Animals Like Us (2024) s01e06 Episode Script

Narrator: In the remote reaches
of the rainforest,
Narrator: In the remote reaches
of the rainforest,
health nuts
do whatever it takes
to get at the good stuff.
Even in the deepest oceans,
nobody likes
going to the dentist.
Especially if you have
teeth like these.
And high up in the forest
canopy,
rock stars knock out
a steady beat
to captivate
a very special audience.
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.
In these clear blue waters
is a marine mammal
that likes to gossip
as much as we do.
The Atlantic spotted dolphin.
This species of dolphin,
likes nothing more
than to chatter
with family and friends.
Spotted dolphins are one
of the most intelligent
animals on the planet.
And they've got large brains,
which helps them navigate
within their environments.
Narrator: This is one of
the places they call home.
The warm waters of the Bahamas.
Full of energy,
spotted dolphins
are extremely playful,
and have earned
a reputation for being
one of the friendliest
of all dolphin species.
[Whistling and squeaking]
They like to blow bubbles.
And even play with toys.
But being able to
play well with others,
is key to the animals' lives.
Spotted dolphins live in pods,
large social groups
of up to 50 members,
mostly friends and relatives.
They have really complex
social structures
which allows them
to navigate and explore,
and ultimately stay together,
within this vast,
ocean ecosystem.
Narrator: They can travel
with as many as 200 individuals.
Like a bunch of families,
embarking on
an extended road trip together.
That's a lot of other dolphins
to get to know.
They need a way to communicate
and reach out to one another.
So dolphins have effectively
developed their own language.
It's made up of a variety
of squeaks and whistles.
[Squeaking]
Narrator: Dolphins
don't have vocal chords.
So those squeaks and whistles
are produced by nasal sacs
in their heads.
There are three pairs
of air sacs
located just below
the dolphin's blowhole.
Some of their squeaks
and whistles
are so high pitched,
they're too high
for humans to hear.
But for a dolphin,
all the different sounds
are a complex chain
of words and sentences
that allow them to convey
messages to each other,
and even have conversations.
[Squeaking and whistling]
So, we've always known
that dolphins communicate
using squeaks and whistles,
but it would seem that
they are much more than
just simple commands.
The dolphins acoustic signals
are getting very close
to what we understand
as language.
Narrator:
Many dolphins call-out
to each other during a hunt
so they can synchronize
their movements.
They hunt as a cohesive unit,
working together
to encircle their prey.
Communication is key.
And when in distress,
they emit a clicking sound
to call for help.
But dolphin chatter
goes beyond warnings
and other simple conversations.
Like this adult female
that can't find her calf,
they often need to get
someone's attention.
[Whistling]
So, just like we give names
to our newborn babies
dolphins name their calves.
The dolphins are given
a signature whistle at birth,
and they then learn
their own unique whistle.
And amazingly,
these dolphins keep these names
for the entirety of their lives.
Narrator: New research
has shown
that a dolphin will respond
when it hears the sound
of its own signature whistle.
So, when mom calls
and her calf hears his name,
he'll repeat back that whistle
in a way that seems to say,
"Yup, I'm here, Mom,
did you call me?"
In really murky waters,
this is how they keep
track of each other,
even in big groups.
For example,
groups of young males
appear to chat constantly,
even on the move.
[Squeaking]
Narrator: This gang
of male teenagers
is roaming around
hoping to meet
some available females.
Kind of like a group of guys
bar-hopping on a Friday night.
Once they find females
they're interested in,
they whistle
and call each other
to formulate a game plan.
It's a tactical alliance.
By sticking together
they can ward off any rivals,
and get up close and personal
with the females.
Whether it's hunting
or looking for mates,
these dolphins really get
the concept of teamwork
and they work together,
they really cooperate.
And this is something that
we see in our own species.
Narrator: Just like humans,
dolphins develop
and maintain friendships
over the years.
In the wild,
Atlantic spotted dolphins
can live for as long
as two decades.
That's a lot of time to bond
with best friends.
We are just beginning
to uncover the secrets
of how these dolphins
communicate with each other.
One day, scientists hope
for a breakthrough
that will allow us
to communicate with dolphins
to recognize their sounds,
and respond in a way
they'll understand.
Perhaps, even allowing dolphins
to extend
their deep friendships
across species.
Physical affection
something most of us crave.
And it's the same for animals.
Gelada baboons spend hours
carefully and gently
grooming each other.
Chimps and bonobos kiss.
And bears, well,
they give bear hugs.
Lucy: The phrase "bear hug"
actually comes from bears.
Bears use hugs
for comfort and protection.
A mom will put her arm
around cubs
or siblings will comfort
each other when they're scared.
Narrator:
After a long stressful day,
couldn't we all do
with a bear hug?
For one animal,
things get even more intimate.
The majestic giraffe.
Standing up to
five-and-a-half metres tall.
They have unique their ways
of getting close to each other.
And their public displays
of affection
can be seen across
Sub-Saharan Africa.
Kenya.
This wild heart
of the African savannah
is home to both the hunter
and the hunted.
But some savannah citizens
are interested in making love,
not war.
With such long necks
and thin legs,
giraffes can sometimes
appear awkward.
But that doesn't stop them
from being affectionate.
Giraffes are often
called "Gentle Giants"
and they're very
affectionate with each other,
very protective of their young.
Mother giraffes
may nuzzle, lick,
or stroke their calves
to show affection.
Narrator: The affection
isn't restricted to moms
and their little ones.
Male giraffes typically
hang out together,
forming bachelor herds.
Like any group of guys,
there can be disagreements
and spats over dominance.
There is a hierarchy,
and this is how they work out
who's boss.
But there is also a softer side
to this behaviour.
In same-sex groups,
it can also signify tenderness.
Mostly between young males.
Lucy: It looks like
there's real affection there.
This is kind of like a bromance.
Narrator: They lean in
and rub their necks together
for long periods of time.
This behaviour is known as,
no surprise, "necking."
A kinder, gentler version
of the dominance displays
shown by the older males.
Necking in male giraffes
is really interesting
and sometimes
quite contradictory.
So while older giraffes will hit
each other with their necks
and it can be really violent
and aggressive,
younger giraffes,
when they're doing it,
it can often be
kind of affectionate.
Narrator: After rubbing
each other's necks,
males appear
to court each other.
This seemingly homosexual
behaviour between male giraffes
is actually really common.
Narrator: In fact,
for these fellas,
same sex courting
is more common
than cavorting with members
of the opposite sex.
Male giraffes are actually
far more likely
to be seen necking
with each other than females.
Actually, 90% of all observed
sexual behaviour
between giraffes
has been between males.
Narrator: These male giraffes
show affection for each other
throughout the rest
of their lives.
But they won't shun members
of the opposite sex entirely.
At some point,
most of these gents
will venture off
to actually mate with a female.
But it ends here.
Giraffe dads
don't help raise calves.
So, after coupling,
they're usually free to go back
to their herd of bachelors
and bond with their bros.
For many animals,
food gathering takes up
most of their day,
and most creatures
can't afford to be too picky.
With elephants,
it's all about volume.
They have to spend
19 hours a day
foraging and eating
just to fill themselves up.
And wild dogs have to hunt
morning and evening
to ensure that every member
of the pack is fed.
But there's a certain primate
that's a bit more
of a connoisseur,
taking food preparation,
and nutrition, very seriously.
This is Brazil.
Deep inside the spectacular
Amazon rainforest,
even in this lush habitat,
fruit can be difficult to find.
Like most tropical rainforests,
trees flower at different times
of the year here.
So discovering
what food is currently ripe
is time consuming.
But a local primate
that's both agile and clever
has mastered
its food collection
and turned the rainforest
into its very own kitchen.
These are
brown Capuchin monkeys.
The "health nuts"
of the Amazon.
These monkeys are omnivorous
and they've got
an incredibly varied diet.
They spend a lot of their time
travelling and snacking,
but it's not
the sort of snacking
that involves chips and dip.
It's healthier snacking.
It's things like seeds, leaves,
birds' eggs,
the occasional insect
that finds its way in its path.
Capuchins will move
through a rainforest
and through the seasons
they will make the most
of the different fruits
and different nuts
coming into season.
That variety of food,
obviously,
has benefits
to their nutrition,
their energy levels,
their fitness.
But also it means
that they've got to
figure out how to make the most
of such a variety of foods.
And that means sometimes
having to use the right tools.
Narrator: It's not
as easy as it looks.
One of the forest delicacies
they crave
is the fruit of
a certain type of palm tree.
When the fruit is ripe,
the flesh is soft,
although fibrous.
But the husk is notoriously
hard to crack.
So after they've eaten
the ripe fruit,
and drunk the juice,
they're left with a hard nut.
But they don't let this
precious nugget go to waste.
The nuts of these palm fruit
are highly nutritious,
but they're incredibly tough.
And the monkeys don't have
metal nutcrackers like we might.
So they've found a way
to get over this.
They take the fruit
to a large boulder,
which they then use as,
effectively, a chopping board.
Narrator: Like any good chef,
these monkeys
choose the right utensil
for the job.
After smashing the fruit
against a tree
to expose the nut,
the capuchins select heavy,
flat stones
that act as their nutcracker.
Using the weight of the rock,
and their own arm muscles,
they smash the stone
against the nut.
This is no easy task.
But there is no other way.
And these Capuchin chefs
are determined
to sink their teeth
into these tasty nuts.
It's amazing, because when
you look at the size
of some of those stones,
compared to their body size,
that these capuchins are using,
they're obviously
very determined.
Narrator: Capuchins learn
how to crack nuts
by watching their moms,
just like a human toddler
copying a parent.
And like any
good apprentice chef,
it can take years
to master the art.
But it's well worth it.
The fruit itself,
and the nut inside it,
have medicinal properties that
make it a monkey "super food."
These fruits have been
quite extensively studied
and they've been shown to have
internal cleansing properties,
they reduce fever.
They even help
remove internal parasites.
Narrator:
But the capuchins don't fixate
on just this one
fruit and nut combo.
These health-conscious primates
also use large stones
to access other
unique nutritional supplements.
Some are even found
inside certain rocks.
So what's really remarkable is
they're using these stones,
these smaller stones,
and smashing them
against larger boulders.
And what
they're trying to get at
is some of
the minerals in the rock.
Now, this is like
a vitamin supplement
that'll help them
to fight infections,
to fight parasites
and stay healthy,
just as we do,
we need supplements as well,
except they're getting this
from nature,
which shouldn't come
as a surprise
because that's what
we probably would've been doing
long before there were
natural health food stores.
Narrator: Research has found
that these capuchins
use 29 different tools
for pounding and digging.
Males and females were equally
adept at using the tools
once they'd gotten
the hang of it.
Studies have found that
capuchins have been using tools
like this, in this way,
for up to 3000 years.
It's not new behaviour,
it's just we now are
starting to appreciate the role
that these tools have
in making sure
that they have healthy diets
with all the minerals
and nutrients that they need.
Narrator: With all
the right tools to hand,
the Capuchin monkeys
use the rainforest
as their own personal
health food shop,
showing that these primates
put a lot of thought and effort
into maintaining a balanced
and healthy diet,
just like we do.
Not all animals are capable
of taking such good care
of themselves,
so some members
of the animal kingdom
enlist help from other species.
It's called "Mutualism,"
where one creature
performs a service for another
in exchange for food,
or protection.
Like these clown fish,
that safely hide
within the sea anemone's
stinging tentacles,
getting a secure place
to shelter
in return for providing
the anemone valuable nutrients
from its waste.
But sometimes this kind of
mutual relationship
means going where no one else
would dare.
The Indian Ocean.
The third-largest ocean
on Earth,
covering a fifth of the water
on the world's surface.
Here, in this metropolis
of tropical fish
is perhaps the bravest
of all the animal kingdom's
service workers.
The cleaner wrasse.
A small fish that takes on
a big job.
With its sharp little teeth,
and fearless demeanour,
it provides
important cleaning services
to creatures
that could easily devour them.
Cleaner wrasse
are simply amazing.
They swim along and remove
parasites and dead skin
from bigger fish
and other animals on the reef.
And it's a really good example
of one of these symbiotic
mutualistic relationships.
They benefit from getting a meal
and the clients or the host
benefit from, effectively,
being cleaned
and being healthier.
One of the cleaner wrasses'
regular customers
is this imposing creature,
the grey reef shark.
A prolific hunter that prowls
this idyllic
underwater landscape,
cruising over the corals
looking for its next meal.
Grey reef sharks are beautiful,
they're majestic animals.
They're amazing
to watch underwater.
They only grow to
about six-foot in length,
but they are deadly hunters
and they're always
on the lookout for food.
Narrator: When they can,
these sharks prey on fish,
crabs, lobsters,
and cephalopods.
They've even been known
to crunch down on sea turtles.
These hard-shell delicacies
are tough on their teeth.
And let's face it
sharks don't have
the best table manners.
These sharks need a lot of fish
and crustaceans to chow down on.
And to be honest,
they're quite messy eaters, too.
Narrator: After a busy day
of hunting and feasting,
this shark needs to
tend to some personal hygiene.
So, it takes time
out of its busy day of hunting,
to do something that none of us
ever looks forward to
a trip to the dentist.
For this shark,
and others like it,
the dental hygienists
are the cleaner wrasse.
These small fish
offer a remarkable service
by setting up
underwater cleaning stations.
And as it arrives,
the shark signals it's here
for a check-up.
That's cool,
the shark's coming in
at a really particular angle,
mouth is open.
Ah, look at that,
that's a really clear signal
and straight away
these little cleaner wrasse
are darting up to the shark
and swimming around its mouth,
around its gills,
across its body.
This is really clear signalling
from both,
that's lovely.
Narrator: Down here,
there's an unwritten agreement.
A truce below the waves.
The cleaner wrasse
do the unthinkable.
They enter the shark's mouth
and start swimming around
in the predator's
razor-sharp teeth.
Picking away at the food
that's stuck in there.
You have to admire the bravery
of these small cleaner wrasse,
they're entering sharks' mouths
without a second thought.
But what might appear to be
one of the world's worst jobs
is actually really beneficial
to both animals involved.
So we all know
that good dental hygiene
is a great way
to keep your teeth.
Sharks know that too,
on some level at least.
So they'll show up regularly
at these cleaning stations.
The wrasse get in there
picking out debris
and making sure that
infection doesn't take hold.
So this helps
to keep the gums healthy
and make sure that those sharks
have great teeth for the job.
Narrator: And it's not just
parasites on the menu.
These wrasse don't just
remove pesky parasites,
because they're also removing
bits of tissue and skin as well,
from injuries, for example.
And this ultimately
helps the sharks heal.
Narrator: For them,
the shark is like a food truck
that pulls up
and offers a free meal.
Of course,
cleaner wrasse are careful
not to upset their clients,
but they don't hold back.
What's fascinating is that
the sharks never really seem
to bite back.
It's almost as if
they understand
that a little bit of pain
is part of this dental check-up.
Narrator:
Once the appointment is over,
the shark leaves with clean,
gleaming teeth.
And a mouth free of parasites,
which surely boosts
its immune system.
These mobile wrasse
cleaning stations
also benefit a whole host
of other animals.
They have a long client list,
like manta rays,
and turtles.
The cleaner wrasse
is a busy little fish
that plays an important role
in keeping coral reefs healthy.
The overall size, health,
and diversity of marine life
is greater in places
where they work,
versus areas
where they don't.
Essentially, the cleaner wrasse
keeps marine creatures
more healthy
and attract other fish
that are keen to take advantage
of their incredible service.
Around the world,
animals play an important role
in keeping ecosystems balanced,
healthy, and strong.
During the dry seasons,
elephants use their tusks
to dig for water
providing some
much-needed relief
for other animals.
When they eat, they also create
gaps in the forest vegetation
creating space
for new plants to grow.
Squirrels act
as nature's gardeners,
collecting acorns and nuts
from a variety of trees
and plants
and then burying them.
The squirrel often forgets
where she's hidden
her provisions,
which essentially
sows the seeds
for new trees
and new plants to grow.
But in Australia
there's a species of bird
that makes its mark
by intentionally
controlling the environment,
in a way that was previously
thought only humans could.
Australia's Northern Territory.
Ancient and vast.
Famous for its outback
desert landscapes,
this spectacular region hosts
a variety of notable species.
But this stunning landscape
and those who live here
are constantly under threat.
This is one of the most
fire prone places on Earth.
In the summer,
soaring temperatures
will leave the land tinder dry,
which means that
wildfires are extremely common.
Narrator:
Some begin accidentally,
but many are set intentionally
by people managing the land.
Either way, these bushfires
can rip through habitats,
forcing many animals to flee.
[Chirping]
But not
the Australian black kite.
It flies safely
above the flames
with a well-earned reputation
as a clever
and fearless predator.
It's just riding the heat
that is rising up.
There's thermal winds
just there,
and then you see the tail
shifting at different angles,
allowing it to change
direction really quickly.
He's not flapping his wings.
Narrator: Like hungry patrons
waiting eagerly
for their favourite
restaurant to open,
they form huge flocks,
some containing
thousands of birds.
And they circle
above the scorched landscape
[Squawking]
swooping down
to feast on lizards,
grasshoppers,
and other small insects
that are trying to escape
the smoke and flames.
Nadeem: It's an ingenious
hunting strategy.
These birds know that the fire
will flush out loads of animals,
lots of which
will be prey for them.
So they have immediate
and almost exclusive
hunting access.
They don't seem to mind
the smoke or the intense heat.
And it's probably
why these birds
have earned themselves
the nickname "Firehawks."
Narrator: But the great
firehawks of the outback
have taken this practice
one step further.
They don't just wait
for a fire to start naturally,
they've been seen
lighting a fire intentionally.
They pick up a flaming twig
in their talons or beak,
and once they reach
their desired destination,
usually an area
untouched by bushfires,
they drop it,
and a fresh fire starts.
Making the black kite
an avian pyromaniac of sorts.
Recently an ornithologist
gathered eyewitness accounts
of these birds
starting fires in Australia.
But this is something that
indigenous people,
the First Nation people,
have known about
for 40,000 years.
[Chirping]
Narrator: As flames
sweep across the outback,
the black kites will wait
in the treetops.
And then swoop down
on the hapless creatures below.
What follows
is a feeding frenzy.
[Frenzied squawking]
Gillian: These black kites
are the only other species
apart from humans,
that are able to use fire
for their own benefit.
Now, this is
absolutely mind-blowing,
because we have always
thought of ourselves
as being unique
in the entire living world,
as being a species
that could use and control fire.
And here they are, these birds,
out in the open
using fire just as well.
Narrator:
The Australian black kite.
Thriving in a desert landscape
too extreme
for many other birds.
They have perfected
their use of fire,
harnessing the flames
for their own personal gain.
Which makes them
an animal a lot like us.
Not far
from the Northern Territory,
there's another
super smart bird
that's become famous
for its own brand
of "environmental engineering."
One that fashions a tool
to keep a steady beat,
and impress a mate.
Say g'day to the palm cockatoo.
An extraordinary-looking
bird
found in
the tropical rainforests
of Northeastern Queensland.
The palm cockatoo
is an amazing bird.
It's the largest cockatoo
in the world
and it's also
one of the smartest birds
with a brain-to-body ratio
like that of a great ape.
Narrator: The males put
their big brains to good use.
One way is by staging elaborate
courtship displays
to find a mate.
That involves making a tool,
an instrument of sorts
to impress the ladies.
The male palm cockatoo
has taken courtship
to a whole new level.
While most birds
will sing a song
or do a dance
to attract a mate,
the male palm cockatoo
sets itself apart
by making
and playing an instrument.
Narrator: That's right.
During mating season,
males up their game
and turn into musical maestros.
Using their enormous beaks,
they break off a stick
from a tree,
whittle it down,
and strip off the bark,
and then fashion it
into a short drumstick.
Clutched in their left foot
[Tapping]
they bang the stick on
the side of a hollow tree,
using it like a drum.
[Tapping]
They fashion the tool
to amplify sound
and use that
to beat in a regular rhythm.
70% of the males
that were observed drumming
did so when
a female was present.
Narrator:
Palm cockatoos are monogamous.
They also breed
at a very slow rate.
Females lay one egg
every two years
in a tree hollow.
So males rely heavily on
their drumming prowess
to stand out
from the crowd.
Each drumbeat
is so unique,
that males
can be identified
by the sounds
that they make.
While some are slow and steady,
others are fast and variable.
Narrator: They can even
space out the beats and taps
creating a unique song
just like a human drummer
would.
If the male is delivering
an effective performance,
the female will come over
and mirror his movements.
The birds sway together
and gently preen
each other's feathers,
an act of pair-bonding
which prepares them
for breeding.
Narrator: Occasionally,
the cockatoo drummer
mixes in a whistle
or another catchy sound
from an impressive repertoire
of around 20 calls.
[Cockatoo calling]
The palm cockatoo
is the only species,
other than humans,
to use tools in such a way
to make music,
and is not seen everywhere.
Palm cockatoos are present
in Papua New Guinea
and Indonesia.
But it is only
the Australian population
that uses music in this way.
So this probably means
it was passed down
from dad to son.
Narrator: Palm cockatoos
don't just look the part
with their outlandish crests
and bad boy black plumage.
When it comes to tool use,
these guys really are
the rock 'n' roll stars
of the bird world.
Just like us, most animals need
a place to call home.
Somewhere that offers them
safety and shelter
from the elements.
It could be a nest, a den,
a cave,
or even an underground burrow.
But no species lives
rent free.
Whether it's helping
to keep the place tidy,
find food,
or fight off predators,
there's always a cost
to living in nice digs.
Particularly in one of Earth's
most hostile environments.
Namibia's Kalahari Desert.
This vast area of arid land
stretching across
Southern Africa
is 900,000 square kilometres
of sand, salt flats, and scrub.
Temperatures can reach
above 115 F in summer
and plunge below freezing
in winter.
This harsh environment
is too extreme
for most species.
Narrator: But not for meerkats.
By sticking together
and looking out for each other,
they manage to thrive.
Even in this
hostile environment.
Everyone loves meerkats.
I mean, what's not to love?
They are really
adorable creatures.
They're either standing up
very charismatically
on their hind legs,
or they're snuggling together.
And all of these
very adorable behaviours
are because
they're social creatures.
Narrator: A meerkat mob
can be made up
of several families
and is matrilineal.
That means, here,
the alpha female is large
and in charge,
and calls the shots.
And for the most part,
all the other
meerkats cooperate.
Taking on different roles,
or duties,
depending on
what the situation calls for.
While the rest of the group
is foraging for food
or digging tunnels,
some will always stay
on sentry duty
watching for threats.
Their survival depends on
their ability to adapt
to any situation.
Narrator:
One situation they routinely
need to adjust to
is the arrival
of a new generation
of meerkat pups.
Because around here,
taking care
of the matriarch's offspring
is a communal job.
In meerkat society,
the dominant female
has most of the pups.
Studies have shown
that she can be responsible
for up to 80% of the pups
born in a mob in a single year.
Narrator: All the other
meerkats in the mob
will help raise her pups,
whether they're
directly related or not.
Around here,
it really does
"Take a village
to raise a child."
A meerkat village, of course.
It's another example
of cooperative rearing
in the animal kingdom.
Where other
socially subordinate females,
instead of raising
their own pups,
work to ensure the survival
of the matriarch's pups.
It's like having
a whole team of nannies.
Nursing another
female's offspring,
known as "allonursing,"
is a serious physical drain,
but the subordinate meerkat
has no other choice
but to do as she's told.
Narrator: The matriarch
rules her group
with an iron paw.
Like a nightmare landlady
she decides who stays
and who goes.
Oftentimes,
it's an unrelated female,
but even family members
that get on her bad side
can also get the heave ho.
The females
that stay in the mob
are more likely to be
related to the dominant female
and share her genes.
Dan: The dominant female
controls the breeding
of other females,
her subordinates,
whether they're her sisters,
or her daughters.
And if her children are allowed
to stay in the group,
they don't get
to stay rent free.
They have to pay to stay.
Narrator: It's almost
like paying the rent.
And we all know what happens
when you don't pay the rent.
Eventually, you get evicted.
Why would you spend
your whole life
helping others breed?
Studies have shown
female meerkats that leave
are almost never seen again.
So clearly,
it's important for survival
to stay together.
Narrator: Subordinates
are also expected
to babysit the leader's pups.
She can have as many
as eight babies at one time,
and can have several litters
in just one year.
At least one female
will stay in the burrow all day
to look after the young,
sacrificing her own
foraging time.
Even if they do go out hunting,
the meerkats have to give up
almost half of what they find
to the pups
of the dominant female.
A lot of what
they find, therefore,
is given up as rental payment.
It's like they have to pay up
or leave.
Narrator: Having so much help
allows the matriarch
to focus on breeding.
But some meerkat tenants
refuse to do the chores
or fulfill their obligations.
So, they're sent packing.
[Aggressive squealing]
Sometimes by force.
For these ousted meerkats,
life can be tough
and very short.
In the wild,
a solitary meerkat is rare
and usually
a short-lived phenomenon.
Survival rates for
evicted individuals is very low.
Living in
a co-operative community
is the key to staying alive.
So, the good news in this story
is eviction doesn't have to be
permanent in meerkats.
They can get back into
the "landlady's" good books
if they show
that they can be compliant.
And do what they're told.
Narrator: On return,
they present a subordinate
grovelling behaviour,
an apology of sorts.
They try to appease
the dominant female,
taking any job
this uncompromising landlady
gives them,
hoping to be accepted
back into her home.
This form of society
is so successful,
it allows a dominant female
to raise up to 20 pups per year.
It also allows groups
to defend territories
and keep going
against rival groups.
So in the society,
it is a constant trade off
between leaving the mob,
leaving the group,
and having your own young,
or staying together
in relative safety.
It's a really harsh reality,
because for some meerkats,
it means the only chance
of being able to
have your own offspring,
is if your dominant female
is killed by a predator.
That's pretty brutal.
Narrator: They may be cute,
and quirky,
but to survive out here
meerkats have to be
made of sterner stuff,
and need to be able
to make tough decisions.
Even renegades
and mavericks eventually learn
that there is a price to pay
if they want to be protected
within the mob.
The animal kingdom,
to the untrained eye,
it can either look brutal,
or just cute and cuddly.
But if you look
a little closer,
you'll discover
something incredible.
That these wild animals
share so many
similar traits with us,
from complex languages
and the quest for love
to adept parenting skills,
and even trademark
teenage tantrums.
There is so much more
to these animals' lives
than first meets the eye.
Knowing they're a lot like us,
means we'll never see them
quite the same way again.