Original subtitles

IN A TROPICAL FOREST IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA,

ONE LITTLE MONKEY IS ALL ALONE.

SHE’S EMBARKING ON A DANGEROUS QUEST

TO FIND A NEW FAMILY AND A FUTURE MATE.

THERE’S NO GUARANTEE SHE’LL MAKE IT.

SHE’S IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY WITH PREDATORS ALL AROUND--

NO ONE TO HELP HER FIND FOOD

AND NO ONE TO WATCH HER BACK.

[HOWLING]

SHE’S HUNGRY, TIRED AND LOST.

BUT WHEN FAMILIAR FACES APPEAR,

SHE COULD STILL SUFFER REJECTION.

[SQUEALING]

WITH NO HOPE OF SURVIVAL ON HER OWN,

COULD THIS BE THE END OF THE LINE FOR YOUNG MONA?

♪

♪

♪

♪

THIS IS MONA.

AN ADOLESCENT COTTON-TOP TAMARIN.

AT JUST 9 INCHES TALL,

THEY’RE AMONG THE SMALLEST MONKEYS IN THE WORLD.

THEY NORMALLY LIVE IN SMALL GROUPS OF ABOUT FOUR OR MORE,

MADE UP OF A BREEDING PAIR, THEIR OFFSPRING,

AND UNRELATED ADULTS.

BUT MONA IS ON HER OWN.

♪

AT TWO YEARS OLD,

SHE’S TAKEN HER FIRST BIG STEPS TOWARDS ADULTHOOD.

YESTERDAY SHE LEFT THE SECURITY OF HER BIRTH FAMILY.

BOTH MALE AND FEMALE COTTON-TOPS

TYPICALLY MOVE INTO NEIGHBORING GROUPS,

WHERE THEY HELP RAISE OTHERS’ YOUNG

AND HOPE TO FIND A FUTURE MATE.

♪

BUT RIGHT NOW, MONA’S ALL ALONE

IN AN UNFAMILIAR PART OF THE FOREST.

♪

SHE’S A TINY, VULNERABLE MONKEY IN A DANGEROUS WORLD.

♪

COTTON-TOPS ONLY LIVE IN ONE PLACE ON EARTH:

THE TROPICAL FORESTS OF NORTHWESTERN COLOMBIA.

BORDERED TO THE NORTH BY THE CARIBBEAN,

THESE FORESTS RISE FROM SEA LEVEL

TO COVER HILLS CLOSE TO 5,000 FEET HIGH.

UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE PAST SIX DECADES

MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF THE COTTON-TOP’S HABITAT

HAS BEEN WIPED OUT.

♪

DEFORESTATION FOR AGRICULTURE, LOGGING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO THESE MONKEYS.

ANOTHER IS THE ILLEGAL PET TRADE.

BEING SMALL AND ADORABLE MAKES THEM APPEALING TO HUMANS,

BUT AT A HUGE COST.

BY THE EARLY 1970s, AS MANY AS 30,000 COTTON-TOPS

HAD BEEN CAUGHT AND EXPORTED FROM COLOMBIA.

♪

WHILE COTTON-TOPS ARE NOW PROTECTED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW,

THE ILLEGAL PET TRADE CONTINUES.

♪

[SQUEAK]

TODAY COTTON-TOPS ARE ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED PRIMATES

ON THE PLANET,

WITH ONLY AN ESTIMATED 2,000 ADULTS LEFT IN THE WILD.

[THUNDER]

MONA IS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

SHE LIVES IN A PROTECTED RESERVE CALLED MONTES DE MARIA,

WHICH COVERS ABOUT 28 SQUARE MILES.

IT LIES JUST A FEW MILES FROM THE CARIBBEAN COAST,

AND THE OCEAN HAS A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON THE CLIMATE HERE.

[THUNDER]

IT’S JUNE, THE START OF THE RAINY SEASON.

FOR THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS, WINDS BLOWING IN FROM THE ATLANTIC

WILL BRING WITH THEM MOISTURE-LADEN CLOUDS

AND ALMOST 80 INCHES OF RAIN.

COUPLED WITH WARM TEMPERATURES,

THIS CAUSES PLANT LIFE TO EXPLODE,

FILLING MONA’S HOME WITH A THICK UNDERSTORY OF SHRUBS

AND TREES TOWERING MORE THAN 60 FEET ABOVE THE FOREST FLOOR.

♪

♪

AGILE AND WEIGHING JUST 15 OUNCES,

MONA’S PERFECTLY ADAPTED

TO NAVIGATE THIS THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAZE.

♪

NO BRANCH IS TOO THICK...

OR TOO THIN.

SHE USES HER TAIL FOR BALANCE,

AND LONG FINGERS, TOES AND CLAW-LIKE NAILS GRIP ON.

BUT BEING SO SMALL DOES HAVE SOME DRAWBACKS.

WITH A HEAD AND BODY ONLY NINE INCHES LONG,

GAPS BETWEEN TREES AND BRANCHES

ARE OFTEN TOO BIG TO STEP ACROSS...

♪

SO LEAPING IS OFTEN THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE FOREST.

♪

MONA’S NOT THE ONLY COTTON-TOP WHO LIVES IN THIS RESERVE.

[CHIRPING]

TWO MILES AWAY, A FAMILY OF COTTON-TOPS IS WAKING UP.

♪

AT THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY IS A BREEDING PAIR,

BELLA AND CARLOS, BOTH EIGHT YEARS OLD.

SIX WEEKS AGO, TIMED WITH THE FRUITFUL RAINY SEASON,

BELLA GAVE BIRTH TO NON-IDENTICAL TWINS,

WHICH ARE COMMON AMONG COTTON-TOPS.

[CHIRPING]

BOTH PARENTS SHARE THE LOAD-- BELLA SUCKLING THEM,

AND CARLOS TAKING THE LEAD

CARRYING THEM AROUND THEIR TREETOP HOME.

RAISING TWO BABIES AT ONCE IS HARD WORK...

BUT LUCKILY THESE PARENTS HAVE A HELPING HAND--

THEIR THREE-YEAR-OLD ADULT SON, PABLO.

IT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR COTTON-TOPS

TO STAY WITH THEIR PARENTS FOR A FEW YEARS

AND HELP RAISE THEIR SIBLINGS.

FOR PABLO, IT’S VALUABLE PRACTICE

FOR WHEN HE HAS A FAMILY OF HIS OWN.

HIS EXTRA EYES AND EARS

ALSO HELP THE TROOP STAY SAFE AND WELL-FED.

THE ENTIRE FAMILY WORKS AS A COOPERATIVE UNIT,

BUT BELLA IS THE BOSS.

SHE MAKES ALL THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS,

LIKE WHICH TREE TO SLEEP IN,

WHERE THE FAMILY GOES EACH DAY, AND WHAT TO FEED ON.

AND SHE LETS THE REST OF THE TROOP KNOW

EXACTLY WHAT SHE’S THINKING

WITH A CONSTANT STREAM OF CHIRPS, WHISTLES AND TWITTERS.

[WHISTLING]

EVEN BY PRIMATE STANDARDS, COTTON-TOP TAMARINS DISPLAY

INCREDIBLY COMPLEX COMMUNICATION.

ADULTS PRODUCE NEARLY 40 DISTINCT SOUNDS,

EACH WITH ITS OWN MEANING.

[SQUEAKING]

THERE ARE GREETINGS...

[CHIRPING]

AND WARNINGS.

[SQUAWKING]

THEY EVEN HAVE A CALL TO IDENTIFY HUMANS.

[CHIRPING]

BUT IT’S NOT JUST THEIR RICH VOCABULARY

THAT MAKES THESE MONKEYS GREAT COMMUNICATORS.

BY COMBINING CALLS,

COTTON-TOPS HAVE THEIR OWN SOPHISTICATED LANGUAGE,

ALLOWING THEM TO SEND COMPLEX MESSAGES TO EACH OTHER.

[CHIRPING]

THIS COMES IN VERY HANDY,

ESPECIALLY WITH THE MORNING CHALLENGE: FINDING FOOD.

THE FAMILY SPREADS OUT AMONG THE TREES

TO COVER MORE GROUND IN THE SEARCH FOR BREAKFAST.

[CHIRPING]

BELLA KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH CHIRPS

TO LET THE FAMILY KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

[WHISTLING]

A SPECIFIC WHISTLE LETS THEM KNOW SHE’S LOOKING FOR FOOD.

[WHISTLING]

WITH SMALL BODIES AND FAST METABOLISMS,

THEY NEED LOTS OF HIGH-ENERGY NUTRITION TO KEEP THEM GOING,

SO THEY LOOK FOR FRUIT, INSECTS, TREE SAP,

OR EVEN FROGS AND SMALL REPTILES.

♪

BELLA’S IN LUCK.

RIPE BERRIES ARE THE PERFECT SUGAR-RICH SNACK.

[CHIRPING]

IT’S TIME TO ALERT THE OTHERS.

[CHIRPING]

A DIFFERENT COMBINATION OF CALLS

LETS THEM KNOW SHE’S ON TO SOMETHING,

AND THEY SHOULD COME AND JOIN THE FEAST.

[CHIRPING]

GOOD NEWS TRAVELS FAST.

[SQUEALING]

[CHIRPING]

THE TWINS MIGHT NOT YET UNDERSTAND

THEIR PARENTS’ EVERY CHIRP, WHISTLE AND TRILL,

BUT THE MORE THEY HEAR, THE MORE THEY LEARN.

[CHIRPING]

♪

♪

IT’S TIME FOR MONA TO START A FAMILY OF HER OWN.

BUT HER OWN GROUP HAD NO UNRELATED MALES

FOR HER TO MATE WITH.

NOW SHE’S ON A RISKY JOURNEY

WHILE SHE SEARCHES FOR ANOTHER FAMILY TO JOIN.

♪

IT WAS A DANGEROUS DECISION TO EXILE HERSELF.

BEING ALONE WITH NO ONE HELPING TO KEEP WATCH,

SHE’S INCREDIBLY VULNERABLE.

♪

AS SHE MAKES HER WAY THROUGH THE FOREST,

HER LONG WHISTLE TELLS OTHERS THAT SHE’S ALONE

AND SEARCHING FOR COMPANY.

[WHISTLING]

THIS MIGHT ATTRACT UNWANTED ATTENTION FROM PREDATORS,

BUT IT’S A RISK SHE MUST TAKE.

[WHISTLING]

SHE LISTENS FOR A RESPONSE.

[GUTTURAL HOWLING]

THIS CALL ISN’T WHAT SHE WAS HOPING FOR.

♪

[HOWLING]

IT’S A TROOP OF RED HOWLER MONKEYS.

[GRUNTING]

MONA HAS ENTERED THEIR TERRITORY.

[HOWLING]

THESE ARE THE LOUDEST ANIMALS IN SOUTH AMERICA,

THEIR VOICES CARRYING UP TO THREE MILES ACROSS THE FOREST.

[HOWLING]

THEIR CALLS WARN OTHER TROOPS OF THEIR PRESENCE.

IT’S A WAY OF STAKING THEIR CLAIM TO TERRITORY,

WHILE AVOIDING VIOLENT CLASHES WITH NEIGHBORING TROOPS.

[GRUNTING]

THEY NORMALLY CALL AT DAWN AND DUSK...

[GRUNTING]

BUT THIS MORNING THEY’RE HOWLING BECAUSE THERE’S DANGER BELOW.

[HOWLING]

A TEN-FOOT-LONG BOA CONSTRICTOR SILENTLY GLIDES

ACROSS THE FOREST FLOOR LOOKING FOR BREAKFAST.

[HOWLING]

ALTHOUGH IT WOULD NORMALLY FEED ON SMALLER MAMMALS,

THE HOWLERS DON’T WANT THIS PREDATOR

ANYWHERE NEAR THEIR TERRITORY.

[HOWLING]

FOR TINY COTTON-TOP TAMARIN LIKE MONA,

AN ADULT BOA IS A MAJOR THREAT.

IT COULD EASILY SWALLOW HER WHOLE.

[MONKEYS GRUNTING]

THE HOWLER MONKEYS’ ALARM CALLS ARE A REMINDER

THAT ON HER OWN, SHE’S VULNERABLE.

SHE DESPERATELY NEEDS THE SECURITY

OF A FAMILY OF HER OWN KIND, AND FAST.

♪

ARMY ANTS... AND THEY’RE ON THE MARCH.

♪

THEY WORK AS A TEAM, SCOURING THE UNDERGROWTH FOR THEIR PREY.

WITH AN ARMY UP TO 200,000 STRONG

ALL LOOKING FOR FOOD,

IT’S THE LARGEST EATING MACHINE

THAT SHARES THE COTTON-TOPS’ TERRITORY.

THESE ANTS SPEND THEIR ENTIRE LIVES ON THE MOVE

TO MAXIMIZE THEIR CHANCES OF CAPTURING PREY.

INSTEAD OF BUILDING A NEST IN A SINGLE LOCATION,

WORKER ANTS CREATE A MOBILE HOME CALLED A BIVOUAC.

IT’S A SORT OF LIVING NEST THEY MAKE OUT OF THEIR OWN BODIES.

IT’S A HIGHLY ORGANIZED STRUCTURE,

PROTECTING THE QUEEN, HER EGGS, AND HER LARVAE.

FROM HERE, THE REST OF THE WORKER ANTS

LAUNCH THEIR DAILY HUNTING RAIDS

IN SEARCH OF PROTEIN-RICH FOOD.

THE ANTS MAY BE LESS THAN HALF AN INCH LONG,

BUT AS PART OF A CARNIVOROUS WAVE

UP TO 60 FEET ACROSS AND 300 FEET IN LENGTH,

THEY CAN OVERCOME AND CONSUME ANIMALS

HUNDREDS OF TIMES THEIR SIZE.

ON THE FOREST FLOOR, THERE IS NO SAFE HAVEN.

THIS SPIDER MAY BE MUCH LARGER THAN A SINGLE ANT,

BUT IT HAS NO DEFENSE AGAINST THE OVERWHELMING SWARM.

THE FEROCIOUS FEMALES ATTACK WITH THEIR MANDIBLES

AND INJECT IT WITH A LETHAL COCKTAIL OF CHEMICALS

THAT DISSOLVE THE SPIDER’S FLESH.

THEY CAN OVERPOWER SCORPIONS, TARANTULAS AND EVEN LIZARDS.

ON THIS DAY-LONG RAID ALONE,

THEY COULD CAPTURE UP TO 30,000 INSECTS.

ANYTHING BIGGER, LIKE A COTTON-TOP,

COULD GET HUNDREDS OF PAINFUL BITES.

[CHIRPING]

SO THE FAMILY WATCHES FROM THE TREES,

READY TO JUMP TO SAFETY IF THE ANTS START TO CLIMB.

[CHIRPING]

HALF A MILE AWAY, MONA IS STILL SEARCHING FOR FOOD.

WITHOUT TROOP-MATES TO HELP HER SCOUR THE TREETOPS,

SHE RESORTS TO EATING WHATEVER SHE CAN FIND ALONE.

SHE SEARCHES FOR BUGS AMONG DEAD LEAVES.

♪

BY HERSELF, SHE NEEDS TO STAY ALERT AT ALL TIMES,

EVEN WHILE SHE FEEDS.

♪

FOR A SOCIAL MONKEY LIKE A COTTON-TOP,

SOLITUDE IS BOTH STRESSFUL AND EXHAUSTING.

STILL HUNGRY, SHE KEEPS UP HER LONELY WHISTLE

IN THE HOPE OF FINDING OTHERS.

♪

BUT SHE NEEDS TO FIND SHELTER

WHERE SHE CAN REST FOR THE NIGHT.

♪

WHILE MONA SLEEPS IN THE TREES, ANOTHER FOREST CREATURE APPEARS.

♪

♪

IT’S A RED-FOOTED TORTOISE.

SHE’S GOT COMPANY.

IT’S A YOUNGSTER, BUT NOT ONE OF HERS.

UNLIKE MONKEYS, THESE REPTILES DON’T CARE FOR THEIR YOUNG.

BUT THEY’RE NOT ANTI-SOCIAL,

AND THE ADULT DOESN’T MIND THE SMALLER TORTOISE FOLLOWING HER

AS SHE SEARCHES FOR FOOD,

WHETHER IT BE FRUITS, LEAVES OR SHOOTS.

THESE DOCILE CREATURES CAN LIVE FOR 30 YEARS OR MORE

AND GROW UP TO 20 INCHES LONG.

BUT WITH A TOP SPEED THAT BARELY HITS 100 YARDS PER HOUR,

FINDING ENOUGH FOOD ON THE FOREST FLOOR CAN TAKE SOME TIME.

A FRESH FLOWER IS A SNACK TO SAVOR.

♪

BUT SOMETHING SPOOKS HER.

PLAYING IT SAFE, BOTH TORTOISES TAKE COVER

INSIDE THEIR HARD, KERATINOUS SHELLS.

HUNTING IN THE BRANCHES ABOVE THEM IS A TAMANDUA:

A 4-FOOT-LONG TREE-CLIMBING ANTEATER.

BUT IT’S NOT INTERESTED IN THE TORTOISES.

IT’S SEARCHING FOR ANTS OR TERMITES,

USING ITS ELONGATED NOSE

TO SNIFF OUT TELL-TALE CHEMICAL TRAILS IN THE DARKNESS.

♪

REASSURED, THE RED-FOOTED TORTOISES

GET BACK TO BUSINESS...

SLOWLY.

♪

IN ANOTHER PATCH OF UNDERGROWTH,

FALLEN FRUIT IS SUSTAINING

A VERY DIFFERENT FORAGER OF THE NIGHT.

A MILLIPEDE.

DESPITE ITS NAME, IT ONLY HAS A FEW HUNDRED FEET.

BUT IT DOES HAVE AN ANCIENT LINEAGE.

THESE ARTHROPODS FIRST APPEARED MORE THAN 400 MILLION YEARS AGO,

MAKING THEM ONE OF THE OLDEST KNOWN ANIMALS ON LAND.

IT’S GOT COMPANY.

♪

ANOTHER ARTHROPOD WITH AN ANCIENT HERITAGE.

♪

A BLUE LAND CRAB.

IT LIVES OVER A MILE FROM THE SEA,

BUT THANKS TO FREQUENT RAIN AND DAMP SOIL,

IT’S ABLE TO SURVIVE HERE IN THE FOREST.

IT’S A MALE, AND HE’S CLOSING IN ON HIS NEXT MEAL.

THE BLUE CRAB IS AFTER THE FRUIT, NOT THE MILLIPEDE.

UNLIKE HIS CARNIVOROUS MARINE COUSINS,

THIS LAND CRAB IS AN HERBIVORE,

FEASTING ON FRUIT, FLOWERS AND LEAVES.

FEEDING TIME OVER,

THE CRAB RETREATS TO HIS BURROW DEEP UNDERGROUND,

WHERE HE CAN SHELTER FROM THE HEAT AS A NEW DAY DAWNS.

[MONKEYS HOWLING]

AS THE SUN RISES, THE COLOMBIAN FOREST COMES TO LIFE.

THE DAY SHIFT BEGINS.

[MONKEYS HOWLING]

HOWLER MONKEYS FINISH THEIR DAWN CHORUS

AND SET OUT IN SEARCH OF BREAKFAST.

WEIGHING UP TO 16 POUNDS,

THEY’RE 14 TIMES LARGER THAN THE COTTON-TOP TAMARINS.

WHILE THEIR SMALLER, FASTER COUSINS

RELY ON HIGH ENERGY FOODS SUCH AS INSECTS AND BERRIES,

HOWLERS MAINLY EAT LEAVES, LIKE THOSE OF THE CECROPIA TREE.

TO COMPENSATE FOR THEIR LOW-ENERGY DIET,

THEY TAKE A RATHER RELAXED APPROACH TO LIFE,

RESTING FOR UP TO 15 HOURS A DAY.

♪

THEIR PREHENSILE TAILS HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE TREETOPS.

♪

NAKED AND RIDGED ON THE UNDERSIDE,

LIKE A FINGERPRINT,

THEY PROVIDE A FINGER-LIKE GRIP ON BRANCHES...

♪

PERFECT FOR EXTRA BALANCE...

♪

OR FOR CLOSING A GAP...

♪

AND EVEN FOR THE OCCASIONAL ITCH.

♪

WHILE THE HOWLERS ARE WELL INTO THEIR BREAKFAST RUN,

IN A NEIGHBORING TREE, ONE FAMILY IS SLEEPING LATE.

♪

BELLA AND CARLOS’S BROOD

HAVE SPENT A COMFORTABLE NIGHT TOGETHER.

IT’S AN HOUR AFTER DAWN BEFORE THEY FEEL THE NEED TO RISE.

[CHIRPING]

THEIR MORNING SLEEP-IN ISN’T OUT OF LAZINESS.

IT’S A STRATEGY TO AVOID THEIR DEADLY ENEMIES,

AS MANY PREDATORS HUNT MAINLY AT DUSK AND DAWN.

[CHIRPING]

♪

GROOMING IS ALWAYS A GOOD WAY TO START THE DAY.

IT HELPS TO KEEP PARASITES AT BAY

AND ALSO REINFORCES BONDS WITHIN THE TROOP.

[CHIRPING]

A SHARED PERFUME ALSO PROVIDES A SENSE OF COLLECTIVE IDENTITY.

[CHIRPING]

THEY MARK THEIR TERRITORY WITH SCENT FROM ANAL GLANDS

AND URINE.

THESE CHEMICAL MESSAGES REASSURE THE FAMILY

THAT THIS IS THEIR TERRITORY

AND LETS OTHER COTTON-TOPS KNOW

THEY’VE ENTERED ANOTHER TROOP’S PATCH.

AT 6 WEEKS OLD, THE TWINS ARE STARTING TO TAKE

THEIR FIRST INDEPENDENT STEPS IN THE FOREST.

♪

THEY PLAY AND PRACTICE,

CLIMBING UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THEIR OLDER BROTHER, PABLO.

♪

[WHISTLING]

BELLA GATHERS UP THE TWINS WITH A "CLIMB ON BOARD" WHISTLE,

AND THE FAMILY HEADS OFF IN SEARCH OF BREAKFAST.

[CHIRPING]

♪

BARELY A HUNDRED YARDS AWAY,

MONA WAKES FROM AN UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT ON HER OWN.

♪

WITHOUT ANYONE TO GROOM HER,

SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH LAST NIGHT’S INSECT BITES HERSELF.

♪

IN THE NEXT TREE SHE PICKS UP A SCENT.

IT’S ONE OF CARLOS’S TERRITORIAL MARKERS.

MONA MAY BE ABOUT TO FIND THE FAMILY SHE’S BEEN LOOKING FOR.

SHE BEGINS A STREAM OF "LONELY" CALLS ONCE MORE,

AS SHE FOLLOWS THE SCENT AND CONTINUES HER SEARCH.

♪

[SHRIEKING]

♪

ON THE FOREST FLOOR BELOW,

AN INDUSTRIOUS CREATURE RUMMAGES THROUGH THE LEAF LITTER.

♪

♪

IT’S A DUNG BEETLE.

USING ITS FINELY TUNED SENSE OF SMELL,

IT HOMES IN ON ITS BOUNTY.

DUNG BEETLES ARE THE FOREST’S RECYCLERS.

THEY THRIVE ON ALL DECAYING MATTER,

AND MONKEYS’ WASTE PROVIDES THEM

WITH ALL THE MOISTURE AND NUTRIENTS THEY NEED.

♪

WHAT THEY DON’T EAT IMMEDIATELY,

THEY SHAPE INTO A BALL AND ROLL AWAY.

♪

IT’S A PORTABLE FOOD STORE,

OR EVEN AN EDIBLE NEST IN WHICH THEY CAN LAY THEIR EGGS.

♪

MALES ARE PARTICULARLY STRONG

AND CAN ROLL BALLS UP TO 10 TIMES THEIR WEIGHT.

THIS ONE TRIES TO HIDE ITS PRECIOUS CARGO IN A FALLEN FIG.

♪

BUT IT MIGHT HAVE MISJUDGED THE FIT.

♪

MONA’S SEARCH THROUGH THE FOREST HAS TAKEN HER FAR FROM HOME.

[CHIRPING]

FINALLY HEARS THE SOUNDS SHE’S BEEN HOPING FOR.

[CHIRPING]

[BRANCHES RUSTLING]

SHE CAN HEAR THE CONTACT CALLS OF A COTTON-TOP FAMILY.

[CHIRPING]

COMFORT, SECURITY, AND A FUTURE MATE

COULD NOW JUST BE YARDS AWAY.

♪

[CHIRPING]

THE FAMILY HAS SPOTTED HER, TOO.

[CHIRPING]

COTTON-TOP FAMILIES OFTEN ACCEPT OUTSIDERS,

WHO REINFORCE THEIR STRENGTH IN NUMBERS,

HELP WITH CHILD-REARING

AND ENHANCE THEIR POTENTIAL GENE POOL.

[CHIRPING]

PABLO, THE YOUNG MALE, TWITTERS EXCITEDLY TO MONA.

BUT MOTHER BELLA IS APPREHENSIVE.

SHE’S THE ALPHA,

AND ALLOWING ANOTHER FEMALE TO JOIN HER FAMILY

COULD THREATEN HER BREEDING POSITION IN THE TROOP.

[CHIRPING]

MONA APPROACHES CAUTIOUSLY.

BUT BELLA’S NOT HAPPY.

SHE’S MADE IT CLEAR...

[SCREECHING]

[SCREECHING]

THE NEWCOMER’S UNWELCOME.

AND MONA BEATS A HASTY RETREAT.

♪

PABLO MIGHT WANT HER AROUND, BUT BELLA’S NOT HAVING IT.

SHE’S THE BOSS, AND SHE DECIDES WHO’S IN AND WHO’S OUT.

[HOWLING]

THE HOWLERS’ CALLS ECHO THROUGH THE CANOPY ONCE MORE,

BUT THIS TIME THEY’RE ANNOUNCING THE COMING RAIN.

[THUNDER]

IN THE 5-MONTH RAINY SEASON,

RAIN FALLS ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY.

[THUNDER]

IN THE HEAVIEST DOWNPOURS, MANY ANIMALS TAKE COVER.

THE HOWLERS JUST HUNKER DOWN.

BUT FOR LITTLE ONES,

THERE’S ALWAYS SHELTER TO BE FOUND WITH MOM.

♪

[THUNDER]

BELLA AND HER FAMILY HUDDLE TOGETHER

FOR WARMTH AND SECURITY.

NOT FAR OFF, MONA SEEKS SHELTER UNDER THE LEAVES, ALONE.

HER TINY BODY IS WET AND COLD.

♪

SHE HAS A DECISION TO MAKE:

KEEP TRYING TO WIN BELLA’S FAVOR AND JOIN THE FAMILY,

OR HEAD OFF AGAIN INTO THE FOREST

IN HOPES OF FINDING ANOTHER TROOP.

EXHAUSTED, HUNGRY, AND DANGEROUSLY COLD,

MONA IS IN REAL TROUBLE.

ALONE LIKE THIS, SHE WON’T SURVIVE IN THE JUNGLE FOR LONG.

♪

DUNG BEETLES QUICKLY STRIP A HOWLER MONKEY SKULL,

A FATE THAT COULD BE HERS IF SHE DOESN’T FIND A FAMILY SOON.

FINDING SAFETY IN NUMBERS IS A COMMON STRATEGY

FOR MANY ANIMALS,

INCLUDING THESE PECULIAR-LOOKING NEIGHBORS OF THE COTTON-TOPS.

[CLUCKING]

THEY’RE BOATBILL HERONS,

YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS OF THE FOREST.

[CLUCKING]

NESTING IN A COLONY ABOVE A SEASONAL LAKE,

THEY’VE CREATED A SAFE HAVEN IN WHICH TO BRING UP THEIR YOUNG.

[CLUCKING]

THE FEMALE SHARES PARENTING DUTIES WITH HER MATE,

EACH TAKING TURNS TO INCUBATE THEIR BROOD.

THEY TIME THEIR INCUBATION

SO THE EGGS HATCH A FEW DAYS APART FROM ONE ANOTHER.

IT’S A STRATEGY USED BY MANY BIRDS

AND ALLOWS THEM TO MATCH THEIR BROOD SIZE

TO THE AVAILABLE FOOD SUPPLY.

[CLUCKING]

EVENTUALLY THE PARENTS’ PATIENCE PAYS OFF.

♪

WITH TWO EGG-TEETH ON ITS BILL, THE CHICK BREAKS OPEN THE SHELL.

[CHATTERING]

ITS PARENTS WILL GUARD THIS HELPLESS NEW ARRIVAL.

[CHATTERING]

COME NIGHTFALL THEY WILL HEAD OUT IN THE DARKNESS

TO HUNT IN THE POOL BELOW.

THEY WILL REGURGITATE FISH, SHRIMP OR INSECTS

FOR THEIR CHICK’S FIRST MEAL.

♪

AS THE CLOUDS CLEAR AND THE SUN WARMS THE FOREST,

THE COTTON-TOP TWINS EXPLORE THEIR JUNGLE GYM.

♪

THEY STILL GET MOST OF THEIR NUTRIENTS FROM BELLA’S MILK,

BUT ARE STARTING TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR DIET WITH SOLIDS.

THIS MORNING THEY’RE LOOKING FOR INSECTS.

AT THEIR YOUNG AGE,

CATCHING JUST ONE WOULD BE A MAJOR VICTORY.

BELLA AND CARLOS LOOK ON.

THEY’VE DEMONSTRATED HOW TO CATCH INSECTS MANY TIMES,

BUT NOW IT’S THEIR STUDENTS’ TURN.

COULD THIS BE IT?

NOT QUITE.

ANOTHER TRY.

GOT IT!

THIS GRASSHOPPER IS QUITE A HANDFUL!

♪

♪

WHILE THE FAMILY’S ATTENTION IS ON THE TWINS’ SUCCESS,

BENEATH THEM DANGER SLITHERS IN UNNOTICED.

♪

A BOA CONSTRICTOR ON THE HUNT.

CAMOUFLAGED SCALES HELP ITS 10-FOOT BODY

DISAPPEAR INTO THE UNDERGROWTH.

BUT IT DOESN’T JUST SEEK ITS QUARRY ON THE GROUND.

AT 60 POUNDS, THIS GIANT SNAKE IS A SURPRISINGLY ADEPT CLIMBER.

THICK MUSCLES GRIP TIGHTLY TO THE TRUNK

AS IT PUSHES ITSELF UP, COIL BY COIL.

♪

LACKING BOTH FANGS AND VENOM,

IT’S STILL A VERY EFFECTIVE KILLER.

♪

SMALL, HOOKED TEETH GRAB AND HOLD ON TO PREY...

WHILE ITS POWERFUL BODY WRAPS AROUND ITS VICTIM,

SQUEEZING UNTIL IT SUFFOCATES.

IT TASTES THE AIR,

ITS TONGUE PROBING FOR CHEMICAL CLUES FROM ITS PREY.

RIGHT NOW, IT CAN TASTE COTTON-TOP.

♪

MONA HAS DECIDED TO MAKE A FINAL ATTEMPT TO JOIN BELLA’S FAMILY.

[CHIRPING]

SHE APPROACHES THE BRANCHES WHERE THE TWINS ARE FEEDING,

WHISTLING HER DESIRE TO JOIN THEM.

[WHISTLING]

CREEPING CLOSER BELOW, THE BOA APPROACHES SILENTLY.

♪

BUT MONA SPOTS IT.

[SCREECHING]

SHE CALLS OUT THE ALARM, "DANGER FROM BELOW!"

THE FAMILY SPRINGS INTO ACTION,

BUT THEY DON’T RUN AWAY.

THEY DIVE TOWARDS THE SNAKE, AND MONA JOINS THEM.

WITH A SHOW OF STRENGTH AND SHRIEKING CALLS,

THEY MOB THE BOA, HOPING TO DRIVE IT AWAY.

[SHRIEKING]

WITH ITS COVER BLOWN, THE SNAKE RETREATS.

[CHIRPING]

THE TWINS ARE SAFE, THANKS TO THEIR NEW HEROINE, MONA.

SHE CALLS GENTLY AS BELLA APPROACHES,

BUT IT’S NO LONGER THE "LONELY" CALL.

THIS IS A CONTACT CALL, AN INVITATION TO GROOM.

[CHIRPING]

BELLA RESPONDS, ALLOWING THE OUTSIDER TO GROOM HER;

A CLEAR SIGN THAT SHE’S ACCEPTED MONA INTO THE FAMILY.

MONA’S DANGEROUS JOURNEY IS FINALLY OVER.

THE BRAVE, YOUNG FEMALE HAS FOUND A NEW FAMILY.

SHE WILL BOLSTER THEIR NUMBERS

AND HELP PABLO WITH BABYSITTING DUTIES.

IN RETURN, SHE’S FOUND THE SECURITY

SHE DESPERATELY NEEDS...

AND PERHAPS, IN PABLO,

THE CHANCE TO ONE DAY START A FAMILY OF HER OWN.

♪

♪

♪