0:00:02 > 0:00:04The world is full of extraordinary animals.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12In this series, we wanted to really understand them -
0:00:12 > 0:00:15to discover how they really think and feel.
0:00:16 > 0:00:21To find out, a team of spy creatures were sent undercover.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24They not only looked like part of the family -
0:00:24 > 0:00:26they behaved like them, too.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28SQUEAKING
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Armed with the latest camera technology,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34they were taken across the globe
0:00:34 > 0:00:39to understand the true nature of the animals they met
0:00:39 > 0:00:44and reveal how intelligent they really are...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48..how badly behaved they can be...
0:00:50 > 0:00:53..how important family is to them...
0:00:55 > 0:00:58..and if it's possible that they can truly love each other.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05What they discovered may change our perception of animals forever.
0:01:06 > 0:01:11Could animals be more like us than we ever believed possible?
0:01:21 > 0:01:24To answer the questions at the heart of this series
0:01:24 > 0:01:28required an innovative and unconventional approach.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31So, how did the spy creatures do it?
0:01:34 > 0:01:37The series took three years to make
0:01:37 > 0:01:40and each trip deployed a rather unique filming team.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45Spy Orang is just one of 34 spy creatures
0:01:45 > 0:01:49that infiltrated the lives of over 30 different animal families
0:01:49 > 0:01:51across the world.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58These lifelike robots are designed to capture intimate images
0:01:58 > 0:02:00from inside the family.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08To create them stretches technology to the limit,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11and deploying them is just as challenging.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Spy Orang is at the pinnacle of this spying game,
0:02:17 > 0:02:22but it started with humble beginnings almost 16 years ago.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29This is Boulder Cam -
0:02:29 > 0:02:31a camera disguised as a moving rock
0:02:31 > 0:02:35to get a fresh perspective on life in a pride.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42It was designed to withstand a lion attack.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45But the reaction from the cubs was curiosity...
0:02:46 > 0:02:49..and their mother was equally relaxed.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57Boulder Cam simply became part of the landscape
0:02:57 > 0:02:59and the footage revealed lion families
0:02:59 > 0:03:01in a totally new light.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Capturing such unguarded and intimate views
0:03:07 > 0:03:08is still at the heart
0:03:08 > 0:03:11of what the spy creatures are designed to achieve.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16The new generation are lifelike replicas
0:03:16 > 0:03:19programmed to communicate with the animals they meet.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Producer Philip Dalton prepares Spy Wild Dog Pup
0:03:25 > 0:03:26for his first deployment.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Before the pack returns to the den,
0:03:31 > 0:03:35he tests that the 24 moving parts are all working.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38YELPING
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Spy Pup's body language is key to the success of his assignment.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46YELPING
0:03:46 > 0:03:49First encounters are a nerve-racking moment.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Even pups could rip him to pieces.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55But Spy Pup gives only friendly reactions...
0:03:56 > 0:03:58..and it works a treat.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00SNIFFING
0:04:05 > 0:04:07It's a huge relief.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09There was a lot at stake.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Spy Pup is the result of a huge amount of work
0:04:13 > 0:04:15in a small London studio.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18YELPING
0:04:20 > 0:04:25Beneath the skin is a miracle of animatronic engineering -
0:04:25 > 0:04:28a skeleton of articulated metal limbs
0:04:28 > 0:04:31controlled by sophisticated electronics and servos.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36The moves of the different creatures' real-life counterparts
0:04:36 > 0:04:37are programmed and tested.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Each one takes months to design and build.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02The meerkat is the first spy to be created for the series.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07John Nolan is its genius creator.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12He's worked on many top Hollywood films
0:05:12 > 0:05:16and here, he works closely with the production team
0:05:16 > 0:05:20to ensure all the animal's movements are as lifelike as possible.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30The final proof will be on location.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Meerkats aren't keen on outsiders,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39so this first assignment is a tough one.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43To make sure she smells right,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46she's been anointed with poo from the colony.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48After a thorough investigation,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52the meerkats are convinced enough to allow her into the family,
0:05:52 > 0:05:56so she can capture remarkable footage of their complex lives.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04But the more remote the location,
0:06:04 > 0:06:08the more important it is that the spy creatures are accepted.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Having hitched a ride to the Antarctic,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15if Spy Adelie isn't accepted,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17it will be a very long and wasted journey.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21But a previous spy series filmed by penguin cams
0:06:21 > 0:06:24means that his technology is tried and tested.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33He's on board a French supply ship on its way to their Antarctic base.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35ICE CREAKS
0:06:38 > 0:06:40After a week-long journey from Australia,
0:06:40 > 0:06:44the ship finally arrives at the aptly named Adelie Land.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48And his subjects are there to greet him.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Of course, he needs help -
0:06:51 > 0:06:55even the most sophisticated spy cameras need human support.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Putting up with the freezing conditions
0:07:03 > 0:07:05is Frederique Olivier,
0:07:05 > 0:07:10an Antarctic scientist turned cinematographer.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12But there's no time to acclimatise.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Real Adelies are returning to their nests
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and filming must start immediately.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Spy Adelie gets his first taste of what he's dealing with.
0:07:30 > 0:07:31THEY SQUAWK
0:07:35 > 0:07:39As the Adelies head for the colony, Frederique and Spy Adelie follow.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Frederique is used to this kind of work.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49She's been to the Antarctic 16 times
0:07:49 > 0:07:52and, for the last spy film, spent nearly a year here.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The colony lies two miles across the frozen sea ice,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59not far from the French base.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Since penguin cams last filmed here,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08scientists have been using them
0:08:08 > 0:08:11to gather important data inside the colonies.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13The penguins so accept the spies,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16they continue with their natural behaviour.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Penguin cams aren't just liked by penguins.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23They become welcome company
0:08:23 > 0:08:26for someone working alone for long periods...
0:08:26 > 0:08:27What do you reckon?
0:08:29 > 0:08:33..and Frederique has formed a strong bond with Spy Adelie.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Ah...
0:08:35 > 0:08:36Excuse-moi, excuse-moi.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Hein? Bon. C'est ce qu'on va faire.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41On va aller dans la colonie.
0:08:41 > 0:08:42We're going to go to the colony
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and we're going to talk to your mates, all right?
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Oup...
0:08:47 > 0:08:50All right, mate. I'll take your control with me.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53As these penguins aren't fazed by humans,
0:08:53 > 0:08:54she can deploy on foot.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59But she must still be careful -
0:08:59 > 0:09:01she must never put them off their nests.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07And they won't behave naturally while she's near.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14When she moves away, things return to normal.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Because penguin cams don't interfere with natural behaviour,
0:09:21 > 0:09:24they become a useful device not only for filming,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27but for scientific research, too.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Spy Adelie came for two months
0:09:33 > 0:09:36to film the penguins stealing stones to build their nests.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45But he discovered so much more.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48When a male has his pebbles stolen,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50and fails to impress his mate,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53she runs off with his love rival...
0:09:59 > 0:10:00..and feathers fly.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07ANGRY SQUAWKING
0:10:16 > 0:10:17SQUAWKING
0:10:17 > 0:10:21But perhaps his most useful skill for filming Adelies
0:10:21 > 0:10:24is his ability to get right back up.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Again...
0:10:30 > 0:10:32..and again.
0:10:42 > 0:10:43When all else fails,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Frederique is there to lend a caring hand.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56But this wasn't the only elemental challenge the spies faced.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58In Kachemak Bay in Alaska,
0:10:58 > 0:11:02rafts of sea otters regularly congregate just offshore.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06They are notoriously nervous of people,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09especially when they have young babies on board.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11The only way to capture images like this
0:11:11 > 0:11:15is to create a spy creature that can swim right up to them.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22The challenge is to somehow create a lifelike replica
0:11:22 > 0:11:25of one of the most adorable animals on Earth.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Back at John Nolan's studio,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34the basic mechanics are fiendishly complex -
0:11:34 > 0:11:36but they are just the start.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41It's Val Jones' job to turn a mechanical and functional robot
0:11:41 > 0:11:43into something closer to the real thing.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52This requires meticulously punching synthetic fur
0:11:52 > 0:11:54into the silicone skin,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56hair by hair.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03It takes incredible patience and an artistic eye
0:12:03 > 0:12:06to get the spy otter to look as lifelike as possible.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13It's this attention to detail that makes it really come alive.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20It will be many weeks before it's ready to be deployed
0:12:20 > 0:12:23among the sea otters of Alaska.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30But when the day comes, there are no guarantees it will work.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Producer Matthew Gordon and the film crew
0:12:39 > 0:12:42are about to see whether the hard work has been worth it.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49A stabilised camera system is also ready to film the otters from afar.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50OK, zoom in.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52OK, we're zooming in. Coming in.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54That's it, work with it. That'll be a nice movement.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59The images hint at what delightful subjects
0:12:59 > 0:13:01the otters are going to make.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04It was the way he was doing his hands like this, going...
0:13:05 > 0:13:07What are you doing?
0:13:08 > 0:13:09He's even doing it now, look!
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- LAUGHING:- It's wonderful.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Resting his head on his hands. Yeah, just watching.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18It's adorable.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Checks over, it's time to see if Spy Otter
0:13:21 > 0:13:24can get the intimate footage it came for.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29As otters are so difficult to approach,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32the boat must stay a long distance away.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34OK, let's try and get over to them.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38The colony doesn't seem to be alarmed as Spy Otter swims closer.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Are they reacting to it?
0:13:42 > 0:13:44They sort of pop their head up and look at it,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46but they're not scared.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48But as Spy Otter moves further from the boat,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51the controls stop responding.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55It has reached the limits of good radio reception.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Time for a rethink.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01James, the otter, put it behind the rock there.
0:14:01 > 0:14:02Yeah, OK.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04This time, they try a rib.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Its lower profile may allow it to get closer to the otters
0:14:07 > 0:14:10so they can effectively control Spy Otter.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17Even now, it's uncertain whether the spy creature will be accepted.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20You guys feel free to deploy him when you want,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22and then we need to pull out.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34But it's looking more promising.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43They are already nearer to an otter than before.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Oh, brilliant!
0:14:45 > 0:14:47LAUGHTER
0:14:49 > 0:14:52And Spy Otter boldly swims ever closer.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58OK. Get the head into the right position,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00so they can film it brilliantly.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Might need...
0:15:02 > 0:15:03Yes.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05I love it!
0:15:08 > 0:15:11This is what they've come to film - some of the most natural
0:15:11 > 0:15:15and endearing shots of sea otters ever seen.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Spy Otter can even film what's happening underwater.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Then Spy Otter gets a close-up view of their intelligent use of tools.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Exactly what the team were hoping to capture.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18With another success under the team's belt,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21back in London, more spy creatures are being prepared
0:16:21 > 0:16:24for their first encounters.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Like the sea otter, Spy Prairie Dog is one of many creations
0:16:28 > 0:16:31made to replicate the animals they're going to film.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35But sometimes, a different solution is needed.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39This is Spy Egret.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41He, too, is as lifelike as possible.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43SQUAWKING
0:16:46 > 0:16:48And under the feathers and skin,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51the metal skeleton is no less impressive.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59But he's not going to film other birds -
0:16:59 > 0:17:01his sights are set much higher.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05He is soon on his first assignment.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16It's not long before he catches a glimpse of his subjects.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25Egrets like him follow the elephant herds around,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29but he's not the only lifelike camera going undercover.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Michael Richards is one of the world's most experienced
0:17:33 > 0:17:36wildlife cameramen and has filmed elephants
0:17:36 > 0:17:38many times before.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41He must anticipate the elephant's intentions
0:17:41 > 0:17:45and deploy remote cameras on a track he thinks they'll take.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47First out are the plop cams,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50based on a ball of elephant poo.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Then it's the log cams.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06And finally, a spy tortoise.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Now it's Spy Egret's turn -
0:18:11 > 0:18:16the most expensive, fragile and irreplaceable of the lot.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18It's time for quick decisions.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20I think they're turning, according to us.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21- They are...- Yeah.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Let's just pop him down here.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27Keep that... Keep coming, and then we're going to have to reverse.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Just so I can hide behind the vehicle.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32That's great, thank you. Stop there. Stop, stop.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Just so they can't see me.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39- They are coming exactly towards us. - OK.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42TAPPING
0:18:45 > 0:18:46SQUAWKING
0:18:50 > 0:18:51The plan is for him to film
0:18:51 > 0:18:54at the same height as baby elephants,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56from right inside the herd.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00With the crew controlling him from a distance,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04he now has to face the elephants on his own.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06It's a nerve-racking moment
0:19:06 > 0:19:09as he disappears inside a wall of legs.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Thanks to some very obliging elephants,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24the egret survives unscathed.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27In fact, over the ten weeks spent with the herd,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30hardly a feather was ruffled.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34The same cannot be said for some of the log cams and dung cams -
0:19:34 > 0:19:37cameras you might think would be less noticeable.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40SCRAPING
0:19:50 > 0:19:54Perhaps they simply appeal to the elephants' playful nature.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12The spy tortoises fared better,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16probably because they looked like a living animal,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19although there is always one who goes a step too far...
0:20:21 > 0:20:25..testing one of the spy tortoises to destruction.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29CRACKING
0:20:33 > 0:20:36But the spies are resilient creatures -
0:20:36 > 0:20:39even when thoroughly pancaked, his cameras kept filming.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52But hiding in plain sight proved the best plan.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58SQUAWKING
0:20:58 > 0:21:00All he ever got was mud in his eye.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Spy Egret may have survived,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08but because of the dangerous nature of their subjects,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10others were in mortal danger from the start.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Spy crocodile hatchlings were at the sharp end
0:21:17 > 0:21:20of one of the most deadly animals of them all.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21CHIRPING
0:21:24 > 0:21:26They have to be placed in a croc's nest
0:21:26 > 0:21:29in the brief period she is in the water -
0:21:29 > 0:21:31something not for the faint-hearted.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36CHIRPING
0:21:42 > 0:21:44CROCODILE GROWLS
0:21:44 > 0:21:45And they are here to film
0:21:45 > 0:21:47the crocodile's remarkable maternal instincts.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56HATCHLINGS CHIRP
0:22:02 > 0:22:05She places her hatchlings in her mouth to carry them to water
0:22:05 > 0:22:08as a protection against nest-raiding predators.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21It's not long before Spy Hatchling
0:22:21 > 0:22:23receives the same extraordinary treatment...
0:22:29 > 0:22:34..and captures a baby croc's view from inside the jaws.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46It took eight weeks and three trips to the Nile River in Uganda
0:22:46 > 0:22:49to film the two crocodile sequences seen in the series.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Here, the team also tested
0:22:54 > 0:22:58the most ambitious walking spy creature to date.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10Spy Crocodile has come all the way from a biorobotics lab
0:23:10 > 0:23:14in Lausanne, Switzerland, where it took six months to build.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18The team, led by producer Rob Pilley,
0:23:18 > 0:23:23has to find a safe spot to launch the robot near to real crocodiles.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28But it's a wild and dangerous place...
0:23:32 > 0:23:36..surrounded by animals that can kill you.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41The river itself can be treacherous...
0:23:41 > 0:23:43It's nice and shadowed. The hippos love it,
0:23:43 > 0:23:45but the crocs love it as well - it's the most perfect spot.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Going to run aground at any minute. Get stuck, we'll be sitting ducks.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50..with hidden sandbanks in the shallows.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- THUDDING - Whoa!
0:23:52 > 0:23:53You two all right?
0:23:55 > 0:23:56That was one of them.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03When they find a sheltered spot, they don't waste any time.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08Scientists from the lab, Kamilo Melo and Tomislav Horvat,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10are eager to test out their creation.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Spy Crocodile is unique,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19as it is designed to be the first amphibious robot,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22able to walk on the ground and swim in the water.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26If he can make him stand up, please, chaps?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30- That's great. - First tests are on land,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32but it still requires a radio transmitter
0:24:32 > 0:24:34and wrist computer to control.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Walking...
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Walking seems OK, so it's time to see
0:24:40 > 0:24:43if all the hard work has paid off.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Walking, and...
0:24:45 > 0:24:46A bit more, a bit more.
0:24:46 > 0:24:47Bit more, bit more.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50A bit more. And swimming.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52He's off to a good start,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55moving with the sinuous motion of a real crocodile.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58But there's a problem.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00He's sinking.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I think what's happened is he's got lots of water...
0:25:05 > 0:25:07- Yeah, yeah. - It cannot work.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09- What? - It cannot work in water.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12It's a huge setback for Rob and the team.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16The inner skin is letting in water.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17What do you want to do?
0:25:17 > 0:25:18Let's cool it and...
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- Yeah, OK.- This one.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Spy problems.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Wait - I can turn it off, maybe.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Motors are dead.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33They must dry it out and hope for the best.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Fortunately, the complex electronics still seem to be working.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Let's make some curves...
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Tail is doing well.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00His metal skeleton is based on that of a real crocodile
0:26:00 > 0:26:02and all the movements need to be tested again.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11Even undressed, he still moves uncannily like the real thing.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Everything seems to be in order.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Now they have to make sure the skin stays waterproof this time.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32He looks as good as new.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39But how will he fare in the water?
0:26:46 > 0:26:48It seems a successful repair.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Now there are real crocs to find.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Back at the crocodile nests,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11the spy hatchlings are taking a pounding.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Crocs crack open their own half-hatched eggs
0:27:17 > 0:27:20to free the babies before taking them into the water.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25The spy hatchlings don't fare as well as the real things.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Although six were destroyed while filming,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31it was all worth it.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33CRUNCHING
0:27:35 > 0:27:38In the rainforests of eastern Australia,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41the spy cameras were to face unexpected dangers
0:27:41 > 0:27:42of a very different nature.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46These are juvenile bowerbirds -
0:27:46 > 0:27:49nature's kleptomaniacs.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54And this is Spy Bowerbird, mimicking an adult in his bower.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01He's here to film the real birds' fascination with blue objects
0:28:01 > 0:28:04and how they use them to attract females to their dancing grounds.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11What the filming reveals is that gangs of juveniles
0:28:11 > 0:28:13also love to steal.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23The blue jewels are irresistible.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28But some contain cameras.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Caught red-handed, they arrange the loot in their own bower,
0:28:41 > 0:28:42some distance away.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46Here, they hone the dancing skills
0:28:46 > 0:28:49that will ultimately help them attract a mate.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53But their bower is soon attracting other interest.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Children, out to feed the birds.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57Here you go, birds.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01Look at all this stuff.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03No, look at this. There's treasure!
0:29:03 > 0:29:08They are unaware that many of the jewels contain cameras.
0:29:11 > 0:29:12How could any child resist?
0:29:29 > 0:29:31Dad, look at this.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33- You just found all that down there, did you?- Yes.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- Should we keep it? - No. This has got to all stay here.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39Then the penny drops.
0:29:39 > 0:29:40Oh, my gosh.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44- Dad, look at this - they're cameras. - Yeah.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46Why did they put it there
0:29:46 > 0:29:47if they know someone is going to steal it?
0:29:47 > 0:29:50I don't know. Because it's a bowerbird nest?
0:29:50 > 0:29:53- Shall I show Mum these two cameras? - No, no. It's got to stay here, mate.
0:29:53 > 0:29:54It's here for a reason.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- Mum?- Yeah?
0:29:56 > 0:29:59- Can I take it? - You have to put it back.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02The kids return their precious finds to the bower.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08It's no problem for the juveniles.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10They're used to having their treasures stolen
0:30:10 > 0:30:12by other thieving bowerbirds.
0:30:17 > 0:30:18Once calm is restored,
0:30:18 > 0:30:23they simply tidy up and carry on practising dancing.
0:30:23 > 0:30:24THEY TRILL
0:30:34 > 0:30:39Wherever the spy cameras went, they faced different challenges.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42But placing spy cameras among one of the most intelligent animals
0:30:42 > 0:30:45on Earth was one of the greatest.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48It also promised to be one of the most revealing.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53A spy tortoise creates an extraordinary reaction
0:30:53 > 0:30:57when one young chimp takes it to his heart.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04GLASS CLINKS
0:31:04 > 0:31:06THEY SCREECH
0:31:06 > 0:31:08It stirs up possessive feelings.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21A desire to own and cherish.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23But sometimes,
0:31:23 > 0:31:27it's the simplest spy cameras that provide the biggest surprises.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33This young chimp has found a camera disguised as a forest fruit.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42It accidentally captures an intimate view
0:31:42 > 0:31:44of some other chimp's bath time.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07But it's another spy creature that steals the show.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Spy Bush Baby is testing the chimpanzees' reactions
0:32:10 > 0:32:13to something they would normally hunt.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17The crew track the chimpanzees for miles every day,
0:32:17 > 0:32:20from dawn to dusk, so as not to lose them in the vast forest.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29As soon as they hear their cries, they don facemasks,
0:32:29 > 0:32:32as chimps must be protected from human diseases.
0:32:35 > 0:32:36CHIMPANZEES CRY
0:32:37 > 0:32:41The masks make the hot, humid journey even more arduous.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46And the sweat bees don't improve conditions either.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49It's gone right into my ear.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51Got a lovely sweat bee... Oh, my God.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56A serious amount. Look at all those. God...
0:32:58 > 0:33:01To deploy Spy Bush Baby without the chimps seeing them
0:33:01 > 0:33:04requires the help of an expert.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07So this is our spy bush baby, Jill.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Jill Pruetz is one of the world's leading
0:33:11 > 0:33:13biological anthropologists, and she's been studying
0:33:13 > 0:33:16these chimps for over 15 years.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19Oh, so the camera's in the left eye?
0:33:19 > 0:33:22She knows their behaviour better than anyone.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Producer Matt trained as a primatologist.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Partnerships with scientists like Jill
0:33:27 > 0:33:30are what made the series possible.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32I think in the first instance when the chimps come in,
0:33:32 > 0:33:35we'll have him already up, and not have him moving or anything
0:33:35 > 0:33:38- like that, just to see how they react, if they notice it.- Right.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42- And then do some...- Bush babies are the chimps' favourite food.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44How they react could provide new insights
0:33:44 > 0:33:46into their human-like behaviour.
0:33:46 > 0:33:51Hello, bush baby. We're going to put you now with the chimps.
0:33:51 > 0:33:52- Good luck.- Yeah.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55It needs Jill's help to predict where the chimps will pass.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02They can hear the chimps are on their way,
0:34:02 > 0:34:03so deployment must be quick.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09But first, he needs to be carefully secured in place.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11Testing - one, two, three.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15Checks over, and Spy Bush Baby is on his own.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19Matt and Jill can hear the chimps approaching...
0:34:19 > 0:34:21CHIMPS SCREECH
0:34:21 > 0:34:25..but it's Spy Bush Baby that captures the first tantalising view.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43These are supremely intelligent animals.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45They think carefully about anything new.
0:34:49 > 0:34:50CHIMP GRUNTS
0:34:52 > 0:34:55He knows that this bush baby is out of the ordinary.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12While some show interest, others just get on with their lives.
0:35:17 > 0:35:22But the spy creatures always reveal surprising behaviour,
0:35:22 > 0:35:27and the male that has been studying him does something quite unexpected.
0:35:28 > 0:35:33Aware that a female is watching, his whole attitude changes.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35CHIMP SCREECHES LOUDLY
0:35:35 > 0:35:37He now starts to show off.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44It's a human-like trait that is exactly the kind of behaviour
0:35:44 > 0:35:45the series set out to reveal.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51It was once frowned upon to make comparisons
0:35:51 > 0:35:53between human and animal behaviour.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57But scientists and film-makers who study animals in the wild
0:35:57 > 0:36:00frequently observe extraordinary similarities.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02SCREECHING CONTINUES
0:36:04 > 0:36:07The male really seems to be trying to make an impression on
0:36:07 > 0:36:12the watching female, and her lack of interest seems a blow to his ego.
0:36:17 > 0:36:18His look says it all.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25In the heat of the day,
0:36:25 > 0:36:29the similarities between the two species are difficult to ignore.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50In the quest to explore our animal connections,
0:36:50 > 0:36:53the crew travel to the ends of the Earth.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57Few places are more remote than the Arctic wilderness
0:36:57 > 0:37:00of Ellesmere Island in Northern Canada.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04Their camp is set in 70,000 miles of uninhabited tundra,
0:37:04 > 0:37:08and a key team member is ready for action.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17Spy Wolf Cub is part of an expedition
0:37:17 > 0:37:19to find the elusive Arctic wolf.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24But round here, the wolves come looking for you.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34Ellesmere wolves live in isolation and rarely encounter people.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Their innate curiosity and lack of fear draws them to the camp.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02This young wolf shows no aggression.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05He's more interested in the new smells.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07WOLF SNIFFS
0:38:07 > 0:38:10It's the perfect opportunity to get the wolves used to
0:38:10 > 0:38:12the spy cub and the crew.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17For wolf biologist Kira Cassidy,
0:38:17 > 0:38:21getting this close to Arctic wolves is a rare treat.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24Wolves aren't encouraged to visit the camp,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27but there's little anyone can do about it.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29Here, THEY make the rules.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32Specialist camera operator Huw Williams
0:38:32 > 0:38:34tries not to put a foot wrong.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39Exploring anything new is in their nature.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43But once they've given the camp a thorough going-over,
0:38:43 > 0:38:45they head off back to the den.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54Kira keeps a watchful eye on them.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00The den is located about a kilometre from the camp.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Producer/cameraman Philip Dalton sets his camera up as near
0:39:03 > 0:39:07as he can without disturbing their natural behaviour.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09CUBS YELP
0:39:11 > 0:39:14After they feed, the adults head off hunting,
0:39:14 > 0:39:16and the cubs disappear into the den.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23This is the moment the crew have been waiting for.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28Spy creatures are always deployed when the animals aren't watching.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30To avoid them being associated with people,
0:39:30 > 0:39:33it's important they aren't seen being put down.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41The crew head out in the direction of the den.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54Huw deploys Spy Cub near to the den's entrance.
0:40:01 > 0:40:06He tests the remote controls before moving a safe distance away.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13Then a range check for the video link.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19It's not long before the cubs emerge.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24CUB WHINES
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Over the next few weeks, Spy Cub and the crew capture some of
0:40:35 > 0:40:39the most intimate moments of Arctic wolf life ever filmed.
0:40:43 > 0:40:44CUB YELPS
0:40:44 > 0:40:47He is totally accepted by the cubs,
0:40:47 > 0:40:52although he's not programmed to roll over and play like the real cubs do.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59Perhaps that's one for the next generation of spy creatures.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05When spies are deployed, the encounters are covered on
0:41:05 > 0:41:09a long lens some distance away, but suddenly Philip notices
0:41:09 > 0:41:13the wolves have returned and seem to be playing tug-of-war.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15They've stolen his jacket.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23To find out where they've taken it, he uses a drone.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32The wolves are so engrossed in their game,
0:41:32 > 0:41:35they don't even notice the aerial surveillance.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Then they roll on the coat.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46It's their way of leaving their mark before abandoning it.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54Later, time to assess the damage.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56Well, considering it was set upon by...
0:41:58 > 0:42:01- ..a pack of wolves... - Is that urine?
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- Poo.- Ohh...
0:42:05 > 0:42:08It isn't only personal belongings that the wolves rough-handle.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12Spy Cub may have been popular with most of the wolves,
0:42:12 > 0:42:14but he didn't survive unscathed.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22His camera eye tells the story.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26He is being carried by the scruff of his neck.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31Just like she would carry one of her own cubs.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38This journey is the last thing he ever filmed.
0:42:42 > 0:42:43FEEDBACK
0:42:45 > 0:42:47When filming dangerous animals,
0:42:47 > 0:42:50it helps to have spy creatures in reserve.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54THEY HONK
0:42:56 > 0:43:00In Kenya, Spy Hippo is about to swim among the real thing.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06He is one of two different models that are being deployed.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15Park regulations mean the crew have to be accompanied
0:43:15 > 0:43:18by an armed ranger.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20It is Rosie's job to protect against poachers.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25And, of course, the river's inhabitants
0:43:25 > 0:43:26can be dangerous as well.
0:43:29 > 0:43:30HE LAUGHS
0:43:39 > 0:43:42This spy hippo is submersible,
0:43:42 > 0:43:45and he is mainly designed to film underwater shots of the hippos.
0:43:57 > 0:43:59A second spy hippo has been constructed
0:43:59 > 0:44:01to film mainly at the surface.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04Don, can you get on the sticks, please?
0:44:04 > 0:44:09Both spy creatures offer close-up views above and below the water.
0:44:16 > 0:44:17A successful launch,
0:44:17 > 0:44:21and the submersible spy hippo is soon entering their world.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34And he's soon getting some promising footage.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45Now it's the other spy hippo's turn to see what he can capture.
0:44:54 > 0:44:55Give me a blink, John.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01A tantalising glimpse, but can he get closer?
0:45:03 > 0:45:06Before long, they are face-to-face.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18Then, some of the closest views of hippos ever captured.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21HONKING CONTINUES
0:45:21 > 0:45:25But despite spy creatures having eyes everywhere,
0:45:25 > 0:45:27they can still be caught unawares.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30HEAVY THUMP
0:45:33 > 0:45:35HIPPO SNORTS
0:45:39 > 0:45:42HIPPO HONKS
0:45:44 > 0:45:47A little too close for comfort.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49Then, a huge problem.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52Spy Hippo's motors are stuck in the weed.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Producer Rob faces an unenviable decision.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00The waters may be full of hippos, but with few alternatives,
0:46:00 > 0:46:03he decides to launch a one-man rescue mission.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08There are crocs in these waters too, but if he moves too quickly,
0:46:08 > 0:46:10it could attract them.
0:46:10 > 0:46:13Rosie and the crew scan the clear water carefully.
0:46:15 > 0:46:20It's a calculated risk. Rob knows that hippos rarely attack in water.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25But he must still watch his step.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29He is a zoologist with over 20 years' experience
0:46:29 > 0:46:32of wildlife film-making.
0:46:32 > 0:46:35But it's still a tense moment.
0:46:37 > 0:46:42It's a huge relief when both he and Spy Hippo make it to the bank.
0:46:42 > 0:46:45However many precautions you take,
0:46:45 > 0:46:48filming dangerous animals always carries a risk.
0:46:52 > 0:46:56Another crew are in Botswana, trying to track down the wild dog.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Cameraman Richard Jones has spent his professional life
0:47:01 > 0:47:05filming African animals, and he can read their every sign.
0:47:05 > 0:47:07There's a doggy footprint there.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10His instincts are rarely wrong.
0:47:10 > 0:47:11Are they fresh?
0:47:11 > 0:47:12Yeah, that's this morning.
0:47:12 > 0:47:16In this terrain, animals are extremely difficult to find.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18I can see the plains ahead.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22But the fresh trail soon leads into the pack.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32The dogs seem to have found something concealed
0:47:32 > 0:47:35in the long grass. THEY BARK
0:47:35 > 0:47:36LOW GROWL
0:47:36 > 0:47:39- A male leopard. - Are you coming this way?
0:47:41 > 0:47:42GROWLING CONTINUES
0:47:44 > 0:47:48Richard senses trouble. He makes a bizarre request.
0:47:48 > 0:47:50Where's my hat?
0:47:50 > 0:47:54Why he wants his hat becomes clear as things escalate.
0:47:54 > 0:47:56BARKING
0:47:56 > 0:47:59He knows the dogs are deliberately winding up the leopard.
0:47:59 > 0:48:01They are far too nimble to be caught,
0:48:01 > 0:48:04and the angry leopard takes refuge in a tree.
0:48:04 > 0:48:05LEOPARD GROWLS
0:48:05 > 0:48:09With their enemy humiliated, the wild dogs slink away.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13But the leopard is left, pumped up with aggression.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17He shifts focus to the crew stuck in the back of the truck.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22That was directed at us, wasn't it?
0:48:22 > 0:48:24Richard explains about the hat.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27Just be ready to throw it at the leopard if it comes.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33- Will that work?- I'm not quite sure.
0:48:33 > 0:48:37No-one can reach the driver's seat. They are totally exposed.
0:48:39 > 0:48:40Then it happens.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47- LEOPARD GROWLS - OK.
0:48:47 > 0:48:48FRENZIED RUSTLING
0:48:51 > 0:48:54The leopard jumps onto the vehicle to grab Richard.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56- GROWLING - Get away! Away! Away!
0:48:58 > 0:48:59He was going for us!
0:48:59 > 0:49:03What we didn't see is Richard throwing his hat.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06- Your hat worked.- Yeah.- Well, shall we get moving in case he decides
0:49:06 > 0:49:08to come back and have some more of us?
0:49:08 > 0:49:11He knew it was his best chance to distract the leopard.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16Richard's experience and quick thinking saves the day.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22SQUEAKING
0:49:22 > 0:49:25Fortunately, the wild dog pup and other spy creatures
0:49:25 > 0:49:28usually enjoy a far warmer welcome.
0:49:30 > 0:49:32Spy Langur is no exception.
0:49:37 > 0:49:41Under the skin is a tiny plastic skull
0:49:41 > 0:49:44with sophisticated electronics and a 4K camera packed in.
0:49:52 > 0:49:55But it's what's happening in the living brain of the real monkeys
0:49:55 > 0:49:57that Spy Langur is built to film.
0:50:01 > 0:50:06He's deployed at an Indian temple to record their baby-sitting skills.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10First reactions are always fascinating.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15But the important work begins when the spies are fully embedded
0:50:15 > 0:50:17among the animals they are filming.
0:50:23 > 0:50:25This shoot lasts a month, and over time,
0:50:25 > 0:50:28the monkeys become totally used to Spy Monkey.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35But some things can never be predicted.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40When Spy Monkey is removed from his perch and dropped,
0:50:40 > 0:50:43they appear to believe he has died.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51They react just as they do when a real baby dies.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58The show of grief is not only moving, it also astonishes
0:50:58 > 0:51:01the scientist here who has studied the langurs
0:51:01 > 0:51:02for the last ten years.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08It provides new insights into the mind of
0:51:08 > 0:51:10a sophisticated and caring primate.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19Generally, the more intelligent the animal,
0:51:19 > 0:51:22the more sophisticated the spy creature needs to be.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26And the greatest challenge is yet to come.
0:51:29 > 0:51:32Design on the creature starts with computer modelling,
0:51:32 > 0:51:35and this one is the most ambitious yet.
0:51:36 > 0:51:41A spy orang-utan with the facial expressions of the real thing.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44The head alone has over 30 moving parts.
0:51:51 > 0:51:55After months of work, the finished spy orang is in Borneo,
0:51:55 > 0:51:58ready to see if the hard work had been worth it.
0:52:01 > 0:52:03But first, she has to pass the scrutiny
0:52:03 > 0:52:07of the most revered orang-utan scientist in the world.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13To maintain the surprise, she is concealed from view.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19It's a real pleasure to introduce our spy orang-utan to you.
0:52:22 > 0:52:27Oh, my gosh. She is truly a beauty.
0:52:27 > 0:52:28MATT LAUGHS
0:52:28 > 0:52:30Let me take a picture of her.
0:52:30 > 0:52:35- Feel free to go in and have a closer look at all the details.- Beautiful.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38This is Dr Birute Galdikas.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41She has spent the last 40 years studying and conserving orang-utans.
0:52:41 > 0:52:43She's beautiful.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50Matt shows her how the spy creature works.
0:52:50 > 0:52:52It's got quite a wide field of view as well.
0:52:54 > 0:52:57But she's not the only one keen to take a look.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01And the wild orang-utan is mesmerised.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03- She's over there.- Ah.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06Orang-utans are highly intelligent and hard to fool.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09But now she's stupefied.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12What always fascinates us is knowing what must be going through
0:53:12 > 0:53:16- their mind.- Well, they are trying to figure out if she is real or not.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19- Right.- From this distance, she looks very real.- Yeah.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22You can tell what they're thinking just from their eyes.
0:53:22 > 0:53:27- Yeah.- No, her expressions are very good.- Yeah.- Very good.
0:53:27 > 0:53:31- Oh, thank you. - No, she's very real.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33- Well, maybe we should move...- Yeah.
0:53:33 > 0:53:37..so that the orang-utans can come by, and let's see what happens.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45These initial reactions are always unpredictable.
0:53:57 > 0:54:01It's not long before a curious male is displaying his intelligence.
0:54:01 > 0:54:05Why not use a branch to test Spy Orang's reaction?
0:54:10 > 0:54:15It's just one of many encounters in the time she spent among them.
0:54:15 > 0:54:17This youngster is especially curious.
0:54:21 > 0:54:23It even takes a clump of hair.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29Perfect for trying out a new look.
0:54:36 > 0:54:39But it takes two weeks for the crew to get the footage
0:54:39 > 0:54:41they hardly dared hope for.
0:54:43 > 0:54:47Suddenly, from out of the jungle, one of Dr Birute's
0:54:47 > 0:54:49favourite orang-utans appears,
0:54:49 > 0:54:52and picks up a saw left at a research hut.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03- DR BIRUTE:- Wow. Wow.
0:55:13 > 0:55:17When she sees that Spy Orang is sawing too,
0:55:17 > 0:55:18it becomes a competition.
0:55:52 > 0:55:56In the end, she tires of the game and takes a more laid-back approach.
0:56:08 > 0:56:13With the help of the Spy Orang, this female, born and raised in the wild,
0:56:13 > 0:56:18gives us a glimpse of just how small the gap between us really is.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25Having astounded us with what she can do,
0:56:25 > 0:56:27she heads back to the jungle.
0:56:30 > 0:56:34Spy Orang had been part of something truly memorable.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40Each of the spy creatures, with the help of their
0:56:40 > 0:56:44sophisticated technology, filmed something new and unexpected.
0:56:44 > 0:56:47From the outer reaches of the polar regions...
0:56:47 > 0:56:49to the sweltering heat of the tropics,
0:56:49 > 0:56:54their unique perspective allowed them to reveal intimate moments
0:56:54 > 0:56:56in the lives of all the animals they filmed,
0:56:56 > 0:57:00and discover unexpected parallels with our own lives.
0:57:00 > 0:57:04They made us smile, and even touched our hearts.
0:57:05 > 0:57:09The teams were astonished and moved by what they captured,
0:57:09 > 0:57:12and in the end, the animals told their own stories.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14MONKEY WAILS
0:57:14 > 0:57:17Helped, of course, by the spy creatures.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19SQUEAKING
0:57:19 > 0:57:22This extraordinary animatronic team brought us closer
0:57:22 > 0:57:26to understanding just how like us animals really are.
0:57:28 > 0:57:30CAWING
0:57:39 > 0:57:41SQUEAKING