Original subtitles

[NARRATOR] Meet Thiago, the baby coati.

For this youngster,

growing up wild is one giant adventure

To survive in the suburbs,

Thiago must learn the law of the jungle

And the rules of the road

In his first year,

he'll find out who and what to avoid

[HORN HONKING]

His mom will be there to teach him

But eventually, Thiago must face

life's biggest obstacles without her

All across South America,

baby animals are taking their first steps

and tackling their first challenges

Their generations are the future of their species

They are the new kids in the wild

Morning, in the dense forests

surrounding the Brazilian city of Campo Grande

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

The trees are home

to a highly-adaptable animal family

who've learned to take advantage of both these wild forests

and the urban jungle.

It may be rush hour in the city,

but in their wild oasis,

these curious creatures are only just waking up.

This is Coco.

She's a coati mum,

and has lived here for the last four years.

She's part of a big family, a band of more than 20.

And recently, it got a lot bigger.

[SQUEALS]

Coco's six new babies, known as kittens, are excited.

They have spent their first four weeks

safe in their nest.

But today, they're exploring the branches

for the very first time.

Already heading off on his own is Thiago.

He moves with confidence, unfazed by the drop below

But his climbing skills still need work.

Mum steps in, demonstrating a part

of the coati's unique anatomy, that makes them so agile.

Unlike monkeys, they don't have gripping tails or hands.

Instead, their double-jointed ankles

rotate 180 degrees,

allowing for an effortless descent, head-first.

It's not easy, but Thiago dives straight in.

His five brothers aren't so confident.

Thiago appears to be the bravest of this bunch.

Coco and Thiago demonstrate the technique again.

One by one, the others pluck up the courage.

They've learnt the first lesson of coati school,

vital for moving around their home.

This isn't just any forest.

It's right next to the huge city of Campo Grande.

Situated in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul district,

the coati's home is unique,

as they aren't the only ones living there.

Over 900,000 people live in the city,

and it's alive with human activity.

The forest is like green belt wrapping around the city.

It's home to dozens of thriving coati families.

[insects chirping]

[animal hooting]

A few days later, Thiago is ready

for an even more important lesson

on the coati curriculum:

Where to find food in the forest.

Using his rapidly-developing climbing skills,

an enthusiastic Thiago is at the front of the pack.

Coco leads them down to the forest floor

to go further than they have ever been before.

[♪]

It's a strange new world,

but Thiago is undaunted.

He has poor eyesight, but makes up for it

with his most impressive body part.

Coatis' noses can rotate 60 degrees,

helping search for hidden treasures

in the undergrowth.

[♪]

If he picks up a scent, his sharp claws and long snout

are perfect for unearthing potential prey.

Letting his nose guide the way,

hungry Thiago is getting stuck in.

[♪]

He's on to something good,

rotten wood full of insects and grubs.

Not bad for his first day foraging.

[♪]

The others, too, are digging in.

Distracted by eating, the youngsters are vulnerable.

But they have a natural instinct to help keep them safe.

Tails high in the air whilst eating

helps Coco keep an eye on them in the tall vegetation.

And it is not just their own mom,

Coco and the other females

all take care of each other's young,

allowing the little kittens to explore, play

and most importantly, eat in safety.

[♪]

Spoiling the youngsters

means Thiago and all this year's kittens

will grow fast

and become useful members of the band as soon as possible.

Thiago's thirst for adventure

is gradually rubbing off on his brothers.

But in such dense undergrowth,

keeping track of six lively coati kittens

requires Coco's full attention.

Even with their trademark tails.

[♪]

To keep them in check,

Coco's uses a tried and tested system

of expert communication.

As the youngsters roam,

Coco and the adults chat constantly,

keeping tabs on the little ones

[♪]

And with Thiago leading the gang astray,

the chattering is non-stop.

[♪]

Coco needs her families full attention,

as she's taking them somewhere very special.

Thiago's forest domain

borders an urban jungle on the other side of the tracks.

A city like Campo Grande brings many benefits,

like a plentiful supply of food all year round.

But Coco also needs to teach Thiago

the dangers of the streets.

One of his older cousins was recently clipped by a car,

and still has the limp to prove it.

Despite the risks,

Thiago and the kittens

must learn the rules of this foreign land.

Today is as good a day as any to start.

The adults lead,

but the kittens hold back.

Thiago cautiously follows,

and takes his first look outside the forest.

[♪]

It's all a bit too daunting, even for Thiago.

[♪]

But a few minutes later, he's back.

This time, he brings his siblings.

[♪]

Out in the open,

it's easier for the adults to keep track of the kittens.

And the little ones immediately reap some rewards.

This grassy verge

has lots of worms and roots to chew on.

[♪]

But it all feels exposed.

Even Thiago isn't quite as confident

outside of the sheltering forest.

The kittens all stick to Coco like glue

as the whole band make their way slowly

towards the road,

that marks the edge of the city.

[♪]

Thiago's not quite ready to brave the highway,

but the day's urban foraging mission isn't over.

The band are now heading to a nearby suburb

on this side of the road.

Campo Grande is huge.

Coco has the whole area mapped out in her head.

[squawks]

And she knows exactly where she's taking them next.

She's brought them here to experience Campo Grande's

most sought-after delicacy.

Mangoes.

The juicy fruit is packed with sugar.

With mangoes everywhere,

Thiago doesn't know where to start.

When eating,

usually, the kittens get first seat at the table.

But with a feast like this,

normal etiquette goes out of the window,

and they can all eat at the same time.

[♪]

When a cheeky Thiago tries to steal Coco's dessert,

she doesn't mind letting him have a small taste

But then reminds him there is so much to go around,

he can get his own.

[♪]

And they aren't the only ones cashing in on the prize fruit.

The world's largest rodents

have also come into town for dinner.

[♪]

The coatis foraging in the trees

are serving up even more fresh mangos

for these capybara below.

[♪]

They also have hungry babies in tow,

learning when and where to find

the secret culinary treasures of Campo Grande.

On today's outing, Thiago and his brothers

have already learned some valuable foraging lessons,

both in the forests and here in the city.

Everyone is fueled up and ready to go.

Coco decides it's time for another test

for the youngsters.

A shortcut home, which will mean their first road crossing.

[♪]

Collisions with cars are one of the biggest killers

of coati.

[horn honks]

[♪]

Fortunately, Coco has picked

a relatively quiet suburban road.

A good place to learn traffic safety

Some adults are downright blase about it.

Stopping to pick up roadside mangos

is playing with fire.

[horn honks]

[♪]

The adults have crossed much busier roads than this.

Thiago, on the other hand,

has never seen a car until today.

Traffic can come from either direction,

so they need to cross quickly.

But an extra-juicy mango is dangerously distracting

This is no time for a picnic.

Coco sounds the alert.

[♪]

Road crossing lesson one complete.

And then it is on to the next of today's major obstacles.

[♪]

A fence is easy for adults.

[♪]

They've made this trip hundreds of times.

[♪]

One lucky coati even finds a hole big enough

for him and his mango.

But further along the fence,

Thiago doesn't have it so easy.

Conquering this man-made mountain

will require some thought.

Each kitten tries its own approach.

Overhanging branches help this acrobat.

[♪]

Some attempt to squeeze through.

[♪]

Others take on the climb,

now using their double-jointed ankles

to good effect.

[♪]

Thiago isn't quite sure which route to take.

He starts to climb,

but then thinks he's found a shortcut.

Why go over when you can simply go through.

But he's misjudged the size of the hole

Push or pull, he is well and truly stuck.

Coco watches on.

Her teeth aren't strong enough to chew through metal.

Twenty minutes later, and he hasn't budged.

He's becoming exhausted,

and sundown is fast approaching.

Exposed to the elements,

he'd be lucky to survive the night.

And Thiago's situation

only gets worse.

A hungry tegu is patrolling

for roadside scraps.

The lizard couldn't normally catch a coati,

but a stuck Thiago is an easy target.

Thiago manages to summon

one last frantic burst of energy.

Finally, he's free.

One very lucky coati.

[♪]

Safely back with Coco,

Thiago's tail is not quite as high

as it was this morning.

The reunited family start to head home,

when suddenly,

the rainforest delivers one of its trademark downpours.

[♪]

Time to make a dash for the shelter of the forest.

But some need a helping hand.

Or rather, a mouth.

[♪]

As the shower starts to evolve into a storm,

the band makes it to their forest home.

[♪]

The canopy shields them from the rain,

but Thiago is already thoroughly soaked.

[♪]

He's struggling to get any grip on the really slippery branches.

After all the drama in the city, Thiago's day still isn't over.

While the rest of his siblings have already managed

to reach the top of the tree,

he's getting nowhere.

[♪]

Eventually, Mom comes to Thiago's rescue.

[♪]

And he's up.

Today has been a bit of a wakeup call

for the usually capable and confident Thiago.

But now, time to relax.

Even if he is soaked through.

The rain has set in,

and all of Campo Grande's wild residents

are in for a wet night.

Some are more happy about this than others.

[♪]

It takes days for the rain to pass.

[♪]

Though there are benefits to the wet weather.

The family now have plenty of fresh pools

to quench their morning thirst.

After a quick drink, Coco rallies her kittens.

[♪]

After holing up in the forest waiting out the rain,

she's eager to take them back into town.

Despite his close-call last time,

Thiago seems ready for this mission,

which will take him even further into the urban jungle.

But he's making sure to stick close to Mom.

Coco knows many prime feeding opportunities

deep in the city.

She leads the kittens on the safest path she can find

through the network of roads.

[♪]

She's on high alert,

but crossing roads is always risky.

Cars kill more coati in Campo Grande

than anything else.

Thiago and family make it safely into town,

where the busy roadsides

offer a bounty of human leftovers.

[siren blaring]

The expansion of Campo Grande and the associated trash

has made it all too convenient for the coatis

to develop a taste for these easy pickings.

Each time Coco moves them on, there are more roads to cross.

But the promise of even tastier snacks

is impossible to resist.

The city's residents are used to seeing

their wild neighbors

that now emerge from the forests

on the hunt for food

As they move through the streets,

Thiago's full of energy,

his former confidence now fully restored.

He's doing his best to keep pace with Coco,

despite his tiny legs.

But his mom's next target lies on the other side

of the city's busiest road,

the highway.

A direct crossing would mean certain death.

But clever Coco knows a safer route.

The underpass.

It's another life lesson for Thiago,

as he gradually picks up the rules of the road

from his resourceful mom.

And the rewards are worth it.

[♪]

Stocked up with the morning's litter pickings,

the adults are ready for a quick nap

among the trees

on this tiny, wooded traffic island.

Despite being surrounded by busy roads, this grassy patch

creates a haven of safety while they rest.

But there's not much peace to be had

with Thiago and the gang around.

[♪]

Taking advantage of Campo Grande's

urban environment

is crucial for Thiago's development.

Learning these secrets of the city will be vital

when Thiago doesn't have his mum

to lead the way.

[squawks]

As they move on yet again,

Thiago is constantly taking in his surroundings,

making his own mental map of the city.

And this suburban neighborhood looks familiar to him.

It seems Coco has brought them in a wide loop,

and they are heading for home.

But they'll be eating as they go.

Thiago is quickly learning that food is his main pastime.

Coco has a sweet tooth,

so she is on the lookout for some dessert.

Fallen berries from streetside trees

are washed down nicely with fresh water.

Although the humans around here tolerate wildlife,

people often come hand-in-hand with one of the coatis

most dangerous foes.

[dogs barking]

Dogs enjoy chasing anything small and furry,

and are a lethal threat

even to a full-size coati like Coco.

The band can easily avoid the dogs behind fences.

But Campo Grande's street dogs are another story.

[dogs barking]

And this one has picked up their scent.

[dogs barking]

Panicked, most of the band dive under the fence

and make for the treetops.

[♪]

But Coco, Thiago and his smallest brother

have been left behind.

They had wandered off looking for the mangoes

and they are caught on the wrong side of the fence.

[♪]

Alone and out in the open, they are easy targets.

Desperate to reunite with the band,

Coco calls out loudly.

[Coco squawks]

[♪]

The dog is moving closer.

She needs to get

to the other side of the fence quickly.

[♪]

But Thiago and his brother are frightened

by the nearby barking, so need encouragement.

[dog barking]

[dog continues barking]

[♪]

With the dog getting too close,

there is no time to make it to the rest of her family

on the other side of the fence.

Quick-thinking Coco

takes her sons up a nearby tree.

Just in the nick of time.

[dog barking]

Another near miss for Thiago.

They can now relax.

The dog can't reach them up here.

And he soon gets bored.

There are over 5,000 other coatis

in Campo Grande for him to terrorize.

[♪]

Finally, with the dog gone,

Coco takes Thiago and his brother

back under the fence

to be reunited with his siblings.

Thiago has been further initiated

into the dangers of city life.

Despite his mis-adventures,

so far, he's enjoyed life as a spoilt baby coati,

getting first dibs at dinner time.

and 24-hour attention from Coco

and the other members of the band.

But this way of life won't go on forever for Thiago.

Over the next year, he will learn all he can

from his mother Coco

to prepare himself to go it alone.

Now, over a year old,

baby Thiago has grown rapidly, into a healthy juvenile coati.

Always adventurous,

nowadays his self-confidence serves him well,

as increasingly, he spends time alone.

But he's thriving,

thanks to all the lessons he learned from Coco

in his first 12 months.

Thiago and his brothers

definitely aren't the babies of this band anymore

A whole new batch of kittens arrived on the scene last month.

Younger cousins mean Thiago's life is about change

even more drastically.

Just like when he was a baby,

all the adults are fully focused

on the new kittens.

[♪]

Thiago tags along on the daily hunts

beyond the fence for food,

but no longer gets to eat first.

In just the last few weeks,

he's gone from the top of the social ladder

to the bottom.

Not quite fully-grown,

Thiago still tries his luck sneaking up on his mom and aunt,

trying to take their food.

[squeaking]

But gets a sharp telling off.

The adults won't tolerate his presence for much longer.

Over the next few days,

Thiago is slowly getting the message,

and now exclusively dines alone.

But he's become a skilled food-finder.

Today, he's found a jambolan tree

with plenty of berries.

Thiago has more than doubled in size since he was born.

So, he's not as light on his feet.

It's a fine balancing act to get to the best berries.

[♪]

He's clearly learned how and where to find

a variety of food.

That will be an asset in his next phase

as an adult coati.

[♪]

He's outgrown his own band,

and is now being treated almost like an intruder

by the adults.

Even his own mom.

This rejection is harsh,

but it's the reality of coati society.

Thiago's mom and the other females

are the core of the group.

They only have one male as a full-time member.

While Thiago's sisters get to stay in the family,

he and his brothers must all find their own path.

But they aren't ready to go it alone.

Thiago's always been a strong leader.

And with his ability to track down food,

the exiled teenagers decide to stick with him,

and form a bachelor group.

Now bigger,

they use their combined size to become a formidable force

in Campo Grande.

Away from the kittens,

they are free to explore

and get the first pick of whatever they find.

It's the start of an exciting new adventure for Thiago.

Where he leads, the others follow.

Their inner-city hunting ground provides all they need.

Lots of places for a quick drink

and surprise treats around every corner.

[♪]

With Thiago leading the way,

things are on the up.

Literally.

Rooftops make for handy shortcuts

It's a good way of avoiding traffic, people

and especially dogs

Now they are bigger,

Thiago takes the gang to one of Campo Grande's

most sought-after eateries.

For coati, anyway.

Wheelie bins.

They are packed with fresh trash brimming with leftovers.

Thiago gets stuck in, head first.

When they were smaller, the coati would have been unable

to climb out of the massive bins.

Now, it's no problem,

and there's plenty for the bachelors

to rifle through.

And all the buildings have them.

A new foraging ground for this new band of coati.

As Thiago carves his own path,

rifling through trash will just be a part of his life,

living alongside humans.

[♪]

For better or worse, Thiago will always make the most

of any opportunity that arises.

[♪]

Even heading in for a tourist photo

in return for a tasty snack.

It's not the usual way for coatis to find food,

but it has become part of their survival

here in Campo Grande.

He's adapting well to bachelor life.

And he can stay out in the city for as long as he likes.

[♪]

He may no longer have the comfort of his mom Coco,

but he has his brothers for now.

[♪]

Thiago was born in the wild,

but like all the coati near Campo Grande,

he must continue to find a balance

between his wild and urban homes.

This is the only way coati can continue to thrive

as the city expands.

[♪]

Thanks to the skills he's learnt, he's ready.

[♪]

It's been an eventful first year for Thiago.

Since he left the safety of his nest,

he's had to learn on the job.

[♪]

Conquering his wild and city homes

has been a baptism of fire.

[car horns honking]

But every lesson learned, even if it was the hard way,

will stand him in good stead

[♪]

He knows how to provide for himself

and what to avoid in Campo Grande.

A fine leader,

Thiago still has his band of brothers.

But when he reaches sexual maturity,

he'll strike out alone.

When the time is right,

he'll mate and ensure there will be plenty more

little Thiago's on the streets of Campo Grande

for years to come.