0:00:03 > 0:00:05'Previously, we saw how animals
0:00:05 > 0:00:08'are smarter than we ever thought possible.'
0:00:13 > 0:00:15'They use tools.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17'Solve puzzles.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21'And can even beat humans in a numbers and memory test.'
0:00:21 > 0:00:23This is ridiculous.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28'I'm Liz Bonnin, a scientist who's been travelling the world
0:00:28 > 0:00:31'meeting the greatest animal minds.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34'And their intellect has astounded me.'
0:00:36 > 0:00:38This is spectacular.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42'But this time we're raising the stakes.' Oh, look at this.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46This is so special. Ha ha ha!
0:00:46 > 0:00:51'Prepare to be entertained, and amazed.'
0:00:52 > 0:00:55That totally blew me away.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57'Cutting-edge science is now revealing how animals
0:00:57 > 0:01:00'communicate,
0:01:00 > 0:01:01'co-operate,
0:01:01 > 0:01:03'and even tell us how they're feeling.'
0:01:03 > 0:01:07I want to chase and tickle with you too!
0:01:21 > 0:01:26Right across the planet, the Earth beats to the sound of animal song.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32A chorus sung in a million different tongues.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39To live in harmony, animals need to be able to talk to each other.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47And in a world this crowded, that requires serious brainpower.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52The smartest animals on the planet are also some of the most social,
0:01:52 > 0:01:57and to be successful in a social world, communication is key.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Now, imagine if we could communicate with another species
0:02:00 > 0:02:03in its own language.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06We haven't quite mastered that yet, but there is one animal
0:02:06 > 0:02:10that's been living right by our side for centuries, that's learnt
0:02:10 > 0:02:14to understand a completely different language to its own.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Man's best friend, in all its shapes and sizes,
0:02:19 > 0:02:24has played an important part in our history,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27from war hero to galactic explorer.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37In terms of a dog's intelligence, it seems the sky's the limit.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42But how does being clever help them in the field?
0:02:42 > 0:02:44HE WHISTLES
0:02:44 > 0:02:49Well, it's a dog's ability to understand us that's key.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54WHISTLING
0:02:54 > 0:02:58When you combine two champion sheepdogs,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01and a touch of creative genius, anything's possible.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03WHISTLING
0:03:11 > 0:03:14HE WHISTLES AND CALLS
0:03:21 > 0:03:24But there's just one thing missing.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Add a little bit of food...
0:03:30 > 0:03:32..and voila!
0:03:38 > 0:03:41So how does this demonstrate intelligence?
0:03:41 > 0:03:43When you think about it,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47sheepdogs are essentially learning a foreign language.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51"Come by to the left" in verbal and transferred to a whistle would be pppppshssh.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55The basic command "to the right" would be phhhhewwww.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00"Stop" would be psssoutwit,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03and "walk on" would be phew phew phew.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07The whistle allows the basics to become surprisingly complex.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13If I wanted the dog to go left and only a small left, it's like,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16psshh, it would be that, if I wanted him a lot further
0:04:16 > 0:04:19and whatever, like, I would have to emphasize it in terms
0:04:19 > 0:04:22phhhhewwwwww, would be a lot longer and harder.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29The ability to decode this language allows sheepdogs to
0:04:29 > 0:04:32understand the exact direction, speed
0:04:32 > 0:04:36and level of urgency required by their two-legged friend.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38That'll do, that'll do.
0:04:38 > 0:04:44Which enables one man and his dog to work as a single unit.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51But with a lifetime of training,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54just how many words can a sheepdog learn?
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Watch Miss Piggy.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00Watch Miss Piggy.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Psychology Professor John Pilley wanted to find out.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07Good girl, good girl.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11And seven years ago he found the perfect student - Chaser.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19Using crateloads of toys, John and his colleagues have devised
0:05:19 > 0:05:22a groundbreaking study of canine intelligence.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29All the toys have names, and John's picked eight at random.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Chase, let's play some.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Chase, find Punt, go get Punt.
0:05:38 > 0:05:39Right, P...P... Punt.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Good, do it. Yeah, in tub. Yeah, good girl.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Chase, find Roach, find Roach.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51John never looks at the toys on the mat, so to pick the right object,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Chaser has to actually understand what he's saying.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Pop-Pop wants Wow.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Yeah, there's Wow, in tub, in tub.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Chaser already knows the names of 116 balls, 26 Frisbees,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11and over 800 cloth animals.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16But can she learn a new word in just one go?
0:06:18 > 0:06:20We've put her to the test.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23On the mat are five items Chaser knows,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and one new one that she's never seen.
0:06:27 > 0:06:33Chase, find Meow, find Meow, find Meow, do it girl, do it,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35do it, do it, girl.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Bring it to Pop-Pop.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39This task involves highly complex logic.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43The new word isn't in Chaser's vocabulary,
0:06:43 > 0:06:47so she has to understand that it might refer to an unfamiliar object.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Do it, girl, do it.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Chase, get Meow, I want Meow, do it, girl, do it.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54Right now.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58By a process of elimination she has to work out which object
0:06:58 > 0:07:00she's never seen before.
0:07:06 > 0:07:07Get Meow, do it, do it.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13There's Meow - come here, come here, that's good, good girl, good girl.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15After only one trial,
0:07:15 > 0:07:20the new toy and the sound "meow" are logged in her brain.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27And it just goes to show, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35In the wild, this mental dexterity allows dogs to communicate with
0:07:35 > 0:07:38each other, which means the problems of everyday life
0:07:38 > 0:07:40are solved together.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44And they're not alone.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53In the heat of Botswana's dry season,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56every animal needs to find enough food and water to survive.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02And the larger you are, the further you have to travel.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10African elephants need to find 200 litres of water
0:08:10 > 0:08:16and 150 kilos of food every single day, which out here is no mean feat.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Ecologist Dr Mike Chase has offered to show me
0:08:23 > 0:08:25the immensity of this challenge.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36It's only when you're up here that you realise
0:08:36 > 0:08:38the scale of this landscape,
0:08:38 > 0:08:43and, yes, there is water peppering it,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46but from up here you realise how difficult it is to find
0:08:46 > 0:08:51not only water but certainly all the other food that they need to find.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54It's a huge, huge landscape.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01So how can communication
0:09:01 > 0:09:05and sheer brainpower solve this mammoth problem?
0:09:17 > 0:09:22For over a decade, Mike has tracked scores of elephants
0:09:22 > 0:09:24on their epic journeys.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32His GPS data is revealing how herds rely on memory to locate water
0:09:32 > 0:09:36and food sources that they may have visited only once before,
0:09:36 > 0:09:37decades ago.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43And they're led by the oldest and wisest female - the matriarch.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Now, the older a matriarch gets
0:09:48 > 0:09:52the more information she gets to store in that memory bank of hers,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54and because eles are social animals,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58that knowledge will benefit her entire herd.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07But it's what herds do with this knowledge that is truly phenomenal.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12On occasion, thousands of elephants congregate at
0:10:12 > 0:10:15a single waterhole simultaneously.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22And Mike's data has revealed that some have travelled
0:10:22 > 0:10:24over 100 miles to get there.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31So, how does each herd know when and where to meet?
0:10:37 > 0:10:39This is spectacular,
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Just watching a family interacting...
0:10:44 > 0:10:45..and vocalising.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51There's so much mystery and still intrigue surrounding these animals.
0:10:51 > 0:10:52Yeah.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56That we're only beginning to understand the social complexity, the communication.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03'Mike believes that by communicating between family groups,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06'elephants are able to co-ordinate their arrival.'
0:11:08 > 0:11:12'And it seems that waterholes act as a focal meeting point
0:11:12 > 0:11:14'where knowledge can be shared.'
0:11:18 > 0:11:22What evidence is there for this passing on of information
0:11:22 > 0:11:27from herd to herd, like across, you know, huge expanses of land?
0:11:27 > 0:11:31How do we think that works, and have you seen that in action?
0:11:31 > 0:11:32Oh, totally.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35When family herds in their hundreds come together,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37inevitably there is communication.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40What they are saying to each other, that is debatable,
0:11:40 > 0:11:41and that's exciting.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47We can only speculate that this communication occurs through
0:11:47 > 0:11:50a combination of touch, smell,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53and even sound waves that humans can't detect.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57And when herds disperse,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01this shared message can spread out like a ripple.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07What's more is that elephants may also be able to exchange information
0:12:07 > 0:12:12across vast distances in other, as yet undiscovered ways.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15It's already pretty incredible
0:12:15 > 0:12:18that these elephants can remember places from decades ago,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21and then know exactly when to revisit them.
0:12:21 > 0:12:22But what's really remarkable
0:12:22 > 0:12:25is that they can then pass on that information,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29not only within the family group, but from herd to herd,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31across this vast landscape.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33And it's this kind of social intelligence
0:12:33 > 0:12:35that keeps them alive out here.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Elephant communication and their almost telepathic knowledge
0:12:43 > 0:12:46of food and water sources
0:12:46 > 0:12:48is clearly a complex phenomenon,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50something that science can't fully explain yet.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55But across the world experts are trying to decipher
0:12:55 > 0:12:58the language of other species,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00sometimes in rather ingenious ways.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10YIPPING
0:13:10 > 0:13:15In the United States, a team of scientists are studying
0:13:15 > 0:13:17a small rodent with a big voice.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Prairie dogs live in communities called "towns",
0:13:24 > 0:13:26some stretching for miles.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33And with a whole host of predators on the lookout for a free meal,
0:13:33 > 0:13:38knowing what your neighbour is saying can save your life.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42But how can science test for this in the field?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50By dragging a stuffed animal across the prairie!
0:13:53 > 0:13:54HIGH PITCHED YIPPING
0:14:00 > 0:14:01YIPPING
0:14:01 > 0:14:04This might not look like an intelligent reaction,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07but some believe that a lot is going on here.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11And by bringing a new predator onto the scene
0:14:11 > 0:14:14and recording the reaction, they can prove it.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20URGENT YIPPING CALLS
0:14:28 > 0:14:31To the human ear these calls might sound similar,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33but the graphs prove they're different.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34REPEATED YIPPING CALL
0:14:38 > 0:14:40YIPPING CALL
0:14:40 > 0:14:41HIGHER PITCHED CALL
0:14:48 > 0:14:51And it's clear that prairie dogs actually understand
0:14:51 > 0:14:55this difference because of the way they react.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58On hearing the coyote alarm,
0:14:58 > 0:15:02every prairie dog in earshot stands to attention,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04advertising their position.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Because once a coyote realises its cover is blown, it will give up.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11But with a badger alarm, prairie dogs hide
0:15:11 > 0:15:15because when a badger spots a prairie dog, it'll dig it out.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18LOUD URGENT CALLS
0:15:19 > 0:15:23It's this intelligence that keeps the whole town alive.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33But when exploring animal intelligence,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36we need to consider other forms of communication.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Because not all animals communicate with words.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Wherever you look, there are conversations going on
0:15:47 > 0:15:50in which a mere glance can mean a thousand words.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Animals communicate not just through their voices,
0:15:58 > 0:16:00but also through their bodies.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05By being mindful of the more subtle aspects of body language
0:16:05 > 0:16:09we can gain real insights into just how smart some animals are.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29World-renowned horse whisperer Monty Roberts has been unravelling
0:16:29 > 0:16:32the mystery of wild mustang communication
0:16:32 > 0:16:34for over half a century.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42'And he's discovered a complex, silent language,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44'which he calls "Equus".'
0:16:44 > 0:16:46What is it? What is the language of Equus?
0:16:46 > 0:16:48How would you describe it?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50A series of gestures that means something,
0:16:50 > 0:16:51like signing for the deaf.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58It's so impressive that in many ways the language of the mustang
0:16:58 > 0:17:00is more beautiful than any.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06OK, over here on this side of the hill...
0:17:06 > 0:17:11'The intricacies of this language are so complex that getting close
0:17:11 > 0:17:14'is the only way to observe them properly.'
0:17:15 > 0:17:19But when you get that kind of...
0:17:21 > 0:17:23So, if it's a silent language, how is it used?
0:17:23 > 0:17:26What parts of their body do they use?
0:17:26 > 0:17:31Ears, tongue, lips, they use their shoulders,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35their neck is very important.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40You can read the neck very easily, like snaking, for instance,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43where the neck comes down and then the nose goes out
0:17:43 > 0:17:44and the ears come back,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48and they'll snake another horse out of the herd and send them off.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Every single part of the horse appears to convey meaning,
0:17:56 > 0:18:00and they have the intelligence to interpret the tiniest gestures
0:18:00 > 0:18:02in order to understand another's intentions.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11As we get closer, our posture is under intense scrutiny.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17When you're walking around the herd you'll notice that one ear
0:18:17 > 0:18:20will follow you, you're important to them.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22It's subtle, but extremely important.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25The ear goes where the eye goes.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27'When you get this close
0:18:27 > 0:18:30'you have to be aware of every single muscle twitch.'
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Let's be really quiet now. Just, don't, don't move your eyes quickly,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- OK.- Don't move your head quickly, just,
0:18:37 > 0:18:39just kind of move like you're in heavy oil.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47Just relax and breathe down in below your chest.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52Now look, see, as you, as you relaxed, he takes another step.
0:18:52 > 0:18:53He's so attuned.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Yeah, he's... really wants to look us over.
0:18:55 > 0:18:56He really does.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00Wow.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05That totally blew me away.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09All I did was breathe a little bit deeper into my belly and that horse
0:19:09 > 0:19:13completely sensed it and it relaxed and it moved towards me.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15And it just goes to show how incredibly complex
0:19:15 > 0:19:18this communication system is because horses can sense
0:19:18 > 0:19:22the most subtle changes in your physical and emotional state.
0:19:25 > 0:19:30Keen eyesight and a complex body language allows mustangs to
0:19:30 > 0:19:33have conversations in complete silence.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37This incredible experience reveals that some animals are
0:19:37 > 0:19:42intelligent in ways that science may have previously failed to consider.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49We've seen how animals are smart enough to learn our language.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52There's Meow. Yeah, Good girl.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56But they also have their own.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57YIPPING
0:19:57 > 0:20:01They communicate in ways that we still don't fully understand.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05And can even talk with their bodies.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Once you communicate with those around you,
0:20:14 > 0:20:16you can find out what they're thinking.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24And complex mind games become possible.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31On the island of St Kitts in the Caribbean,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34thousands of holidaymakers flock to sun-soaked beaches
0:20:34 > 0:20:36to relax and enjoy the view.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44But their every move is being watched by a criminal mastermind.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49For a few rogue vervet monkeys,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53the bustling beach bars have become a land of opportunity.
0:20:56 > 0:21:01But how do they steal from under our noses without being spotted?
0:21:02 > 0:21:05It seems they know when we take our eyes off the ball.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Using their taste for fruit juice, and a small board,
0:21:13 > 0:21:17we can see how they use their intellect to outwit us.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21OK, here's how this is going to work.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24If vervet monkeys can indeed understand the direction of a gaze,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27they're going to behave very differently depending on
0:21:27 > 0:21:30where I'm looking, what I can and cannot see.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32So here, a fruit juice that I can see in full view,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35and here, another one blocked by this sign.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Which one are they going to go for?
0:21:44 > 0:21:46'It doesn't take long.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49'Soon enough I know I'm being watched.'
0:21:53 > 0:21:56'The monkey is paying particular attention to
0:21:56 > 0:21:58'the geography of the puzzle before him.'
0:22:04 > 0:22:07'But does he know that I can see the juice in the open,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09'and not the one behind the board?'
0:22:15 > 0:22:17'When you're a juice-robbing vervet monkey,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20'you need to reduce the chances of being caught.'
0:22:22 > 0:22:25'After a quick analysis of the situation,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27'there's only one drink to pick.'
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Oh. Did you see that?
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Having a little peek at me over the barrier,
0:22:41 > 0:22:45but he went straight for the juice that's hidden from my view.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51'Scientists are still debating exactly what monkeys are thinking,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54'but it seems they can put themselves in another's shoes
0:22:54 > 0:22:58'and work out their eye line before making their move.'
0:22:58 > 0:23:01There's no doubt that monkeys can use their intelligence to
0:23:01 > 0:23:05outwit their competitors and because of the way that they do it,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08this opens up the possibility that humans are not the only animals
0:23:08 > 0:23:12who can actually understand what others are thinking.
0:23:14 > 0:23:19Seeing the world from another's perspective is a real social skill.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Allowing you to stay one step ahead of your competitors.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31But in some cases, outright deception is the name of the game.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39In Florida, a small bird is being watched closely by science,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42because its life is surprisingly complicated.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Scrub jay survival depends on acorns,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54but in winter there simply aren't enough to go around.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03So how do they make sure they have enough food to last them
0:24:03 > 0:24:04through the leanest times?
0:24:07 > 0:24:11The answer, of course, is to stock their own larder with
0:24:11 > 0:24:13as many acorns as they can find.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21But in scrub jay society, life isn't that simple
0:24:21 > 0:24:24because thieves are everywhere.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33So how can a bird keep its bounty safe and sound?
0:24:36 > 0:24:37Here's where it gets interesting.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Hank is on the lookout for a free meal,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45and Bob on the ground knows it.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Hank thinks he's got the upper hand.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57Bob acts as though he hasn't noticed the covert surveillance,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00and stashes his acorn as usual.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Once Hank has remembered the location,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09as far as he's concerned it's in the bag.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13But Bob outwits him.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16He's faked it.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19And, making sure no one's looking, he digs up his treasure
0:25:19 > 0:25:22and buries it in secret elsewhere.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Looks like Hank is going to go hungry...again.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39The ability to predict another's intentions
0:25:39 > 0:25:42and use this to deceive them involves complex thought processes
0:25:42 > 0:25:46thought to be shared only by humans and other great apes.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Which, for a small bird, is astounding.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00When you're surrounded by potential deceivers,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04living together can definitely have its downsides.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09For these white-faced capuchins in Costa Rica,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12living in groups is essential for survival.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Capuchins are highly territorial, defending their patch,
0:26:21 > 0:26:23often to the death.
0:26:23 > 0:26:24SNARLING
0:26:24 > 0:26:26SCREAMING
0:26:31 > 0:26:34More capuchins are killed by their own species
0:26:34 > 0:26:36than by any other animal.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43So when team playing is this important,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45how do you know who to trust,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48and how can you prove to your allies that you're trustworthy yourself?
0:26:54 > 0:26:58The answer lies in quieter times when team bonds are reinforced.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Sometimes in rather unusual ways.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Occasionally they even offer up their eye sockets
0:27:19 > 0:27:20to another's finger.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Communication at its most bizarre.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37These potentially painful rituals might look extreme,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40but scientists believe that it's a way of proving loyalty,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43similar to the human practice of becoming blood brothers.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46If I let you stick your finger in my eye,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49the theory goes, then surely you'll trust me in battle.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57This seemingly strange behaviour demonstrates
0:27:57 > 0:28:02the benefits of co-operation, which in capuchin society can save lives.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Successful teamwork relies on a degree of co-operation
0:28:15 > 0:28:17between each and every individual.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25But how can you prove that animals
0:28:25 > 0:28:28aren't just co-operating instinctively, and that they
0:28:28 > 0:28:30actually understand how to work together?
0:28:34 > 0:28:38In Thailand, Dr Josh Plotnik and his team
0:28:38 > 0:28:40have devised a unique challenge to find out,
0:28:40 > 0:28:45using a sliding table, some rope, and an irresistible reward.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52So here's the problem.
0:28:52 > 0:28:57The elephants need to be able to pull the table closer to gain access
0:28:57 > 0:29:02to the sunflower seeds, and they need the rope to do that.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05But if only one of them pulls the rope, then they both go hungry.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Can they work together to solve a novel problem?
0:29:11 > 0:29:13And more importantly,
0:29:13 > 0:29:19do they actually understand the concept behind it?
0:29:23 > 0:29:26The first time the elephants are shown this task, they fail,
0:29:26 > 0:29:30but this is a necessary part of the learning process.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35And something is definitely going on in there,
0:29:35 > 0:29:38a four-kilogram brain is working it out.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42The first thing I think they learn, and there has to be some learning involved,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45as this is a task they've never experienced before,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48the first thing they learn is that their partner needs to be there.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52And they've learned not only does their partner need to be there,
0:29:52 > 0:29:54but their partner needs to be doing something.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57It doesn't take them long to figure it out.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16But Josh needs to prove that their brainpower allows them
0:30:16 > 0:30:20to understand what's going on, so he releases one elephant
0:30:20 > 0:30:24before the other in the hope it'll wait for its partner.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30This moment of waiting is key.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Josh gets the answer he was looking for.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58The elephants are thinking about co-operation, and that demonstrates
0:30:58 > 0:31:02how smart and how well-adapted these animals are.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10It's all very well proving that animals understand co-operation.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16But how does it help them to survive in the wild?
0:31:27 > 0:31:32In South Africa, young meerkats have a huge problem on their hands.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36They have to learn how to deal with potentially lethal prey.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43Because a meal here literally has a sting in its tail.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49Handling scorpions takes months of practice.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56So how do pups ever learn the health and safety rules of the desert menu?
0:32:00 > 0:32:03For all the meerkat pups to survive out here, the adults must ensure
0:32:03 > 0:32:07that they can handle even the most dangerous food items on the menu,
0:32:07 > 0:32:09and the pressure is on.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16In meerkat society, all adults help feed the youngsters,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19responding to the slightest begging call.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23And I can use this to show you how the adults' behaviour
0:32:23 > 0:32:26speeds up the pups' learning process.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29I'm going to carry out
0:32:29 > 0:32:31a little experiment with the help of these speakers,
0:32:31 > 0:32:34which are going to play back meerkat pup begging calls,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37and I am going to monitor the response of the adults.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Now, first up, I'm going to play back the begging calls of
0:32:40 > 0:32:42three to four-week-old pups,
0:32:42 > 0:32:44so basically it's their first day at school.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46RECORDING OF CALLS PLAYS
0:33:00 > 0:33:02It doesn't take them long.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05Something is definitely going on down there.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10You can tell when they're close to getting something
0:33:10 > 0:33:11because they really go for it.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18'Right on cue, an adult
0:33:18 > 0:33:21'brings me back a harmless larva -
0:33:21 > 0:33:25'the perfect food for an inexperienced pup.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27'And when the pup turns out to be speakers,
0:33:27 > 0:33:29'there's an unexpected bonus.'
0:33:29 > 0:33:31Did you just eat that?
0:33:33 > 0:33:35Was that not supposed to be for me?
0:33:37 > 0:33:40This is the first part of the teaching process,
0:33:40 > 0:33:42but it doesn't end there.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45Pups need to learn how to handle more dangerous prey.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52Now I'm going to play back the begging calls of
0:33:52 > 0:33:55slightly older pups, 10 to 11-week-olds,
0:33:55 > 0:33:57which means they're virtually ready to graduate.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00And at this stage they should be able to handle
0:34:00 > 0:34:03slightly more difficult prey, so we're talking prey that's alive,
0:34:03 > 0:34:05prey that's possibly venomous,
0:34:05 > 0:34:07which is why I'm a little bit apprehensive
0:34:07 > 0:34:09as to what the adults might bring me back.
0:34:17 > 0:34:18RECORDING OF CALLS PLAYS
0:34:18 > 0:34:23'The calls sound the same to me, but like those of prairie dogs,
0:34:23 > 0:34:25'there is a subtle difference.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28'Meerkats use their fantastic sense of smell
0:34:28 > 0:34:31'to source the appropriate food.'
0:34:33 > 0:34:37And after a bit of searching, an adult starts digging in earnest.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56That is a scorpion, that is a scorpion and a half.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00Look at that, and it's looking for the pup,
0:35:00 > 0:35:05but it's definitely brought the most dangerous prey
0:35:05 > 0:35:07that a pup can handle -
0:35:07 > 0:35:12perfect for an older pup of 10 to 11 weeks.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14He can't find the pup, he's eating it himself,
0:35:14 > 0:35:18but brilliant, brilliant result, just what we were looking for.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20Good man!
0:35:22 > 0:35:24This time, the scorpion was barely alive.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29During the final stages of learning, the adults still
0:35:29 > 0:35:33bite off the sting so the pups can learn in relative safety.
0:35:35 > 0:35:40But eventually they'll bring one back alive and fully armed.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45Scientists think that by living in groups,
0:35:45 > 0:35:48meerkat pups can fast-track their learning process.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Which means they've got more time on their hands
0:35:56 > 0:35:59to do what youngsters do best.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07Play is the perfect way to learn about the world around you.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15By playing around, animals get to try things out.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Learn from their mistakes.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22And even find their place in life.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32And some, like dolphins, never seem to grow out of it.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42Play is an excellent way to learn about how to deal with the world.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46It might look like the dolphins are just fooling around,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49but all this play is much more important than we think.
0:36:49 > 0:36:50It's making them smarter.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Whales and dolphins are undeniably
0:36:55 > 0:37:00some of the most intelligent creatures on our planet.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05And rumour has it that there's one lagoon in Mexico where
0:37:05 > 0:37:11young grey whales actively engage in play with another species - us!
0:37:13 > 0:37:16This lagoon is so incredibly important to the grey whales,
0:37:16 > 0:37:19I mean, for thousands of years they've come here to calve
0:37:19 > 0:37:21and to rear their young.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24It's really sort of a place they know they can be safe,
0:37:24 > 0:37:29at peace, and play, I guess.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34The whales stay here for months whilst the calves develop,
0:37:34 > 0:37:36both physically and mentally.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39And when you're young and inquisitive,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42it's the perfect time to find a new playmate.
0:37:42 > 0:37:43Oh, look!
0:37:48 > 0:37:49This is unbelievable.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53They have the whole lagoon to swim in,
0:37:53 > 0:37:57and yet this inquisitive pair are coming in for a closer look.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08Ha ha ha!
0:38:10 > 0:38:13The mother's right underneath, supporting the calf.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16So what does that mean?
0:38:16 > 0:38:18What are they trying to tell me?
0:38:18 > 0:38:23And is this calf happy to get patted, to get its nose scratched?
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Argh! I tell you what, I'm not happy to be getting that blown in me face!
0:38:29 > 0:38:34It's just counterintuitive that they should be near to us,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37that their mothers should allow them to get so close to us. Instead...
0:38:40 > 0:38:41Hello!
0:38:41 > 0:38:45Look at this, this is so special.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48There's no question that this means more than just
0:38:48 > 0:38:52"Oops, we just happened to bump into you, we're going to swim off."
0:38:52 > 0:38:55They stay and they like to get scratched.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01This is playful behaviour, is it happy? Is it feeling happiness?
0:39:01 > 0:39:06Is it so ridiculous to even think maybe do they feel emotions?
0:39:06 > 0:39:08Is that ridiculous now?
0:39:08 > 0:39:10We have a duty to at least investigate it.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18This is important.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22This anecdotal meeting is important in itself.
0:39:22 > 0:39:27It's not just me romanticising this fabulous contact with
0:39:27 > 0:39:30this incredibly mystical creature.
0:39:30 > 0:39:37This feels and looks like something else, like a form of communication.
0:39:40 > 0:39:41If you had to ask me now,
0:39:41 > 0:39:46do I think these animals are feeling things, I would say yes.
0:39:46 > 0:39:47I would say yes!
0:39:51 > 0:39:53And I didn't think I'd say that.
0:39:53 > 0:39:58So, as a scientist, now I want to be part of understanding this more.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02And as a human being,
0:40:02 > 0:40:06I'm completely overwhelmed with these creatures right now.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12The notion of whales having emotions might seem a bit far-fetched,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14but consider this.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21Only seven years ago, scientists discovered spindle cells
0:40:21 > 0:40:23in the brains of a few species of whales.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Until that point, only humans
0:40:27 > 0:40:30and the other great apes were known to have them.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34We know that it's these types of cells that allow us
0:40:34 > 0:40:37to feel emotions like love and empathy.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42And even accounting for the fact that whale brains are larger
0:40:42 > 0:40:46than ours, early estimates suggest that they could have
0:40:46 > 0:40:49three times as many spindle cells as humans.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Ha ha. I think that was the goodbye.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02'And one that I won't ever forget.'
0:41:06 > 0:41:09Feeling emotion requires a highly developed brain,
0:41:09 > 0:41:14and if anecdotal evidence is anything to go by, we're not alone.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25Being emotional actually increases your chances for survival.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Fear keeps danger at arm's length.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Love means we protect our relatives.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45And grief shows us what happens if we don't.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55So if emotions are this important,
0:41:55 > 0:41:59how can we actually prove that animals can experience any of them?
0:41:59 > 0:42:05In Seattle, a big-brained social bird is under intense scrutiny.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15Professor John Marzluff has spent ten years studying how crows
0:42:15 > 0:42:18use their intelligence to survive city life.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24And he thinks emotion may have a hand in their success.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Studying these clever corvids is a military operation,
0:42:29 > 0:42:32because they've become increasingly difficult to catch.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40And these masks have become essential to John's research.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52Crows remember the face that catches them and then
0:42:52 > 0:42:54avoid it like the plague in the future.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Looks in pretty good shape, though.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00So John and his colleagues have altered their appearance to
0:43:00 > 0:43:04investigate a possible link between emotion and memory.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08To show you how good these birds are at recognising
0:43:08 > 0:43:11and remembering a face, I've got one of John's caveman masks.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14Now, without it, I can walk around here perfectly happily
0:43:14 > 0:43:17and the birds won't pay any attention to me whatsoever,
0:43:17 > 0:43:19but watch what happens when I put it on.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32BIRD CALLS OUT
0:43:35 > 0:43:36BIRD CALLS CONTINUE
0:43:40 > 0:43:42This scolding behaviour lets me know I've been spotted,
0:43:42 > 0:43:48and it also transmits a message to other crows that danger has arrived.
0:43:48 > 0:43:53What's amazing is that John didn't catch these particular crows
0:43:53 > 0:43:56last week, last month, or even last year.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00He caught them five years ago!
0:44:02 > 0:44:06So what is it that makes their memory of the mask so vivid?
0:44:10 > 0:44:13To answer that question, you need experts in brain physiology,
0:44:13 > 0:44:17and some cutting edge technology.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26After jogging the birds' memories with the mask that caught them,
0:44:26 > 0:44:30the team can find out what's going on in their brains
0:44:30 > 0:44:33by scanning them while the birds are asleep.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38And after a touch of statistical genius, the results are in.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42Right, John, what are we looking at here, then?
0:44:42 > 0:44:45Sure, so in this case what we've got are virtual slices through
0:44:45 > 0:44:46the brain of the bird.
0:44:46 > 0:44:50The colours are the areas that were most active.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52Here we have the hippocampus...
0:44:52 > 0:44:53Hippocampus is all about?
0:44:53 > 0:44:55Spatial memory, short term memory.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58So the birds are recalling stuff as they're
0:44:58 > 0:45:00- looking at that dangerous mask. - Absolutely.
0:45:00 > 0:45:03'This in itself is interesting but the next image
0:45:03 > 0:45:05'is truly groundbreaking.'
0:45:05 > 0:45:07What is that highly active area here, then?
0:45:07 > 0:45:09It's the fear centre.
0:45:09 > 0:45:12It's basically the emotional centre of the bird's brain,
0:45:12 > 0:45:16the amygdala, adding the context of emotion to that memory
0:45:16 > 0:45:18and thought that was going on in the brain.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21So does that mean that these crows are feeling emotion,
0:45:21 > 0:45:23they're feeling fear like humans do?
0:45:23 > 0:45:27Absolutely, they're using the same structures in the brain,
0:45:27 > 0:45:31we know they're probably also using the same chemicals in the brain to convey this feeling.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35I think there's no doubt these birds feel the emotion of fear - there it is.
0:45:37 > 0:45:41'This is unequivocal proof that crows have basic emotions.'
0:45:45 > 0:45:48'And after such a strong, memorable experience,
0:45:48 > 0:45:52'they're smart enough never to go near anyone wearing the mask again.'
0:45:54 > 0:45:58Strong emotions can cement the memory of important experiences
0:45:58 > 0:46:02into the brain, and that gives crows an evolutionary edge,
0:46:02 > 0:46:06because if you can remember what's dangerous and what's not,
0:46:06 > 0:46:08that's an incredible survival tool.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18But emotions can get much more complex than fear.
0:46:22 > 0:46:25For instance, to feel pride,
0:46:25 > 0:46:28you have to be able to see yourself as others do.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34You need a sense of identity.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39This is a truly advanced social skill.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46But not one that many animals appear to have mastered.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53When confronted with their own image, most animals see only
0:46:53 > 0:46:56another individual and a potential threat.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06It takes a quantum leap in brainpower
0:47:06 > 0:47:08to recognise your own image.
0:47:11 > 0:47:16So, how would a bull elephant called Pooki fare?
0:47:21 > 0:47:24Recognition isn't instantaneous,
0:47:24 > 0:47:28but something is definitely going on in Pooki's brain.
0:47:30 > 0:47:34After working out that his reflection isn't another elephant,
0:47:34 > 0:47:38he has to understand that he's looking at himself, and this
0:47:38 > 0:47:43is something that very few species on the planet are able to do.
0:47:46 > 0:47:51It's worth remembering that Pooki would knock this mirror down
0:47:51 > 0:47:53if he saw it as a threat.
0:47:53 > 0:47:56But he has something else on his mind -
0:47:56 > 0:47:59himself and those rather fetching tusks.
0:48:13 > 0:48:15By inventing bizarre trunk movements,
0:48:15 > 0:48:17Pooki is testing his own reflection,
0:48:17 > 0:48:21suggesting he really does know what he's looking at.
0:48:22 > 0:48:27It's quite amazing how long a male can look at his own reflection!
0:48:32 > 0:48:35And by examining a freshly painted cross,
0:48:35 > 0:48:40elephants prove they understand that they're looking at themselves.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45And this sense of self is truly profound.
0:48:51 > 0:48:55Knowing how you might be seen by others allows you to feel concern
0:48:55 > 0:48:59and have an understanding of their feelings.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02This is essential in highly complex social groups
0:49:02 > 0:49:06like those of elephants, dolphins and the great apes.
0:49:09 > 0:49:14We're only just beginning to learn about the full extent
0:49:14 > 0:49:18of animal intelligence, but what we've already learnt is astounding.
0:49:18 > 0:49:19Did you see that?
0:49:21 > 0:49:25Our nearest neighbours are sentient beings that use brainpower to
0:49:25 > 0:49:27succeed in the trials of life.
0:49:28 > 0:49:32Animals can learn from one another to make life easier,
0:49:32 > 0:49:35they have their own complex tongues,
0:49:35 > 0:49:37and can even understand foreign languages.
0:49:37 > 0:49:40Here comes Einstein. Do it, good girl.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45They communicate across vast landscapes,
0:49:45 > 0:49:48can work together for the greater good.
0:49:48 > 0:49:52And they outwit each other with ingenious schemes.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57They have big brains, big hearts,
0:49:57 > 0:50:02and can even see themselves as others do.
0:50:04 > 0:50:06Which begs the question,
0:50:06 > 0:50:09just how similar are the smartest animals to you and I?
0:50:12 > 0:50:16To answer this question, we've got one more conversation to have,
0:50:16 > 0:50:19and if rumours are anything to go by,
0:50:19 > 0:50:22this one promises to be truly out of this world.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27Science is showing us that animals
0:50:27 > 0:50:31are capable of many of the things we once thought were unique to humans -
0:50:31 > 0:50:35tool use, language, culture, even emotions.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37But would it ever be possible
0:50:37 > 0:50:40to have an actual meeting of minds with another species?
0:50:40 > 0:50:42Well, if there's anywhere in the world
0:50:42 > 0:50:45where that might just be possible, it's here.
0:50:48 > 0:50:52This is the Great Ape Trust in the United States,
0:50:52 > 0:50:53home to what many believe
0:50:53 > 0:50:57are the most intelligent animals on the planet.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02Trusting her to give me a decent haircut so I look OK!
0:51:02 > 0:51:07For 30 years, Dr Sue Savage-Rumbaugh has been immersing bonobos
0:51:07 > 0:51:11in our culture, raising them as you would any human child.
0:51:11 > 0:51:15And they have a relationship that almost defies belief.
0:51:15 > 0:51:17She would like to be a dentist as well.
0:51:19 > 0:51:23Sue is able to communicate directly with two apes -
0:51:23 > 0:51:2831-year-old Kanzi, the world's undisputed ape language superstar.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34And Panbanisha, his somewhat more sophisticated half-sister.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40So how do you go about having a conversation with an ape?
0:51:40 > 0:51:43Well, this is a collection of abstract symbols
0:51:43 > 0:51:46and they represent English words, and they're called lexigrams.
0:51:46 > 0:51:50And if I learn to speak to them using these symbols
0:51:50 > 0:51:52it'll go a long way to sort of
0:51:52 > 0:51:55ingratiating myself into their favour.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59So I'm going to try and learn as many as I can before I meet one of the bonobos,
0:51:59 > 0:52:02and I have to admit it's a little bit daunting.
0:52:05 > 0:52:10What's really interesting about these lexigrams is their complexity.
0:52:10 > 0:52:14You can ask an ape questions, even talk about the future or past,
0:52:14 > 0:52:18but, most importantly, it allows them to talk back,
0:52:18 > 0:52:22allowing an actual conversation to occur.
0:52:23 > 0:52:28'So, after a crash course in the absolute basics,
0:52:28 > 0:52:31'I'm told I'm ready to meet the masters themselves.'
0:52:34 > 0:52:37'First up is Kanzi, but I don't feel ready at all.'
0:52:37 > 0:52:39I'm not sure whether I've learnt enough symbols
0:52:39 > 0:52:41so I'm just going to have to wing it,
0:52:41 > 0:52:44and if all else fails I'll just speak to him,
0:52:44 > 0:52:47because I've got a mic on and he can hear me inside.
0:52:48 > 0:52:49Oh. Hi.
0:52:51 > 0:52:55Hi, Kanzi, do you want to come and say hello?
0:52:59 > 0:53:00Well, hello there.
0:53:04 > 0:53:05Hello, young man.
0:53:09 > 0:53:10Kanzi?
0:53:10 > 0:53:18I...have...surprise...for...you.
0:53:20 > 0:53:22'But Kanzi has other things on his mind.'
0:53:22 > 0:53:27To chase and tickle, he wants to chase and tickle with you now.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30I want to chase and tickle with you too!
0:53:30 > 0:53:31Go, go, I'll chase you.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33Go, I'll chase you.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40That's a good game, I like tickling too.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43He's trying to involve Simon in this.
0:53:43 > 0:53:46He wants the crew to join in the chasing.
0:53:46 > 0:53:48He wants to see you all chase each other.
0:53:48 > 0:53:52Ha ha ha! That would be a good game.
0:53:54 > 0:53:59'It rapidly becomes obvious that Kanzi has a mischievous personality.
0:53:59 > 0:54:03'He's more human than any other animal I have ever come across,
0:54:03 > 0:54:06'and we're actually having a conversation.'
0:54:08 > 0:54:12Water? You want water in here?
0:54:12 > 0:54:13Cos he's hot.
0:54:15 > 0:54:16Water, you.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19Yeah. With the hose?
0:54:20 > 0:54:24The hose water? The hose.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27The hose. Me?
0:54:28 > 0:54:30You.
0:54:30 > 0:54:31I'm coming round.
0:54:34 > 0:54:38Oh, my gosh, it seems like the most normal thing in the world
0:54:38 > 0:54:40to have a conversation with a bonobo,
0:54:40 > 0:54:43and I really feel quite a connection with him.
0:54:43 > 0:54:49And he's lovely, his personality is amazing, beautiful face, full of beans, and we're having a chat.
0:54:49 > 0:54:53And it feels completely natural, which is rather odd!
0:54:55 > 0:54:58How good does that feel!
0:54:58 > 0:55:00'Perhaps unsurprisingly,
0:55:00 > 0:55:04'Kanzi seems to be enjoying this game just as much as I am.'
0:55:04 > 0:55:08Seriously, how adorable are you? If you spit that out...
0:55:08 > 0:55:11'But Sue thinks that by meeting Panbanisha we'll understand
0:55:11 > 0:55:14'just how complex an ape's thoughts can be.'
0:55:14 > 0:55:16Can I come in?
0:55:16 > 0:55:18'And she's asked me to bring a gift.'
0:55:18 > 0:55:20Hey, lovely.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23'I've been told Panbanisha's rather partial to decaffeinated coffee.'
0:55:27 > 0:55:29'And it's done the trick.'
0:55:29 > 0:55:30She likes you.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34'I think I'm in her good books.'
0:55:36 > 0:55:38She's telling you collar.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41Collar, what's a collar?
0:55:41 > 0:55:46Well, we put our collar on when we go outdoors.
0:55:46 > 0:55:48If... You hear that?
0:55:48 > 0:55:52When we go outdoors we put our collar on, if we're going to go in the car.
0:55:54 > 0:55:58'By knowing she has to wear the collar when in the car, Panbanisha
0:55:58 > 0:56:02'is proving that she understands the context of the situation.'
0:56:02 > 0:56:07Car, open...group room, collar.
0:56:07 > 0:56:12See, if you, if you open that group room where you are out there,
0:56:12 > 0:56:14and go out that door,
0:56:14 > 0:56:17and she puts her collar on, well, that's where the car is.
0:56:17 > 0:56:19We could do that.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24Now you can get in the back.
0:56:24 > 0:56:25OK.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28'Panbanisha has decided we're all going for a picnic,
0:56:28 > 0:56:32'and there's only one way for a 21st-century ape to travel.'
0:56:34 > 0:56:38It might seem bizarre, but this is incredibly special.
0:56:40 > 0:56:45Panbanisha uses a complex tool to speak to another species
0:56:45 > 0:56:48in a totally foreign language.
0:56:48 > 0:56:53She understands that there are rules associated with visitors,
0:56:53 > 0:56:56and applies them when she makes impromptu decisions.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01Oh, you want to? She wants to go this way.
0:57:01 > 0:57:04'And she has the cognitive ability to change her mind.'
0:57:04 > 0:57:07We're taking the scenic route, of course.
0:57:09 > 0:57:13Whatever you make of this, there's no doubt these apes have a level of
0:57:13 > 0:57:18intellect that completely redefines old theories of animal intelligence.
0:57:18 > 0:57:24And communicating with an animal that shares 98% of its DNA
0:57:24 > 0:57:29with humans seems like a fitting end to our journey.
0:57:29 > 0:57:31The truth is there's just so much more to discover.
0:57:33 > 0:57:36Wherever you look,
0:57:36 > 0:57:37right across our planet.
0:57:41 > 0:57:45For years, we've set ourselves far apart from other animals.
0:57:45 > 0:57:48And, yes, humans are very special.
0:57:48 > 0:57:52But the boundary between human and animal intelligence
0:57:52 > 0:57:55is much narrower than we thought.
0:57:55 > 0:57:58And what's become very clear is it's not a question of
0:57:58 > 0:58:02comparing us to other species, or even finding the smartest animal.
0:58:02 > 0:58:07Every animal is as intelligent as it needs to be in its own environment.
0:58:07 > 0:58:11We've still got so much to learn, but the more we learn,
0:58:11 > 0:58:15the more we're going to have to redefine intelligence,
0:58:15 > 0:58:18what it means to be human, and the more our relationship with
0:58:18 > 0:58:22other animals is inevitably going to change.
0:58:45 > 0:58:47Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd