Animals Like Us (2024) s01e03 Episode Script

Narrator: In one of the most
extreme environments on Earth,
desert survival experts
train new recruits.
Bachelors with a flair
for home decor
hope to win affection.
And it's not just humans
with a sweet tooth
that need to practice
good dental hygiene.
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.
They're one of the most
charismatic little mammals
in the animal kingdom:
The meerkat.
An active, social creature
and the "special ops" survivor
of the African savannah.
Famous for running one
of the toughest
survival training schools
out there.
This is their home.
The Kalahari Desert,
stretching across
Southern Africa,
is a world of scorching heat
and vast sand dunes.
Dan: Life in the Kalahari
is intense for any creature.
By definition, there's next
to no water all year round
and you need a really special
set of skills to survive there.
Narrator: Good thing
the meerkat
is the master
of desert survival.
Dan: There are
limited options for food.
They need to get by on know-how,
cooperation, and teamwork.
Narrator:
They live in big groups or mobs
of up to 40 or 50 members.
But with so many mouths
to feed,
they spend an awful lot
of their time looking for food.
When they're out foraging,
they're really vulnerable.
They're out in the open,
so they've got to have lookouts.
Have sentinels
that literally will stand up
to be able to scan the horizon
ready to sound the alarm
if there's any sign of danger.
Narrator: So, while sentinels
stay vigilant and keep watch
the other adult meerkats
search for food.
Usually found underground.
They use
their keen sense of smell
to locate their favourite prey:
lizards, and birds,
but mainly insects
and invertebrates
beetles, caterpillars,
spiders, and even scorpions.
It might be hard
to believe,
but scorpions are
a great source of protein,
fat, and minerals.
For a meerkat,
they're kind of a super food!
Narrator: For sure, a scorpion
is a meerkat's favourite snack.
But this desert arachnid
is no push over.
And catching one
requires elite hunting skills.
It can deliver a painful,
and sometimes deadly sting,
releasing venom
into its victims.
But meerkats have perfected
ways of killing
and eating scorpions
without paying
the ultimate price.
Like an expert in martial arts.
When you have such
a formidable prey,
you've got to have
formidable skills.
And meerkats have these
lightning-fast reflexes,
and they can also manoeuvre
around at lightning speed
around these scorpions,
disarm that tail
and then eat it.
Narrator: Plus, these fearless
desert marauders
have another superpower
on their side.
Meerkats are actually
immune to certain venoms
from both scorpions
and some snakes.
And if an adult meerkat
is bitten
or stung by one of them,
it looks unwell
for a little while,
but actually most of the time
makes a full recovery.
Narrator:
But young meerkat pups
are more vulnerable.
And could come out
on the wrong side
of a duel with a scorpion.
There are plenty of behaviours
that are instinctive
in the animal kingdom,
but for meerkats,
hunting a scorpion
is something that
the young pups have to learn.
And it's a risky business
as well,
because they're not old enough
to have developed an immunity
to the scorpion's venom.
Narrator: And add to that,
the scorpion's claws alone
are sharp enough to inflict
damage to a young pup.
All in all, the whole thing
is fraught with danger.
Narrator:
So, it's up to the adults
to teach them how it's done.
Meerkats set up their very own
"desert training schools."
It's a bit like summer camp,
but for survival skills.
Meerkats, just like humans,
see value
in teaching their young.
But they don't let them
learn the hard way
and get stung
through trial and error.
Narrator: A scorpion's stinger
makes up
almost half of its body
so getting stung is always
a real possibility.
A hungry meerkat
with the right skills
first needs to
bite its tail off
and then pull it apart,
piece by piece.
They never seem to mind
crunching through
the hard exoskeleton.
Of course,
it's not as easy as it looks.
And to get to this stage
takes a lot of practice.
This meerkat "student"
is getting his first lesson.
But he won't be up against
a fully armed scorpion.
The adult bites
the tail off first,
so the youngster
doesn't get hurt.
This is amazing behaviour.
The fact that the female knows
to pull off that stinger
at the end of the scorpion,
so the kid can learn-- amazing!
This is a really risky lesson.
This meerkat pup
cannot afford to slip up,
but it is learning in stages.
At first, it handles a scorpion
that is completely disarmed.
No sting in the tail.
But then the next step up
is to a scorpion
that is slightly injured,
has its tail, but it's still not
as dangerous to that young pup.
Narrator:
This scorpion is nearly dead.
If the pup's learned
the proper skills,
he'll be the one
to finish it off.
Little by little,
the grownups help the pups
hone their skills,
until the youngsters earn
enough credits to graduate.
And prove that
they're ready to get out there
and tackle some scorpions
on their own.
It makes sense for
adult meerkats to teach pups
scorpion-hunting skills,
even if those pups
are not their own.
Because when the pups
can learn to fend for themselves
the group grows.
Narrator: A meerkat family
needs to remain
large and unified
if it's going to make it here
in this harsh environment.
Since every new litter of pups
represents the future strength
of the group
a family member
will fight to the death
to protect a young one.
And do its best
to teach every eager pup
the key skills
it'll need to survive.
It can be hard work
being beautiful.
But for many creatures,
good look
s and grace come naturally.
Whether it's sleek
proportions
Long lashes
Or a stylish coat.
There are some real stunners
in the animal kingdom.
But sometimes,
even the most
alluring of females
has to go on a charm offensive.
Unleashing
all of her feminine wiles
just to get
the attention of a male.
So, courtship
in the animal kingdom
is extremely varied.
Sometimes it's up to the males
to kick things off
and the females then choose.
But sometimes the females
need to be more proactive.
Narrator: Cue the lioness.
She lives in a pride
with other females,
their young, and usually
one dominant male.
They roam across vast grassland
and open forests.
Mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa,
including Kenya.
Doing whatever it takes
to keep the family going.
The pride structure
is matrilineal,
so males will come and go,
but its females
that form the stable core
of the group.
They have really strong bonds
with one another.
It's a real sisterhood made up
of aunts, sisters and cousins.
Narrator: The females do
the lion's share of the work.
Raising cubs and finding food.
They hunt every few days.
An exhausting job
that takes skill and patience.
Their success rate
is often less than 30%.
So they have to stick with it
and persevere.
The lionesses really are
the breadwinners
of the family.
And the male is definitely
treated like a king.
He's always first in line
to eat,
and then when he's full
It's nap time.
Gender equality
does not exist here.
To us, life in the pride
might not seem
too fair for the females.
The males do pretty much
nothing, lie there all day
and it's up to the females
to raise the cubs
and to even catch all the food.
Narrator: But that's not all.
It's even up to the lioness
to make sure
there's a new generation
of lions.
If she's already had cubs,
she'll wait until
they're weaned
and then, immediately
plan to get pregnant again.
So the lioness,
when back to her regular cycle,
she'll be fertile
for like three or four days
maybe once or twice a month,
but she'll only
actually ovulate or release eggs
when mating occurs.
Narrator:
When she's coming into heat
she makes sure the male knows
she's ready.
And she can't afford
to give subtle hints.
The lioness initiates mating
by some
pretty obvious flirting.
Flirting as a human
can be subtle.
It could be a glance.
Or a touch.
There's nothing subtle
about a lioness!
Narrator: She may walk around
him enticingly
flick her tail
do some nuzzling
till he gets the hint.
These are unmistakable signs
she is ready to mate.
When a lioness is ready to mate,
she calls all the shots.
She's going to decide
where, when
and how frequently she mates.
You may call
her attention-grabbing behaviour
"extreme flirting."
It's not exactly subtle.
Narrator: When the lioness
struts her stuff
and gets the male's attention,
things can heat up real fast.
The amorous couple will mate
every 15-20 minutes
over the course
of two or three days.
It doesn't last long each time
but the pair
will have intercourse
between 100 and 200 times.
All in a 48-hour period.
(Growling)
That really takes some stamina.
But there's a reason.
Not only does
extended copulation
stimulate ovulation
in the female,
it secures paternity
by excluding other males.
Narrator: Carrying
the king's heir
will protect her and her cubs'
place in the pride.
Male lions often kill cubs
that aren't their own.
You might call
the female lioness wanton
but she's actually being
sexually strategic
and securing
the future of her cubs.
She's being a good mom!
Narrator: So, a bit of
outrageous flirting?
In a lion pride,
that's a smart move!
In the natural world,
not everyone can rely on
their animalistic charisma.
Sometimes, the art of seduction
requires a bit more thought,
some careful consideration,
and a lot of skill.
The tropical forests
of Eastern Australia.
This is a bird watcher's
paradise
with hundreds of
diverse species to be found.
Many of them are endemic,
meaning they don't live
anywhere else
besides Down Under.
They can be huge,
like a cassowary.
Noisy like a kookaburra
(Kookaburra calling)
Or colourful like a cockatoo.
There is one bird though,
that's famous for
something a bit different.
A very human-like behaviour.
It's the male satin bowerbird.
He's a fellow well-known
for his style and flair.
Especially when it comes
to home decor.
A lot of male bird species
put on courtship displays
to impress females.
They might sing,
they might dance,
but the satin bowerbird
takes this
to a whole new level.
Narrator: The bowerbird
is a medium-sized songbird.
Known for its ability to make
an amazing range of sounds.
(Bowerbird churring,
buzzing)
And famed for leading
unusually long lives.
On average,
eight to nine years.
Even up to 25 years.
The male is recognizable
by his glossy blue plumage,
and striking blue eyes.
But he doesn't get by
on good looks alone.
Male bowerbirds depend
on home decorating skills
and being able to build
whimsical bowers,
a type of ground structure,
that they hope
to use as a love shack.
Some bowers will consist
of a loose construction
of sticks around a sapling
but the satin bowerbird
takes it to a whole new level
and builds
this performance hall.
So these vertical sticks
with a little arena
in the front.
Narrator: This male has spent
hours building his bower,
working on it
until it's just right.
But then comes the fun part.
With an artistic flair,
he decorates the forecourt
with various objects
and colourful trinkets.
Like most
male satin bowerbirds,
blue is his favourite colour.
So he collects
anything blue he can find,
even bits of rubbish.
Bottle caps, plastic straws
and assorted scraps.
All intended to impress
as many females as possible.
Gillian: This bower is like
his bachelor pad.
He's proud of it,
he keeps it clean.
And more than that,
he shows off by decorating it.
And really the point of that
is to almost show off.
Like if he can spend that much
energy doing up his bower,
then clearly
he's a very fit male.
Narrator: These elaborate
structures will make or break
a male bower bird's
amorous ambitions.
The females who happen
to be green
will visit several bowers
and do a quick inspection.
She'll judge each bachelor pad,
and weigh up the interior
decorating skills
of each hopeful.
And then she'll pick
a favourite.
Such a cool bird,
such a cool behaviour.
That's a lot of effort to go to.
But I'm hoping this bird has had
a successful breeding season
because he deserves it.
Narrator:
It's the moment of truth.
Looks like she's impressed
with his bower.
Now it's time for the male
to bust some moves.
(Bowerbird churring,
buzzing)
It's a ritualized display
of movements.
Strutting,
bowing
and whirring away.
This guy has a knack for D-I-Y,
and all the right moves
and will surely get the girl.
But it's very possible
under performers might be
rejected completely,
and get left out in the cold.
This is a prime example
of sexual selection.
In some societies,
females will assess
and choose the male that
they think is the most creative,
the most clever,
the most invested.
Generally, one that just
stands out from the crowd.
Narrator: Bowerbirds
are polyandrous,
which means the male will mate
with several females
during a breeding season.
Copulation takes
just a few seconds.
And then he's all done.
The female flies off
to build a nest, lay eggs
and raise chicks.
This male will play
no further part in her life.
So really,
as a free-wheeling bachelor
he has a lot of time
to focus on his bower.
Collecting more
blue bits and pieces
and getting it all spruced up
so that it looks perfect
for the next gal
who comes along!
For the whole breeding season,
the males will constantly
be maintaining their bowers,
decorating them,
working on them,
but when it comes to
the next breeding season,
they've got to start
the construction all over again.
Narrator: So for these
home decor experts
of the bird world,
there's not a lot of time
to rest on their laurels.
Narrator: Around the world,
you can often see wild animals
living right alongside people.
And of course, this has
an impact on their behaviour.
Both good
and bad.
(Quacking)
In urban areas, wild animals
lose their innate fear
of humans,
making them more vulnerable.
And instead of
"fight or flight,"
they just freeze,
or nonchalantly go about
their business.
In many cases,
contact with people
often means access
to a free meal.
Raccoons
bears
crows
and many other species
have definitely developed
a taste for people food.
Given this close proximity,
it makes sense that
some of these wild creatures
also pick up human habits.
These little monkeys
are long-tail macaques.
Some troops have territories
in busy, developed areas.
And incredibly, these primates
have adopted a very unusual
and very human-like behaviour.
This is Lopburi, Thailand.
Around 160 km
north of Bangkok.
One of the oldest cities
in the country.
Famous for spectacular ruins,
and historic Buddhist
and Khmer temples.
Lopburi is sometimes
called "Monkey City,"
quite simply because
it is overrun
by troops of these
mischievous monkeys.
The monkeys are everywhere.
They typically hang
around temples
where food is being prepared
and served
and often bothering
tourists in the mix.
There's apparently
about 4000 of these animals,
and the whole thing
is one chaotic scene.
(Squeaking)
Narrator: Long-tailed macaques
are called
"Opportunistic omnivores,"
which basically means
they'll eat anything
they can get their hands on.
The macaques are not shy,
and roam the streets
looking for food.
In the city centre,
the monkeys are everywhere.
They're lurking on rooftops
of cafes and shops
ready to ambush
any unsuspecting tourist
who happens to have something
that they might want to eat.
Narrator: Some people willingly
feed the macaques.
But if a meal's not
forthcoming,
they often take it anyway.
And for the most part,
these naughty monkeys
get away with it.
In Thailand, these macaques are
basically sacred animals
and they're revered
by local people.
They're untouchable.
The local belief is that
they're descendants
from Hanuman,
one of the gods
who was part monkey, part human.
And as that, rather than
being treated as pests,
they're treated as
the living embodiments
of a deity.
(Trumpets playing)
Narrator:
On the last Sunday of November,
the folks in Lopburi
hold a special banquet.
And the guests of honour are
you guessed it: the macaques.
It's called
the "Monkey Festival."
And the simian celebrities
sit down at long tables
piled with goodies:
fruits, veggies,
and sticky rice
and help themselves.
It's an all-you-can-eat
buffet
that usually ends up
in a food fight.
The people believe
that by laying on such a feast,
a big spread like this
will bring favour
and fortune to them.
Narrator:
Having feasts like these
with lots of sugary foods
isn't great for
the monkeys' teeth.
So, they've come up
with a solution.
They leap at the chance
to sit on someone's shoulders
and then pluck hairs
from the person's head!
The macaques will just
sort of help themselves.
They'll jump
on people's shoulders
and just start pulling.
But what they're
after is human hair
for something quite particular.
Narrator: They use these long
strands of human hair
to perform an impressive
feat of dental hygiene.
Pulling the hair back and forth
across their mouths.
Cleaning out all those
irritating bits of food
stuck between their teeth
and gums.
Just like we do, the macaques
of Lopburi floss their teeth.
What's striking here is this is
absolutely deliberate behaviour.
This little animal is--
that's a young animal as well,
which is really interesting,
is processing the hair,
it is making sure
it's the right hair
and it is getting
at the right level of tautness
and then just flossing.
It's really quite
a complex process
of lots of different steps.
Narrator: So for the macaques,
using human hair
as dental floss
is an amazing and unusually
sophisticated behaviour.
Of course, just like us,
monkeys need to keep
their teeth clean.
And macaques
seem to be the masters.
Using long hair as dental floss
is basically
not a very easy task.
You've got to find
the long hair first of all,
then you've got to make sure
it's long enough.
And then
you've got to hold it tight
and eventually yeah, you've
got to floss. It's not easy.
It's pretty cool because
it shows that dental hygiene
isn't just something
that matters to humans.
There are actually
other animal species out there
who value clean teeth.
Narrator: It's true.
Some animals chew on sticks,
bark, or bamboo
to clean their teeth.
Wolves and other wild dogs
clean their canines
by gnawing on bones.
A crocodile keeps its set of
chompers looking pearly white
by exposing its teeth
to rushing water.
And then sterilizing them
in the sunshine.
But the truth is,
most wild creatures
don't suffer from tooth decay,
because their diets are free
from carbohydrates and sugars.
The macaques in Thailand
eat a lot of the stuff we do
so they aren't
taking any chances!
It seems with these macaques,
they may care
about dental hygiene
more than some humans.
Narrator: According to
the American Dental
Association,
only about 40%
of Americans floss daily.
And 20%
don't floss at all.
Maybe more people should follow
the example of
Thailand's macaques.
For them, "monkey business"
means good oral hygiene.
Narrator:
We share lots of similarities
with the animal kingdom.
Especially when
it comes to parenting.
Being a single mom,
or single dad, is tough.
Like us, animals
seem to realize this
and in many cases,
work together
to raise and look after
their offspring.
Wild dogs all lend a paw,
and safeguard
puppies in the pack.
Lionesses will often help feed
and care
for another cat's cubs.
And young orcas
are nurtured and protected
by every female whale
in the pod.
This type of
"Cooperative rearing"
is essential for survival.
Especially for species
that lives
in an environment
with limited food
or one with a lot of predators.
If you're being raised
by lots of adults,
you'll probably live longer!
Narrator:
Across 13 Asian countries,
including here in Sri Lanka,
there is one animal
that stands head and shoulders
above the rest.
Especially when it comes to
this kind of
cooperative rearing.
The Asian elephant.
Elephants are amazing animals
that a lot of us
can really relate to.
They show
all kinds of human traits
from grief,
from compassion to altruism
so putting others first.
They also really, really
dote on their calves
and make great mothers,
but they also make
great babysitters.
Narrator: Around here,
having a team of capable
babysitters is vital.
Not only for every new mom
but also for the species.
The number of Asian elephants
has been steadily declining
because of poaching
and habitat loss.
As their habitats shrinks,
and they run out of room to roam
there will be
fewer and fewer elephants.
And mature females
only give birth to a single calf
every two to four years.
Narrator: Each new baby
is very precious cargo.
It's a 22-month long pregnancy.
The longest of any mammal.
When the calf is born,
it's about 90 kg
and just under a metre tall.
Cute, but very uncoordinated
and fairly helpless.
A baby elephant is born
with a fully-developed brain.
It's one of the benefits
of being in the womb so long.
And unlike many other mammals,
they can walk
immediately after birth.
Though they may be
a bit wobbly.
This little gal
will need assistance
every step of the way.
Elephants are born with most of
what they need to keep up
with the herd,
but one thing they really are
missing is their eyesight.
So young
elephant calves, newborns,
are born virtually blind.
So for those young,
how they navigate their world
is by being led
by the adults around them
with their trunks
and a sense of touch
and feeling their way
through the world.
Narrator:
Of course, like any working mom
the new mother
may not always be available
to give the newborn
her full attention.
Fortunately,
each new mother in the herd
has a solid support network.
In the wild, elephants live
in groups of related females.
They form lifelong bonds.
A sisterhood of elephants
that will help care
for newborns in the herd.
And like amazing babysitters,
they are committed to looking
after each other's offspring.
Dan: We know elephants
are intelligent.
But are they also socially
conscious or altruistic?
Perhaps.
But maybe this type of
cooperative care
benefits everybody
in some small way.
Narrator:
Just like your teenager
might do to earn
some extra spending money,
these elephant-sitters
look after and protect
a young calf
when mom is otherwise engaged.
Sometimes that means
standing close by
as a guardian.
Or responding to
the little one's call for help.
(Trumpeting)
This young calf
has injured its leg.
And is struggling
in the current.
A quick-thinking babysitter
comes to the rescue.
Dan: That's a dangerous place
to be for any animal.
This just shows
how motherly they are,
a lot of animals would be
too afraid to go in that water,
but not a female elephant.
Narrator:
When they have the chance,
these hardworking babysitters
can also teach
the younger elephants
valuable lessons.
Like looking both ways
before crossing the street.
Or the proper technique
for taking a dust bath.
Dan: It's simple, cooperative
care boosts survival rates.
For these elephants, scientists
have evidence that show
that if there are
multiple females on hand
to look after the youngsters,
they're more likely to survive.
Regardless of whose
offspring they are.
Narrator:
And there's another benefit.
By taking care of calves,
the young female babysitters
also learn vital
mothering skills
that will come in handy
when they give birth.
Gillian:
That makes perfect sense.
Working together,
looking out for each other
has to have a benefit
for the whole herd,
but certainly for
the young babysitters
and the young females, well,
they get to learn on the job.
For any new mom,
especially a single parent
it's important to have
a support network
of other moms,
and other females
ready and willing
to lend a hand.
Narrator: Or, in the case of
these elephants,
they're always ready
to lend a trunk.
These amazing animals
seem to realize
they can get by
if they all stick together.
(Trumpeting)
Narrator:
Off the coast of Fiji,
in the South Pacific
not far below the surface
and along
the island nation's
coral reef
a bull shark cruises along.
Usually it races through
open water looking for prey.
But today it has travelled
to this location for a reason.
It slows down
just long enough
to pick up a hitchhiker.
A remora.
A long, slender fish
known for being
the most prolific "hitchhiker"
in the seven seas!
The common remora
is between one and two-foot long
and they're not known
for their independent,
powerful swimming.
Instead, they hitchhike
and basically leave
the swimming to someone else.
Narrator:
Once the remora has latched on,
it can kick back, relax,
and enjoy the ride.
Remoras have this
incredible ability to attach to
and then stay attached
to other fish
and other marine animals.
And this is how they can catch
a free ride through the oceans.
Narrator: Of course,
to be a successful
underwater hitchhiker
you need something special.
With no thumb to hold out,
the remora relies on
an oval-shaped organ
located on the top of
its head to catch a ride.
It allows the remora
to instantly connect
with a host
and stay firmly attached
for the duration
of the journey.
Remoras have
this incredible structure
like a suction disk
that has a series
of these strong membranes,
a little like a Venetian blind,
and they can change the angles.
So by moving backwards,
they can actually
increase the suction
and attach to the animal.
But by gliding forward
ever so slightly,
they can release
that suction and lift off.
An absolutely elegant system.
Narrator:
You may have been warned
to never pick up a hitchhiker
because you never know
who you're inviting
along for the ride.
Sharks, though,
are much less cautious.
And as far as
they're concerned,
the more the merrier.
Look at this Galapagos shark!
It's covered in remoras.
At least half a dozen
passengers!
Sharks seem to like
picking up hitchhikers.
Because of course,
there's something in it
for them.
This is an example
of what we call
a "symbiotic relationship."
And in particular,
one that's mutually beneficial
to both parties.
Now, this isn't just one of
these backseat passengers
who doesn't pay their fair.
This little hitchhiker, instead,
actually helps clean
the animal on which
it's attached.
So maybe a shark, for example,
it's helping remove loose skin,
dead skins, parasites even.
Effectively the shark,
the turtle, whatever,
is being treated
to a free beauty spa underwater.
Gillian: It does seem that
the sharks really appreciate
the presence
of these remora fish.
But it also begs the question
why they don't just
eat them as well?
I think it's because the sharks
must seem to know
that this is a beneficial
relationship for them.
So they tolerate their presence
and probably appreciate it more.
Narrator:
By hitchhiking with creatures
that are so much bigger,
and so much faster
the remora is basically
ensuring its own survival.
It needs a strong flow of water
to pass over its gills
in order to breathe.
And of course,
it also needs to eat.
Riding along
on a swift swimming predator
accomplishes both
of these objectives.
In general, these little remoras
are saving an absolute
ton of energy by hitchhiking.
They're receiving constantly
flowing water over their gills
so they can breathe,
and they're not
wasting energy by swimming.
It really does pay off
to hitch a ride sometimes.
Gillian: Remoras will feed
on any of the food particles,
any of the debris that
coming off the shark's mouth
as it's feeding.
But if the opportunity
presents itself,
the remorse will also detach
themselves from the shark
and dart into the fray
to pick out whatever they can.
So either way,
this is like a real bonanza
for these hitchhikers.
Narrator:
Sharks aren't the only ones
to pick up hitchhikers.
Whales
manta rays
and even sea turtles
are all known to offer
free rides to remora fish.
Remoras will attach to
turtle shells,
sometimes hiding
underneath them.
And just like with other species
that they hitch rides with
they'll try and pick off
any food that falls away
from the turtle's mouth.
But interestingly,
sea turtles sometimes
don't seem
to tolerate them as well,
and they can be seen
trying to swipe them off
with their flippers.
Narrator:
It's true, not everyone
wants to get stuck
with these ocean travellers.
Some dolphins have been seen
leaping out of the sea,
spinning in the air,
and hitting
the water surface hard
to remove an uninvited remora.
But, in general,
hitchhiking is an arrangement
that's been working
for these remoras
and sharks
for nearly 32-million years.
Narrator: The barren ice sheet
of Antarctica.
Here, you could go
thousands of kilometres
without seeing another person.
But for some amazing animals
it's home.
Including
(Trumpeting)
these guys
with the happy feet.
They're gentoo penguins.
Found all around
the Antarctic Peninsula
and across several islands
near the frozen continent.
And, just like us,
they take family
very seriously.
It sounds incredible, right?
But just like humans,
penguins are both
committed partners
and dedicated parents.
And raising young
is incredibly important to them.
Narrator:
Their part of the world
tends to be frigid.
So, if it's possible
gentoo penguins
prefer to hang out
in areas that are free of ice.
They gather in huge,
noisy colonies
of breeding pairs
that are famously monogamous.
They're in committed,
loving relationships.
These couples
build nests together.
Take turns incubating eggs.
And then, as new parents,
they alternate
foraging and brooding duties.
Female gentoo penguins
generally lay two eggs
which take about
34 to 37 days to hatch.
And the parents
will take turns everyday
in doing incubating duties.
While one sits on the nest,
the other one goes off
and finds food.
Narrator:
But human activity
is taking its toll
on these guys.
Due to ever increasing levels
of pollution in the water
and shortages
of the fish they eat,
the number of gentoo penguins
has fallen.
So, around the world,
zoos and aquariums
run captive breeding programs.
These penguins seem to do
pretty well in captivity
and they breed there, too.
And this is great
because it means
we'll eventually
have a breeding population
that can help ensure
these charismatic little birds
are constantly there in the wild
for future generations.
Narrator: Of course,
it doesn't always go to plan.
Sometimes, penguins
accidentally damage their eggs.
It doesn't take much for
a clumsy bird to crack one.
So occasionally zookeepers will
switch out fertilized eggs
and replace them with dummy eggs
and give the fertilized eggs
to foster parents
who have proved
to be more careful.
Narrator: That's what happened
to these two.
This is Sphen and Magic.
They live
at the Sea Life Aquarium
in Sydney, Australia.
Sphen and Magic
developed a strong bond in 2018
and became inseparable
just before breeding season.
They were constantly seen
waddling around
and going for swims together.
Then the couple gathered pebbles
and built a nest.
Obviously,
ready to incubate an egg.
There was just one catch.
Ben: Sphen and Magic,
they met,
they fell in love
Well, they bonded at least,
and they got ready
to lay an egg.
But neither of them could,
because Sphen and Magic
are both males!
Narrator: Sphen and Magic
were first given
a dummy egg to incubate.
When the guys showed
they were up to the job,
excelling
in every aspect of care,
they were given a real egg
with a real
penguin chick inside.
So penguins incubate their eggs
by resting them on their feet,
and then they keep them warm
under a fold of unfeathered skin
known as a "brood patch."
Now, these two males,
they're doing a great job,
aren't they?
Taking turns,
being really diligent.
Well done.
Narrator: After about a month
of incubation,
the chick emerged.
Sphen and Magic became
proud papas of "Sphengic,"
a female Gentoo penguin.
These penguins
have the ability to accept young
that aren't their own.
Now, this is just like us,
when we adopt
or foster kids or babies
that aren't necessarily
our own biological offspring.
Narrator: Proving conclusively
that males,
penguins or people,
in a committed relationship
can successfully
raise the next generation.
This story got
a lot of attention,
and people were obviously
surprised and incredibly charmed
by the fact that there were
these same-sex penguins
who were becoming parents.
But it's actually
really common,
it's happened in many zoos
all around the world.
Narrator: At an aquarium
in Valencia, Spain,
for instance,
two female gentoos,
Electra and Violet,
became foster moms to a chick
after adopting
an egg to incubate.
And it's not
just happening in captivity.
Scientists have also observed
many same-sex couples
in the wild.
This sort of same-sex behaviour
has been observed
in over 1500 species.
And as researchers are focusing
more explicitly in this area,
it's likely we'll find
many more examples.
Penguins are a great example
of one of these groups
that can not only raise
young successfully
but be good parents,
regardless of whether
they're in a relationship
consisting of the opposite sex
or the same sex.
Narrator:
As for Sphen and Magic,
they're still going strong.
And after raising
a second chick
the following year,
the two were paired up again
for a third breeding season.
For these proud penguin papas,
their family is poised
to continue to grow.