53:17 | |
..inadvertently filming
an intimate moment | 0:53:24 | 0:53:27 | |
when the pair enjoy the
cooling water. | 0:53:27 | 0:53:29 | |
The images captured show an animal
with extraordinary mental capacity, | 0:53:53 | 0:53:57 | |
one that contemplates and considers
in a way we recognise. | 0:53:57 | 0:54:01 | |
Then, something happens | 0:54:15 | 0:54:17 | |
that confirms just how similar
their way of thinking is to our own. | 0:54:17 | 0:54:20 | |
At a jungle hut,
this female finds a saw. | 0:54:23 | 0:54:26 | |
Despite being totally wild, | 0:54:33 | 0:54:35 | |
somehow she has worked out what
to do with it. | 0:54:35 | 0:54:37 | |
Like us, orang-utans have
an opposable thumb | 0:54:42 | 0:54:45 | |
that allows them to grasp
and handle objects with precision. | 0:54:45 | 0:54:48 | |
Over 20 years ago, a rescue
orang-utan learned how to saw | 0:54:51 | 0:54:55 | |
by watching people constructing
the huts here. | 0:54:55 | 0:54:57 | |
But this is a totally different
and wild orang-utan. | 0:54:59 | 0:55:02 | |
She seems to take pride
in her work... | 0:55:04 | 0:55:06 | |
..even clearing away the sawdust. | 0:55:08 | 0:55:09 | |
She's so smart, she uses her feet
as a vice to steady the branch. | 0:55:19 | 0:55:23 | |
Filming a wild-born and free-living
orang-utan | 0:55:27 | 0:55:30 | |
mastering this complex task
is remarkable. | 0:55:30 | 0:55:33 | |
But now, she's not the only
orang-utan sawing. | 0:55:38 | 0:55:41 | |
Spy Orang-utan has joined her. | 0:55:45 | 0:55:47 | |
It seems to be bringing out
a competitive streak. | 0:55:55 | 0:55:58 | |
She's becoming even more
enthusiastic. | 0:55:58 | 0:56:00 | |
But, for a novice,
sawing is tiring work. | 0:56:18 | 0:56:22 | |
She's lost all momentum. | 0:56:23 | 0:56:25 | |
Then, finally, calls it a day. | 0:56:31 | 0:56:34 | |
Spy Orang-utan may have
machine-like stamina, | 0:56:34 | 0:56:37 | |
but it's the astonishing
and versatile mind | 0:56:37 | 0:56:40 | |
of the real orang-utan
that's won the day. | 0:56:40 | 0:56:43 | |
She's certainly earned her rest. | 0:56:43 | 0:56:44 | |
In the animal world, intelligence
shows itself in ways that, once, | 0:56:50 | 0:56:54 | |
we would never have thought
possible. | 0:56:54 | 0:56:56 | |
From the cleverness of
using tools... | 0:56:56 | 0:56:58 | |
..to the craftiness of deception. | 0:57:00 | 0:57:01 | |
From problem-solving... | 0:57:03 | 0:57:05 | |
..to making weapons... | 0:57:06 | 0:57:07 | |
..or finding jungle cures... | 0:57:09 | 0:57:11 | |
..we're only just starting | 0:57:12 | 0:57:14 | |
to realise how clever
animals really are. | 0:57:14 | 0:57:17 | |
Next time, the spy creatures look at
extraordinary animal friendships | 0:57:20 | 0:57:24 | |
to see how similar many of them are
to our own. | 0:57:24 | 0:57:27 |
The spy creatures go undercover to explore the world of animal intelligence and reveal their use of tools, self-medication, culture and subterfuge. In Borneo, the most lifelike spy creature yet meets real orangutans and discovers how they use human tools. Spy Orang films how they wash with soap and how this behaviour is now part of their wild culture. In one of the most extraordinary scenes ever filmed, a wild orang uses a saw and competes with Spy Orang!
Spy Otter takes us to the heart of the sea otter colony to reveal their ingenious methods of finding and cracking open a meal. Spy Bushbaby infiltrates the world of chimpanzees to witness their problem solving and tool making, and is even hunted by a curious chimp. Spy Squirrel discovers how real squirrels use intellect and subterfuge to outwit other thieving squirrels.
Spy Ostrich Chick joins hatchlings in a nest and witnesses the daring trickery of the mother as she cleverly lures a leopard away from her vulnerable brood. Spy Termite Mound explores how drongo birds mislead meerkats in order to steal their food. Spy Crow films the world's most intelligent crow as he fashions tools from sticks to extract grubs and uses stones to crack nuts.
Capuchins discover that Spy Rock offers a convenient way to smash open their favourite food. Spy Sloth meets a real sloth and reveals the incredible jungle pharmacy that exists amongst its fur. In a magical scene, Spy Macaw, Spy Peccary and Spy Spider Monkey are our guides to a secret glade where jungle medicine abounds. This revelatory programme reveals that animals are far cleverer than we ever realised.