Animals Like Us (2024) s01e02 Episode Script

Narrator:
In Earth's wildest places
animal behaviour continues
to surprise us.
Two unlikely companions
bond over lunch.
Acquiring beachfront property
has never been easier.
And the planet's tiniest farmers
work to feed their family.
This is a new way
of seeing the natural world
where wild animals act
just like we do!
(Thunder booming)
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
(Soft grunting)
the more we realize
animals are a lot like us!
(Bird squawking)
Narrator: These are some of
our closest living relatives.
Chimpanzees.
We share roughly
99% of our DNA
with these great apes.
So it makes sense that chimps
have a lot in common with us.
Along with bonobos,
chimpanzees are the species
most closely related to us.
And right across
the animal kingdom,
it's pretty fair to say
that it's beyond doubt now
that they're
incredibly intelligent animals.
Narrator:
And it's not just their smarts.
Chimps are highly
social animals
just like us.
They live in large communities,
each with their own unique
relationships and culture.
(Screeching)
They do like to chat
about all kinds of things.
Inviting friends over
for dinner,
discussing plans for the day,
or simply trying
to get someone's attention.
So they rely on
facial expressions
and intricate vocalizations
to communicate.
More than that,
they're capable of
displaying a whole range
of complex emotions
and feelings
and other behaviours.
Narrator: The tropical forests
of West Africa.
This is Senegal
where one particular chimp
has amazed the world
by showing another side
of those complex emotions.
This young male
has found a quiet spot
some distance away
from his family.
He's caught the attention
of some of the other chimps
because he's got
something unusual.
A pet!
It's quite hard to see
what's going on initially,
but that
young chimp is lying down
and is really interested
in a young animal there.
And for a chimp,
he's being quite tender,
actually.
Narrator: This chimp has found
a small cat-like creature
abandoned in the jungle.
It's not a leopard.
It's a genet.
They're related to cats,
but not really a true feline.
It's more like a mongoose
or civet.
Either way,
the chimp seems to have taken
a shine to this little one.
The chimp can be seen playing
and caressing
with this small animal.
And it appears, that like
a human child with a pet,
this young chimp has really
become affectionate
towards this young animal.
Narrator:
But it's not at all clear
if the affectionate chimp
will get to keep
his new companion.
The other chimps stand by
and watch.
They're intrigued.
But this older male
has come to investigate.
It looks like he wants
the genet for himself.
Time to make a move.
The young chimp
gently cradles the genet,
carrying it away
to safety.
This is really
extraordinary behaviour.
At first
it looks almost childlike.
But then, eventually,
we start to see something
that looks like compassion
and even something
that looks like empathy.
(Grunting and hooting)
Narrator: Empathy,
because it appears as if
the young chimp is trying
to protect the genet
from the older male.
Confident that they're
on their own now,
he finds a stick
and helps himself
to some tasty termites.
His pet genet
tucked close by his side,
keeping him company.
It's clear the chimp likes
having the genet around.
Just like dogs and cats help us
fend off loneliness and stress,
perhaps the chimp
is also benefiting
from its close bond
with the genet.
So this chimp has shown
incredible capacity
not only to look after
another animal
that's not its own species,
but to show quite a range
of emotions towards it,
so, really, it goes to show
that maybe
we're not the only species
that likes to keep pets.
Narrator:
Chimpanzees,
so intelligent,
and complex.
Always capable of amazing us
with their abilities
and behaviours.
They're like us
in so many ways.
Now, perhaps, it seems
we can even add "pet lovers"
to the list.
We've all heard the expression
"Monkey see, monkey do."
But for orangutans,
another great ape species
known for its smarts,
that old adage is taken
to the next level.
By observing human behaviour,
orangutans can learn new skills
and adopt them as their own.
Orangutans live only
in Borneo and Sumatra.
The name "orangutan"
means "man of the forest"
in the Malay language.
These primates reside
in lowland forests,
leading mostly solitary lives,
although moms keep their young
by their sides
longer than most other mammals
besides us,
sometimes for as long
as seven or eight years.
That's plenty of time
for a young orangutan to learn
from its mum,
watching and copying
what she does.
When they do venture
out of the forest,
they've been known
to watch people
and pick up
some amazing behaviours.
This wild female orangutan
has wandered
into an old research camp
and, for fun,
decides to do a bit of sawing.
Orangutans have
opposable thumbs
so they can hold and manipulate
tools and objects,
just like we can.
She uses her feet as a vice
to hold the branch steady
then works
like a skilled carpenter.
She's learned how to saw
by watching workers here
build wooden huts
and porches.
Another adult female has found
a leftover camp provision,
helping herself
to a bar of soap
for a spa day
down by the river.
Having observed people washing
in the river,
this orangutan knows
how to lather herself up
and gives her arms and hands
a good scrub.
Apparently, for an orangutan,
soap is also pretty tasty.
After her bath, it might be
time to hit the hay.
But instead of nesting
back up in the trees,
she finds an old hammock
strung up in one of the huts.
This'll do just fine.
As long as she doesn't get
too tangled up.
Despite how this might look,
orangutans are without a doubt
exceedingly clever
and can master
some very human habits,
simply by being good observers
and making themselves at home.
All creatures,
human and animal,
need a place to call home.
Some are more unusual
than others.
On the East Coast
of Central America,
you'll find the beautiful
beaches of Belize.
A tropical paradise
in Central America.
These beaches
look pretty empty.
But there are hundreds
of local residents
who live here year-round.
Some nest here.
Others burrow underground
to make their dwelling.
And some happen to carry
their homes on their backs
Hermit crabs.
Crafty crustaceans that inhabit
abandoned sea-snail shells.
Just like us,
they place a high value
on beachfront real estate.
There are
more than 800 different species
of hermit crab.
And they all need
a shell to survive.
They don't have
a completely hard exoskeleton
and they can't grow
their own shells,
so they find shells to live in,
mostly for protection.
Narrator:
Exposed in the tropical heat,
a hermit crab would quickly
cook in the sun
or fall prey
to a sharp-eyed seabird.
So, for hermit crabs,
homelessness is not an option
and, often,
as the crab grows,
the shell they're living in
becomes a bit cramped.
Narrator:
If the shell's too tight,
the crab can't escape
back inside fast enough
and risks being eaten.
So, in this case,
it's time for a hermit crab
to shed its starter home
and find something
a bit more roomy.
But that's not as easy
as it might sound.
Many of us have been there.
You start off in a small place,
it's good enough,
but then you acquire more stuff,
you've got to get
a bigger place, you got to move.
It looks like the search
for bigger real estate
isn't just limited to us.
It extends
to hermit crabs as well.
Narrator: Whenever a new shell
becomes available,
it generates a lot of interest.
There are always hermit crabs
looking for more spacious digs,
so they'll gather round,
give the place
a quick inspection,
size up the competition
and then get in line.
The biggest at the front,
with smaller crabs behind,
in descending size order.
This is
pretty incredible behaviour.
When it was discovered,
it was the first example
in the animal kingdom
of what economists call
a "Vacancy Chain,"
whereby someone makes use
of something
that was deemed useless
by someone else.
Narrator: The biggest crab
has first dibs.
If he tries it on for size
and likes what he sees,
he may decide to make the move.
Gillian:
And as it swaps out,
a smaller crab is ready
to move in to its old digs,
and this is
a great way to use up
all the available resources
where nobody's left homeless.
Narrator:
For these crabs,
moving day can be
physically demanding.
The crabs use their legs to lock
themselves into the new home
and it's there the contract
is signed and sealed
until they outgrow
their digs again.
Gillian: When they're
swapping shells,
they're quite vulnerable.
That means,
when they get to this point,
they've got to do it quickly,
so it's a very quick house move.
Narrator: These beach dwellers
have a habit
of sheltering alone
inside their shells,
which, of course,
is how they got their name.
But maybe that's not fair.
Instead of being hermits,
these crabs are actually
quite sociable,
especially when
they're exchanging
hand-me-down homes.
Nadeem: Not only
does this system ensure
that no crab
is without a shell.
It actually goes to show that
there's actually
pretty good organization
and a sense of community
among this group of animals
that a lot of people consider
to be "simple-brained."
Narrator:
Whether it's Belize
or some other
tropical paradise,
the beach-loving hermit crabs
are truly unique.
After all, it's not every day
that acquiring
ocean-front property
is so orderly
and straightforward.
They say
looks can be deceiving.
There are plenty of animals
out there
that look cute or friendly
but are actually bad-tempered.
Kangaroos will give you
a swift kick
if you step out of line.
Swans look elegant and serene
until they reveal
their aggressive side.
(Squawking)
And then there are
the furry cold-blooded killers
like polar bears
leopard seals
and even
the cuddly sea otter.
Most people think
sea otters are incredibly cute
and you can understand why.
They're so fluffy,
they float on their backs
in the water
looking really adorable
and kind of juggling with rocks.
But they can have a mean streak.
Narrator:
Along the coast of California,
the chilly waters
of the North Pacific
are home to nearly all
the sea otters in the world.
They live almost exclusively
in the ocean
in large groups.
Sea otters are
extremely social,
especially the females that like
to hang out with each other
and they're perfectly adapted
to life in water
and they can do
pretty much everything there.
They sleep, eat, mate,
and even give birth
in the water.
They may come ashore briefly
to rest,
it's known as "hauling out,"
but most of their activities
take place in the water.
Narrator:
It may look leisurely,
but life
in the cold North Pacific
is not easy for the sea otter.
And like desperate people,
these animals sometimes
break all the rules to survive.
Sea otters have
a very high metabolic rate,
that's important
for generating body heat,
and so they need to eat
a lot of food.
So they'll spend 60%
of their day foraging
and then they'll have to eat
30% of their body weight
every day.
Narrator: Otters take short,
deep dives to the bottom
to look for something tasty
like fish, shellfish,
crustaceans, and shrimp.
They can lift
and turn over rocks,
which they often do
with their front paws
when searching for prey.
And to top that,
sea otters also use rocks
to break open clams
and shellfish
joining an exclusive club
of mammals that can use tools.
it's a constant struggle
to find enough to eat.
They're really just meeting
that basic energetic need
every single day.
It's like living pay cheque
to pay cheque,
and female otters with pups
are hit the hardest
by starvation
because they've got
to watch their pups
and feed them milk as well.
Narrator:
This means sea-otter mothers
are particularly vulnerable.
And to male otters,
that makes them an easy target.
This is where the dark side
of sea-otter behaviour
comes in.
The bad boys of the ocean,
decked out in their fur coats,
follow no laws.
This guy with the long whiskers
is definitely up to no good!
Yeah, male sea otters
are definitely
not cute in real life.
They are aggressive,
they are violent,
and they can also be
really manipulative.
Narrator: For instance,
when food is scarce,
otters will do
whatever it takes to get it,
even if that means using
threats and physical coercion.
Thuggish males resort
to stealing food
from other otters,
usually females.
But it gets worse.
This group of males has
targeted a mum and her pup.
(Otter squealing)
They grab the youngster
and hold it hostage.
They even force
the defenceless pup
under water.
(Distressed screeching)
Seeing her young one in danger,
mum hands over some food
as "ransom."
It's a classic
gangland shakedown.
But she gets her baby back.
Male sea-otter behaviour
may seem really shocking to us,
but it's important
to remember that
animals don't have a moral code.
Their behaviour is much less
psychologically
and cognitively complex.
They're just doing
what they need to do
in order to survive.
Narrator: Like us,
otters also seem to know
that there's strength
in numbers.
You can often see dozens of
females floating all together
joined up in a big group
called a raft,
holding onto each other
and their young.
It helps them stay warm
and, ideally,
keeps them safe from
all the neighbourhood toughs.
Otters aren't the only animals
that rely on each other.
We have herds of mammals
schools of fish
and flocks of birds.
Staying together helps guard
against predators,
and this isn't
the only benefit.
Lots of animals
live in large groups.
They learn to work together,
and not only do they cooperate,
there are cases where they
actively help each other too.
So this sense
of being a good neighbour
really boosts your chances of
survival in the animal kingdom.
Narrator: You can find
a slightly spooky example
of "good neighbours"
down in Mexico.
It's twilight.
Thumb-sized predators
are stirring
and taking to the skies.
They're out for blood.
(Chirping and squeaking)
This is the vampire bat.
The only mammal
known to survive
on a steady diet
of blood.
But just like us,
they also need
friends and neighbours
they can count on.
I've got to say,
you wouldn't want
another vampire bat
as a neighbour,
unless of course
you're a vampire bat yourself.
First of all,
there are only three species,
of all the species of bats
in the world,
that have a diet that involves
exclusively feeding on blood.
And true
to their fictional namesake,
this behaviour happens
almost exclusively after dark.
Narrator:
Vampire bats are tiny,
weighing less than 60 grams
and measuring
just over 10 cm long.
These creatures of the night
have long canines
and sharp upper incisors.
They mostly prey on cows
and other livestock,
including pigs and horses.
(Mooing)
They're small and nimble,
and another unique aspect
of vampire bats
is they can walk,
run, and even jump.
And all
of these abilities help them
when they want to latch on
to their next victim.
Narrator: This one's found
a sleeping pig.
It uses the heat sensors
in its nose
to locate
the pig's blood vessels.
When it's zeroed in
on a hot spot,
it moves in
and makes an incision
and drinks the animal's blood.
There's an anticoagulant
in the bat's saliva
that prevents the victim's
blood from clotting,
so it's a steady stream.
Most nights,
most bats are successful.
But some strike out
and return to the roost
with an empty belly.
If a vampire bat can't find
blood for two nights in a row,
it won't survive.
Luckily, for those individuals
at risk of starvation,
all is not lost,
because among vampire bats,
there is
a "friends and family" plan.
Narrator: A major study
revealed how it works.
Well-fed bats
will sacrifice food
in order
to help those in need.
Take these two.
One of them is doing
the neighbourly thing
and sharing its food.
The bat regurgitates
or spits up blood
for the other to snack on.
This is actually
really interesting behaviour
because researchers have seen
hungry bats
that are still in the roost
go up to
a newly arrived bat that's fed
and actually beg them
for a meal.
So, essentially,
it's sharing the meal
with another family member.
Narrator:
For these bats,
sharing is caring.
But this one isn't donating
part of its meal for free.
They'll expect something
in return.
Like grooming.
If one of their "friends"
or their neighbours
begs for a meal,
they may be willing
to share this food,
particularly if that individual
proves to be trustworthy
and reliable.
Narrator:
For a bat,
being reliable means
it can be counted on
to return the favour
at some point.
It's a "scratch my back,
and I'll scratch yours"
kind of arrangement.
It just goes to show
that real collective
mentality of bats,
the colony mentality,
you know.
It's about the greater good,
the bigger picture.
Researchers think that the bats
are constantly
testing this friendship.
The donor bat will initially
only share
a little bit of its meal
and if the recipient
doesn't share back eventually,
then it'll simply stop sharing
its meal altogether.
It'll simply move on to another
individual in the colony.
One that's more reliable,
a better friend.
Narrator:
These cooperative relationships
are obviously beneficial.
Bats that offer meals
most often
generally live longer.
It's clear
the favours are being repaid.
And scientists think
those high survival rates
encourage other bats to also be
generous with blood meals.
Quite often in other species
that regurgitate their food,
that can actually happen
out of harassment or bullying,
but this isn't what's going on
with vampire bats.
They clearly are willing
to share their food
so it definitely is
cooperative behaviour.
Narrator: For us, it's always
good to have family members
and friends around.
People you can count on
in a pinch.
Apparently, having that kind
of reliable safety net
is important
for vampire bats too.
Nadeem:
These little bats need almost
constant sustenance
in order to survive.
Making sure that
you have a friend
that's willing to share a meal
will see that everybody benefits
and probably will see
that everyone
goes to sleep with a full belly.
(High-pitched shrieking)
Narrator: Finding enough food
to feed your family
That's something
we have in common
with many animal species.
If you look close enough,
beneath tree canopies
and through the underbrush,
you'll find insects
that work together
to provide
for the whole community
and have even mastered
their own form
of farming and gardening.
This is Costa Rica.
The heart of Central America's
tropical forests.
If you've ever
taken a hike here,
you may have seen them.
Legions of tiny farmers
marching in orderly columns,
working the land
to feed their families.
They don't use plows
or tractors.
They rely on their own strength
to cut and carry
pieces of vegetation
that look way too big for them.
They're leafcutter ants.
Famous for their
highly organized societies
and for taking
collective agriculture
to a whole new level.
There are almost 50 different
species of leafcutter ants
and they're found
throughout the Americas,
right across the tropics,
and what's interesting
is that these appear to be
the most competent,
the most amazing
of nature's micro-farmers.
Narrator:
Despite their small size,
these ants form some
of the largest
and most complex societies
in nature.
Just like a human society,
colonies have millions
of members.
And ruling over them
the queen.
All the work of the colony
revolves around the queen
and she's the one who actually
establishes the colony.
And at first
she's completely on her own,
but eventually, she'll have
enough energy,
start laying eggs,
and once those eggs hatch,
she can hand over the work
to her workers.
Narrator: The queen lays
about 20 eggs a minute
producing more than
100 million offspring
in her lifetime.
So the colony grows and grows.
All the larvae needs to be fed
and, like human newborns,
almost round the clock.
So, workers set off
from the nest
in search
of an adequate food source.
Each individual has
a specialized role.
They all have a job to do
and a part to play
in keeping the colony going.
Organized into "castes"
based on their size.
Some are soldiers
some are gardeners
and others
are forest workers.
The workers will travel
as far as 100 yards
away from their nest
and if you think of that
in human terms,
that's like us going
on a 50-mile hike.
It's quite incredible.
Narrator: This looks like
suitable vegetation.
Time to get busy.
Sticky pads and curved claws
on their legs
help the ants grip
vertical surfaces
and allow them
to reach the tree canopy.
The leafcutters
start to saw off
pieces of leaf to carry home.
These insects have
specially adapted mandibles:
serrated jaws that act
almost like a chainsaw.
To easily cut through
leaves, flowers,
and plants.
With giant chunks of salad
in hand
sometimes 10 to 50 times
heavier than they are,
the ants march
back to the nest.
They bring
the pieces of leaf
down into hundreds of
special underground chambers
where their co-workers are
on their "farms" waiting.
They use the pieces of leaf
to feed a fungus garden
that's growing
inside their nest.
It's so clever
and so organized.
Some ants are out there
harvesting the leaves.
Others are back
within the colony
and acting more as gardeners
and they're adding fertilizer
to the fungus.
And this fungus which is
their main food source.
Narrator: The leafcutters
inject the pieces of vegetation
that they bring back
with a fungal secretion
that they produce themselves.
It breaks down
the plant material
and makes it easier
for the fungus to digest.
Even poisonous plants
can be turned into
an edible
and nutritious "mush."
Just like us,
when we farm or when we garden,
the ants will take enormous care
over these fungus gardens.
They will constantly prune them,
clean them of other moulds,
of bacteria, of parasites.
And in return,
the fungus produces
these swellings
which are rich
in protein and fats,
and that is food
for the ant larvae.
Narrator: Humans have been
farming for about 12,000 years.
These ants have been farming
for more than 50 million.
And they've got
sustainable agriculture
down to a fine science.
With a tireless
and specialized workforce
and collective intelligence,
they've managed to thrive.
These ants have proven
pretty resilient over
between 50 and 60 million years
of climate fluctuations.
And that kind of shows us
that something they're doing
is right.
And maybe we can learn
a thing or two from them as well
in terms
of sustainability and resilience
in our own domesticated crops
and farming.
Narrator:
Tiny, but mighty.
While they feed their society,
they're actually
stimulating vegetation growth
by adding tens of thousands
of kilograms of leaf litter
to the soil,
helping, not hurting,
the plants and trees
they rely on to survive.
Which makes these farmers
one of the most
valuable species
to their whole
forest ecosystem.
Of course, not all animals
get along with each other
as harmoniously as the ants.
Like human society,
the animal kingdom
is very rarely free
of conflict.
Even within a species,
there can be trouble.
From the very smallest denizens
of the natural world
(Grunting, trumpeting)
to the very biggest
(Screeching)
conflict usually occurs
when there's a limited supply
of a valuable resource,
like food, shelter,
or access to mates.
Hippos fight viciously
to defend their territory.
(Screeching)
And chimps wage
full-scale turf wars.
Animals compete
with each other
not only for food and territory
but also things like
social status and mates,
and this sort of competition
can either be direct
or indirect.
But ultimately,
both types of competition
can be detrimental
to the animals.
Narrator:
In fact, just like us,
animals that endure a lot
of conflict get anxious
and stressed out.
In Northeast Africa,
there's a prime example.
These are the Simien Mountains
of Ethiopia.
Known for their steep cliffs
a cool climate
and rare wildlife.
(Yelping)
(Shrill squealing)
Here, on top of the world,
you'll find monkeys
whose lives revolve
around competition
as they strive for dominance.
Lucy:
These are geladas.
They're primates,
they're closely related
to baboons,
sometimes called
"Bleeding Heart Monkeys"
because of that red stripe
of skin on their chest.
There's about 200,000 of them
living in the mountains
of Ethiopia
and they're found nowhere else.
Narrator: They spend most
of the day sitting down,
munching on grass and herbs.
But they're definitely
not chilled out.
(Squealing)
This is a tough neighbourhood.
(Yowling)
To get ahead here,
you need real ambition
and friends in high places.
Ben: For geladas, life can
really be quite stressful.
There's a whole range
of different behaviours
that you can see.
There's pushing and pulling
and squabbling
and, ultimately, biting.
Narrator: The day
can start out peacefully.
Geladas sleep on rocky cliffs
where it's generally safe
and then they descend
in the morning
to go foraging
in nearby grasslands.
They live in primarily
two kinds of groups:
either an all-male group
or as a family
in what's known as
a "one-male group."
Ben: The gelada family unit
typically consists of
one adult male
with between three
and six adult females
and then their offspring.
And then
these small units band together
to form "super groups"
of up to 600 individuals.
Narrator: These animals
aren't territorial
and it's not uncommon to find
big congregations
of separate units
all grazing together wherever
conditions are favourable.
But in this exotic workplace,
competition for promotion
is the norm.
For example,
a single, lone male
from an all-male group
often tries to replace the male
in a one-male group.
There's intimidation
confrontation
(Screeching)
and physical altercations.
All in the name of advancement.
Males will fight to be
the leader of a family unit
and it's basically like
a hostile takeover.
And that means if they win,
then they will have access
to females and mating rights.
Narrator: Regardless
of who wins the fight
between the two males,
the females can chase
the unwanted male
away from the group
with their own show
of physical force.
This "girl gang" can basically
pick a favourite
and choose to support
or oppose either male.
Females have a lot of power
in gelada society
and they can actually control
who gets to reproduce with them.
So females will actually gang up
on males that they don't like.
Narrator: But female geladas
can also initiate conflicts.
That occurs when there's
a perception of another female
stepping on their toes
or infringing
on their space.
Look at these two.
They seem
to be getting along just fine.
Then, without warning
(Angry squealing)
Ben: This is a lot like
human society.
For thousands
and thousands of years,
we have bullied each other.
We have fought,
we have threatened,
we've used physical violence,
all to achieve
some level of dominance
in order to increase our chances
of climbing that social ladder.
Narrator: A lot of the fighting
is ritualistic.
They're not necessarily trying
to kill each other.
But it does make for
a hostile work environment.
For geladas, bullying,
threats, intimidation,
violence, fighting,
it's all part of the culture
that runs rampant
in their troops.
(Yowling and squeaking)
Narrator:
One thing's for sure,
the bullying and fighting
comes with a cost.
In the more rancorous troops,
where threats
and fights are common,
life is more stressful.
Just like people,
some geladas suffer
from chronic stress
and social anxiety.
For people and monkeys,
both conditions are well known
to cause
serious health problems.
Whether it's geladas or people,
victims of bullying suffer
long-term consequences.
And some of these things
can be psychological,
such as stress, anxiety,
depression, even.
But also, there's
a physical element as well
and some monkeys have been shown
to develop gastric ulcers
as a result of long-term stress.
Narrator:
But like us,
these monkeys have a way
to counter the stress.
The remedy?
Having contact
with close friends.
Female geladas that spend
more time grooming one another
have lower stress levels
and longer life spans.
These
close social relationships,
in essence,
help them cope and survive.
That's important in a world
that's hyper competitive.
In humans,
the strength and quality
of our social relationships
has been correlated
to increased health
and even longer life spans,
but we don't really know
whether the same can be said
for animals.
However, with geladas,
despite everything
on the surface,
there might still be hope.
Narrator: Around here,
it's tough at the top.
But like us,
stressed-out geladas can find
some peace and relaxation
through simple
acts of kindness.
Another great way
to relieve stress,
for animals and for people,
is through play.
(Barking)
Just take a look at these
six-month-old
clouded leopard cubs.
They know all about
the power of play.
These wild cats spend hours
happily chasing each other
through the trees.
Climbing and leaping.
It's a game of tag
that they repeat
over and over again.
So, for these cubs
and many other animals,
this kind of play is key
to their development,
honing so many of their skills
that they'll rely on
later in adult life
when they want to hunt
and provide
for families of their own.
Narrator: Recently, scientists
have discovered more proof
that playing
is a characteristic
of most animal species.
An important part of life
for them,
just like it is for us.
Vital for growing up
and, perhaps, staying happy.
We all know that
animals love to play.
If you've got a dog,
you know they love playing
with a stick,
or cats love playing
with a furry mouse.
But it's not just
domesticated animals that play,
wild animals play too.
Narrator:
Case in point,
these
charismatic Japanese macaques,
also known as snow monkeys
because they live
in the far north of Japan
in places
where snow covers the ground
for months at a time.
They're
the only non-human primates
known to soak away
their troubles
in natural hot springs.
They're uniquely adapted
to the cold
and so you'll also see them
playing in the snow
just for the fun of it.
They've even learned to do
what many of us do
when spending time in this
kind of frozen landscape
Make snowballs.
Or maybe it's a head
for a snowman.
Or snow monkey?
This one's realized
it also rolls.
There it goes!
This is a perfect
example of animals like us,
because I did that as a kid.
For these snow monkeys,
throwing snowballs is a part
of their culture.
They grow up
and see others do it
and later on do it
in their life.
Must be pretty fun.
Otherwise, they wouldn't do it.
Narrator: Who doesn't like
to go out and play in the snow?
Penguins live in a perpetual
winter wonderland
and take full advantage,
slipping and sliding.
(Squawking)
These river otters have also
mastered the art of sledding.
For Siberian tiger cubs,
prowling
across snow-covered terrain
really means "play time."
And this young red panda
seems to relish any opportunity
to explore
its high-altitude home turf.
Maybe even sniffing out
a tasty root under the snow.
Just like us, animals experience
chemical changes in their brains
especially when they play.
You've got dopamine
and endorphins
and all these other hormones
that are released
that become joyous
and almost addictive.
And that's why
playing is so much fun
for us and for animals.
Narrator:
For most creatures,
their lives
in the wild are hard.
It's a never-ending struggle
to avoid predators
and find enough food.
Despite the daily grind,
many animals still find time
to let loose and unwind,
playing,
purely for their own amusement.
Which certainly makes them
a lot like us!