Animals Like Us (2024) s01e05 Episode Script

Narrator: In the heart
of the jungle,
something is in the air.
Romeos looking for love
splash on a unique cologne
before they make their move.
On the ice,
divorce gets messy.
Leaving jilted lovers
out in the cold.
And across the savannah,
close knit families
come together
to mourn the loss
of a loved one.
This is a new way
of seeing the natural world.
Where wild animals act
just like we do.
One of the fascinating things
about studying animals
is discovering how many aspects
of their behaviour
have parallels with our own.
Narrator: Around the globe,
animals continue to astound us
with their intelligence,
and deep emotions.
The amazing thing is
the more we learn about them,
the more we realize
animals are a lot like us.
When it comes to
attracting a mate,
male lemurs do their best
to stand out from the crowd.
Just like any of us would.
But for these primates,
It's less about how you look
and more about how you smell.
The island of Madagascar.
After months of heavy rainfall,
the woodlands here are covered
with lush vegetation.
And this month,
something else is in the air.
Love.
Ben: This time of year,
Madagascar turns into
a bit of a love island.
And that's because
females don't have a huge window
in which to breed.
They become fertile
for about one day a year.
Narrator: All the female lemurs
looking for a fella
will pick the one
with just the right fragrance.
The female lemurs are ready.
Their precious few days of
fertility are fast approaching.
Lucy:
It might seem that the female
has poor odds of mating.
But actually, seasonal breeding
is an advantage
because all the babies are born
in the summer
and are therefore weaned when
the trees are full of fruit.
Narrator: With thousands of
potential females to mate with.
There's only one question
on the male lemur's mind.
"How do I get noticed?"
The energy
of lemurs is great
and these ring-tails
are no exception.
There's definitely some sort of
strife going on in this group.
And it's always really complex
to tease apart
these social relationships.
Narrator: In lemur troops,
the females write the rulebook
when it comes to dating.
And as mating season begins,
the males start
preparing themselves.
Each is determined
to be considered
the most irresistible.
Male lemurs have
a dominance hierarchy,
and it's all to do with age.
If you're older,
you're higher up the ladder,
and you have a greater chance
of becoming a father.
Narrator: Although these guys
can't dress up
in the latest fashion,
they can still do something
to stand out from the crowd,
and impress the ladies.
They have the ability to create
their very own cologne.
Each lemur has scent glands
on its wrists and shoulders.
And in the lead up
to mating season
they produce
a heavily scented liquid.
They'll rub the scent
on their tails
and wave them near the object
of their affection.
These lemurs are taking
their preparation
a little bit seriously.
It's just a bit like us,
slapping on the aftershave
and getting ready
on a Friday night out.
Narrator: The closer
mating season gets,
the more
they'll slap on the scent.
I always think
how lucky we are
that we don't rely
on scent too much.
But many of our cousins
within the primate world
heavily rely on scent.
And you can see this lemur here
is using the scent glands
on its wrist to mark its tail.
And this will be
really important
for social cues,
for health-based cues,
for other members
of the community.
Narrator: As the mating window
approaches,
the lemur's scent glands
ramp up production.
And these lotharios
kick up a stink.
It's super interesting
because many animal pheromones
smell really horrible to us.
But researchers say
that this particular smell
belies its stinky reputation,
and actually,
it smells kind of floral,
a bit like a pear.
Narrator: The lemur's cologne
might not be for us,
but to a love-struck female,
it can be intoxicating.
A recent study has revealed
why this lemur cologne
is so effective.
There are some
secret ingredients
to the lemurs' love potion.
Within this group of 200
or so chemicals,
there are three,
including pheromones,
which prove
irresistible to the females.
The three special chemicals
are in higher concentration
during the mating season
and it intoxicates the ladies.
Narrator:
This lemur is not content
with just applying his scent.
He waves his tail around,
hoping to catch the eye,
or nose,
not of a female,
but a rival.
This other male
is clearly not impressed.
Intoxicating for the gals.
And infuriating for the guys.
These so-called "stink fights"
establish who gets the rights
to breed with the females.
This is a showdown
to try and see
who's the dominant one.
And each individual is trying
to overpower the other.
It's a little bit like
two humans having a fight,
spraying aftershave
at each other.
Narrator: It's a useful way
of resolving conflicts
that doesn't involve
the risk of injury.
You might think typical males
always showing off,
trying to outdo each other.
But all this tail waving
has a very specific purpose.
Narrator: Eventually,
one of the males backs down.
And to the victor,
go the spoils.
But the male's cologne
is much more
than just a strong smell.
Females can tell so much
just from the male's scent.
It's kind of like
a health report.
It'll tell her how healthy
his immune system is,
and that means
how good he's going to be
at fighting off diseases
and parasites
which might otherwise
affect her offspring.
[lemur shrieking]
Narrator: Once the females
have made their choice,
they make the most
of the small mating window.
And just over
four months later,
the trees of Madagascar
are filled with newborns.
This seasonal breeding
might also have
another advantage
by overwhelming predators.
And so babies are more likely
to survive.
Narrator: It comes down
to sheer numbers, and odds.
With so many newborn lemurs
appearing all at once,
there's a greater chance
an individual will survive,
and reach adulthood.
Lemurs reach sexual maturity
at around two to three
years of age.
So, if all goes well,
they'll be out there
stink-flirting in no time.
Chemicals and pheromones
play a variety of roles
in animal behaviour.
Helping them to not only
find a mate,
but to communicate
and ward off rivals.
Wolves and coyotes,
for example,
scent-mark their territories.
Using their own urine
and faeces
to send a signal
to other wild dogs to back off.
Ants rely on pheromones
to distinguish between
members of their own colony
and outsiders.
And for honeybees,
pheromones are involved
in almost every aspect
of colony life.
From reproduction and mating
to swarming and defence.
But these amazing
little insects also communicate
in some other surprising ways.
Bees are one of Earth's most
important pollinators.
Essential in the animal kingdom
for transferring pollen
to fertilize our crops
and wild plants.
[bees buzzing]
Like humans,
many bees are social creatures,
living and working together
in a community.
A colony can be up to
80,000 strong,
making a cooperative society
of one queen,
tens of thousands
of female workers,
and hundreds of male drones.
As some bees are social insects,
they found ingenious
ways to communicate.
While we use words
and dolphins use clicks,
bees have come up
with their own complex language.
[buzzing]
Narrator:
Language plays a vital role
when bees are tracking down
pollen and nectar.
They can forage
as far as 5 km away
from their nest
in search of the best flowers.
This is usually a scout,
off on a solo hunt
for these valuable resources.
When this scout
has found a good food source,
what it needs to do is
very quickly gather some nectar,
gather some pollen,
and then head, make a beeline,
back to the colony.
[buzzing]
And then it's got to
tell the other bees
where this food source is.
And it's not like I can just
drop a pin on an app.
It has to be able to share
this information somehow.
Narrator: Time to get busy.
The bee will actually
perform a unique dance
for the other members.
It's known as
the "Waggle Dance."
By performing it,
bees can communicate directions
and the distance
from the best flowers around.
Narrator: This may look like
a bee moving to its own beat,
but hidden in these movements
are important details.
It's an incredible language
because the angle
and the duration of the waggle
will indicate what direction
this food source is in.
And then the number of waggles
will actually tell the bees
how far the food source is.
Narrator: The other bees
watch and learn.
When they've gotten the message,
they rush
to the same flower patch.
The waggle dance is like
getting directions
from a sat-nav
telling the bees where to go.
Just like
when we tell our friends
our favourite places to eat.
But this dance
is not the only way
they chat to each other.
Bees also have a human-like
method of communication
that's only recently
been discovered.
In Japan,
you'll find
the Japanese honeybee.
Japanese honeybees are similar
in size to the Western honeybees
and they've adapted to really
extreme weather conditions.
But they've also come up
with a very humanlike way
to communicate.
Narrator: Japanese honeybees
build their nests
in hollowed out trees,
crevices, and caves.
The queen lays eggs that hatch
into larvae.
They're fed a diet of honey.
But the honey's alluring scent
as well as
the protein-rich larvae,
can attract deadly predators.
Like the Japanese giant hornet.
With sharp mandibles, a hornet
can crush a honeybee in half,
and its sting is strong enough
to dissolve human tissue.
Giant hornets
are really well armed
and could certainly easily
overwhelm a colony of bees.
Narrator: A giant hornet
launches its attack on a hive.
Even though it's outnumbered
thousands to one,
the hornet sees those
as good odds.
But it hasn't counted on this.
Honeybees have
their own strategy to fight back
and that actually involves
letting out a scream.
[shrieking]
Narrator: Just like
we might scream
to alert others
of a home intruder,
this high-pitched shriek
spreads rapidly
throughout the hive.
It's harsh, it's noisy,
and it does exactly
what it's designed to do,
which is alert the other bees
that there's a danger.
This sounds like a warning call,
which is what it is.
It would also signal to me,
if I was walking past the thing,
"Get well back from that nest."
I think this is
pretty intimidating.
It's like a war cry.
Narrator:
As the scream spreads,
more and more bees rush
to defend their hive.
This rapid alarm call leads to
an amazing behaviour
called "bee balling."
Hundreds of bees
form a ball around the hornet,
vibrating their flight muscles
to produce an intense heat.
The bees can tolerate this rise
in temperature,
but the hornet
doesn't fair so well.
So the bees here
have surrounded this hornet.
It's being cooked alive.
So these bees are all over it
and they're just
vibrating their bodies.
Each of them producing
a little bit of heat.
The hornet thought
he could solo all these bees.
He was wrong,
and he came up against
a coordinated team
in these bees.
And this is now a baked hornet.
Narrator: As it turns out,
bees are constantly chatting
in their own special way.
Bees don't just communicate
to share information
about food
or to alert
one another about danger.
They also communicate to share
really important information
about the hive.
Narrator: For instance,
bees communicate
with each other to make sure
the right individuals
mate with the queen.
Or to notify everyone
when it's time to move
to another hive.
It's what scientists call
"Swarm Intelligence."
Thousands of honeybees
can pool their knowledge
and make a collective decision.
It's a steady buzz
that keeps these incredibly
social insects together.
Finding a happily ever after
with our one true love.
A romantic dream
for many of us.
And that is true of
a number of animals, too.
Grey wolves
partner up for life.
Their pack
becoming a family affair,
made up of their young.
On the plains of Colorado,
the beginning
of a beautiful relationship.
These two sandhill cranes
dance their way
into each other's hearts.
And then,
stay together for life.
Of course, some love birds
take fidelity to the extreme,
and there can be
severe consequences
for anyone who strays.
Antarctica.
The coldest,
windiest continent on Earth.
An isolated outpost.
Too extreme and too cut off
for people to be
permanent residents.
But there are animals
that can thrive
in this barren landscape.
One way
is by having the support
of a lifelong partner.
Like these gentoo penguins.
[honking, chirping]
Raising a newborn
in the Antarctic is no picnic.
It takes two dedicated partners
willing to work round the clock
to dutifully look after
their love nest
their eggs
and each other.
Penguins could win prizes
for being the perfect couple.
They do everything together.
They're like ideal partners,
putting aside
their own selfish needs
to take care of each other
and their kids.
They even come up with, like,
a special call for their kid.
It's like nicknames we have
for our own children.
How sweet is that?
Narrator: Once their youngster
is hatched
and waddles away from the nest,
the parents leave
the breeding ground separately,
knowing that they will meet up
next breeding season.
Nearly a year later,
when the penguins return,
they look for their partners.
The males arrive first,
followed by the females.
But a year is a long time
in the wild.
Some couples are reunited.
Others faithfully search
for their true love,
but don't find them.
They wait.
But after a while, they have
a tough decision to make.
Do they move on?
Nadeem: We all
know that feeling.
The feeling of being dumped.
It hurts.
But penguins seem not to dwell
on this negative emotion
for too long.
They understand that really
the breeding season is about
producing that egg
and raising that chick,
and they just move on
to find a new partner.
Narrator:
But this is a risky move.
Their partner might
just have been delayed
on their journey back.
When they return,
they could see
the love of their life
in the wings of another.
When a female partner
has arrived
from the previous season,
and finds that her lonely mate
has shacked up
with a new female,
she doesn't take it well.
And the couple has trouble
keeping its affair private.
Word gets round
and others in the colony
stick their beaks in.
Divorce is a complex issue
for birds,
just as it is with humans,
and it can be triggered
by many causes.
For gentoos,
besides physical separation,
it could be
poor reproductive performance,
or it might be that her partner
has a low-quality territory
and she simply
wants to trade up.
Narrator: A fight breaks out
between the two females,
apparently, over the male,
and things escalate quickly.
[shrieking]
The penguin's flippers
are made of solid bone,
instead of being hollow
like most bird bones.
This helps them dive deep
in the sea.
But the flippers
can also be weapons,
and deliver painful whacks
at a rate of eight blows
per second.
[shrieking]
The jilted female
chases away the bird
that moved in on her mate.
Bloodied and beaten,
the would-be homewrecker
is kicked out.
Finding a new partner
is obviously less than ideal,
and it makes what was already
a long endeavour
way more complicated.
But all hope is not lost
for the gentoo penguins
because they breed from June,
all the way through,
until October.
So time is on their side
to find a new partner,
and who knows,
the new partner might give you
better reproductive success
than the ex.
Despite all this,
gentoos do have
high rates of mate fidelity
compared to other penguins.
More than 80% of individuals
will breed with the same partner
for more than
two consecutive seasons.
And considering
all the challenges
these birds have to go through,
that's not bad.
Narrator: It takes effort
and commitment to raise young.
Especially when you're living
in an extreme environment.
So, for penguins,
like these gentoos,
it makes a lot of sense
to stay true to one partner.
The bird they know best
and trust.
Hooking up in the same place
at the same time
year after year
is good for them,
and the survival of the colony.
Something we humans share with
all living creatures is death.
Just like us,
animals are born,
live their lives,
and die.
But perhaps surprisingly,
many animals seem to mourn
the loss of family and friends.
Elephants take great interest
in the bones of the dead,
even paying tribute.
Magpies have been known
to put grass and twigs
on top of their dead,
almost like a burial.
And dolphins have been known
to carry their dead loved ones
for days.
Narrator: And in some species,
when a dead loved one
is acknowledged,
it brings a whole community
together.
In the face of a loss,
giraffes seem to
unite in their grief.
The world's tallest creatures
are found
across Sub-Saharan Africa,
in countries like Tanzania.
Home of the Serengeti.
Here, thousands of giraffes
move gracefully across
the open savannahs
and woodlands.
They travel in large herds
of ten to twenty animals.
And, sometimes, as many as 50.
These elegant creatures
form tight-knit groups.
But also like to mingle
with the neighbours.
For giraffes,
this large savannah
can have a small-town feel
where everyone knows each other.
Giraffes are social creatures
that don't just stick
to their own herd,
and mix with other herds
in the same area.
Narrator: For decades,
giraffes had been
mistakenly described
as "Socially aloof."
The perception was
that their groups were fluid,
with no lasting bonds
between individuals
that were free to come and go.
We now know
that giraffe society is complex
and structured.
A lot like the elephant's.
You know the expression,
"It takes a village
to raise a child"?
Well, giraffes take that
to heart.
The males might be off
forming bachelor groups,
but the females stay together
and they form a creche,
where they collectively
look after the young
and generally just look out
for each other.
Narrator: Being such a caring
and close community,
Giraffes are hit hard
when one of their own
or a neighbour dies.
Word has gotten out.
The body of an old giraffe
has been discovered.
A handful of giraffes
gather round
their fallen friend.
Over time, more giraffes arrive
to pay their respects.
Some even inspect the body.
They seem so curious.
We can all understand what
it's like to lose a loved one,
and watching these giraffes,
you can really see
that they know
something's wrong.
Narrator: This giraffe may have
lived as long as 25 years.
As it aged, it would've become
increasingly vulnerable
to big cats or hyenas
out here on the savannah.
Or it could have gotten sick,
just like we sometimes do.
However, it happens
a loss of life always seems
to deeply affect
the whole community.
Death is something we share
with all living creatures,
but we tend to think of grief
and having that sense of loss
as something that's
a uniquely human experience.
And for decades, scientists
really struggled to accept
the idea that other species,
other animals,
might be able to feel
these complex emotions.
But when you watch giraffe,
especially when they're around
other dead loved ones,
it's really clear that
they must be feeling something
akin to grief.
Dan: Scientists believe that
status within the group
will produce different levels
of interest after they die.
A minor player in the group
might be passed by,
whereas a matriarchal leader
might see every member
of the group
coming to pay a visit
after they've gone.
Narrator: This death has
attracted a lot of attention.
While we can't say
they are suffering grief
as we understand it,
they're obviously
deeply affected by this loss.
We have to be careful not to
project our own emotions here.
But just like giraffes,
we're mammals driven by hormones
so it's pretty unsurprising
that they might feel
the same things that we feel.
Grief seems to be
an experience and behaviour
that we observe
in social animals,
so it suggests that
it has something to do with
breaking the bonds and the pain
of losing a relationship.
So on some level,
even in animals,
social animals particularly,
they have to have
a period of mourning
or at least feeling
the loss of this relationship.
Narrator: Gathered around
a fallen comrade,
it certainly seems
like the giraffes
are paying their respects,
or tribute, to the deceased.
It's an incredible display
that perhaps shows us that
the animal world and we humans
are not that far apart
in how we deal with the loss
of someone we love or admire.
There are so many different
aspects of human nature
that we share with members
of the animal kingdom.
For example,
deception.
Like some
less scrupulous people
animals can use
ingenuity and cunning
to exploit
and deceive each other.
Some toads puff themselves up
to look bigger
to avoid being eaten.
While the orchid mantis
disguises itself as a flower
to fool unwitting insects
into becoming its next meal.
And in Africa,
there's a sneaky little bird
that uses mimicry
to get a free meal.
Meet the fork-tailed drongo.
Also known as
"the great impersonator."
The drongo lives
in the Kalahari desert
covering over
900,000 square kilometres
of Southern Africa.
A harsh
and unforgiving landscape.
Surviving here
can be a daily struggle.
The Kalahari is
a desert of extremes.
In the summer, it can reach
temperatures of 115 F.
And in the winter, it can
go down to as low as 10 F.
So that means for half the year
it's way too cold
for insects to be flying around.
And that's
the drongo's favourite food.
Narrator: To survive,
this brainy bird has turned
to a life of crime.
Relying on deception
and manipulation
to feed itself.
The first part of its strategy
is to build up
good relationships
with some of the other locals:
meerkats.
Some animals live
in mixed groups
because it often pays to have
lots of different pairs
of eyes and ears
looking and listening out
for danger
Some animals do this so much,
that they get switched on
to each other's alarm calls
so they know
when danger's about.
There are many examples
of different species
living and working together.
You've got baboons and impala,
and wildebeests and zebra.
So you can see
why these meerkats
would think
the drongo was on their side.
Narrator: But this sneaky bird
has other plans.
While watching
the meerkat feast
it makes a warning call
usually raised
by the meerkat sentries.
[drongo shrieks]
They scatter.
But the drongo knows something
the meerkats don't.
This is a false alarm.
For this bird,
crime really does pay.
With the area clear,
the drongo flies down
and tucks in.
This cheeky drongo
has had a hard morning
of swindling the meerkats,
they've cleared off because
he's mimicked their alarm call
and now he's swooping down
to claim the spoils of war.
Deception is a sign
of intelligence.
This bird can exploit
others' fear for its own gain.
But that's not the only skill
that the drongo has.
Narrator:
These meerkats aren't stupid.
They won't keep falling
for the same trick.
Like the boy who cried wolf,
these meerkats have wised up.
The drongo is in danger
of going hungry.
So, the crafty bird
tries something different.
Meerkats have a myriad
of different calls
that reflect the degree
of danger, and the urgency.
We can't notice
any difference between them,
but the meerkats can.
[drongo calling]
[meerkats calling]
So, let's take a listen
to both calls
and see if
we can tell the difference.
First, the meerkat.
[meerkat calling]
Okay.
And now, the drongo.
[drongo calling]
Me, personally,
I'm not being fooled by that
but I don't know,
if I was a meerkat,
with loads of young to protect,
I might not take the risk.
Narrator: The drongo has
tweaked its impersonation
to a much more
urgent alarm call.
The meerkats run
for their lives.
With the meerkats gone,
the drongo fills up once more.
So there is such a thing
as a free meal.
By stealing,
the drongo can vary its diet
to include food that it normally
wouldn't be able to
get for itself,
such as spiders,
scorpions, and geckos,
which usually have to be dug up
from underground.
It isn't just a meerkat
that the drongo impersonates.
They can mimic up to
51 different species,
which includes babbler alarms
and starling warning calls.
Narrator: This bird
is the perfect impersonator
and a pathological liar.
By listening to the calls
in the wild,
it has worked out
which ones are warning calls
and mimics them.
[drongo squawks]
You can hardly blame the meerkat
for being fooled.
The drongo's
impersonation skills
are second only to the lyrebird.
[frenzied calling]
Found in Australia, the lyrebird
is an incredible impersonator.
It can mimic human voices.
It can do chainsaws.
It can even do laser blasts.
[laser blast calls]
Narrator: The drongo has chosen
to live a life of crime,
like some humans.
But this bird has to be careful.
If these meerkats ever discover
they were being fooled,
there might be swift justice.
[drongo squawks]
To survive out here
in the heart of Africa,
it takes more
than just cunning and guile.
For some creatures,
family is key.
Even for the continent's
apex predators.
Kenya is one of the most
species-rich countries
on Earth,
boasting an abundance
of colourful
and charismatic animals.
Chief among them: lions.
Individually, fearsome
and strong.
A true king of beasts.
But to really thrive here,
these wild cats pull together
and rely on each other.
Especially a pride's
related females.
Moms, daughters, and aunts
that do everything together.
A true sisterhood.
But there comes a time
in most lionesses' lives,
when they have to go it alone.
Pregnancy.
Lionesses give birth
by themselves.
There are no midwives out here.
When it's time,
a pregnant female
will slip away from the pride,
find someplace quiet and safe,
and bring new lives
into the world all on her own.
While pregnant, she's been busy.
She's built herself
a secret lair
that she can go
to give birth uninterrupted.
Once she does, she'll give
birth to two to six cubs.
-[lioness purring]
-[cubs meowing]
Lion cubs are really cute
and surprisingly defenceless
when they're first born.
They really are completely
dependent on their mothers,
not just for nourishment,
I mean, they can't even
open their eyes,
but also for safety.
Narrator: This proud mom
certainly has her paws full
with these new arrivals.
She must keep them fed
and hidden away,
safe from predators.
Dan: Lion moms have earned
their fierce reputation.
They're incredibly protective,
and once they give birth,
they'll spend a few weeks
alone with their cubs
bonding with them
and ignoring everything else.
Narrator: They remain in hiding
until they're old enough
and strong enough
to keep up with the pride.
And only then, will the lioness
bring them home
to meet the rest of the family.
Just like with human moms,
the early days go very quickly,
maybe not quick enough for some,
but certainly for the cubs,
it takes just eight weeks
until they're old enough
to be introduced to the pride.
Narrator: When they do
eventually return to the pride,
there's a good chance
the cubs won't be alone.
When one lioness gives birth,
other lionesses in the pride
often give birth
around the same time.
Lions don't have
a breeding season,
but all females have
a synchronized ovulation cycle.
This means a pride can have
a lot of cubs to look after
at one time.
Narrator:
This makes perfect sense.
Having cubs at the same time
means that mother lions
can rely on each other
to nurse, babysit,
and protect the youngsters.
It is a savannah safety net.
One that boosts
the cubs' chances of survival,
in what is obviously
a pretty tough neighbourhood.
But having
a large number of cubs
to look after at one time
is a big responsibility,
and a daunting task,
considering that at some point,
every new mom will have to
resume her hunting duties.
And so, lionesses have come up
with a solution.
They do
"collective childcare."
It's kind of like
a feline daycare centre.
Gillian: The lionesses
take it in turns.
They're working shifts,
if you like.
So they'll rotate out.
So some will be
looking after the young,
others will be out hunting,
and some get to sleep.
Narrator: These working moms,
having dropped off their young,
are on the hunting shift.
This can take them away
from the pride
for hours at a time.
-[lion roaring]
-[elephant wailing]
Lions need to hunt
every three to four days.
And with so many
hungry mouths to feed,
the pressure is on.
While the hunting party
works hard
to bring home dinner,
a couple of the lionesses
stay behind.
Today, they are the designated
daycare workers.
When it comes to mealtimes,
these lionesses
will make sure all little ones
are well fed.
Even the cubs
that aren't their own.
Most mammals will only
nurse from their own mother,
but lion moms
aren't fussy at all
and will nurse
any of the cubs in the pride.
It's a perfect arrangement,
as they're all lactating,
they can all provide food
for the daycare.
[cubs meowing]
Narrator: But this daycare
is not just about
playing and feeding.
The lionesses also have
an additional role.
Security guards.
Protecting the little ones
against unfriendly neighbours
that might see lion cubs
as a tasty meal.
Daycare is the perfect system
for keeping the cubs together.
And it means that the lionesses
can keep the cubs safe
from any predators.
Narrator: Predators like
leopards, hyenas,
and wild dogs.
These are the kind of intruders
the daycare workers
will watch out for.
-[lion roaring]
-[hyena shrieking]
Cubs need this protection until
they're about two years old.
Then, they'll have to
fend for themselves.
Daycare doesn't last forever.
Of course,
just like with our young,
the cubs will get old enough.
They want to go out
into the world
and start
exploring their surrounds.
Narrator: By the age
of two or three,
male lions leave the pride.
Setting off alone,
they'll look to start
a family of their own.
The young females, however,
remain with the group.
In time, they will produce
their own cubs.
And some day,
this young lioness
will become a daycare provider,
just like her mom.
Many animals make an effort
to prepare their food
just the way they like it.
Big headed ants
spit out enzymes
to make their dinner
more digestible.
Orcas will slap seals
with their tails
to loosen up the pelt
before eating them.
And there's
a very clever primate
that has passed on
its chef skills
through generations
in a way we once thought
only humans do.
On the small islet of Koshima
in Southern Japan
lives a troop of macaques
that is very particular.
Especially when it comes
to mealtime.
This macaque will demonstrate.
He carries a sweet potato
that he's harvested
over to the shoreline,
and starts to wash
the dirt away.
This is no different
to what we would do.
If we eat a potato
that's covered in dirt,
it ruins the flavour.
And like us, they've learned
to wash their food
to improve that flavour.
Narrator: One monkey washing
a vegetable to get the dirt off
is just part of it.
The potato-washing behaviour
slowly spread
through the rest of his group.
One monkey doing this
could be considered a quirk,
but after a few years
scientists returned
and saw that
many more in the troop
were doing
exactly the same thing.
They'd learned
how to prepare food like this.
Narrator: Then, something
really interesting happens.
The macaques get their hands
on more sweet potatoes,
but these are free of dirt.
The macaques continue
to wash their food
in the salty seawater.
And the dipping into the water
continues after each bite.
Meaning there is more to this
than just washing their food.
How things taste
is clearly important to them.
Just like us adding
that little bit of salt
onto our food.
It appears these macaques
are doing exactly the same.
They're adding salt,
their flavouring their food.
and we've seen this
because they've transitioned
from washing these potatoes
in freshwater rivers
to moving to the seawater
to benefit from
that salty flavour taste.
Narrator: Preparing
and seasoning your food
seems like
a uniquely human trait.
But macaques have
also been shown
to have sophisticated tastes
when it comes to relaxation.
More than 1,000 km north,
is the home of another,
more hardy group of macaques.
These guys are also known
as "Snow Monkeys."
For good reason.
In this part of the country,
it tends to be frigid
and snowy all year round.
Their thick fur insulates them
against the cold.
But when
the chill gets too much,
these primates have
a very civilized way
of kicking back and relaxing.
While chilling out
in these hot springs,
it's the perfect time
for some bath time pampering.
That warm water looks so nice,
it looks inviting and
it looks as though
everyone's having
quite a bit of fun there, too.
Narrator: Male, female,
old, and young.
All the macaques in this troop
have come to appreciate
the decadent delights
of soaking their troubles away.
These are the only monkeys
in the world
to spend hours
soaking in a hot tub.
Macaques of all ages and sizes
enjoy the soak
and everyone's got
their favourite spot
in the pool.
Makes you wonder
how did this all happen?
Well, apparently, in the 1960s,
an apple fell in the pool
and one monkey went in
to retrieve it,
he liked it so much, he stayed.
Within months, all the monkeys
were bathing in the hot pools.
[squeaking]
Narrator: This showed
that the macaques
were quick to learn
and pass on their knowledge.
It's what we call "culture."
It's kind of like taking
family trips to the beach,
a summer tradition
for many of us.
Between salty vegetables
and saunas in the snow,
it seems these monkeys
are a lot like us.