1
00:00:07,007 --> 00:00:09,551
- [birds chirping]
- [animal coos]

2
00:00:09,635 --> 00:00:14,348
[narrator] The birth of a baby animal
is always special.

3
00:00:14,431 --> 00:00:16,725
- [birds chirping]
- [purring]

4
00:00:16,808 --> 00:00:19,478
But for those on the brink of extinction,

5
00:00:20,437 --> 00:00:21,813
every new life…

6
00:00:21,897 --> 00:00:24,399
- [exhales]
- …brings hope.

7
00:00:24,858 --> 00:00:26,026
[chirping]

8
00:00:26,109 --> 00:00:28,445
Six endangered youngsters

9
00:00:29,279 --> 00:00:31,240
raised in our world…

10
00:00:31,323 --> 00:00:32,698
[meowing]

11
00:00:32,783 --> 00:00:36,078
…are on the journey of a lifetime…

12
00:00:36,620 --> 00:00:37,454
[man] Follow me.

13
00:00:37,538 --> 00:00:38,914
[narrator] …back to theirs.

14
00:00:39,706 --> 00:00:41,959
Are you inquisitive? Yeah.

15
00:00:42,501 --> 00:00:44,545
[narrator]
But they can't do it on their own.

16
00:00:44,962 --> 00:00:46,213
He lost his mother.

17
00:00:47,214 --> 00:00:48,799
- [elephant snorts]
- [hisses]

18
00:00:48,882 --> 00:00:52,719
[narrator] With human foster parents
helping them on their way…

19
00:00:53,762 --> 00:00:55,931
[man] You don't need to be scared,
I'm here with you.

20
00:00:56,014 --> 00:00:56,849
[bear whines]

21
00:00:56,932 --> 00:01:01,395
[narrator] …can these little ones
help save their species…

22
00:01:01,478 --> 00:01:04,188
[woman] If you love something,
you have to let it go.

23
00:01:05,107 --> 00:01:09,027
[narrator] …and return to the wild?

24
00:01:11,655 --> 00:01:13,574
[orchestral swell]

25
00:01:15,576 --> 00:01:17,828
[woman vocalizing, music climaxes]

26
00:01:20,247 --> 00:01:22,499
[dramatic drumroll]

27
00:01:22,583 --> 00:01:24,585
[birds chirping]

28
00:01:25,586 --> 00:01:27,588
[narrator]
On the island of Madagascar,

29
00:01:29,381 --> 00:01:31,550
is the world's only rescue center…

30
00:01:31,633 --> 00:01:33,844
- [indistinct chatter]
- [hooting, chirping]

31
00:01:33,927 --> 00:01:36,180
- …for ring-tailed lemurs.
- [lemurs murmuring]

32
00:01:36,263 --> 00:01:37,514
[man] Come on, guys.

33
00:01:38,098 --> 00:01:39,099
Feeding time.

34
00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,479
[narrator] Famous for their cute looks…

35
00:01:45,189 --> 00:01:46,899
and stripy tails…

36
00:01:47,691 --> 00:01:48,942
[squeaks]

37
00:01:49,026 --> 00:01:51,361
…these sociable little animals…

38
00:01:52,779 --> 00:01:54,948
live in bustling groups.

39
00:01:55,532 --> 00:01:56,366
[trills]

40
00:02:00,370 --> 00:02:03,957
But in recent decades,
their numbers have crashed,

41
00:02:04,041 --> 00:02:09,880
as forests have been cut down
and lemurs are illegally sold as pets.

42
00:02:11,381 --> 00:02:15,469
There are now just
a few thousand left in the wild.

43
00:02:16,929 --> 00:02:18,138
[coos]

44
00:02:19,431 --> 00:02:24,019
Today, at the center, there's new hope.

45
00:02:24,102 --> 00:02:25,771
[coos]

46
00:02:25,854 --> 00:02:30,275
Just a few hours old, this tiny baby…

47
00:02:31,527 --> 00:02:33,904
is the size of a human finger.

48
00:02:34,988 --> 00:02:35,989
[coos]

49
00:02:37,658 --> 00:02:38,617
[coos]

50
00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:40,911
For head Keeper, Onja,

51
00:02:40,994 --> 00:02:43,705
this little one is a big deal.

52
00:02:43,789 --> 00:02:47,835
[Onja]
Every birth here is like a holiday.

53
00:02:47,918 --> 00:02:50,754
Like a… a happy day.

54
00:02:52,172 --> 00:02:56,009
[narrator] Onja's dream is to one day
release this youngster,

55
00:02:57,135 --> 00:03:00,347
with the rest of the group, into the wild.

56
00:03:01,557 --> 00:03:04,268
- [squeaks]
- [Onja whistles]

57
00:03:07,354 --> 00:03:08,188
[squeaks]

58
00:03:08,272 --> 00:03:09,398
Come on the box.

59
00:03:10,774 --> 00:03:13,068
Come on. Your food is there.

60
00:03:13,151 --> 00:03:18,949
[narrator] Ring-tailed lemurs rely on
each other to spot threats and keep safe.

61
00:03:19,032 --> 00:03:20,325
- Come eat.
- [chirps]

62
00:03:20,701 --> 00:03:24,538
[narrator] The trouble is,
this isn't your average troop.

63
00:03:25,831 --> 00:03:26,832
[birds chirping]

64
00:03:26,915 --> 00:03:29,585
Normally, they live in extended families.

65
00:03:30,085 --> 00:03:33,046
Brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles.

66
00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,634
These guys are unrelated.

67
00:03:39,636 --> 00:03:41,972
Most rescued from the pet trade.

68
00:03:44,892 --> 00:03:46,226
And brought together…

69
00:03:47,644 --> 00:03:50,939
to form an unruly bunch of misfits.

70
00:03:52,441 --> 00:03:53,901
[squawks]

71
00:03:55,027 --> 00:03:58,447
[Onja] All of the lemurs
have a different character.

72
00:04:01,617 --> 00:04:03,911
He's Dillon. He's very big.

73
00:04:03,994 --> 00:04:07,539
He's like, uh, the big boss.
[chuckles]

74
00:04:08,916 --> 00:04:10,751
His name is Pinky.

75
00:04:12,044 --> 00:04:14,588
And this one is, uh… Fred.

76
00:04:15,756 --> 00:04:18,257
Fred is my favorite lemur here.

77
00:04:18,591 --> 00:04:21,887
He's very cute, and he's very funny.

78
00:04:22,471 --> 00:04:24,056
So I love him.

79
00:04:26,683 --> 00:04:27,935
This is Sammy.

80
00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:34,816
He's aggressive and, he's sometimes…
stressed.

81
00:04:36,568 --> 00:04:39,571
Yeah, we have to be careful.
[laughs]

82
00:04:40,447 --> 00:04:42,157
- [shrieks]
- [grunts]

83
00:04:42,241 --> 00:04:43,784
[laughs]

84
00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:47,371
- Okay, I'm done with feeding.
- [both laugh]

85
00:04:47,454 --> 00:04:48,622
[murmurs]

86
00:04:50,415 --> 00:04:53,919
[narrator] To make it
in the wild, this ragtag gang…

87
00:04:54,002 --> 00:04:55,420
[whines]

88
00:04:55,504 --> 00:04:59,633
…and their youngest member
need to form a tight bond…

89
00:05:00,259 --> 00:05:01,760
[chirps, screeches]

90
00:05:01,844 --> 00:05:04,096
…and learn to watch each other's backs.

91
00:05:04,179 --> 00:05:05,806
- [chirping]
- [whines]

92
00:05:06,181 --> 00:05:07,558
Like a true family.

93
00:05:09,434 --> 00:05:13,730
Because the forest is full of dangers.

94
00:05:16,275 --> 00:05:19,778
[chirping]

95
00:05:19,862 --> 00:05:21,738
[coos]

96
00:05:21,822 --> 00:05:23,866
For Onja and the other keepers…

97
00:05:23,949 --> 00:05:26,535
[chattering, laughing]

98
00:05:26,618 --> 00:05:29,663
[narrator] …the first thing they want
to know when a new baby is born,

99
00:05:29,746 --> 00:05:33,667
is if it's a boy… or a girl.

100
00:05:36,879 --> 00:05:38,046
[Onja] Don't move.

101
00:05:40,716 --> 00:05:42,593
[narrator]
It's harder than you might think.

102
00:05:43,427 --> 00:05:45,637
[Onja] Taking a photo is easy.

103
00:05:46,763 --> 00:05:49,516
But finding the right angle,
that's difficult.

104
00:05:51,977 --> 00:05:55,898
[narrator] Male and female lemurs
look almost identical.

105
00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:57,941
Go back on the platform.

106
00:05:58,025 --> 00:05:59,359
[squeaks]

107
00:05:59,443 --> 00:06:02,779
[narrator] So, there's only one way
to tell them apart.

108
00:06:04,489 --> 00:06:05,782
I can't see it.

109
00:06:08,619 --> 00:06:09,870
[camera shutter clicks]

110
00:06:09,953 --> 00:06:11,330
Okay, one…

111
00:06:11,413 --> 00:06:13,290
- [squeaks]
- Don't move.

112
00:06:14,416 --> 00:06:15,417
[camera shutter clicks]

113
00:06:16,168 --> 00:06:17,169
Yes.

114
00:06:21,548 --> 00:06:23,842
The baby is a girl.

115
00:06:26,178 --> 00:06:28,931
We are gonna call her Asara.

116
00:06:29,014 --> 00:06:30,891
It's a Malagasy name.

117
00:06:30,974 --> 00:06:32,434
It means "summer."

118
00:06:33,977 --> 00:06:36,063
[narrator] It's exciting news.

119
00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,691
The first baby girl born this year.

120
00:06:41,151 --> 00:06:43,862
Lemurs families are run by females,

121
00:06:44,821 --> 00:06:48,367
so Asara could one day
become the leader.

122
00:06:50,661 --> 00:06:54,206
But first, she needs to learn
some life lessons.

123
00:06:56,750 --> 00:07:01,046
Like what to eat and how to climb.

124
00:07:04,299 --> 00:07:06,510
So she can keep up with the troop…

125
00:07:07,469 --> 00:07:09,179
in the wild.

126
00:07:09,263 --> 00:07:11,306
[bird squawks]

127
00:07:12,224 --> 00:07:15,811
- [cooing]
- [soft footsteps]

128
00:07:18,730 --> 00:07:23,861
Two weeks later, Asara's growing fast.

129
00:07:24,528 --> 00:07:27,489
- She's almost doubled in weight.
- [squeaks]

130
00:07:28,323 --> 00:07:29,741
[squeaks]

131
00:07:31,285 --> 00:07:34,746
And she's attracting attention
from the rest of the troop…

132
00:07:35,038 --> 00:07:35,998
[coos]

133
00:07:36,748 --> 00:07:39,334
…because, just like humans,

134
00:07:41,211 --> 00:07:44,590
lemurs love a new baby to coo over.

135
00:07:50,596 --> 00:07:53,056
Showering the little one with affection…

136
00:07:54,641 --> 00:07:58,312
should help these rescued lemurs
bond together.

137
00:07:58,979 --> 00:08:00,272
[squeaks]

138
00:08:01,148 --> 00:08:03,442
- [background chatter]
- [chuckles]

139
00:08:04,067 --> 00:08:07,779
[Onja]
It's very important and very awesome

140
00:08:07,863 --> 00:08:10,282
to see this development.

141
00:08:12,409 --> 00:08:18,290
[narrator] For Asara, all this pampering
is getting a bit much.

142
00:08:19,333 --> 00:08:20,334
[squeaks]

143
00:08:22,878 --> 00:08:25,714
Time to take her first steps
away from Mum.

144
00:08:25,797 --> 00:08:26,798
[squeaks]

145
00:08:28,592 --> 00:08:30,469
On a tight leash, at first.

146
00:08:30,552 --> 00:08:31,678
[squawks]

147
00:08:36,265 --> 00:08:37,558
[squeaks]

148
00:08:38,101 --> 00:08:41,104
But soon, she's given more of a free rein.

149
00:08:42,272 --> 00:08:44,650
[playful music playing]

150
00:08:45,859 --> 00:08:47,027
[squeaks]

151
00:08:48,237 --> 00:08:49,112
[coos]

152
00:08:51,198 --> 00:08:52,282
[coos]

153
00:09:02,626 --> 00:09:03,460
[squeaks]

154
00:09:03,544 --> 00:09:04,962
When she's had enough…

155
00:09:05,045 --> 00:09:06,713
[playful music concludes]

156
00:09:07,297 --> 00:09:09,800
…it's back to her new extended family…

157
00:09:10,592 --> 00:09:12,678
- [chirps]
- …for a group hug.

158
00:09:15,639 --> 00:09:16,890
[squeaks]

159
00:09:21,645 --> 00:09:23,105
[scuffles]

160
00:09:23,856 --> 00:09:26,567
[footsteps]

161
00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,489
[narrator] Feeding all the rescued lemurs
takes a lot of work.

162
00:09:33,907 --> 00:09:36,535
The center has its own two-acre farm.

163
00:09:36,618 --> 00:09:39,329
[man humming, singing in Malagasy]

164
00:09:43,792 --> 00:09:49,464
[narrator] Like any parent, Onja's keen
for the lemurs to get a healthy diet.

165
00:09:50,215 --> 00:09:56,013
[Onja] There is carrots, there is, uh,
the cucumber, and there is lettuce.

166
00:09:56,847 --> 00:09:59,474
[narrator]
But they also have a sweet tooth.

167
00:10:01,059 --> 00:10:02,102
And for that…

168
00:10:02,186 --> 00:10:04,605
[in Malagasy]
Hello, Jary, how's it going?

169
00:10:04,688 --> 00:10:07,399
[narrator] …he must head
into the local town, Mangily.

170
00:10:09,484 --> 00:10:12,362
Lemurs can eat 40 different
types of fruit,

171
00:10:13,363 --> 00:10:16,116
but mangos are one of their favorites.

172
00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:17,242
[in Malagasy] Hello, Mamaliny.

173
00:10:17,326 --> 00:10:18,702
[in Malagasy] Hello, Onja.

174
00:10:18,785 --> 00:10:21,413
We are looking for mangoes
and food for the lemurs.

175
00:10:21,496 --> 00:10:24,958
[narrator] They can get through
70 pounds of them a week.

176
00:10:25,042 --> 00:10:27,044
[in Malagasy] The lemurs are thanking you.

177
00:10:27,127 --> 00:10:28,295
[both laugh]

178
00:10:29,004 --> 00:10:33,008
I thank the lemurs
for buying lots of fruit.

179
00:10:33,091 --> 00:10:35,385
- [Onja laughs]
- Makes me really happy.

180
00:10:36,303 --> 00:10:37,137
Ooh.

181
00:10:37,221 --> 00:10:38,889
This is so heavy!

182
00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,850
You are very strong.

183
00:10:41,934 --> 00:10:43,143
[laughs]

184
00:10:43,810 --> 00:10:45,145
[Onja] Let's go.

185
00:10:46,813 --> 00:10:48,982
[Mamaliny] Goodbye, Onja.

186
00:10:50,108 --> 00:10:51,485
[Onja chuckles]

187
00:10:54,029 --> 00:10:57,741
[narrator]
Weekly shop complete, it's feeding time.

188
00:10:57,824 --> 00:10:59,826
[Onja whistles]

189
00:11:00,619 --> 00:11:04,122
[Onja, in English] This mango
is good for the lemurs.

190
00:11:04,206 --> 00:11:06,208
It is very healthy for them.

191
00:11:09,002 --> 00:11:10,546
They are very hungry.

192
00:11:10,629 --> 00:11:11,630
[chirping]

193
00:11:14,591 --> 00:11:17,052
[narrator]
There's a pecking order in lemur life.

194
00:11:17,135 --> 00:11:18,554
[trilling]

195
00:11:19,137 --> 00:11:20,931
And squabbles over food…

196
00:11:21,014 --> 00:11:23,100
[chirping]

197
00:11:23,183 --> 00:11:25,227
…help each one find their place.

198
00:11:25,853 --> 00:11:27,396
[squawking]

199
00:11:28,105 --> 00:11:29,481
[squawking]

200
00:11:31,817 --> 00:11:37,281
Luckily for Asara,
her mum is the leader of this gang.

201
00:11:40,576 --> 00:11:41,577
[squeaking]

202
00:11:44,288 --> 00:11:49,626
And being the boss's daughter
means she gets all the fruit she can eat.

203
00:11:53,213 --> 00:11:57,050
She won't get her first teeth
until she's four weeks old.

204
00:11:58,886 --> 00:12:01,388
But that doesn't stop her giving it a try.

205
00:12:01,722 --> 00:12:03,223
[chuckles]

206
00:12:04,099 --> 00:12:05,767
[man speaks Malagasy]

207
00:12:13,817 --> 00:12:15,360
[squeaks]

208
00:12:15,444 --> 00:12:17,946
[narrator]
Now more confident on her feet…

209
00:12:20,532 --> 00:12:23,577
time for something a bit more challenging.

210
00:12:26,121 --> 00:12:27,998
It's a shaky start,

211
00:12:29,333 --> 00:12:32,711
but lemurs spend half their lives
in the trees.

212
00:12:34,171 --> 00:12:35,130
[squeaks]

213
00:12:35,714 --> 00:12:39,510
So climbing is the next skill
she needs to crack.

214
00:12:43,347 --> 00:12:45,682
[in Malagasy]
Let's go, we are done.

215
00:12:51,438 --> 00:12:54,816
[narrator] Looking after all
the rescued lemurs is a full-time job.

216
00:12:56,235 --> 00:12:58,820
New ones can be brought in at any time.

217
00:13:00,572 --> 00:13:04,034
The latest arrival was rescued
from a nearby town.

218
00:13:09,373 --> 00:13:11,083
- Around two months old…
- [coos]

219
00:13:11,166 --> 00:13:14,795
…it's likely she was taken
from her mum in the forest.

220
00:13:14,878 --> 00:13:19,132
[in English] Seeing that there is still
some people who take them as pets,

221
00:13:19,216 --> 00:13:20,509
it's very sad.

222
00:13:22,594 --> 00:13:25,472
She's tiny and still a baby.

223
00:13:26,098 --> 00:13:29,560
So she still needs her mom's milk.

224
00:13:31,311 --> 00:13:32,813
It's like a human.

225
00:13:35,232 --> 00:13:39,528
[narrator] Lemurs kept as pets
often become weak and sickly.

226
00:13:42,072 --> 00:13:45,742
It's thought one in three
don't live more than six months.

227
00:13:47,995 --> 00:13:48,871
[squeaks]

228
00:13:48,954 --> 00:13:52,708
And sadly,
despite the team's best efforts,

229
00:13:53,792 --> 00:13:55,752
this youngster passed away.

230
00:14:02,092 --> 00:14:04,803
For Onja, it's an urgent reminder

231
00:14:04,887 --> 00:14:10,809
of why his work to return rescued lemurs
to the wild is so important.

232
00:14:22,196 --> 00:14:23,572
Five weeks later,

233
00:14:25,199 --> 00:14:27,951
and the ragtag troop are getting closer.

234
00:14:30,913 --> 00:14:33,332
Every morning starts with sunbathing.

235
00:14:34,625 --> 00:14:37,169
It's how lemurs warm themselves up.

236
00:14:40,422 --> 00:14:44,259
Today, Asara has
a huge hurdle to overcome.

237
00:14:46,803 --> 00:14:50,224
Baby lemurs usually learn to climb
by two months old.

238
00:14:50,307 --> 00:14:51,183
[sawing]

239
00:14:51,808 --> 00:14:53,810
[birds chirping]

240
00:14:54,770 --> 00:15:00,901
So, like a handy dad,
Onja's built Asara a jungle gym.

241
00:15:01,318 --> 00:15:04,530
This is quite high for the baby to climb.

242
00:15:05,948 --> 00:15:10,536
But it's important for me
to see Asara reach the top.

243
00:15:18,794 --> 00:15:23,423
[narrator] Like us, lemurs have
opposable thumbs, helping them grip.

244
00:15:24,591 --> 00:15:27,719
But they can also hold on with their feet.

245
00:15:31,348 --> 00:15:32,558
[Onja] Come on, Asara.

246
00:15:36,353 --> 00:15:37,604
Try again.

247
00:15:40,148 --> 00:15:41,149
Try again.

248
00:15:50,033 --> 00:15:52,202
[squeaks]

249
00:16:01,295 --> 00:16:02,504
[narrator] Undeterred…

250
00:16:05,340 --> 00:16:08,010
and using her tail to help balance…

251
00:16:10,721 --> 00:16:14,516
eventually, she makes it.

252
00:16:16,101 --> 00:16:17,936
- [chirps]
- [Onja] Whoa.

253
00:16:18,020 --> 00:16:21,440
It's very… cool to see that.

254
00:16:22,941 --> 00:16:25,068
[squeaks]

255
00:16:26,278 --> 00:16:27,362
[chittering]

256
00:16:27,446 --> 00:16:30,699
[narrator] It's a big step
on her journey…

257
00:16:31,783 --> 00:16:32,993
into the wild.

258
00:16:33,869 --> 00:16:35,621
[birds chirping]

259
00:16:41,418 --> 00:16:42,711
[men speaking Malagasy]

260
00:16:42,794 --> 00:16:44,046
[narrator] In the evenings…

261
00:16:44,755 --> 00:16:46,298
[speaks Malagasy]

262
00:16:46,381 --> 00:16:49,092
…Onja and the team
get a bit of free time.

263
00:16:49,176 --> 00:16:51,845
[Onja, in Malagasy] If you lose,

264
00:16:51,929 --> 00:16:53,388
you have to clean the cage.

265
00:16:53,472 --> 00:16:54,473
[all laugh]

266
00:16:54,890 --> 00:16:56,600
[narrator] To do his work here,

267
00:16:56,683 --> 00:16:59,228
he's had to move away
from his family home.

268
00:16:59,895 --> 00:17:02,856
[Onja, in English] I'm not from this part
of Madagascar,

269
00:17:02,940 --> 00:17:05,233
and my wife is far away.

270
00:17:06,193 --> 00:17:08,487
[narrator] To see her
is a two-day journey.

271
00:17:09,488 --> 00:17:12,491
But recently,
Onja's had some exciting news.

272
00:17:13,700 --> 00:17:15,368
He's going to become a dad.

273
00:17:15,452 --> 00:17:17,454
[all laugh]

274
00:17:17,954 --> 00:17:22,041
[narrator] When the baby's born,
his wife will join him at the center.

275
00:17:22,501 --> 00:17:25,002
[speaking Malagasy, laughs]

276
00:17:25,087 --> 00:17:27,923
Bye, bye! I'm out.

277
00:17:28,006 --> 00:17:32,636
[narrator] Until then, his focus will be
on his lemur family.

278
00:17:32,719 --> 00:17:34,930
[man, in Malagasy] You are
going to clean the cage tomorrow.

279
00:17:35,013 --> 00:17:37,850
[laughing]

280
00:17:40,477 --> 00:17:43,814
[animals chirping]

281
00:17:57,536 --> 00:18:02,499
[narrator] Asara's now tripled in size
and is growing more confident.

282
00:18:02,583 --> 00:18:05,377
[shrieks]

283
00:18:05,460 --> 00:18:07,838
[Onja, in English] She's very cheeky
and curious.

284
00:18:10,215 --> 00:18:14,928
[narrator] Now her teeth are through,
she's wolfing down the fruit.

285
00:18:17,222 --> 00:18:21,059
But in the wild,
this will be a rare treat.

286
00:18:22,853 --> 00:18:28,692
In the drier months, 60% of a lemur's diet
is leaves and shrubs.

287
00:18:29,401 --> 00:18:34,156
So Onja and the team
gather a sample of what's on offer.

288
00:18:34,239 --> 00:18:37,326
[in Malagasy]
Let's see if Asara likes this.

289
00:18:37,826 --> 00:18:39,244
Let's go, that is enough.

290
00:18:42,289 --> 00:18:43,373
[vocalizes]

291
00:18:43,457 --> 00:18:45,667
[in English] I've got a treat for you.

292
00:18:46,460 --> 00:18:50,631
[narrator] Lemurs feed on over a hundred
different types of plants.

293
00:18:50,714 --> 00:18:52,174
[squawks]

294
00:18:52,883 --> 00:18:55,344
[narrator] And Asara's not a fussy eater.

295
00:18:58,597 --> 00:19:01,808
Look at Asara climbing and eating.

296
00:19:02,559 --> 00:19:03,936
She loves it.

297
00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,317
[narrator] She tries a bit of everything.

298
00:19:18,033 --> 00:19:21,411
But the trickiest item
on any lemur's lunch list

299
00:19:21,495 --> 00:19:23,497
is the octopus tree.

300
00:19:25,499 --> 00:19:28,168
A giant cactus-like plant

301
00:19:28,252 --> 00:19:33,048
that can grow 30 feet tall,
with needle-sharp thorns.

302
00:19:33,131 --> 00:19:34,299
[squeaks]

303
00:19:34,383 --> 00:19:35,634
[dramatic music playing]

304
00:19:35,717 --> 00:19:36,885
[whines]

305
00:19:37,344 --> 00:19:42,349
The problem is, the juiciest leaves
are right at the top.

306
00:19:50,607 --> 00:19:52,442
[Onja] Come on, Asara. You can do it.

307
00:19:58,365 --> 00:20:02,995
[narrator] Tough pads on her hands
and feet offer some protection.

308
00:20:08,667 --> 00:20:13,922
She must master the lemur skill
of only grasping the strongest spikes.

309
00:20:16,884 --> 00:20:22,097
Get this wrong,
and she could seriously injure herself.

310
00:20:22,181 --> 00:20:24,183
[dramatic music continues]

311
00:20:34,568 --> 00:20:37,112
[Onja] Look at this. She's doing it now.

312
00:20:40,574 --> 00:20:42,201
[dramatic music ends]

313
00:20:42,284 --> 00:20:44,036
She's a quick learner.

314
00:20:44,536 --> 00:20:46,246
She's enjoying it.

315
00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,466
It's really exciting to see.

316
00:20:58,926 --> 00:21:00,344
She is a big girl now.

317
00:21:00,427 --> 00:21:01,970
[squeaks]

318
00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:05,599
[Onja laughs]

319
00:21:07,559 --> 00:21:10,437
[narrator]
For Onja, there's another promising sign.

320
00:21:12,189 --> 00:21:16,235
The troop is now feeding together
without squabbling.

321
00:21:17,819 --> 00:21:22,574
Very nice to see that they share it,
and everyone has their part.

322
00:21:23,116 --> 00:21:26,286
[narrator] They're starting to get on
like a proper family.

323
00:21:29,289 --> 00:21:33,585
In the months ahead,
that could mean the difference

324
00:21:33,669 --> 00:21:36,755
between life and death.

325
00:21:48,809 --> 00:21:52,479
[squeaking]

326
00:21:52,813 --> 00:21:58,610
More than a year since she was born,
Asara is almost the size of an adult.

327
00:22:00,946 --> 00:22:03,115
But she's not the only one growing.

328
00:22:06,034 --> 00:22:09,413
An older female, Margot, has given birth.

329
00:22:14,585 --> 00:22:20,090
With a new baby around,
the whole troop is more alert than usual.

330
00:22:20,966 --> 00:22:22,801
[Onja, in Malagasy]
Is it a male or a female?

331
00:22:22,885 --> 00:22:24,344
[keeper, in Malagasy] It's a female.

332
00:22:24,428 --> 00:22:26,513
- Do you want to bet?
- [keeper] Huh?

333
00:22:26,597 --> 00:22:29,349
- Want to bet?
- [both laugh]

334
00:22:30,767 --> 00:22:32,186
[in English] I will check it…

335
00:22:32,269 --> 00:22:35,355
[lemurs squawking]

336
00:22:35,439 --> 00:22:37,941
[narrator]
One of the adults sounds an alarm call.

337
00:22:38,025 --> 00:22:40,027
[lemurs squawking]

338
00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,363
[Onja]
Ah, there is some predator around.

339
00:22:44,573 --> 00:22:47,492
Very near another cage.

340
00:22:47,576 --> 00:22:48,827
[squawking]

341
00:22:48,911 --> 00:22:50,913
[narrator]
They're safe in their enclosure…

342
00:22:53,123 --> 00:22:57,252
but spotting a bird of prey outside
has spooked them.

343
00:22:57,920 --> 00:22:59,213
[Onja] They are scared.

344
00:23:00,506 --> 00:23:04,301
They have to be vigilant,
and they are vigilant like you see now.

345
00:23:05,844 --> 00:23:07,471
[lemurs calling]

346
00:23:09,139 --> 00:23:10,641
- [caws]
- [squeaks]

347
00:23:11,350 --> 00:23:16,313
[Onja] It's a good thing for Asara,
because she can learn the alarm call.

348
00:23:16,396 --> 00:23:18,440
[squawking]

349
00:23:22,152 --> 00:23:23,195
[chittering]

350
00:23:24,488 --> 00:23:26,240
[Onja] The group is very solid.

351
00:23:28,325 --> 00:23:30,869
It makes me happy to see them do that.

352
00:23:32,037 --> 00:23:35,290
[narrator] Witnessing the troop
warn each other of danger

353
00:23:35,374 --> 00:23:38,210
is a sign they're ready to be released.

354
00:23:40,504 --> 00:23:43,465
[cooing]

355
00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:47,427
Soon, they'll be let out
of their enclosure…

356
00:23:49,179 --> 00:23:51,849
into Reniala Nature Reserve.

357
00:23:52,808 --> 00:23:57,563
One hundred and fifty acres of forest,
right on their doorstep.

358
00:24:00,649 --> 00:24:03,277
[birds calling]

359
00:24:04,653 --> 00:24:07,406
Here, they'll face other dangers,

360
00:24:07,948 --> 00:24:10,325
like Madagascan harrier-hawks,

361
00:24:10,409 --> 00:24:12,870
specialist lemur hunters.

362
00:24:21,587 --> 00:24:23,422
[birds chirping]

363
00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:30,137
[Onja] Today is a big day.

364
00:24:34,558 --> 00:24:38,437
It is a big step for us
and for the lemurs also.

365
00:24:39,313 --> 00:24:42,816
[narrator] Onja's plan is to release
the lemurs gradually,

366
00:24:43,442 --> 00:24:46,195
letting them out
for a little longer each day.

367
00:24:47,279 --> 00:24:52,242
Until eventually,
they spend all their time in the wild.

368
00:24:52,951 --> 00:24:55,621
[Onja] We don't know
what will happen exactly,

369
00:24:55,704 --> 00:24:59,291
but we are so excited to… to see.

370
00:24:59,875 --> 00:25:02,628
- [chirping]
- [keeper whistling]

371
00:25:05,339 --> 00:25:07,508
- [lemurs calling]
- [keeper continues to whistle]

372
00:25:13,138 --> 00:25:16,517
[narrator] The gates are opened
to the troop for the first time.

373
00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:18,393
[keeper whistles]

374
00:25:27,819 --> 00:25:30,155
[narrator] And after a cautious start…

375
00:25:36,912 --> 00:25:40,624
Asara's mum leads them
out into the forest.

376
00:25:50,217 --> 00:25:51,552
[caws]

377
00:25:54,429 --> 00:25:55,597
[chuckles]

378
00:25:55,681 --> 00:25:57,724
[in Malagasy]
Doelson, how are they doing?

379
00:25:58,392 --> 00:25:59,893
[Doelson, in Malagasy] Asara is here.

380
00:26:12,406 --> 00:26:16,410
[narrator] Now, all Asara's
climbing practice pays off.

381
00:26:20,873 --> 00:26:23,250
[in Malagasy] There is another one
over there, eating leaves.

382
00:26:23,709 --> 00:26:25,460
Right over there.

383
00:26:32,593 --> 00:26:36,722
[in English] We see now Asara,
she's, uh, explored higher.

384
00:26:37,055 --> 00:26:39,892
So, that's a good… uh, good thing.

385
00:26:42,853 --> 00:26:47,191
[narrator] But their first taste
of freedom is short-lived.

386
00:26:47,274 --> 00:26:50,402
- [bird calling]
- [alarmed squawking]

387
00:26:50,485 --> 00:26:52,738
Birds of prey overhead.

388
00:26:52,821 --> 00:26:55,991
- [birds cawing]
- [alarmed calls]

389
00:26:57,451 --> 00:27:00,954
[squawking]

390
00:27:04,041 --> 00:27:06,210
[in Malagasy] Is that one coming back?

391
00:27:06,543 --> 00:27:09,463
[counting quietly in French]

392
00:27:09,546 --> 00:27:11,089
[Doelson speaking in Malagasy]

393
00:27:11,965 --> 00:27:13,675
[Onja, in Malagasy] Is Sammy already in?

394
00:27:13,759 --> 00:27:15,886
[in English] Nine, ten, eleven…

395
00:27:16,762 --> 00:27:18,263
[latches click]

396
00:27:19,473 --> 00:27:21,558
One, two, three, four, five, six,

397
00:27:21,642 --> 00:27:23,560
seven, eight, nine, ten…

398
00:27:24,645 --> 00:27:26,647
[counting in French]

399
00:27:28,023 --> 00:27:29,191
Um…

400
00:27:29,983 --> 00:27:31,443
[speaks Malagasy]

401
00:27:32,194 --> 00:27:33,529
One of them is not there.

402
00:27:33,612 --> 00:27:35,656
- [Doelson, in Malagasy] Which one?
- [Onja] Wait a minute.

403
00:27:36,657 --> 00:27:38,534
[speaking Malagasy]

404
00:27:39,368 --> 00:27:41,954
- [Doelson] There is Margot.
- [Onja] Where is her child?

405
00:27:42,037 --> 00:27:43,372
[Margot whines]

406
00:27:44,206 --> 00:27:45,958
[Onja] Is he not there?

407
00:27:47,501 --> 00:27:49,378
[in English] We didn't find Margot's baby.

408
00:27:50,003 --> 00:27:53,549
So we are searching now.

409
00:27:58,512 --> 00:28:02,349
[in Malagasy] Go up there in case
you find him up there.

410
00:28:05,143 --> 00:28:07,312
[Doelson, in Malagasy]
Maybe an animal ate him?

411
00:28:16,822 --> 00:28:19,449
[eerie music playing]

412
00:28:22,661 --> 00:28:24,496
- [sighs]
- [Doelson speaks Malagasy]

413
00:28:26,540 --> 00:28:28,709
- [Doelson speaks Malagasy]
- [man responds in Malagasy]

414
00:28:29,668 --> 00:28:32,337
- [Onja, in Malagasy] What? Where?
- [Doelson responds in Malagasy]

415
00:28:32,421 --> 00:28:33,839
- Is he there?
- [man responds]

416
00:28:33,922 --> 00:28:35,257
[grass rustling]

417
00:28:35,799 --> 00:28:37,301
[man shouts]

418
00:28:38,177 --> 00:28:41,722
- [man groans]
- [men speaking Malagasy]

419
00:28:41,805 --> 00:28:43,348
[Onja, in English] Oh, no.

420
00:28:48,270 --> 00:28:50,314
[soft piano playing]

421
00:28:57,196 --> 00:28:59,948
[Onja] I don't know exactly
what's the cause,

422
00:29:00,532 --> 00:29:03,702
but in the wild, uh, that will happen.

423
00:29:07,831 --> 00:29:14,254
All of the team are very sad 'cause, uh,
it is like, uh, we lose one family also.

424
00:29:19,092 --> 00:29:20,344
[cries]

425
00:29:20,427 --> 00:29:23,138
[narrator] Margot
calls for her missing baby…

426
00:29:24,389 --> 00:29:27,142
- [cries]
- …believed to be a sign of grief.

427
00:29:28,727 --> 00:29:30,479
[Doelson, in Malagasy]
We have to bury him.

428
00:29:31,563 --> 00:29:33,398
Rest in peace, our child.

429
00:29:39,363 --> 00:29:41,823
[lemurs cry]

430
00:29:41,907 --> 00:29:44,826
[narrator] It's a devastating blow
for the whole troop.

431
00:29:45,410 --> 00:29:46,954
[whines]

432
00:29:47,037 --> 00:29:49,039
[piano music ends]

433
00:29:51,291 --> 00:29:55,212
[cries continue]

434
00:29:55,295 --> 00:29:59,675
[narrator] But Onja's determined
they will make it back to the wild.

435
00:30:00,175 --> 00:30:01,969
[uplifting music playing]

436
00:30:02,052 --> 00:30:03,971
[whistling]

437
00:30:04,888 --> 00:30:06,098
[continues whistling]

438
00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:11,228
[narrator] Over the coming weeks…

439
00:30:13,564 --> 00:30:14,690
[Onja whistling]

440
00:30:14,773 --> 00:30:16,316
[narrator] …Asara and the troop spend

441
00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:18,986
more and more time
out of their enclosure…

442
00:30:22,739 --> 00:30:25,033
venturing deeper into the forest.

443
00:30:25,450 --> 00:30:27,494
[Onja, in Malagasy]
They are really happy.

444
00:30:27,578 --> 00:30:29,913
[animals chittering]

445
00:30:29,997 --> 00:30:33,542
[Onja, in English] Asara is becoming
more and more like wild lemur.

446
00:30:35,919 --> 00:30:37,462
[narrator] The further they go,

447
00:30:39,673 --> 00:30:41,884
the more threats they encounter.

448
00:30:41,967 --> 00:30:44,094
[bird calls]

449
00:30:44,928 --> 00:30:47,264
[narrator] Now, everyone's on the lookout.

450
00:30:47,347 --> 00:30:49,600
[lemurs calling]

451
00:30:49,683 --> 00:30:51,185
Including Asara.

452
00:30:52,102 --> 00:30:53,103
[lemur whines]

453
00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,900
- For the first time…
- [calls]

454
00:30:58,275 --> 00:30:59,693
…she sounds the alarm…

455
00:30:59,776 --> 00:31:00,903
[lemurs calling]

456
00:31:00,986 --> 00:31:03,363
…sending everyone rushing to safety.

457
00:31:03,447 --> 00:31:05,449
- [calls]
- [screeching]

458
00:31:08,118 --> 00:31:10,037
- [lemur calls]
- [bird cries]

459
00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:14,499
A sign she's become
a fully-fledged member of the gang.

460
00:31:20,464 --> 00:31:21,798
After two months…

461
00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:26,470
they're spending all day…

462
00:31:29,181 --> 00:31:32,559
and all night out in the forest.

463
00:31:34,144 --> 00:31:36,480
- [keeper, in Malagasy] Can you see one?
- Mm-mm.

464
00:31:38,398 --> 00:31:40,901
Onja, we see one here.

465
00:31:43,028 --> 00:31:46,657
[in Malagasy] This is good because
now we know where they sleep.

466
00:31:47,574 --> 00:31:50,661
[narrator] It's the moment
Onja's been waiting for.

467
00:31:53,622 --> 00:31:58,961
The troop have finally found
their home in the wild.

468
00:32:04,174 --> 00:32:05,008
[distant call]

469
00:32:10,764 --> 00:32:12,891
[birds chirping]

470
00:32:14,351 --> 00:32:17,020
[animal hooting]

471
00:32:22,067 --> 00:32:25,195
After more than two years of hard work…

472
00:32:26,697 --> 00:32:30,742
today, there are some
special visitors in the forest.

473
00:32:32,536 --> 00:32:33,912
[in Malagasy] Where are the lemurs?

474
00:32:33,996 --> 00:32:37,499
[narrator] Onja's wife
and eight-month-old daughter.

475
00:32:37,583 --> 00:32:38,917
[murmurs in Malagasy]

476
00:32:42,546 --> 00:32:45,924
[in Malagasy] They are small,
and they live in the forest.

477
00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,552
Look!

478
00:32:52,973 --> 00:32:55,267
[in Malagasy] It's the first time
I've seen them in the forest.

479
00:32:56,768 --> 00:32:58,812
[lemurs vocalizing]

480
00:32:58,896 --> 00:33:02,441
It's so lovely to see them living
in their natural habitat.

481
00:33:03,066 --> 00:33:05,777
They look free!

482
00:33:08,071 --> 00:33:09,698
[Onja, in English] I am very proud.

483
00:33:09,781 --> 00:33:11,950
I think she is very proud also.

484
00:33:12,910 --> 00:33:14,286
Papa did a good job.

485
00:33:17,706 --> 00:33:23,212
[narrator] Of all the lemurs,
there's one Onja will miss most.

486
00:33:23,295 --> 00:33:26,715
[Onja] Asara, she was just a tiny baby.

487
00:33:27,132 --> 00:33:30,302
Now she has her place inside the troop.

488
00:33:31,261 --> 00:33:32,596
I will miss her…

489
00:33:34,306 --> 00:33:36,600
but now she's free.

490
00:33:59,456 --> 00:34:00,582
[narrator] Next time.

491
00:34:01,416 --> 00:34:03,919
Can two tiny cheetah brothers…

492
00:34:04,753 --> 00:34:06,922
It's amazing to see these guys.

493
00:34:07,005 --> 00:34:09,424
[narrator]
…learn to become top predators…

494
00:34:10,384 --> 00:34:11,385
[woman] Beautiful.

495
00:34:11,467 --> 00:34:14,972
[narrator] …so they can be released
in a part of Africa

496
00:34:15,054 --> 00:34:19,141
where cheetahs have been lost
for generations?

497
00:34:22,728 --> 00:34:24,606
[cheerful theme music playing]