Mischief Spy in the Wild


Mischief

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The world is full of extraordinary animals.

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But how well do we really understand them?

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How do they really think and feel?

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To find out, a team of spy creatures is going undercover.

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They not only look like part of the family,

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they behave like them, too.

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Armed with the latest camera technology...

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..they are going to travel the globe

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to understand the true nature of the animals they meet

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and reveal how intelligent they really are...

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..how badly behaved they can be...

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..how important friendship is to them...

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..and if it's possible that they can truly love each other.

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What they discover will change our perception of animals forever.

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Perhaps they're more like us than we ever believed possible.

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SCREECHING

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Animals are the masters of misbehaviour,

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but what makes them break the rules?

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When it comes to causing mayhem, monkeys are the experts.

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In India, a troop of 30 rhesus macaques

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have commandeered an old water trough

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to use as their personal diving pool.

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And the bigger the splash...

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..the greater the fun.

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Spy baby macaque is perfectly poised

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to record just how mischievous they really are.

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SCREECHING

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It seems like pandemonium -

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everyone does their own thing in their own particular style.

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Even the nervous.

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It's all about having fun and soaking as many mates as possible.

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Spy macaque attracts suspicion

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but manages to escape relatively unscathed.

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But, for a real baby, a pool without rules can be frightening.

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The mother is wise to be protective,

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but perhaps things aren't quite as anarchic as they seem.

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Splash a grown-up and you suffer the consequences.

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Soak the wrong kid and his angry mother soon puts you in your place.

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SQUEALING

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It looks more serious than it is, but that's the point.

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He won't do that again in a hurry.

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Despite appearances, macaque society is highly structured.

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Everyone knows their place.

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A lull in the chaos gives the chance for a swimming lesson...

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..an anxious moment for any doting mother.

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She hovers over him, giving constant reassurance.

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It's just the encouragement he needs as he tries out his first strokes.

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He'll need plenty of practice -

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experienced macaques can swim half a mile -

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but he's off to a good start.

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But what about the high dive?

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How hard can it be?

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Climbing is the easy bit.

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Now, the moment of truth.

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It looks very different from up here.

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Miss the pool and he faces serious injury.

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But an impatient queue is forming behind him.

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He desperately tries to pick up courage...

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..but then the decision's made for him.

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SQUEALING

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Still in one piece, his relieved mother helps him out.

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Now he knows that young monkeys don't believe in rules.

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And he's not the only one learning the hard way.

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In Africa, even the largest and most caring of animals

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has a mischievous side.

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Spy egret puts his robotic life on the line at every deployment.

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Even real egrets must watch their step.

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But it's the youngsters who are always pushing the boundaries.

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It's a time when they can test their strength

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without doing too much damage.

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To help with the filming, spy egret has backup.

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This is dung cam, a camera based on a pile of elephant poo.

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It even smells the part.

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It's designed to film on the move.

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Its zoom lens can capture the elephants' every move.

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That's not all, it can release a team of spy dung balls

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to litter the savanna with yet more cameras.

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One dung ball is radio-controlled

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and can travel without any visible moving parts.

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ROARING

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With the action covered from every angle,

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it's time to see what this elephant family gets up to.

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The babies must learn the rules of behaviour at an early age.

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Wrestling older siblings is a favourite pastime.

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They learn their own strength and, crucially,

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how to play nicely with each other.

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It's the older elephants who make sure they don't cross the line.

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It takes a few years before they're big enough to do real damage.

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But as they get older, they need to be reined in.

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Those who overstep the mark soon know it.

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The rules are strict for everyone when the family is on the move.

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To follow them, spy egret and dung cam join forces.

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For their own safety, the babies must stay next to their mothers

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in the centre of the herd.

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The elephants are heading to the swamp...

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..a place to cool off as the day heats up.

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But the mud can be treacherous

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and babies must only enter with their mums.

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But this little one seems to have forgotten the rules.

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Chasing egrets is irresistible.

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But as the herd enter the swamp, the baby is being left behind.

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SCREECHING

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Realising his predicament, he looks for his mother

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and thinks he's found her.

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He tags along as the group head into the swamp

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but he's following the wrong elephant.

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With his mother nowhere to be seen, he's lost in a confusion

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of trunks and legs.

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The elephants head into the swamp without him.

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The baby is now alone and afraid...

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..while his herd appear to have forgotten him.

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SCREECHING

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He can smell that his mother is out there...

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somewhere.

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But entering the swamp alone could be deadly for one so small.

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He's really starting to panic now.

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His mother is inexperienced.

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She's only just realised her mistake.

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Both will have learnt from what happened.

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He won't misbehave while the family are travelling again...

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..and stays extra close as he's taken into the swamp.

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He's learnt the hard way why you don't go here on your own.

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His older brother heads up the rear.

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No-one is letting this mischievous baby out of their sight.

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Now, the mud bathing can begin in earnest.

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But the cheeky elephants have a message for spy egret.

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Learning to behave is even more vital in extreme environments.

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In the Canadian Arctic, it is a matter of survival.

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Arctic wolf packs live in a society

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based on close cooperation and teamwork.

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Spy wolf cub is here to record how the cubs

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learn their place in the pack.

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He's been accepted as part of the family.

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They are now confident enough to wander away from the den.

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They love to play and are equally matched.

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For now, they can safely test each other's strengths and weaknesses.

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But their rough and tumble has woken the baby-sitter.

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She may have been sleeping on the job,

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but she's responsible for the cubs while their mother is away.

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She has strict rules and one is - stay close to the den.

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It's time they were taught a lesson.

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But this wolf cub isn't showing the respect the occasion demands.

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He's not supposed to answer back.

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She tries to roll him on his back -

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this is how wolves show they know their place.

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But the message isn't getting through.

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If he doesn't learn to submit by rolling over,

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he'll never fit in with the pack.

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But he's still arguing back.

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SQUEALING

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Now, she really gets tough, pinning him to the ground.

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She won't give up until he understands.

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He's got the message now.

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Learning to submit helps avoid conflict within the pack,

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vital for animals that must work together.

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Lesson over, they now practise what they learnt on each other.

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It seems even spy cub must learn the pack rules...

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..but he soon makes a dignified recovery.

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The father howls a rallying call.

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The call is not to hunt, but to come and play in the cotton grass.

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With the rules firmly established, playtime becomes a family affair...

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..a chance for the mischievous cubs to let off steam

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and learn the value of teamwork and cooperation.

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While animals that live together must learn the rules,

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for others, it's everyone for themselves.

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Frigate birds are the original pirates of the Caribbean.

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They make a living on the high seas from skulduggery and thievery.

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Fishing boats returning with their catch make easy targets.

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Fish cams reveal the details of their criminal activity.

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Tropicbirds returning to feed their young carry yet more riches.

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A fleet of frigates follow in hot pursuit.

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They know she carries a fish hidden in her throat

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and it's one they won't let get away.

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Their technique is sheer intimidation,

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forcing the tropicbird to give up its meal.

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To gain a bird's-eye view of their nefarious ways,

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spy tropicbird braves the intimidation.

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He faces skilled assailants.

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Their slender wings and curved tails allow swift manoeuvring.

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He allows them to wait until the perfect moment.

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Real tropicbirds make more challenging targets.

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And when the frigates really put on the pressure,

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it's safer to give up without a fight.

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Show resistance and you pay the price.

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They'll shake the fish right out of you.

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There's a lot at stake.

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Fish are hard to come by -

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give it up and her young might starve.

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But these villains even work together,

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so taking the path of least resistance is tempting.

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They won't give up until they've had their fill.

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But these birds aren't here to kill.

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So, to succeed, you just have to tough it out.

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Her hungry chick drives her on.

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She's made it and her chick finally gets a meal.

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It's not just tropicbirds that are subjected to bad behaviour

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from feathered felons.

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In Antarctica, spy penguin is greeting Adelie penguins

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as they return from a two-week fishing trip

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away from their nest sites.

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He receives the same bolshie reception

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as the penguins give to each other.

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Despite their belligerent nature, they are dedicated parents

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and are rushing home to relieve their partners of nesting duties.

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The birds breed on a rocky outcrop high above the sea ice.

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Another spy penguin is filming

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the disorderly behaviour inside the colony.

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The Adelies constantly squabble over the stones

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they use to build their nests.

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SQUAWKING

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Spy Adelie is in the thick of this rabble

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as everyone steals from everyone else.

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SQUAWKING

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He may be an innocent bystander,

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but that doesn't stop him getting picked on.

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Although he's designed to get right up again.

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In case it all gets too much, he has backup,

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the other spy penguin.

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This one comes with a pebble cam.

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Egg cams are here as well...

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But they, too, get the same rough treatment.

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Here, weather changes quickly

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and it soon dampens the high spirits of the colony.

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Now, their only concern is to protect their eggs from the storm,

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so everyone hunkers down.

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Spy penguin is the only one still on duty,

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except for a straggler racing back from his fishing trip.

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Stuck on her nest for the last two weeks, his mate is hungry.

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But she'll have to stay put until the storm passes.

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Meanwhile, he has a plan to impress her...

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..use the cover of the storm to steal more stones.

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It gets easier as the blizzard gets stronger.

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Blinded by the snow storm, they become easy victims of crime.

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By the time the storm ends,

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they have one of the finest nests in the colony.

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The petty pilfering of stones is one thing,

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but a much greater crime is about to be committed.

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Better weather brings in predators.

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These are skuas.

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Their speciality is stealing eggs.

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Each Adelie has only two eggs

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and a year's investment goes into rearing them.

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But with skuas on the prowl, one can go in a flash.

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But not all eggs are quite what they seem.

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Egg cam is about to reveal what it's like to be kidnapped.

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Realising it's not the real thing, egg cam is discarded in disgust.

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Adelies may be pugnacious and dishonest,

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but they are devoted to their young.

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Each chick that makes it is a triumph against the real criminals.

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The whole process of breeding brings out the best and the worst

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in some birds.

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The rainforests of eastern Australia are the stage for perhaps

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the sneakiest criminals of the lot.

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This is the satin bowerbird,

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a creature with a bad case of kleptomania.

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He is under surveillance from a female spy bowerbird

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with a particularly beady eye.

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He builds this elaborate cradle, or bower,

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to show off his prowess and skills.

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It doesn't stop at weaving twigs -

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he likes home decor, too.

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Blue is his favourite colour.

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Bottle tops nicked from a nearby campsite

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are his proudest possession.

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He has an eye for detail, too,

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placing them precisely for maximum visual impact.

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Stage set, it's time to begin his performance.

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But he soon realises spy bowerbird is immune to his charm.

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Perhaps he'll have better luck with a real bowerbird.

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She makes all the right moves,

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entering the bower to show she's interested.

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A ring makes the perfect gift.

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Not impressed?

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How about a bouquet of flowers?

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But something is not quite right.

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The penny drops -

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he's been duped!

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This isn't a female at all, it's a young male in disguise

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and he's here to steal.

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He's part of a gang of juvenile delinquents

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roaming the forest, tricking unwary males.

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In their hideout, they display their ill-gotten gains.

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It takes up to seven years for a male bowerbird to reach maturity.

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In the meantime, they practise making a bower

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and dancing for each other.

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But they can never have too many blue trinkets and bling.

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Time to go out stealing again.

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And bowers don't come more decadently inviting than this.

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But this is no ordinary bower,

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it's occupied by a male spy bowerbird and adorned

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with an irresistible array of blue treasure and dual cameras,

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all perfectly placed to catch the thieves in the act.

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Like professionals, they approach with caution.

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Once again, they pretend to be courting females.

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This time they work together.

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One distracts as the other steals the jewels.

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Spy bowerbird can only observe as they clean out the bower,

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gem by precious gem.

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Back home with their stolen goods,

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they continue to practise their courtship techniques.

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But spy bowerbird isn't off the hook.

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The male bowerbird who was their first victim

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needs to replenish his bower.

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Well, if you can't beat them, you may as well join them.

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In Senegal, the art of seduction brings out the worst

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in our closest animal relatives.

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For young chimps, misbehaving is second nature.

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They're cut a lot of slack and generally do exactly what they want.

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But as they get older, they start to push their luck

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and wind the adults up.

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It starts small, but often escalates.

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Spy tortoise is just one of the many spy cameras

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that have been watching them.

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He's been capturing some very unconventional views.

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But now he's helping record how the bad behaviour of the youngsters

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translates into adulthood.

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In chimp society, there are always a few dominant males.

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As a young male reaches adulthood,

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he becomes a potential challenger for the top spot.

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The lead male must keep this cocky upstart in his place.

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SQUEALING

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And the other males are keen to teach him a lesson, too.

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He needs to get away or suffer serious injury.

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He may not be popular with the bigger guys...

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..but among the females, it's a different matter.

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It seems many prefer the younger male.

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She seems to be giving him the come-on,

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but he must be careful he isn't seen.

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Fortunately, chimps like their midday nap...

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..and the female encourages him to follow her.

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It could be his lucky day.

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One last check.

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Time for a little extra privacy.

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Unfortunately, one male has the perfect vantage point.

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Spotted!

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This is strictly against the rules.

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SQUEALING

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His fun ruined, he leaves in disgrace.

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But once he's cooled off, he'll be back.

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In the Kalahari Desert in South Africa,

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there are dire consequences for those who have illicit affairs.

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Meerkats live in large family groups

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and there is equality among most of the members.

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But with so many meerkats living together,

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clear leadership is needed to maintain authority.

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This female is in charge.

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Often called the queen,

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she is the only female to breed in the entire colony.

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Spy meerkat is ideally placed to film any rule breakers.

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Sentinels watch for danger

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so that the rest of the colony can socialise.

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Play helps youngsters practise fighting skills

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they'll need in the future

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and makes sure they're all supportive of the colony.

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The queen meerkat asserts her higher position

0:37:470:37:50

by hip slamming and chin swiping.

0:37:500:37:53

She doesn't want the youngsters to get ideas above their station.

0:37:590:38:02

Constant reminders of who's boss help to maintain a stable society.

0:38:060:38:10

But sometimes the balance of power is challenged.

0:38:140:38:17

A roving male from outside the colony

0:38:200:38:22

is on the lookout for a female...

0:38:220:38:24

..one that has reached maturity and is up for some excitement.

0:38:260:38:30

She sneaks off for an illicit encounter.

0:38:310:38:35

Away from the group, she's free to express her desire.

0:38:370:38:41

Her flirtations are strictly taboo - only the queen has breeding rights.

0:38:510:38:56

But she's been caught in the act.

0:39:070:39:10

The queen launches an attack.

0:39:130:39:16

The rest of the group show their support.

0:39:180:39:22

A female that tries to breed is a threat to the status quo.

0:39:260:39:30

Rulebreakers are not to be tolerated.

0:39:330:39:36

They must evict her from the colony.

0:39:400:39:43

Resistance is pointless.

0:39:560:39:58

But, alone, she's in great danger.

0:40:010:40:04

And expelled to the edges of the colony, there is no easy way back.

0:40:140:40:18

The nearest meerkats are hostile neighbours.

0:40:230:40:27

Her indiscretion has put her life at risk.

0:40:270:40:31

Off the coast of South Africa,

0:40:410:40:43

more adolescents have reached that difficult age.

0:40:430:40:46

At two years old, male bottlenose dolphins

0:40:480:40:51

leave their mother's pod to form boisterous gangs

0:40:510:40:54

looking for excitement.

0:40:540:40:56

They like nothing better than surfing.

0:40:560:40:58

Spy turtle is here to see what they get up to.

0:41:000:41:03

He, in turn, is joined by another spy creature.

0:41:130:41:16

This is spy puffer, based on a fish that blows itself into

0:41:210:41:25

a defensive puffball.

0:41:250:41:27

The spy creatures are here to film these teenage tearaways.

0:41:300:41:34

Spy puffer faces a bumpy ride.

0:41:380:41:41

Bust-ups are common.

0:41:460:41:49

It's easy to get caught in the middle.

0:41:520:41:55

SCREECHING

0:41:550:41:57

The young males are so unruly

0:41:590:42:00

the females kicked them out of the family pod.

0:42:000:42:04

SCREECHING

0:42:080:42:10

They even send spy turtle in a spin.

0:42:210:42:24

This isn't spy puffer, it's a real pufferfish.

0:42:320:42:35

The poor creature gets the same rough treatment.

0:42:370:42:40

Perfect for a game of catch.

0:42:510:42:53

But the dolphins are dicing with death.

0:43:000:43:02

Pufferfish are one of the most poisonous fish in the ocean.

0:43:050:43:10

They exude a powerful nerve poison called tetrodotoxin.

0:43:100:43:14

It only takes a small amount to kill a human.

0:43:150:43:18

Even so, the dolphins often look for pufferfish and love to chew on them.

0:43:220:43:27

Taken in small doses,

0:43:290:43:31

the secretions seem to have a narcotic effect.

0:43:310:43:34

The dolphins are careful not to swallow them.

0:43:450:43:48

Instead, they hold them gently in their mouths.

0:43:480:43:51

Despite the risks,

0:43:540:43:55

passing the puffer has become a popular dolphin pastime.

0:43:550:43:58

Luckily, the little fishes usually survive the strange experience.

0:44:260:44:30

But dolphins aren't the only creatures

0:44:410:44:43

that seem to enjoy natural highs.

0:44:430:44:45

In Madagascar, brown and black lemurs have an equally odd weakness

0:44:500:44:54

for mind-altering chemicals.

0:44:540:44:56

Their favourite poison is found crawling in the forest.

0:45:030:45:06

Like pufferfish, millipedes are toxic.

0:45:080:45:11

But that doesn't stop the lemurs seeking them out.

0:45:130:45:17

The millipedes use dangerous secretions, including cyanide,

0:45:260:45:30

as a defence.

0:45:300:45:32

But the lemurs still chew on them, albeit extremely cautiously.

0:45:360:45:40

The toxins cause the lemurs to salivate.

0:45:460:45:49

They then rub both the saliva and the millipede into their fur.

0:45:520:45:55

They use it as an insecticide to ward off insects,

0:45:570:46:01

such as mosquitoes that carry malaria.

0:46:010:46:03

But they are suspiciously enthusiastic

0:46:040:46:07

about the whole process.

0:46:070:46:09

It seems they don't just work as an insect repellent...

0:46:160:46:20

..the chemicals also appear to send them into a trance-like state.

0:46:240:46:28

A condition of complete intoxication.

0:46:390:46:42

And they can't seem to get enough.

0:46:590:47:01

When it's all over, there's no hiding the state they're in.

0:47:180:47:21

Time to sleep it off.

0:47:260:47:28

Back in the Kalahari Desert and spy meerkat is on the lookout

0:47:380:47:43

for the evicted female.

0:47:430:47:45

She's still all alone.

0:47:490:47:51

Pushed to the edge of her territory,

0:47:550:47:57

she's an easy target for the hostile neighbours.

0:47:570:48:00

A bolthole offers refuge from the threat.

0:48:040:48:07

These meerkats are hoping to steal some territory from her family,

0:48:130:48:17

but she won't be able to fight them off by herself.

0:48:170:48:20

The unruly mob try to dig their way in.

0:48:240:48:26

They work as a team to shift as much sand as possible.

0:48:310:48:34

Others leave their scent mark, laying claim to their new territory.

0:48:430:48:47

She defends the bolthole with her life.

0:48:560:48:59

But the marauding trespassers have been spotted.

0:49:030:49:06

The group rally together.

0:49:090:49:11

Tails held high, they perform an intimidating war dance.

0:49:190:49:23

The rival gang clocks the incoming attack.

0:49:400:49:43

It's designed as a show of strength and unity...

0:49:470:49:50

..but the mob meets the attack head on.

0:49:530:49:56

It's a fight for territory.

0:50:000:50:02

But ultimately, the land grab fails.

0:50:150:50:18

The female checks for the all clear.

0:50:230:50:25

Her family drove the intruders away

0:50:320:50:35

but she played her part.

0:50:350:50:37

This is her opportunity to show her loyalty and subservience.

0:50:380:50:41

She grooms the dominant female.

0:50:430:50:45

The eviction was a harsh lesson in how to behave.

0:50:480:50:51

Her apparent contrition does the trick -

0:50:550:50:59

the queen meerkat accepts her back.

0:50:590:51:01

But warfare doesn't just happen between groups -

0:51:050:51:08

sometimes the battles begin at the heart of the family.

0:51:080:51:11

The male chimpanzee that took his chance with a female

0:51:120:51:15

is in a confident mood.

0:51:150:51:17

He wants to flex his muscles within the troop.

0:51:170:51:21

Spy bushbaby is watching to see what unfolds.

0:51:220:51:25

The young male is pumped up and spoiling for a fight.

0:51:280:51:31

Standing on two legs makes a more threatening display.

0:51:310:51:35

SCREECHING

0:51:450:51:48

To really act the tough guy, he needs a weapon.

0:52:090:52:12

But this theatrical show has gone on long enough.

0:52:190:52:23

The big males decide to take him on.

0:52:230:52:25

The mothers gather up the youngsters.

0:52:410:52:43

It's turning ugly.

0:52:430:52:45

SCREECHING

0:53:050:53:07

One dominant male makes his entrance.

0:53:120:53:15

Time to put a stop to this outrageous behaviour.

0:53:180:53:21

The two square up.

0:53:230:53:26

But no-one does scary like the high-ranking male.

0:53:330:53:37

SQUEALING

0:53:380:53:41

Then he selects his own weapon and the conflict escalates.

0:53:580:54:01

He means business -

0:54:190:54:20

these stones are thrown with deadly accuracy.

0:54:200:54:23

Time to make his escape.

0:54:290:54:31

Defeated, the challenger vents his frustration.

0:54:390:54:43

From the winner, a final show of his power.

0:54:470:54:52

These may be raw emotions, but anger soon gives way to subtler feelings.

0:54:530:54:58

A youngster reaches out a hand of friendship.

0:55:020:55:04

Placed in the mouth, it's the ultimate show of trust.

0:55:090:55:13

An act of faith and reassurance...

0:55:140:55:16

..and a gesture the others mirror.

0:55:180:55:20

Chimps may be quick to anger, but fun is never far away.

0:55:240:55:28

For the little males, mischief is part of their psyche.

0:55:310:55:35

It prepares them for family life in a rowdy troop

0:55:350:55:39

where rules and consequences control their lives.

0:55:390:55:43

For now, they can just enjoy their freedom.

0:55:450:55:48

Spy bushbaby has revealed an eye-opening insight

0:55:520:55:55

into chimp family politics...

0:55:550:55:57

..and survived to spy another day.

0:55:590:56:02

Wherever the spy creatures went,

0:56:030:56:05

they gave unexpected insights into the intimate lives of animals.

0:56:050:56:09

Emotions were explored when langurs grieved over a dropped spy monkey...

0:56:130:56:17

..and a chimp adopted an abandoned kitten.

0:56:210:56:23

Their extraordinary intelligence was revealed by an orang-utan

0:56:260:56:30

who took to DIY...

0:56:300:56:32

..and a bird who created a perfect fishing pole.

0:56:340:56:38

Friendships were tested by spy cobra,

0:56:400:56:42

who captured the solidarity of meerkat society.

0:56:420:56:45

Spy croc filmed some tiny birds who formed a bond

0:56:470:56:51

with the unlikeliest of neighbours.

0:56:510:56:53

Finally, the spy creatures showed how bad behaviour

0:56:560:57:00

is as much part of animals' lives as it is of our own.

0:57:000:57:03

Maybe what they really revealed is that animals are more like us

0:57:090:57:13

than we ever dared to believe.

0:57:130:57:16

Next time, we reveal the cutting-edge technology

0:57:180:57:21

and extraordinary science behind the series

0:57:210:57:24

as it stretches the camera teams to their limits

0:57:240:57:26

and tests some spy creatures to destruction.

0:57:260:57:30

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