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In the deserts of Ethiopia,
lives an extraordinary monkey -
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the Hamadryas baboon.
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REGGAE MUSIC
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They live, cheek-by-jowl,
in close-knit families.
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Young babes-in-arms
with their mothers,
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00:00:37,340 --> 00:00:40,860
feisty teenagers,
ready to leave home,
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and wise old grandparents
who've seen it all before.
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As with all families,
sometimes they fall out.
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00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:54,380
THEY SCREECH
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00:00:57,860 --> 00:00:59,260
These are clever animals,
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with complex relationships.
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00:01:05,980 --> 00:01:08,140
For the last five years,
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one man has given up everything
to try to understand them.
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He knows them all by name.
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They trust him to walk among them,
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and he looks out for them
when they run into trouble.
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HE BARKS
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They share their home
with the local tribe,
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who shoot baboons
for target practice.
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Life with the baboons
is full of ups and downs,
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and this year is going to be
very special indeed.
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Awash National Park
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lies in the scorched desert lowlands
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of eastern Ethiopia.
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It was once
the favourite hunting ground
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of the emperor Haile Selassie,
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and his favourite spot for bathing
was a volcanic hot spring
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in the middle of the desert.
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Today, this very same palm oasis
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is home to a very special band
of Hamadryas baboons.
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00:02:19,780 --> 00:02:23,980
They live high in the cliffs
in one large group, over 200-strong.
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There's no single leader
in the group,
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but the lion-like males
rule the roost,
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and lord it over
their harems of females.
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For the last five years,
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every detail of the baboons' lives
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has been intimately observed
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by a pair of biologists -
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Australian Mat Pines,
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and his Ethiopian assistant,
Teklu Tesfaye,
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are now honorary members
of the family.
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It's a very special feeling
to be amongst wild animals,
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and to be accepted by them -
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to be considered
almost part of their environment.
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I don't know if they actually
consider me as another baboon,
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or whether they consider me just
another animal in their environment
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that's safe to be around.
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Being amongst them is almost
like watching a soap.
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Watching the day-to-day things
going on.
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There are a number
of individuals here
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that I absolutely adore.
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Every time I cross their path, I just
give a little greeting to them.
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Back here, we have Critical,
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and he has now got himself
four females, quite quickly.
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What breaks my heart is,
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the young, skinny one on the edge
is one of my favourites.
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These two come and visit me
quite regularly.
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Now that she's with him,
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she doesn't come and see me any more.
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Calm is now the fourth female
in Critical's harem,
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and still has a lot to learn.
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Mat has watched Critical grow up
over the years,
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and hopes that this year
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he'll see Critical become a father
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for the first time.
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He'll have to keep a constant
lookout for rival males,
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who are always waiting for a chance
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to kidnap one of his females.
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A large male called Frodo
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is already trying to move in
on Critical's harem.
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Critical has to fight him off,
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and make sure his females stay close
behind him for protection.
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If they don't stick with him,
they'll be stolen.
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With order restored,
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Critical and his family
settle down for the night.
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These cliff tops are a precious
sanctuary for the baboons -
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safe from prowling predators
on the plains below.
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For five years,
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Mat and Teklu have emerged
from their tents each dawn,
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to prepare for another
long, hot day in the desert.
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But this year will be Mat's last.
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He's decided it's time to move on,
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even though life as a volunteer
has its attractions.
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My life is such a simple existence.
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I drink and wash
in these hot springs.
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I'm far away from
my friends and family.
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And I've had no salary
for the last five years.
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It's a sacrifice, but it's worth it -
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to be with these baboons is an
experience that no money could buy.
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Mat and Teklu spend every day,
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from dawn to dusk,
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following the baboons.
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They're now fluent in the subtle
signs and sounds of baboon language.
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Hamadryas baboons
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have a very animated face.
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They have a whole wide range
of expressions
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to really let you know
exactly what they're feeling.
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They've got the eyebrow-raise,
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which is your first warning
that they're a little bit annoyed.
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If you don't take that hint,
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they'll lunge at you a bit.
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An eyebrow-raise again,
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so I'm getting frustrated here.
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If that doesn't work,
they start to...
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HE MOUTHS
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..grind their teeth.
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If that doesn't work,
you get these...
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kind of look,
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almost like, "I can't believe
he's still there.
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"Can't believe I have to
keep threatening him."
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There's always disbelief in them.
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Then finally, if you still haven't
got the message,
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they charge at you,
and come right up to you,
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and really give you the full force
of their power and their strength.
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Believe me, it is intimidating.
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The first fight of the day is
brewing on the edge of the cliff.
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Once again, Critical is defending
his family from attack.
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He's threatening another male,
called Zaph,
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who's trying to steal
one of his wives.
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THEY SQUEAL
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The fight is over quickly.
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Critical has come out on top,
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whilst Zaph is left screaming
in surrender.
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Zaph's upset one
of Critical's females.
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They started threatening each other,
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and Critical managed to grab Zaph
in the mouth,
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and he's torn his cheek
a good centimetre.
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There's a big hole there.
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As soon as he got that hole,
Zaph screamed in surrender,
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this, "Ah! Don't hurt me any more".
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No wonder he was screaming.
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I can just feel that hole. Eurgh!
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Critical has acquired females
very quickly,
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and I think it's
cos he's prepared to fight.
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And he's not
the biggest baboon around.
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But I guess it's not
the size of the dog in the fight,
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but the size of the fight in the dog.
And he is a real fighter.
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Critical has done his job,
and kept his family safely together.
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His next big step
as a new leader male
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is to produce his first offspring.
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With the fighting over,
the group is calm once gain,
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and they slowly start to move off
for the day.
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REGGAE MUSIC
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Mat and Teklu follow the group
up to 20 miles a day,
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as they forage for food and water
on these harsh, arid plains.
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Hamadryas are desert baboons.
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To eke out a living here, they can't
afford to be fussy feeders.
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They'll eat plants, insects,
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even small mammals.
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Surviving in the desert
is hard enough,
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but the baboons face an even bigger
threat to their daily existence.
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The Afar people and their cattle.
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THEY SCREECH
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It's a bit hard on the poor baboons
right now.
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They really get pushed around
by the livestock.
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There's a herd of livestock here,
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another down this side,
and another coming up behind us.
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So the baboons
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are now trying
to get out of their way.
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If they're getting pushed,
it means they miss out on water,
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miss out on time to rest,
and on the opportunity to feed.
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It really can make
for a difficult day for them.
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The Afar shoot baboons if they stray
too close to their livestock.
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As a result,
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the baboons are terrified of them.
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The Afar have a violent reputation.
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For them, guns are a way of life.
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They're notorious for cutting off
the testicles of their enemies,
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and wearing them as trophies.
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When we're following our baboons,
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we constantly encounter
people with guns.
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They are everywhere here.
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I constantly find
I'm talking to someone,
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and their gun is pointing at my face.
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"Just push that aside a bit, please".
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I've had guns pointed at me.
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I've had someone
try to club me in the head
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with the butt of their Kalashnikov.
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Afars are not easy people
to have as neighbours.
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We've had some very tense moments,
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where you're just not sure
how it's going to pan out.
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It's unnerving - really quite scary.
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When they see Mat, the Afar
freely admit to killing baboons,
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and make no bones about it.
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The Afar are taught to kill baboons
from an early age,
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to help them improve their aim.
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Can you tell them that the baboons
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are for us what their cattle
are to them.
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They're very important to us,
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so we'd really appreciate
if they don't shoot...
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HE SPEAKS AFAR
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I can understand why they
would defend their animals,
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cos their animals are their whole
bank balance, their way of life.
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It's just this conflict of Afar
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and park wildlife.
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Sometimes there is problems
when the two overlap.
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The Afar are not just killing
individual baboons,
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they're also destroying their home.
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Awash National Park
is literally being grazed to dust
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by the Afar's livestock.
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Where these plains
once teemed with wildlife,
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now just a handful
of animals remain.
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Some species have crashed by 80%
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in just ten years.
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If the illegal grazing
continues in Awash,
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Mat's baboons, and the other
wildlife, could disappear forever.
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Something has to change.
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Every evening, the baboons
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return to the safety of the cliffs,
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for a long grooming session
before bed.
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Critical's new female, Calm,
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is carefully combing his mane.
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00:14:05,220 --> 00:14:07,660
But grooming is not just about
getting clean,
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00:14:07,660 --> 00:14:10,620
it's an intimate family ritual
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that bonds them closer together.
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00:14:13,740 --> 00:14:17,780
And Critical isn't the only one
to get a grooming.
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00:14:17,780 --> 00:14:20,740
I've got someone grooming me
on the back.
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Teklu has been studying
these baboons for ten years,
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00:14:33,860 --> 00:14:37,140
and has been fully accepted
as one of the group.
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00:14:37,140 --> 00:14:40,340
Some juveniles, they're curious
about my legs.
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They start to approach me,
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then they start grooming.
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They're pulling my hair sometimes.
It hurt!
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Like all male baboons,
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Critical keeps a close eye
on his wives.
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THEY SCREECH
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Calm is still learning the ropes,
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00:14:58,820 --> 00:15:01,220
and has strayed too close
to another male.
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You recall the cat calls -
"Ah! Ah!"
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SHE BLEATS
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00:15:06,380 --> 00:15:07,980
She's being submissive
to him now,
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in the hope he doesn't
bite her again.
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00:15:09,780 --> 00:15:10,980
CRITICAL GRUNTS
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This grunting of his
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is sort of saying,
"I'm not going to hurt you."
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She didn't do exactly what he wanted
when he wanted,
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so, "Bam!" - he gets her.
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00:15:24,180 --> 00:15:27,020
In the world of the Hamadryas,
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females have a very tough time.
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When it come to punishments,
some males can be extremely brutal.
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SHE SQUEALS
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If you're ever reincarnated
and come back to this world,
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I wouldn't suggest coming back
as a female Hamadryas.
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Their life is pretty tough.
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SHE SQUEALS
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These females get very little say
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00:15:58,700 --> 00:16:00,780
in which males they're with.
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00:16:00,780 --> 00:16:02,820
It's the males
who make that decision.
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00:16:02,820 --> 00:16:06,620
If they stray too far from the male,
he punishes them.
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00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:10,460
You often see some females
with bloody neck, torn ears.
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00:16:10,460 --> 00:16:12,740
Life's pretty rough for them.
252
00:16:39,060 --> 00:16:42,780
The next morning, as Mat and Teklu
arrive at the cliffs,
253
00:16:42,780 --> 00:16:46,660
Critical, and several other males,
are on the rampage.
254
00:16:46,660 --> 00:16:48,860
THEY SQUEAL
255
00:16:52,940 --> 00:16:54,580
That's a male frenzy going on.
256
00:16:54,580 --> 00:16:57,220
All the males are showing their size
and speed, just like this.
257
00:16:57,220 --> 00:16:58,660
It's all about power,
258
00:16:58,660 --> 00:17:02,380
and to demonstrate to the rest of the
males how big and strong they are.
259
00:17:03,940 --> 00:17:06,340
All the males
are jumping in the tree,
260
00:17:06,340 --> 00:17:08,020
giving it a good shake.
261
00:17:08,020 --> 00:17:09,820
They work themselves up into
this frenzy.
262
00:17:09,820 --> 00:17:12,460
The females are just taking cover,
they're squealing.
263
00:17:17,940 --> 00:17:20,180
It really is impressive.
264
00:17:21,620 --> 00:17:24,620
Hamadryas males love showing off.
265
00:17:24,620 --> 00:17:28,700
To survive as a leader male,
they have to make it clear
266
00:17:28,700 --> 00:17:30,900
that they're not to be messed with.
267
00:17:33,620 --> 00:17:35,580
Now again, calm
just settles over the group.
268
00:17:35,580 --> 00:17:37,620
Almost like nothing ever happened.
269
00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:43,300
That's Ken, named after my father.
270
00:17:44,860 --> 00:17:46,180
Good man, that one.
271
00:17:46,180 --> 00:17:47,980
Good man.
272
00:17:55,260 --> 00:17:59,620
Not all the males of the group
are born leaders.
273
00:17:59,620 --> 00:18:01,700
Some are naturally weaker,
and for them,
274
00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:06,500
Awash can be a particularly tough
and unforgiving place to live.
275
00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:08,540
If any members of
the group fall ill,
276
00:18:08,540 --> 00:18:11,380
they're simply left behind to die.
277
00:18:12,580 --> 00:18:15,780
This morning, Mat has noticed
that one of the baboons
278
00:18:15,780 --> 00:18:18,660
is struggling to keep up
with the rest of the band.
279
00:18:18,660 --> 00:18:21,820
He's an eight-year-old male
called Serious,
280
00:18:21,820 --> 00:18:23,660
and he's clearly suffering.
281
00:18:23,660 --> 00:18:25,380
We can see straightaway
282
00:18:25,380 --> 00:18:27,180
that Serious, just in front of me,
283
00:18:27,180 --> 00:18:29,420
has already fallen
to the back of the group.
284
00:18:29,420 --> 00:18:32,660
He's really struggling now
to keep up with them.
285
00:18:32,660 --> 00:18:34,980
He's limping there,
286
00:18:34,980 --> 00:18:37,380
and you can see at the back end,
he's really quite skinny -
287
00:18:37,380 --> 00:18:40,460
he's lost a lot of condition.
288
00:18:40,460 --> 00:18:43,740
There is something wrong
with Serious' front right hand,
289
00:18:43,740 --> 00:18:46,100
and he's developed a nasty cough.
290
00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:48,540
SERIOUS COUGHS
291
00:18:52,500 --> 00:18:54,620
Serious can no longer climb trees
292
00:18:54,620 --> 00:18:56,380
to escape from predators,
293
00:18:56,380 --> 00:18:59,300
and he can't reach the baboon's
most important food -
294
00:18:59,300 --> 00:19:02,140
the palm fruit which sustains them
295
00:19:02,140 --> 00:19:05,220
for five months of the year.
296
00:19:05,220 --> 00:19:09,020
Serious has to wait for scraps
to rain down from above.
297
00:19:13,140 --> 00:19:16,380
Serious would normally live
for another ten years,
298
00:19:16,380 --> 00:19:18,780
but Mat suspects
he won't survive for long
299
00:19:18,780 --> 00:19:21,940
in this harsh environment.
300
00:19:21,940 --> 00:19:25,780
He does have this cyst or growth,
or something, on his wrist.
301
00:19:25,780 --> 00:19:29,340
And he has a hacking cough.
302
00:19:29,340 --> 00:19:33,220
One of the dilemmas I face
as a wildlife biologist
303
00:19:33,220 --> 00:19:35,900
is whether to interfere or not.
304
00:19:35,900 --> 00:19:39,380
Potentially, we might be able
to help him and save his life,
305
00:19:39,380 --> 00:19:43,580
but the other side of the coin
is our position here
306
00:19:43,580 --> 00:19:45,660
is to observe and see what happens.
307
00:19:45,660 --> 00:19:48,700
While for me personally,
it's actually quite sad
308
00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:51,900
if Serious does die,
cos I've known him for many years,
309
00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:54,820
I guess the harsh reality is
310
00:19:54,820 --> 00:19:57,620
his death may mean life
for other animals.
311
00:19:57,620 --> 00:20:00,020
For jackals, for hyena, for vultures.
312
00:20:00,020 --> 00:20:02,380
It's the way things are here.
313
00:20:02,380 --> 00:20:05,100
SERIOUS COUGHS
314
00:20:13,260 --> 00:20:17,860
The dry season is approaching,
and Mat has nine months left.
315
00:20:18,740 --> 00:20:22,180
The baboons are on their way
to find water.
316
00:20:22,180 --> 00:20:24,340
Even for these desert specialists,
317
00:20:24,340 --> 00:20:26,460
the mid-day sun is fierce,
318
00:20:26,460 --> 00:20:29,500
and the baboons have to retreat
to the shade.
319
00:20:32,740 --> 00:20:36,220
At this time of the day, the baboons
just like to hang out in the shade,
320
00:20:36,220 --> 00:20:38,700
and just rest,
cos it's just too hot for them.
321
00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:42,100
Unfortunately, the baboons have
stolen the best shady spots.
322
00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:45,940
but I'll see if I can sneak in
on the side without disturbing them.
323
00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:01,180
I'm envious of these
young ones' energy.
324
00:21:01,180 --> 00:21:02,620
Almost any time of the day,
325
00:21:02,620 --> 00:21:04,460
they'll play.
326
00:21:04,460 --> 00:21:07,100
They chase each other around like
tag, and play hide and seek.
327
00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:10,220
Anywhere, any place, there's always
something they can play on -
328
00:21:10,220 --> 00:21:13,180
whether it's a termite hill,
in the dust, in the mud...
329
00:21:13,180 --> 00:21:14,820
REGGAE MUSIC
330
00:21:38,340 --> 00:21:40,420
Though it may look like pure fun,
331
00:21:40,420 --> 00:21:42,980
there is a point
to all this activity.
332
00:21:42,980 --> 00:21:46,100
In the rough and tumble of playtime,
333
00:21:46,100 --> 00:21:50,220
young baboons learn the fighting
skills they'll need as adults.
334
00:21:50,220 --> 00:21:54,220
Today's king of the castle
will be tomorrow's top male.
335
00:21:57,940 --> 00:22:00,260
Critical is clearly performing well
336
00:22:00,260 --> 00:22:02,740
in his new role
as head of the family.
337
00:22:02,740 --> 00:22:06,340
His oldest female, Gunsch,
is now pregnant,
338
00:22:06,340 --> 00:22:08,020
and his youngest female, Calm,
339
00:22:08,020 --> 00:22:12,620
Mat's favourite, is on heat
and could soon be joining her.
340
00:22:12,620 --> 00:22:16,540
This is Critical coming in here now,
with his four females.
341
00:22:16,540 --> 00:22:19,220
You can see the one closest to him
342
00:22:19,220 --> 00:22:21,420
is getting this swelling,
so she's on heat.
343
00:22:21,420 --> 00:22:24,060
It's her oestrous cycle.
344
00:22:24,060 --> 00:22:25,700
She has to stay close to him.
345
00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:28,500
If she strays, he attacks her.
346
00:22:28,500 --> 00:22:29,780
Because he doesn't want
347
00:22:29,780 --> 00:22:32,420
any other males reproducing
with her right now.
348
00:22:32,420 --> 00:22:35,380
You can see that female to
his right - the biggest one -
349
00:22:35,380 --> 00:22:38,340
that intense red colour
indicates pregnancy.
350
00:22:38,340 --> 00:22:40,940
So, probably within
the next few months,
351
00:22:40,940 --> 00:22:43,740
we'll see Critical
have his first baby.
352
00:22:43,740 --> 00:22:45,580
It's the start of his family.
353
00:22:54,260 --> 00:22:58,180
Mat has been working on the baboons
project for free
354
00:22:58,180 --> 00:22:59,820
for five years.
355
00:22:59,820 --> 00:23:03,420
Now, aged 35, he wants
to start his own family,
356
00:23:03,420 --> 00:23:05,900
and needs to find a job that pays.
357
00:23:05,900 --> 00:23:07,900
But he wants to leave
358
00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:12,220
knowing the future is safe
for his beloved baboons.
359
00:23:12,220 --> 00:23:14,500
In just a matter months,
I'll be leaving this place,
360
00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:16,060
leaving these baboons.
361
00:23:16,060 --> 00:23:19,940
So, my goal for this year
362
00:23:19,940 --> 00:23:24,180
is to do whatever I can to ensure
that they do have a future.
363
00:23:24,180 --> 00:23:28,060
I think this is going to entail me
364
00:23:28,060 --> 00:23:32,300
really sitting down and discussing
with the community here - the Afar,
365
00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:34,180
to try and come up with a solution
366
00:23:34,180 --> 00:23:36,540
that will allow both the baboons
and the Afar
367
00:23:36,540 --> 00:23:38,420
to co-exist.
368
00:23:42,900 --> 00:23:46,740
Mat and Teklu have come
to the Afar village of Wasaro
369
00:23:46,740 --> 00:23:48,340
to visit the chief.
370
00:23:48,340 --> 00:23:51,020
Mat has the daunting task
371
00:23:51,020 --> 00:23:54,860
of trying to change the way
the Afar see baboons.
372
00:23:56,500 --> 00:23:59,620
To them, the baboons are simply
pests that need shooting,
373
00:23:59,620 --> 00:24:02,300
and are no good to anyone.
374
00:24:21,180 --> 00:24:24,820
The chat plant is a natural narcotic
that's sacred to the Afar.
375
00:24:24,820 --> 00:24:27,580
Chewing chat together
376
00:24:27,580 --> 00:24:30,580
is a social ritual
that dates back thousands of years.
377
00:24:42,220 --> 00:24:46,420
Only after all the necessary customs
have been observed
378
00:24:46,420 --> 00:24:49,660
can the meeting formally begin.
379
00:25:00,740 --> 00:25:04,100
Baboons in Awash... You don't find
them in many places around the world,
380
00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:05,780
so it's quite special.
381
00:25:05,780 --> 00:25:08,380
We're interested in
learning more about them.
382
00:25:24,780 --> 00:25:28,940
The Afar were here long before
the national park was created.
383
00:25:28,940 --> 00:25:31,140
They were cleared by force
from their lands,
384
00:25:31,140 --> 00:25:33,380
and have nowhere else to go.
385
00:25:33,380 --> 00:25:36,620
Their ancient way of life
is all they know.
386
00:25:51,260 --> 00:25:54,340
The Afar believe
the baboons were once people
387
00:25:54,340 --> 00:25:58,180
who were punished by God
and banished to the wilderness.
388
00:25:58,180 --> 00:26:00,980
They're seen as outcasts.
389
00:26:03,260 --> 00:26:06,500
It won't be easy to stop the Afar
from killing baboons,
390
00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:10,420
but Mat can't just walk away -
he has to try and make peace.
391
00:26:15,540 --> 00:26:20,340
There is a direct conflict
between our baboons and the Afar.
392
00:26:20,340 --> 00:26:23,380
The baboons don't have a voice,
they don't have guns.
393
00:26:23,380 --> 00:26:27,860
It hasn't been an easy relationship
I've had with the Afar.
394
00:26:27,860 --> 00:26:31,100
I do want to improve,
but more so
395
00:26:31,100 --> 00:26:33,940
I want the baboons' relationship
with the Afar to improve,
396
00:26:33,940 --> 00:26:36,940
so the baboons are safe
and do have a future here.
397
00:26:48,140 --> 00:26:50,860
This is a conflict
that's being played out
398
00:26:50,860 --> 00:26:55,060
in almost all the national parks
across East Africa.
399
00:26:55,060 --> 00:26:59,300
Both the wildlife and the people
have a right to be here.
400
00:26:59,300 --> 00:27:03,020
The baboons have lived on these
cliffs for thousands of years,
401
00:27:03,020 --> 00:27:06,780
but if the destruction of the
national park continues unabated,
402
00:27:06,780 --> 00:27:09,460
their home will be destroyed,
403
00:27:09,460 --> 00:27:11,660
and there will be nowhere left
for them to live.
404
00:27:34,620 --> 00:27:38,100
The dry season has begun in earnest.
405
00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:43,700
Within a few hours, temperatures
will climb to over 40 degrees.
406
00:27:43,700 --> 00:27:47,620
At this time of year,
the weak and the infirm
407
00:27:47,620 --> 00:27:49,700
struggle to survive.
408
00:27:50,700 --> 00:27:54,220
Serious, the sick
eight-year-old male,
409
00:27:54,220 --> 00:27:55,460
is in grave danger.
410
00:27:55,460 --> 00:27:57,580
SERIOUS COUGHS
411
00:27:59,780 --> 00:28:02,260
He's been left behind
by the rest of the band,
412
00:28:02,260 --> 00:28:04,460
and is all alone on the cliffs.
413
00:28:05,940 --> 00:28:08,660
Hamadryas baboons
stick together for safety.
414
00:28:08,660 --> 00:28:11,420
Serious is now highly vulnerable
to attack
415
00:28:11,420 --> 00:28:13,820
from leopards and hyenas.
416
00:28:23,580 --> 00:28:25,900
Without the protection of the group,
417
00:28:25,900 --> 00:28:29,060
Serious is unlikely
to survive another night.
418
00:28:30,500 --> 00:28:32,660
SERIOUS COUGHS
419
00:28:36,060 --> 00:28:39,540
Mat knows he may never
see Serious again.
420
00:28:51,660 --> 00:28:54,900
Mat and Teklu
have walked an hour from camp
421
00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:56,300
to find the rest of the band,
422
00:28:56,300 --> 00:28:59,140
who've spent the night
on a different cliff.
423
00:29:01,380 --> 00:29:03,300
When they find the baboons,
424
00:29:03,300 --> 00:29:05,260
Mat notices that Beth
425
00:29:05,260 --> 00:29:08,260
has a brand-new infant.
426
00:29:09,940 --> 00:29:14,020
When they're first delivered, new
babies are covered in black fur,
427
00:29:14,020 --> 00:29:16,900
and a source of great excitement
to all the females.
428
00:29:16,900 --> 00:29:19,940
But this infant is not moving.
429
00:29:19,940 --> 00:29:22,340
It's suspected murdered.
430
00:29:23,900 --> 00:29:26,180
We just got here this morning,
431
00:29:26,180 --> 00:29:28,660
and it looks like
Beth's black infant is dead.
432
00:29:28,660 --> 00:29:31,140
I can't see any sign
of injury on him.
433
00:29:33,100 --> 00:29:35,740
Frodo recently stole Beth
from another male.
434
00:29:35,740 --> 00:29:38,380
It looks like he's just killed
Beth's infant.
435
00:29:38,380 --> 00:29:41,180
Infanticide is really common
in these situations.
436
00:29:41,180 --> 00:29:44,260
Males kill the infants
so that the new wife
437
00:29:44,260 --> 00:29:46,860
will give birth much sooner
to their own infant.
438
00:29:50,540 --> 00:29:52,260
It's a really sad thing to see.
439
00:30:02,740 --> 00:30:06,580
As the band moves off for the day,
Beth struggles to keep up.
440
00:30:08,420 --> 00:30:11,060
Normally, even a brand-new infant
would naturally grip
441
00:30:11,060 --> 00:30:13,300
onto its mother from below
as she travels.
442
00:30:16,220 --> 00:30:18,620
Sometimes they will
ride on top of her back.
443
00:30:20,220 --> 00:30:23,140
But Beth has to carry the full
weight of her dead baby,
444
00:30:23,140 --> 00:30:24,860
and it's slowing her down.
445
00:30:34,260 --> 00:30:38,260
For days on end,
Beth refuses to abandon her baby.
446
00:30:44,980 --> 00:30:46,820
For her it's very difficult.
447
00:30:46,820 --> 00:30:49,300
She has to take care of
her infant the whole day.
448
00:30:49,300 --> 00:30:51,900
She never let go for five
or six days.
449
00:30:53,100 --> 00:30:55,580
Even when she sleeps,
she never lets go.
450
00:30:55,580 --> 00:30:59,220
The whole night she will be
screaming. She feels very sad.
451
00:30:59,220 --> 00:31:02,180
Me too, I get sad.
Can't do anything.
452
00:31:13,460 --> 00:31:18,460
It's now seven months
until Mat leaves.
453
00:31:18,460 --> 00:31:21,940
He's got a plan for the next step
in building bridges with the Afar.
454
00:31:31,060 --> 00:31:35,220
Having asked the chief at his
meeting what he could do to help,
455
00:31:35,220 --> 00:31:37,660
Mat has raised funds to buy
a new solar-powered light
456
00:31:37,660 --> 00:31:39,980
for the village mosque.
457
00:31:39,980 --> 00:31:43,100
The Afar are Muslim, and for them,
458
00:31:43,100 --> 00:31:45,940
prayer is an incredibly important
part of their life,
459
00:31:45,940 --> 00:31:50,420
so one of the things they've asked us
to do is to provide solar lighting,
460
00:31:50,420 --> 00:31:54,180
so that the children can learn
the Koran during the night time.
461
00:31:54,180 --> 00:31:58,100
So this is, for us, a really positive
way that we can help the community,
462
00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:01,940
and it's a good way to strengthen
our relationship with the Afar.
463
00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:31,900
It's a small step,
but gives Mat a little more hope.
464
00:32:38,940 --> 00:32:43,700
As the dry season peaks, the
temperature moves up to 45 degrees.
465
00:32:47,420 --> 00:32:51,380
Everyone is feeling the pressure,
especially the baboons.
466
00:32:51,380 --> 00:32:54,340
Today, the group is in a strange
and hostile mood.
467
00:32:57,180 --> 00:33:00,220
BABOON SHRIEKS
468
00:33:07,860 --> 00:33:09,780
He wasn't really threatening me
there,
469
00:33:09,780 --> 00:33:12,660
but he was indicating to the others
that he was upset,
470
00:33:12,660 --> 00:33:14,900
and this is a call for the others
to come and help me,
471
00:33:14,900 --> 00:33:17,940
but he wasn't really giving me
the eyebrow raise and everything.
472
00:33:17,940 --> 00:33:20,740
It was just a, "This guy's a threat!
Come here!"
473
00:33:22,380 --> 00:33:24,420
They're really stirred up at present.
474
00:33:24,420 --> 00:33:27,220
You can hear them.
475
00:33:30,020 --> 00:33:32,700
Something is in the air.
476
00:33:32,700 --> 00:33:34,860
The baboons are restless
and feeling threatened,
477
00:33:34,860 --> 00:33:39,460
and when they arrive back at their
sleeping cliffs, Mat discovers why.
478
00:33:41,060 --> 00:33:43,380
Now the baboons have
arrived at their cliff,
479
00:33:43,380 --> 00:33:47,140
they've found that another band has
actually moved in and occupied it.
480
00:33:48,780 --> 00:33:50,460
With the two bands together,
481
00:33:50,460 --> 00:33:54,060
there are over 500 baboons trying
to squeeze onto the cliffs.
482
00:33:56,140 --> 00:33:59,580
The tension is rising,
and they're about to go to war.
483
00:34:05,860 --> 00:34:07,940
Oh, here we go. It's kicking off.
484
00:34:07,940 --> 00:34:10,740
They both want to share
the same cliff.
485
00:34:15,820 --> 00:34:18,660
The chaos of battle presents
a perfect opportunity to steal
486
00:34:18,660 --> 00:34:20,580
females from the other band.
487
00:34:31,900 --> 00:34:34,660
The two different bands are running
a couple of metres apart,
488
00:34:34,660 --> 00:34:38,140
and you see individuals charging in,
trying to disperse them.
489
00:34:38,140 --> 00:34:41,420
But the noise, the noise is so loud!
490
00:34:41,420 --> 00:34:43,860
BABOONS SHRIEK
491
00:34:47,540 --> 00:34:50,980
You have these moments of quietness
when everything just settles,
492
00:34:50,980 --> 00:34:52,620
and then it can just build up again.
493
00:34:52,620 --> 00:34:55,860
It only needs someone to charge, and
suddenly they're back at each other.
494
00:34:55,860 --> 00:35:00,100
It's females screaming, so
they squeal to bring up their male,
495
00:35:00,100 --> 00:35:02,100
and it's working.
496
00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:03,940
She's going to start a war here.
497
00:35:06,180 --> 00:35:07,900
Over here it's building up again.
498
00:35:20,820 --> 00:35:22,860
Listen to that noise.
499
00:35:22,860 --> 00:35:25,300
BABOONS SHRIEK
500
00:35:25,300 --> 00:35:27,980
As Mat moves closer to
the centre of the action,
501
00:35:27,980 --> 00:35:31,580
he can barely make himself
heard above the roar of baboons.
502
00:35:33,820 --> 00:35:36,140
This is the front line just here.
503
00:35:36,140 --> 00:35:41,300
The noise is massive,
and they're pushing them away. Wow!
504
00:35:41,300 --> 00:35:44,580
There is now 500 or 600 baboons here,
all back and forth.
505
00:35:44,580 --> 00:35:46,260
They're trying to scoop them up,
506
00:35:46,260 --> 00:35:48,340
and also have a cliff to sleep on
tonight.
507
00:35:52,740 --> 00:35:54,900
I suspect this is going to be
a really wild night.
508
00:35:54,900 --> 00:35:58,060
The two groups fight on
into the darkness.
509
00:35:58,060 --> 00:36:02,660
Mat leaves his baboons, not knowing
what may happen overnight.
510
00:36:13,660 --> 00:36:17,700
The next morning, Mat and Teklu
return to the cliffs
511
00:36:17,700 --> 00:36:22,540
to assess the damage to the group
in the aftermath of battle.
512
00:36:22,540 --> 00:36:25,180
You can see,
they're still a bit nervous.
513
00:36:25,180 --> 00:36:26,820
Still giving me a bit of space.
514
00:36:29,780 --> 00:36:33,340
I've been doing a roll call
of our baboons this morning
515
00:36:33,340 --> 00:36:36,980
since that big fight, just to see
if they've lost any females
516
00:36:36,980 --> 00:36:39,860
or actually gained any, and there
doesn't appear to be any change.
517
00:36:39,860 --> 00:36:43,420
I think Critical has managed to keep
all of his females.
518
00:36:43,420 --> 00:36:45,940
It's not an easy feat,
to hang onto all those females
519
00:36:45,940 --> 00:36:49,380
when all this chaos is happening
around him, so he's done really well.
520
00:36:50,620 --> 00:36:54,260
But in his valiant efforts to
keep his family safely together,
521
00:36:54,260 --> 00:36:55,660
Critical has been injured.
522
00:36:57,580 --> 00:37:01,380
It looks like Critical's front tooth
is very loose.
523
00:37:01,380 --> 00:37:03,180
It looks like it's causing him
discomfort,
524
00:37:03,180 --> 00:37:04,820
because he's constantly licking it.
525
00:37:06,660 --> 00:37:07,980
Oh!
526
00:37:09,260 --> 00:37:10,740
Somebody call a dentist.
527
00:37:11,740 --> 00:37:14,940
It will be interesting, now, to see
just how it affects his behaviour,
528
00:37:14,940 --> 00:37:19,060
because he wouldn't want to be
fighting while he's got this problem.
529
00:37:20,700 --> 00:37:24,300
It sends shivers down my spine to
see his tooth flopping about.
530
00:37:26,220 --> 00:37:29,020
It seems that this is one battle
he didn't win.
531
00:37:29,020 --> 00:37:31,140
He's now got himself an injury.
532
00:37:33,860 --> 00:37:36,380
Critical is not the only casualty.
533
00:37:36,380 --> 00:37:39,940
A young infant has received
a severe bite on the arm.
534
00:37:41,020 --> 00:37:45,660
That injury is like having a shark
bite. There's really a chunk missing.
535
00:37:45,660 --> 00:37:48,060
Normally, they tear each other,
rip each other,
536
00:37:48,060 --> 00:37:49,740
but not tear chunks of flesh.
537
00:37:49,740 --> 00:37:52,900
That's as bad as I've ever seen.
538
00:37:52,900 --> 00:37:55,220
I don't think this guy's going to
last, unfortunately.
539
00:37:55,220 --> 00:37:57,620
With that arm completely
out of action,
540
00:37:57,620 --> 00:38:00,060
he's going to struggle to survive.
541
00:38:03,700 --> 00:38:05,980
Critical's injury
makes him vulnerable,
542
00:38:05,980 --> 00:38:10,740
and the other males waste no time
in trying to take advantage.
543
00:38:13,580 --> 00:38:16,540
Sensing his weakness,
a gang of three males are trying
544
00:38:16,540 --> 00:38:19,740
to steal his females, but Critical
is not backing down.
545
00:38:22,820 --> 00:38:25,660
There goes Critical.
He's chasing them.
546
00:38:31,820 --> 00:38:34,820
Critical against three males, there,
and able to keep them all at bay.
547
00:38:34,820 --> 00:38:36,580
He's played his hand very well here.
548
00:38:42,860 --> 00:38:45,180
The baboons must now travel further
and further each day
549
00:38:45,180 --> 00:38:47,460
to find food and water.
550
00:38:52,500 --> 00:38:54,900
The searing desert heat
is taking its toll.
551
00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:05,740
At this time of year, the Afar
and their cattle are starving.
552
00:39:05,740 --> 00:39:09,180
Every night,
after bringing in their livestock,
553
00:39:09,180 --> 00:39:11,900
the men gather together to pray
to God to bring them rain.
554
00:39:18,500 --> 00:39:21,100
For the Afar, the drought is
the hardest time of the year.
555
00:39:21,100 --> 00:39:24,420
It's a time of death and hunger.
556
00:39:24,420 --> 00:39:28,860
Their only hope is for God to bring
rain to end the suffering.
557
00:40:05,420 --> 00:40:08,580
The next day,
the sun is as hot as ever,
558
00:40:08,580 --> 00:40:11,460
and the baboons are on the move
early.
559
00:40:11,460 --> 00:40:14,620
As usual, they head straight for the
palm fruits, their favourite food.
560
00:40:17,220 --> 00:40:19,020
Critical has now lost
his wobbly tooth,
561
00:40:19,020 --> 00:40:22,620
and he's finding it hard to break
through the fruit's tough shell.
562
00:40:26,780 --> 00:40:29,380
The Hamadryas baboons
in this part of Ethiopia
563
00:40:29,380 --> 00:40:31,460
are amongst the biggest
in the world,
564
00:40:31,460 --> 00:40:34,140
and the key reason for this
is the palm fruit.
565
00:40:35,500 --> 00:40:38,620
The palm fruit here is able to
sustain the baboons for up to
566
00:40:38,620 --> 00:40:40,780
four to five months per year.
567
00:40:40,780 --> 00:40:43,180
It's a food that both the Afar
and the baboons like.
568
00:40:48,620 --> 00:40:53,140
The palm trees of Awash are
essential to the baboons' survival.
569
00:40:53,140 --> 00:40:55,540
Without them,
they would not be here.
570
00:40:57,020 --> 00:41:00,260
But the palms are being
systematically cut down by the Afar,
571
00:41:00,260 --> 00:41:05,100
who sell them for cash during
the dry season when times are hard.
572
00:41:07,780 --> 00:41:12,460
Every palm that's taken is one less
fruit tree for the baboons.
573
00:41:12,460 --> 00:41:16,260
Their most important food supply
is rapidly dwindling.
574
00:41:36,060 --> 00:41:39,420
Is there as much palm today as there
was when he was a small boy?
575
00:42:08,940 --> 00:42:11,580
It's actually well worth just
chatting to those guys to hear
576
00:42:11,580 --> 00:42:15,020
about this problem, how they can't
support themselves any more
577
00:42:15,020 --> 00:42:18,060
with just livestock alone,
and they're now turning to the palm,
578
00:42:18,060 --> 00:42:21,860
even though they recognise that
the palm population is decreasing.
579
00:42:23,580 --> 00:42:27,180
As the baboons return to
the cliffs, once again,
580
00:42:27,180 --> 00:42:28,780
they're all on edge.
581
00:42:33,420 --> 00:42:36,700
Two hyenas are prowling
at the bottom of the cliffs,
582
00:42:36,700 --> 00:42:39,860
and Critical and the rest
of the group are alarm-barking.
583
00:42:46,140 --> 00:42:49,980
By alerting each other to
the presence of predators,
584
00:42:49,980 --> 00:42:53,820
the baboons have successfully
driven off the hyenas.
585
00:42:53,820 --> 00:42:57,900
But as one threat goes away,
another rears its head.
586
00:42:57,900 --> 00:43:01,100
The Afar have been at the baboons'
precious sleeping spot,
587
00:43:01,100 --> 00:43:03,220
cutting down palm leaves.
588
00:43:03,220 --> 00:43:05,100
This is unbelievable.
589
00:43:05,100 --> 00:43:08,260
Just here, on top of the cliff
where our baboons sleep,
590
00:43:08,260 --> 00:43:11,060
the Afar have been busy
cutting the palm leaf.
591
00:43:12,460 --> 00:43:14,860
If it's overdone,
it just kills the tree.
592
00:43:14,860 --> 00:43:18,180
And this is really bad
news for the baboons.
593
00:43:18,180 --> 00:43:22,860
If we lose these trees,
that will decimate this whole group.
594
00:43:22,860 --> 00:43:25,340
I have such an emotional
attachment to these animals,
595
00:43:25,340 --> 00:43:28,220
I would hate to see anything
happening to them.
596
00:43:28,220 --> 00:43:30,380
This is so disappointing.
597
00:43:37,340 --> 00:43:39,300
Sometimes I think, "Why am I here?"
598
00:43:42,060 --> 00:43:44,860
Five years without a salary,
five years of struggling,
599
00:43:44,860 --> 00:43:47,900
very difficult conditions,
and at the end of it,
600
00:43:47,900 --> 00:43:49,900
am I going to have anything to show
601
00:43:49,900 --> 00:43:51,860
for the conservation work
I've done here?
602
00:43:55,060 --> 00:43:58,340
It's very good right now just to be
amongst the baboons, because
603
00:43:58,340 --> 00:44:01,660
they really do take my mind off some
of the difficulties I sometimes face.
604
00:44:01,660 --> 00:44:04,500
This is a gift that they don't even
know they give me.
605
00:44:17,300 --> 00:44:20,140
The Afar's prayers
have been answered.
606
00:44:20,140 --> 00:44:23,380
Finally,
the rainy season has arrived.
607
00:44:35,540 --> 00:44:37,860
Baboons hate the rain.
608
00:44:39,700 --> 00:44:43,700
These once-majestic males
look truly miserable.
609
00:44:45,940 --> 00:44:48,380
They're in no rush to move off
for the day,
610
00:44:48,380 --> 00:44:51,020
and are staying put
in their sleeping spot.
611
00:44:58,540 --> 00:45:00,940
At least they can have a drink
without having to travel.
612
00:45:08,900 --> 00:45:10,860
It's funny watching
the baboons in the rain.
613
00:45:10,860 --> 00:45:12,300
It's almost like they're a wet dog.
614
00:45:13,380 --> 00:45:17,620
They just pull their head in
and curl up into a ball,
615
00:45:17,620 --> 00:45:21,260
and the youngsters tend to cuddle up
amongst their mother or the father.
616
00:45:23,740 --> 00:45:28,460
At long last, the pressure
of the dry season has been released.
617
00:45:37,140 --> 00:45:40,020
Once the storm has passed,
the baboons dry out
618
00:45:40,020 --> 00:45:42,180
and then venture into a whole
new world.
619
00:45:57,780 --> 00:46:01,900
The sparse desert is transformed
overnight into a land of plenty.
620
00:46:11,980 --> 00:46:16,940
The wet season shows Awash
in its greatest glory.
621
00:46:16,940 --> 00:46:20,060
It's a unique place,
home to some very special animals.
622
00:46:28,940 --> 00:46:32,020
This is Mat's favourite
time of year.
623
00:46:32,020 --> 00:46:36,060
With so much grass around, the Afar
don't need to graze their cattle
624
00:46:36,060 --> 00:46:39,300
in the park, and don't
harass the baboons.
625
00:46:39,300 --> 00:46:42,180
It's a time of peace
and abundance for all.
626
00:46:43,580 --> 00:46:46,420
Since the wet season, this whole area
is completely transformed.
627
00:46:46,420 --> 00:46:47,740
Before it was just dust,
628
00:46:47,740 --> 00:46:51,260
and now the baboons are just moving
through this sea of grass.
629
00:46:51,260 --> 00:46:53,140
There's food everywhere for them.
630
00:46:53,140 --> 00:46:56,020
So for the baboons,
this is the best time of the year.
631
00:47:05,220 --> 00:47:08,300
Mat's time in Awash
will soon be over.
632
00:47:11,980 --> 00:47:16,060
He knows that if the baboons and
their home are to have a future,
633
00:47:16,060 --> 00:47:19,700
he has to persuade the Afar
to see them differently.
634
00:47:20,740 --> 00:47:27,220
These baboons are a valuable asset
to this region, to the people,
635
00:47:27,220 --> 00:47:30,100
attracting researchers,
attracting tourists.
636
00:47:30,100 --> 00:47:35,940
We really need to show the community
just how valuable these baboons are.
637
00:47:37,580 --> 00:47:40,820
Mat has worked hard all year
to make friends with the Afar,
638
00:47:40,820 --> 00:47:43,140
and he's starting
to earn their trust.
639
00:47:43,140 --> 00:47:46,740
Now he wants to show them
a way of living with baboons
640
00:47:46,740 --> 00:47:48,900
that could actually
be of benefit to them.
641
00:47:53,020 --> 00:47:57,100
With time running out,
Mat has come up with a plan.
642
00:47:57,100 --> 00:48:00,500
He and Teklu are heading off
on a road trip.
643
00:48:02,780 --> 00:48:05,820
In the back are three Afars
from the local village.
644
00:48:05,820 --> 00:48:09,540
The two Alis,
and Muhammad in the middle.
645
00:48:10,900 --> 00:48:15,300
They're travelling 240 miles north
to the highlands of Ethiopia,
646
00:48:15,300 --> 00:48:17,180
to the Guassa grasslands,
647
00:48:17,180 --> 00:48:20,100
home to another type of monkey
called the Gelada.
648
00:48:21,220 --> 00:48:23,340
Gelada are a really special primate
649
00:48:23,340 --> 00:48:25,500
found only in the Ethiopian
highlands.
650
00:48:26,900 --> 00:48:29,180
What I want these guys to see
is how the community
651
00:48:29,180 --> 00:48:31,980
is benefiting from conserving
these primates.
652
00:48:33,860 --> 00:48:37,500
The area where we're going is well
over 3,000 metres above sea level.
653
00:48:37,500 --> 00:48:42,100
It's an absolutely beautiful
landscape, but very cold.
654
00:48:42,100 --> 00:48:44,380
For these guys, they've never
been to the highlands,
655
00:48:44,380 --> 00:48:46,020
so it's completely new for them.
656
00:49:19,020 --> 00:49:22,620
Finally, after nine hours' driving,
they arrive at the lodge
657
00:49:22,620 --> 00:49:25,820
owned and run by
the local community.
658
00:50:04,500 --> 00:50:07,300
After warming up and borrowing boots
and waterproofs,
659
00:50:07,300 --> 00:50:10,100
the Afar are ready to go
and see the Gelada.
660
00:50:22,740 --> 00:50:25,340
Gelada are totally unique
to Ethiopia,
661
00:50:25,340 --> 00:50:28,420
and with their long, woolly coats,
662
00:50:28,420 --> 00:50:31,620
they're perfectly adapted to life
on this cold, wet plateau.
663
00:50:34,900 --> 00:50:39,860
It's such a different environment,
a different situation to Awash,
664
00:50:39,860 --> 00:50:43,380
and yet these animals
kind of look similar,
665
00:50:43,380 --> 00:50:46,300
but in a completely
different context.
666
00:50:46,300 --> 00:50:48,740
They call these
the Bleeding Heart Gelada,
667
00:50:48,740 --> 00:50:51,900
because of this red patch
they've got on their chest, there.
668
00:50:51,900 --> 00:50:54,420
They're superb animals,
they really are.
669
00:50:54,420 --> 00:50:57,220
Not as good as Hamadryas,
but still good.
670
00:51:02,140 --> 00:51:06,180
For the Afar, it's unusual to get
this close to wild animals,
671
00:51:06,180 --> 00:51:07,820
as they normally scare them off.
672
00:51:42,580 --> 00:51:45,820
Do you think you'd like to move up
here and study these guys instead?
673
00:51:45,820 --> 00:51:49,260
No, I'd like to move these guys
over there.
674
00:51:50,580 --> 00:51:54,580
I think I might have a few
new field assistants
to help me study the Hamadryas.
675
00:51:54,580 --> 00:51:57,020
These guys are really
getting into it.
676
00:51:57,020 --> 00:51:59,780
They're absolutely fascinated
by these Gelada.
677
00:52:20,460 --> 00:52:23,180
The grasslands have been
carefully protected
678
00:52:23,180 --> 00:52:25,180
by the community
for over 400 years.
679
00:52:26,660 --> 00:52:29,460
They use the grasses for
thatching their roofs,
680
00:52:29,460 --> 00:52:31,700
and have strict limits on grazing
681
00:52:31,700 --> 00:52:35,220
to ensure the survival of
this precious resource.
682
00:52:35,220 --> 00:52:38,180
The people here have found a way
of living on their land
683
00:52:38,180 --> 00:52:39,700
without destroying it.
684
00:52:40,780 --> 00:52:44,060
And they're happy to share it
with the Gelada,
685
00:52:44,060 --> 00:52:45,980
as they bring in visitors
and extra income.
686
00:52:50,860 --> 00:52:55,700
After a long day following the
Gelada up and down steep slopes,
687
00:52:55,700 --> 00:52:59,740
the lowland visitors are exhausted,
but Mat's plan
688
00:52:59,740 --> 00:53:03,740
to open their eyes to a new way of
looking at wildlife
689
00:53:03,740 --> 00:53:05,180
seems to have worked.
690
00:53:48,340 --> 00:53:50,860
My hope is now that when they go back
to their villages,
691
00:53:50,860 --> 00:53:55,220
they can really sit down and discuss
with their other community members
692
00:53:55,220 --> 00:53:58,260
and tell them about their experience
here, and what they've learned,
693
00:53:58,260 --> 00:54:01,300
and hopefully we might see a bit
of an attitude change
694
00:54:01,300 --> 00:54:05,020
in the Afar towards the Hamadryas.
That's the big goal here.
695
00:54:05,020 --> 00:54:07,940
I think we've taken
a step towards it.
696
00:54:34,620 --> 00:54:37,620
The time has come for Mat
to leave his baboons.
697
00:54:40,300 --> 00:54:44,380
He's come for one last visit.
A chance to reflect on their future.
698
00:54:45,980 --> 00:54:49,980
It's a future intertwined
with that of the Afar people.
699
00:54:49,980 --> 00:54:52,300
But can they change
their ancient way of life
700
00:54:52,300 --> 00:54:55,260
and stop destroying
the baboon's home?
701
00:54:59,580 --> 00:55:01,380
It's not an easy process
just to make them
702
00:55:01,380 --> 00:55:03,180
switch from one thing to another.
703
00:55:03,180 --> 00:55:04,460
This takes a long time,
704
00:55:04,460 --> 00:55:07,620
and we're talking maybe decades
for this change to happen.
705
00:55:07,620 --> 00:55:13,620
The question here is will this land
survive decades? I don't know.
706
00:55:13,620 --> 00:55:15,620
I don't think there's that much
time left now.
707
00:55:15,620 --> 00:55:17,580
I think we're really
at a critical point
708
00:55:17,580 --> 00:55:19,700
where something needs to change,
and change soon.
709
00:55:24,980 --> 00:55:28,820
Mat is doing a final check
on his favourite individuals
710
00:55:28,820 --> 00:55:30,260
before saying his goodbyes,
711
00:55:30,260 --> 00:55:34,100
and there's a little surprise
waiting for him.
712
00:55:36,460 --> 00:55:38,780
The infant with the badly injured
arm is now thriving.
713
00:55:40,620 --> 00:55:44,940
What's really promising is the infant
is actually looking quite healthy
714
00:55:44,940 --> 00:55:47,540
despite his really severe injury.
715
00:55:47,540 --> 00:55:49,940
I think he's going to be OK.
I have a good feeling about this one.
716
00:55:54,220 --> 00:55:57,260
And Critical has become a father.
717
00:55:59,300 --> 00:56:01,700
His oldest female, Gunsch,
has a new infant,
718
00:56:01,700 --> 00:56:04,140
and she's keeping a tight hold
of him
719
00:56:04,140 --> 00:56:06,380
as he tries to explore his world.
720
00:56:09,100 --> 00:56:13,740
And just last night, his youngest
wife, Calm - Mat's old favourite -
721
00:56:13,740 --> 00:56:17,460
gave birth to a baby girl,
and she's attracting
722
00:56:17,460 --> 00:56:20,620
a great deal of attention from
the other admiring females.
723
00:56:28,460 --> 00:56:30,420
His family just continues to grow.
724
00:56:30,420 --> 00:56:34,260
This is really positive news
for Calm, the new mother.
725
00:56:34,260 --> 00:56:37,580
This is a whole new experience for
her. She's never had a baby before.
726
00:56:38,860 --> 00:56:40,340
The early sign seems like
727
00:56:40,340 --> 00:56:42,780
she's taking really good care
of the infant.
728
00:56:43,820 --> 00:56:47,500
I don't think Critical's going to
get Father of the Year.
729
00:56:47,500 --> 00:56:50,700
Some of the males are very tolerant
with their black infants.
730
00:56:50,700 --> 00:56:52,340
They allow them
to climb all over them.
731
00:56:52,340 --> 00:56:54,540
I really just don't think
Critical's that kind of guy.
732
00:56:55,940 --> 00:57:00,660
The most important thing he can do
is just to take care of the mothers
733
00:57:00,660 --> 00:57:04,900
and defend their babies, and if
he does that, then he's done his job.
734
00:57:12,660 --> 00:57:16,060
In his five years here,
Mat has made a difference.
735
00:57:20,740 --> 00:57:22,340
Thanks to him and Teklu,
736
00:57:22,340 --> 00:57:25,420
the Afar are starting to see
the animals around them differently.
737
00:57:26,820 --> 00:57:28,020
Keep in touch.
738
00:57:29,700 --> 00:57:32,740
It's a small seed of change,
but if it grows,
739
00:57:32,740 --> 00:57:36,900
then there's real hope for
the baboons and their desert home.
740
00:57:42,420 --> 00:57:46,820
To say goodbye to these baboons,
I think that's the hardest part.
741
00:57:49,420 --> 00:57:52,940
For me, they have been
the highlight of this place.
742
00:57:54,500 --> 00:57:58,340
To share in their life,
to almost be accepted by them
743
00:57:58,340 --> 00:58:01,900
as one of their group,
their social order,
744
00:58:01,900 --> 00:58:04,220
it's going to be really sad
to leave these guys.
745
00:58:08,500 --> 00:58:12,300
My one big hope is that both
the baboons and the Afar
746
00:58:12,300 --> 00:58:14,580
can peacefully coexist
747
00:58:14,580 --> 00:58:19,540
and that this magnificent place
could have a really good future.
62355
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