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Life in the wild is tough.
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Animals sometimes have to pull out
all the stops to survive.
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00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,440
And while some play by the rules,
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others, it seems,
are more than happy to break them.
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The natural world is full of animals
who are up to no good.
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They're stealing.
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Vandalising.
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Fighting.
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And even kidnapping.
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But is this really as appalling
as it looks?
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I'm travelling the planet
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to witness some of
these animal antics first-hand...
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They are very cheeky, very cheeky.
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..meeting the experts making
groundbreaking new discoveries...
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That's mad!
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..and finding out for myself
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if what appears to be bad behaviour
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may just be the secret
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to their success.
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I'm really beginning to
love these guys.
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That's just clever and funny.
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But we need our camera back.
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Next on my journey, I'm discovering
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just how far some creatures will go
to find food.
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I'm going to introduce you
to the extraordinary animals
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who will stop at nothing
to get a good meal.
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Every day, animals face
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one of life's greatest challenges.
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Finding food.
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But getting your share is never easy.
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On one of Australia's
most remote outposts,
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one animal's search for sustenance
is causing trouble for the locals.
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MAN: When I first arrived
at the island,
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in the middle of the night,
you'd hear knocks and scratches,
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and some people think
the place is haunted.
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MAN: I just left my bag
on the ground,
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like you normally would
anywhere else.
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Go for a walk that way,
you come back. "Where's my bag?"
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He's gotten it open.
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There's a camera
that's now over there
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and he's got my drink bottle.
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He's clawing at the lid,
just trying to get in.
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I've come to meet the creature
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behind this crime wave.
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This magnificent animal
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is the coconut crab,
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the world's largest land crab.
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It's been known to grow as long
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as half a metre in length
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and can be as heavy as four kilos.
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I mean, just look at it.
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These giants are equipped
with formidable armour
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and claws powerful enough
to tear open a coconut.
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Here on Christmas Island,
there are over a million of them.
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That's 500 crabs for every human.
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And they all need to eat.
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So, every opportunity is fair game.
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These crabs are doing something
a little bit unexpected.
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They've turned to a life of crime.
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In fact, to the locals here,
they're known as robber crabs.
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We'd find the crabs
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were stealing our lunch
every time we left it alone.
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They can get into cool-boxes,
they can cut through plastic,
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they can cut through metal.
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We were down at Dolly Beach
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and we were opening some coconuts
with a machete.
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We just put the machete down
for a second, walked away,
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and when we came back,
the robber crab
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was walking off with the machete.
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These daring thieves are taking
everything that isn't nailed down.
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Stories abound
all over Christmas Island
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of coconut crabs
stealing non-food items.
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They pinch shoes off porches,
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shiny things like cutlery.
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There's even a story
of a coconut crab
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taking a gun off a military guard.
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But why would crabs nick things
they can't even eat?
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I want to see
what they get up to for myself,
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so I'm setting a trap
using some everyday objects
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and motion-sensor cameras
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to catch the crabs in the act.
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OK.
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The next morning,
I return with Max Orchard,
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an expert in coconut crab behaviour,
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to look over what we filmed.
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OK, let's have a look...
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..at what these coconut crabs
have been up to.
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MAX: Mm hmm.
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LIZ: Oh!
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MAX: Uh-huh.
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First of all, the antennae
make an appearance.
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Flip-flop, bosh!
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Cheeky crab. He's having that.
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The footage reveals
that up to 10 different crabs
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investigated the items.
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It was busy here last night,
wasn't it?
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Max...Ma...! Look at this!
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That's... Wow.
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Taking the camera.
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And he has been so obliging
by lighting himself,
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triggering the camera.
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Oh, that's just brilliant to see.
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Max, what is it all about?
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00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,480
Why would they be so interested in
non-food items?
105
00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,640
They come across things
that they don't know,
106
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but they check them out -
they may be able to eat them.
107
00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,760
And is it always about food?
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It's the driving force.
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If things are out in the open,
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they like to grab them
and then cart off.
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00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,360
And if they are edible, chew them,
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without other crabs
trying to steal them from them.
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Somewhere out here, there's a crab
sitting on my camera.
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With so many crabs on the island,
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the competition for food is intense,
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which means
they'll check out anything new
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to see if they can eat it.
118
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Well, I can see a crab in there
and I can see the flip flop.
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And because they take these items
somewhere safe to investigate them,
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it looks, to us, like theft.
121
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(GASPS) Right, OK, look, that's...
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..that's a piece
of the camera there, look.
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I'm really beginning
to love these guys.
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That's just clever and funny.
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But we need our camera back.
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It's not that funny, then.
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But there is one thing
this doesn't explain.
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Coconut crabs seem to show up
from nowhere
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as soon as a new item appears.
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A somewhat surprising skill
for a crustacean.
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So, how does a crab hone in
so superbly well
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on the items it's interested in?
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Max has been helping scientists
to find the answer.
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00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,720
And it's all down to one of
their incredible sensors.
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To show me, he's positioned one of
their favourite foods, a coconut,
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off the ground,
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alongside some empty control poles.
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With the raised bait harder to see,
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do the crabs need to rely on
something other than sight?
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It's only a matter of minutes
before they appear.
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00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,720
Now, I can see that
it's waving its antennae around.
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What's going on there.
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The ones that you can see waving
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are actually
their equivalent of our nose.
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They pick up the scent in the air
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and then it's transmitted
to the brain.
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- So, he's having a good smell.
- He is.
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He's getting a whiff of that coconut.
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As they evolved to live on land,
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these crabs developed
an incredibly effective way
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of detecting smells in the air,
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as opposed to underwater.
153
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The tips of their inner antennae
are covered with thin hairs
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detecting chemicals
from any item with a scent.
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The robber crabs can pick up
distinct aromas
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from over 150 metres away...
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That far?
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..and actually change course
in their wanderings through the bush
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to track down the source
of those smells.
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They can even detect residual scent.
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Anything that's previously come
into contact with the food
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and even other smells like sweat
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can grab their attention.
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Which is why they seem to appear
out of nowhere for any object.
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And why they make light work
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of honing in
on their favourite food.
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He's making a beeline
for the coconut.
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He is.
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Come on, you can do it.
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Look at him. He's...he's hanging
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almost backwards up the pole,
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like an acrobat - I love it.
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To get their claws on what they want,
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coconut crabs have become
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nimble climbers, too.
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Oh, my goodness.
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Here he goes.
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He's not gonna drop it.
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Look at how he hangs on.
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- He didn't drop it.
- Perfection.
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I can't believe he just did that.
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- That's amazing.
- They're real survivors.
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Here on Christmas Island, you know,
they're...they're the kingpins.
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They rule the place.
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For robber crabs to evolve
such an astounding set of skills
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is quite remarkable.
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It's what's earned them their name
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and the reputation as the island's
resident kleptomaniacs.
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A highly developed sense of smell,
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great strength and dexterity,
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combined with intense curiosity,
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has led to what could be described
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as a blatant disregard
for personal property.
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And, yet, these traits are exactly
what make the coconut crab
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so successful out here.
196
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But it's not just these crabs
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who turn to crime to find food.
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Around the world, animal thieves
are wreaking havoc.
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Breaking and entering.
200
00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,480
Shoplifting.
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And even mugging.
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For some animals,
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stealing has become a way of life.
204
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Frigate birds can get
up to 40% of their food
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by carrying out mid-air shakedowns
on their neighbours.
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00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,000
And this gang of baboons
thrive on the spoils
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from the steady stream of people
at a border crossing in Zimbabwe.
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00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,360
In fact, when food
is hard to come by,
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finding new ways to get what you need
can be essential for survival.
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The dizzying heights
of the Rocky Mountains.
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Home to an incorrigible crook...
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..the pika -
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a rather adorable relative
of the rabbit.
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It's August
and summer is in full bloom.
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(SHRIEKS)
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00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,760
But the days of plenty
won't be here for long.
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00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,280
These slopes are only free from snow
for 10 weeks a year
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00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,840
When winter comes, this pika will be
trapped in its burrow.
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To survive,
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00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,320
it needs to stock up the larder.
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But while home is up here,
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the food is all the way down there.
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Every summer,
pika must collect enough plants
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00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:03,600
to see them through
the tough times to come.
225
00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,080
Multiple trips are inevitable.
226
00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,400
And anyone living high up
on the slopes,
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00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,080
like this female,
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00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:19,520
has their work cut out for them.
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00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:27,120
She may make over 10,000 trips
in just one season.
230
00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:30,560
And the grand result
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00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:32,120
of this frenetic activity...
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00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,520
..is a haystack.
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These stockpiles of food
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00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,480
can weigh up to 28 kilograms.
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00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:46,200
That's more than 180 times
a pika's own body weight.
236
00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,040
It's exhausting work.
237
00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,480
Perhaps there's another way.
238
00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:56,600
An easier way.
239
00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:00,800
Just down the slope,
240
00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:02,640
another pika is getting started
241
00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:04,480
on his haystack,
242
00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:07,920
But he's being watched.
243
00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,640
It's daylight robbery.
244
00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:23,680
But this is not just
reckless behaviour.
245
00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,640
By taking food
that's so much closer to home,
246
00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,680
our pika is saving
precious time and energy.
247
00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:34,240
It's so tempting,
248
00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:36,680
she may well become
a repeat offender.
249
00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,040
But it's a risky business.
250
00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:41,360
(SHRIEKING)
251
00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,040
Caught red-handed.
252
00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,280
Every bandit
needs a good getaway route.
253
00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:05,920
And it's worked.
254
00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,040
But unfortunately,
255
00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:10,800
she's not the only thief
on the mountain.
256
00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,960
Time to get back to work.
257
00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,680
Being skilled enough
to successfully steal food
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00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,720
can mean the difference
between life and death.
259
00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,520
And one animal
has become particularly renowned
260
00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:36,600
for its light-fingered ways.
261
00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,080
After humans, rhesus macaques
262
00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,520
are the most widespread primates
on our planet.
263
00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:54,240
Across mainland Asia,
they thrive in urban environments...
264
00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,400
..where mouth-watering market food
is a constant temptation.
265
00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,720
These macaques
time their robberies perfectly,
266
00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,000
using the element of surprise
267
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,760
and making a swift exit.
268
00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,640
But what's the secret
to their expert thievery?
269
00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,040
It's all down to
the decisions they make
270
00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,720
before carrying out the crime.
271
00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,480
If I was going to try and nick
this plate of cookies,
272
00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,080
my first thought
would most likely be about
273
00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,040
avoiding getting caught.
274
00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:48,920
It might seem obvious,
275
00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:51,000
but being able to think about
the consequences
276
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,600
of being seen by someone
277
00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,960
and what their intentions might be
278
00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,960
is a complex task
for the brain to perform.
279
00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:02,400
In fact, it was once thought to be
a uniquely human capacity.
280
00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,080
But science is changing all that.
281
00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:13,760
I'm meeting Laurie Santos,
282
00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,600
who has studied this troupe
of rhesus macaques for over a decade.
283
00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:23,240
Based on her experience
of these pilfering primates,
284
00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:28,720
she's devised a test to find out
what makes them so good at stealing.
285
00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,960
We have been duped by monkeys
on this island a lot.
286
00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:32,520
Every time we place our lunch down
287
00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:33,920
and stop paying attention
for something,
288
00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:35,960
we look back and we realise
it's gone.
289
00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,680
They must be cueing in to
what we can see and what we can't.
290
00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,480
Otherwise, they wouldn't be
such great thieves.
291
00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:44,040
So, Laurie, how exactly is this test
going to play out?
292
00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,840
What we're going to do is try to see
if we can find a monkey
293
00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,760
- who's interested in
stealing from us.
- OK.
294
00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,560
We're going to use some
really delicious grapes,
295
00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,720
and I and one of
my research assistants
296
00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:55,800
are going to approach monkeys
with these grapes.
297
00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,720
We're gonna put it on
a little foam platform
298
00:17:57,720 --> 00:17:59,160
and place it on the ground,
299
00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:00,960
and one of us is going to
turn around.
300
00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,160
And the question is,
does the monkey understand
301
00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,480
that the best person to steal from
is the person who can't see?
302
00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,360
For the test to work, we need to get
303
00:18:10,360 --> 00:18:14,000
one macaque's undivided attention.
304
00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,680
We're just trying to find some monkey
305
00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:17,160
who's maybe by himself.
306
00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,320
There's is a guy over there
we might be able to try.
307
00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:25,080
The lure of the grape
eventually works on this male.
308
00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:28,560
OK, ready?
309
00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,160
- Step.
- Here we go.
310
00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:32,360
Show.
311
00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,640
Down, up.
312
00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:38,320
One turns around.
313
00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:41,840
I love the way it looks around
314
00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,480
to check out who else
in the hierarchy is around
315
00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,240
that might fight him off.
316
00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,080
Which one is it going to go for?
317
00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:53,600
Boom!
318
00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,160
Takes the one from the researcher
that's turned away.
319
00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:02,800
Our macaque makes a beeline
for the unguarded grape.
320
00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,640
And this happens
in 9 out of 10 tests.
321
00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:10,760
That was really fascinating to watch.
322
00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:12,760
What was going on
in that macaque's brain
323
00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:15,680
as he was figuring out
which grape to go for.
324
00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,520
Yeah, I mean, my guess is the first
thing that's going on in his head
325
00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,120
is just, like, "Grape, grape!"
326
00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:22,880
I mean, he's...the guy who's
out there on that little stretch
327
00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:24,720
is probably
a really low-ranking monkey.
328
00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:26,920
He hasn't had a big meal in a while.
He wants that grape.
329
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,720
But the neat thing is he doesn't
just see the grape and run for it.
330
00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:31,280
He's socially processing.
331
00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,200
He's like,
"Is it OK for me to take it?"
332
00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,320
And the first one,
the one where the person's looking,
333
00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,480
he pauses and he's like, "I can't.
334
00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,000
"This person is really big,"
you know? "It's probably their grape.
335
00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,000
"They're going to stop me
if I try to do this."
336
00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,640
But the person who's looking away,
the monkey's like,
337
00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,600
"Hmm, I think...I think the coast
is clear for this one."
338
00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,640
So this is not just
about understanding
339
00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,880
where that human's eye gaze is going.
340
00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:54,680
It's...it's more complex than that.
341
00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,200
That's exactly right.
342
00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,040
What we're showing is that primates
are taking into account
343
00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:00,960
what another person sees,
344
00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:02,880
and what that person knows
345
00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,640
before they make these decisions.
346
00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,440
This research shows
that rhesus macaques
347
00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,280
are clever enough to imagine
348
00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:15,920
what the individual they're
stealing from might be thinking -
349
00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,040
what's known as theory of mind.
350
00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:20,920
When you live in a large group
351
00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:22,360
of intelligent animals,
352
00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:27,240
being able to watch and interpret
another's behaviour can be crucial.
353
00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,200
And if you can learn how to target
the right monkey to steal from,
354
00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:33,680
it pays off.
355
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,440
So, what we perceive
as naughty behaviour -
356
00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:39,000
the ability for macaques
357
00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:42,160
to basically steal everything
and anything, given the chance -
358
00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,760
is, in fact, testament to just
how intelligent these macaques are.
359
00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:47,640
Yeah, they're using
their understanding
360
00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,760
of this person's
different perspective
361
00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:52,040
to steal really effectively.
362
00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,160
Laurie believes
that theory of mind in primates
363
00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,360
may have evolved in order for them
to cheat, deceive
364
00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:03,200
and steal from each other.
365
00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,040
And this ability can give them
the upper hand with us, too...
366
00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:15,400
..allowing them to take advantage
whenever the coast is clear.
367
00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:28,280
While stealing has proved
highly successful for many,
368
00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:32,520
for others, the challenge
to find food is so great,
369
00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:37,120
they must turn to even more
sophisticated strategies.
370
00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:38,720
When you're a predator,
371
00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,200
you have to actively seek out
and catch your prey.
372
00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:46,720
But the game between the hunter
and the hunted is never easy.
373
00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,080
From evasive manoeuvres...
374
00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,520
..to chemical weapons...
375
00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,080
..and frightening displays...
376
00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:10,640
..animals everywhere have developed
incredible ways to avoid being eaten.
377
00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,680
And that's driven predators to evolve
378
00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:16,880
highly sophisticated
and even, at times, devious tactics.
379
00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:21,840
Even one of the world's
most notorious hunters
380
00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:26,120
has to use every tool at its disposal
to get a meal.
381
00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:34,800
The tiger.
382
00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,240
And one of its main prey,
a chital deer.
383
00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:48,920
These deer have excellent hearing,
a finely tuned sense of smell
384
00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,120
and are incredibly fleet of foot.
385
00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:01,320
The tiger needs to get close enough
to ambush its prey.
386
00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:05,000
Not easy for a 200-kilo cat.
387
00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:10,880
It has to be a master of subterfuge.
388
00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:18,200
Large paws allow the tiger
to move almost silently.
389
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,680
Approaching downwind
helps it to evade detection.
390
00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,640
And its unmistakable stripes
conceal its outline
391
00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,880
in the shadows of the forest.
392
00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,560
But it turns out the tigers
are using a far more evasive ploy
393
00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:38,560
to dupe their prey.
394
00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,680
And it's all to do with
that eye-catching orange coat.
395
00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,520
Scientists John Fennell
and Laszlo Talas
396
00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:55,480
from Bristol University's
Camouflage Lab
397
00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:58,000
are exploring how the tiger's colour
398
00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,280
could actually be giving it
yet another advantage.
399
00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:07,520
To understand how, I need to see
the world through the eyes of a deer,
400
00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:12,600
and this fetching pair of glasses
will allow me to do just that.
401
00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,960
Most humans have trichromatic vision,
402
00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:21,040
meaning we have three different
colour receptors in our retina,
403
00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,760
enabling us to see the world
in full colour.
404
00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:27,560
But deer are dichromats.
405
00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,120
Their colour vision
comes from just two colour receptors,
406
00:24:31,120 --> 00:24:34,000
so they can only see
greens and blues.
407
00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:39,960
A filter in the glasses blocks
any red light from reaching my eyes
408
00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,520
to let me see the world like a deer.
409
00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,400
Right, John, so how is this
going to work?
410
00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,720
We're going to show you
a series of images
411
00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,560
and they all contain
a tiger in them somewhere.
412
00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,640
All we want you to do
is press a key on the keyboard
413
00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,120
as soon as you see the tiger.
414
00:24:57,120 --> 00:24:59,560
Right. So, this is all...
this is time-dependent.
415
00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:01,800
This is about how quickly
I can spot the tiger.
416
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,320
- It is, yes.
- OK.
417
00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:05,080
Are they really tricky?
418
00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,240
Uh, that's to be seen.
419
00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,160
Alright. I'm ready, John.
420
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,360
I'm quite nervous. I think I need
more coffee just so I'm sharper.
421
00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:16,240
Okey-dokey.
422
00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:19,440
The big screen
fills my field of vision.
423
00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,800
What would take me less than
a second to spot normally...
424
00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:24,160
What?!
425
00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:25,760
There isn't one in here.
426
00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,600
..now become
significantly more difficult.
427
00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:31,920
I can't tell whether
that's the tiger there at all.
428
00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:33,400
No, it's not.
429
00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:35,320
Ahhh!
430
00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:36,960
Where is it? Where is it?
431
00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:38,520
Where is it? Is this...? Ooh!
432
00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:43,600
It's behind you!
433
00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,400
Seeing the world
through the eyes of a deer...
434
00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:48,000
Are some of these tricks?
435
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,680
There isn't a tiger here.
436
00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:53,080
..results in the tiger
becoming very hard to pick out.
437
00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:54,280
Ooh!
438
00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,160
Sometimes when they're closer,
they're harder to spot.
439
00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:57,440
Isn't that weird?
440
00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:01,040
If I'm a deer. I'm dead.
441
00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:08,720
That was surprisingly more difficult
than...than I imagined.
442
00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:13,560
The tiger was very big and close up,
and I missed it on a few occasions.
443
00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:14,880
Yes, you did.
444
00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,040
You, overall, were about
half the speed you would have been
445
00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,080
if you'd not been
wearing the dichromat glasses.
446
00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:24,360
So, essentially, what this is saying
is that if a deer was trichromatic,
447
00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:26,320
it could spot tigers twice as fast.
448
00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:27,960
Twice as quickly as you did.
449
00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,240
That would be the difference between
a kill and not a kill,
450
00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:31,720
if you're a tiger.
451
00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:39,080
Through our eyes,
the tiger looks like this.
452
00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,640
But through the eyes of a deer,
it looks very different.
453
00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:48,960
The colour orange
now blends into the background.
454
00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:56,920
This new research reveals
455
00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:01,280
that tigers are able to get
up to seven metres closer to the deer
456
00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:03,520
without being spotted.
457
00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,040
And that can make
all the difference.
458
00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:12,400
So, why are tigers
not just green, then?
459
00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,520
For tigers to be green would require
460
00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:19,280
a very big difference in their
physiology, their biochemistry.
461
00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,320
- There are no green mammals.
- There are no green mammals. No.
462
00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:24,680
And, obviously, it's not necessary
'cause orange looks green anyway.
463
00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,080
It doesn't need to go green.
464
00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,920
It doesn't need to go green
because to the deer, to the prey...
465
00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:30,600
- It's green.
- ..it is green.
466
00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,200
The stunning orange coat of the tiger
467
00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,160
acts as an excellent
visual deception -
468
00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:40,320
yet another
perfectly honed capability
469
00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,240
that makes this predator
the king of the forest.
470
00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,920
We've been studying tigers
for decades
471
00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:50,080
and, yet, one of the most
fundamental and obvious questions
472
00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:51,800
about their camouflage
473
00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,360
is only beginning to be
properly addressed.
474
00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:57,000
It's what their prey perceives
that counts,
475
00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:58,840
and that's driven the evolution of
476
00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,240
a highly effective means
of concealment.
477
00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,160
But, of course, tigers
are not the only predators
478
00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,280
to have evolved
formidable adaptations
479
00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:16,680
in order to stay one step ahead
of their prey.
480
00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:23,400
The panther chameleon of Madagascar.
481
00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:28,840
It harbours a concealed weapon
482
00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,160
that packs a powerful punch.
483
00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:40,800
Its tongue shoots out at a speed
of up to five metres a second -
484
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:44,240
so fast its prey
rarely see it coming.
485
00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,480
In Australia's Great Barrier Reef,
486
00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:54,040
this cone snail
is one cunning mollusc.
487
00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:57,680
The fish it hunts are fast.
488
00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,080
So, it waits until they're asleep.
489
00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:06,440
Sneaking up, it releases
an invisible chemical weapon.
490
00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:11,280
Once paralysed,
the fish are eaten alive.
491
00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:20,320
But perhaps one of the ocean's
most aggressive predators
492
00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,200
is the thresher shark.
493
00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:27,800
Whipping its tail at speeds
of up to 50 miles an hour,
494
00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,680
it beats its fish
before it eats them.
495
00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:41,840
Being armed and dangerous
is a sure-fire way to catch prey.
496
00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:46,720
But other predators face
a very different problem.
497
00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:52,560
What do you do
if your prey can kill you?
498
00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,800
The tropical rainforests
of Queensland.
499
00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:05,920
Home to a hunter who's diminutive
but deadly.
500
00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:09,760
The jumping spider.
501
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,320
Rather than spinning a web,
502
00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:18,080
this predator uses stealth
to catch its prey.
503
00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:23,640
But the food it most desires
504
00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:25,560
seems out of reach.
505
00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:32,520
An ants' nest,
full of delicious larvae.
506
00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:39,760
The problem is they're guarded
507
00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:41,800
by a vicious army of adults.
508
00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:49,320
These green tree ants
dominate the treetops.
509
00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:57,280
Each colony can contain
as many as half a million workers.
510
00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,160
They use a chemical signal or code
511
00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:02,000
to identify each other.
512
00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:06,720
At the first sign of an intruder
who smells unfamiliar,
513
00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:10,000
they're hard-wired
to retaliate with violence.
514
00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:14,400
Armed with formidable jaws,
515
00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:18,040
the ants could kill
our jumping spider with ease.
516
00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:25,440
Getting hold of the ant larvae
seems like an impossible mission.
517
00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:28,000
But these spiders
518
00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,200
have evolved some remarkable tricks
519
00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,440
to get to much-needed food sources.
520
00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:36,600
In fact, it's thought that about
300 species of spiders
521
00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:38,240
can mimic ants -
522
00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,280
a particularly cunning capability
523
00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:42,480
known as myrmecomorphy.
524
00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:45,960
Predators all over the world
525
00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:49,760
use the element of disguise
to dupe their food.
526
00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:53,800
By pretending to be
a harmless branch,
527
00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:57,840
this African vine snake tricks its
prey into thinking they're safe...
528
00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:01,480
..when they could be
about to get eaten.
529
00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:06,720
In Hawaii, a fly is in for a shock...
530
00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,840
..from a carnivorous caterpillar
in a leafy costume.
531
00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,560
And while it may look just
like an alluring flower,
532
00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,920
this orchid mantis
is a stealthy assassin.
533
00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:29,680
But compared to
these exceptional masquerades,
534
00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:33,440
our spider's disguise is...
well, a little rubbish.
535
00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:37,360
Its colour is a good match.
536
00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:40,760
It has a decidedly un-spider-like nip
537
00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:42,000
at the waist,
538
00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:43,360
just like an ant.
539
00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:45,040
But surely, no-one
540
00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:48,360
would mistake one for the other.
541
00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:53,360
Nevertheless, it heads for the nest.
542
00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:00,160
Will it get away with it?
543
00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:34,280
Mission accomplished,
544
00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,840
and right under the ants' radar.
545
00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,960
But it wasn't its appearance
that did the trick.
546
00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:51,160
It's mastered
a far more complex impersonation.
547
00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:02,720
Our spider carries with it
the ants' chemical code.
548
00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:06,600
Like all of its kind,
549
00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,880
it was born in a green ant nest.
550
00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,320
Its mother laid her eggs there.
551
00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:17,560
It fed on ant larvae from birth
552
00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:19,200
and developed the ability
553
00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:21,240
to smell just like them.
554
00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:27,640
Now that it's essentially
hacked into their security,
555
00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:30,480
it can rob the nest
whenever it likes.
556
00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:40,600
Using a chemical disguise,
557
00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,160
a spider can help itself to a meal
558
00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:46,520
without getting attacked
by its very aggressive prey.
559
00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:48,280
That's incredibly impressive
560
00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:50,960
for a creature most of us
wouldn't give a second thought to.
561
00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:52,440
I love it.
562
00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:56,680
Tricking prey is ingenious behaviour.
563
00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:05,440
It takes creativity
to get the food you need.
564
00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:10,840
Some animals will even work
with another species to do it.
565
00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:15,040
These arrangements
should be mutually beneficial.
566
00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:18,920
One species gets the food...
567
00:35:20,720 --> 00:35:23,720
..and the other gets a service
in return.
568
00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:28,560
But while it works well
for the agama lizard and the lion...
569
00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:33,720
..the hunger game
can be more ruthless.
570
00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:47,840
This pygmy falcon
571
00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:49,800
is about to become a father.
572
00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:57,080
Like all parents,
573
00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:59,240
he and his mate need to provide
574
00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:00,920
for their new arrivals.
575
00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:07,520
While he's just 20 centimetres tall,
the size of a budgie...
576
00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,240
..this bird of prey
is a skilful hunter.
577
00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:25,560
But his next concern is to provide
a home for the family.
578
00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,560
And nest-building is not his forte.
579
00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:35,240
Fortunately,
here in the southern Kalahari,
580
00:36:35,240 --> 00:36:39,640
our pygmy falcons have some master
nest-builders on their doorstep.
581
00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:48,280
A colony of insect-eating
social weavers.
582
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:51,320
And this is where they live.
583
00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:56,000
A highly sought-after property
584
00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:58,360
of 100 individual homes,
585
00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:02,960
The biggest avian construction
in the world.
586
00:37:04,240 --> 00:37:08,120
Expertly maintained
by the skilful weavers.
587
00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:14,840
It's the perfect residence...
588
00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:17,000
..for our falcons.
589
00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:29,000
So, they've moved in,
590
00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:32,200
kicking out the current occupants
in the process
591
00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:36,560
For the weavers,
this is a disaster.
592
00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:39,240
Not only have one pair
lost their home -
593
00:37:39,240 --> 00:37:43,360
now the others have a predator
living on their doorstep.
594
00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:49,280
But the falcons are not quite
the villainous neighbours
595
00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:51,000
they might seem.
596
00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:56,560
They make the weavers an offer
they simply can't refuse.
597
00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:00,160
Protection.
598
00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,000
These nests are regularly plagued
599
00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,240
by unwelcome visitors...
600
00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:15,600
..like mongoose...
601
00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:19,200
..and hungry cobras.
602
00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:25,160
Cue security.
603
00:38:42,240 --> 00:38:46,320
The weavers' residence now has
its own live-in protection.
604
00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:53,000
It seems like a good arrangement,
605
00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,760
but the pygmy falcon is a predator.
606
00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:16,760
It's not long before
the weavers and falcons
607
00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:18,920
all have new mouths to feed.
608
00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:25,560
The new falcon chicks need to eat
609
00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:29,520
nearly half their body weight
in food daily.
610
00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:33,720
And as the dry season
reaches its peak,
611
00:39:33,720 --> 00:39:37,000
the adults have to work harder
to find enough to feed them.
612
00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:45,480
What they need is something easy.
613
00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:49,040
Something close to home.
614
00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:24,000
A weaver chick.
615
00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:32,560
To eat the chicks the falcons
are supposed to be protecting
616
00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:35,120
seems like a shocking betrayal.
617
00:40:37,040 --> 00:40:40,240
But the falcons must tread
a fine line.
618
00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:43,640
If they take too many chicks,
619
00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:45,960
the weavers might desert
the colony...
620
00:40:47,560 --> 00:40:51,720
..leaving a huge, vacant home,
with no food.
621
00:40:55,560 --> 00:40:58,560
But this pair of falcons
have played it just right.
622
00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,680
The falcons have fledged two chicks.
623
00:41:21,640 --> 00:41:23,720
And despite their losses,
624
00:41:23,720 --> 00:41:26,080
the weavers are thriving, too.
625
00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:38,640
By providing protection,
whilst not being too greedy,
626
00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:41,720
the pygmy falcons
have found a perfect short cut
627
00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:43,680
to feeding their family.
628
00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:52,920
While the pygmy falcon at least
give something back in return,
629
00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:55,600
on the opposite side of the world,
630
00:41:55,600 --> 00:41:57,600
another bird has found a way
631
00:41:57,600 --> 00:42:00,360
to violate one of
the most longstanding arrangements
632
00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:02,120
on the planet.
633
00:42:04,360 --> 00:42:06,640
The cloud forests of Ecuador.
634
00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:11,920
Home to over 130 different species
635
00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:13,360
of hummingbird...
636
00:42:14,960 --> 00:42:17,120
..including the wedge-bill.
637
00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:22,240
But behind these enchanting looks
638
00:42:22,240 --> 00:42:26,000
lies one of the most criminal
behaviours in the rainforest.
639
00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:30,000
To get its food, this little bird
640
00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:32,240
does something truly outrageous.
641
00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:43,520
Hummingbirds are, quite simply,
mesmerising creatures,
642
00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:45,320
capable of spectacular feats
643
00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:46,960
of aerobatics.
644
00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:48,560
Their wings can beat
645
00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:50,840
up to 80 times per second,
646
00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:53,040
allowing them to break and turn
647
00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:54,800
and hover in mid-air.
648
00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:58,280
But this impressive ability
does come at a price.
649
00:42:58,280 --> 00:42:59,840
It needs to be fuelled
650
00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:02,840
by high-energy food, and lots of it.
651
00:43:02,840 --> 00:43:04,680
The diminutive hummingbird
652
00:43:04,680 --> 00:43:07,160
is, in fact, a very big eater.
653
00:43:12,600 --> 00:43:16,040
Our wedge-bill
and all other hummingbirds
654
00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:20,560
have to eat more than twice
their body weight in food each day.
655
00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:24,760
They burn through calories so quickly
656
00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:27,920
that if they were the size
of an average human,
657
00:43:27,920 --> 00:43:31,720
they'd need two cans of fizzy drink
every minute to survive.
658
00:43:34,840 --> 00:43:37,600
But over millions of years
of evolution,
659
00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:40,280
they've struck up a bargain
with the surrounding plants
660
00:43:40,280 --> 00:43:41,720
to get what they need.
661
00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:45,880
The plants produce flowers
rich in nectar.
662
00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:49,400
In exchange, the hummingbirds
act as pollinators.
663
00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:51,800
Moving pollen between flowers,
664
00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:54,400
they enable the plants to reproduce.
665
00:43:54,400 --> 00:44:00,120
But each flower only has
a limited supply of nectar each day,
666
00:44:00,120 --> 00:44:03,840
which means the hummingbirds
must compete for it.
667
00:44:10,280 --> 00:44:12,720
Each species has a unique ploy
668
00:44:12,720 --> 00:44:14,360
to get their prize.
669
00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:19,880
The green violetear
is one pugnacious little bird.
670
00:44:19,880 --> 00:44:22,400
Engaging in aerial combat,
671
00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:23,880
it prevents all others
672
00:44:23,880 --> 00:44:26,000
from getting close to its patch.
673
00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:30,840
Th booted racket-tail
takes a different approach...
674
00:44:32,320 --> 00:44:34,040
..using agility and speed
675
00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:36,360
to outmanoeuvre the opposition.
676
00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:46,040
And the tiny,
purple-throated woodstar
677
00:44:46,040 --> 00:44:48,200
has a very clever trick.
678
00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:55,360
Most hummingbirds
are terrified of bees.
679
00:44:55,360 --> 00:44:57,200
Just one sting could be fatal.
680
00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:02,560
So, the wood star mimics
the sound of a bee with its wings,
681
00:45:02,560 --> 00:45:04,640
scaring other hummingbirds off
682
00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:06,680
just long enough to get the goods.
683
00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:12,280
Whilst these birds may be somewhat
brazen in their approach,
684
00:45:12,280 --> 00:45:15,680
they hold up their end of the bargain
with the flowers.
685
00:45:16,680 --> 00:45:20,280
Our wedge-bill, however,
has a far more rebellious plan.
686
00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:27,920
While the other hummingbirds
fight it out, it makes its move.
687
00:45:30,880 --> 00:45:33,560
The wedge-bill doesn't reach
inside the flower.
688
00:45:36,280 --> 00:45:38,240
It goes straight to the base
689
00:45:38,240 --> 00:45:41,480
and pierces a hole
where the nectar is stored...
690
00:45:42,880 --> 00:45:45,560
..tapping into the very source.
691
00:45:49,840 --> 00:45:52,240
It gets the food it needs,
692
00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:55,080
but it doesn't pollinate the plant.
693
00:46:00,720 --> 00:46:03,200
Our resourceful little wedge-bill
694
00:46:03,200 --> 00:46:05,080
has found a quick and effective way
695
00:46:05,080 --> 00:46:06,920
to get nectar from flowers.
696
00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:08,880
But if pollination
isn't taking place,
697
00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:10,960
effectively, it's robbing the nectar
698
00:46:10,960 --> 00:46:13,560
without carrying out its part
of the bargain -
699
00:46:13,560 --> 00:46:16,840
something that scientists call
'floral larceny'.
700
00:46:17,920 --> 00:46:20,480
By reneging on its deal
with the plants,
701
00:46:20,480 --> 00:46:24,240
the wedge-bill has outwitted
the competition
702
00:46:24,240 --> 00:46:28,080
and found an easy way
to access any nectar it chooses.
703
00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:40,200
Getting its fill of the bounty
without returning a favour
704
00:46:40,200 --> 00:46:41,840
is cheating,
705
00:46:41,840 --> 00:46:43,920
but finding a novel way to forage
706
00:46:43,920 --> 00:46:48,160
gives our wedge-bill a chance to
thrive in a very competitive world,
707
00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:51,760
and that just makes me admire
hummingbirds all the more.
708
00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:04,560
Animals will steal, trick
and cheat their way to a meal.
709
00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:09,640
But sometimes,
to get the food they need,
710
00:47:09,640 --> 00:47:12,680
brute force may be the only answer.
711
00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:23,880
With over 150 individuals,
712
00:47:23,880 --> 00:47:27,960
this is one of the largest
communities of chimps ever recorded.
713
00:47:30,520 --> 00:47:33,360
So, there's a huge pressure
to find food.
714
00:47:35,960 --> 00:47:38,560
Chimp family groups need to secure
715
00:47:38,560 --> 00:47:41,200
as many resources as possible,
716
00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:44,440
so they're always on the lookout
for new opportunities.
717
00:47:44,440 --> 00:47:47,800
Taking the lead from the alpha male,
they can carry out daring raids
718
00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:49,800
in their rivals' territory.
719
00:47:49,800 --> 00:47:52,880
But the question is,
is it a risk worth taking?
720
00:47:54,320 --> 00:47:58,480
The prize in this case
is a fig tree full of fruit.
721
00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:02,320
But there's another group
already in it.
722
00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:11,120
A patrol sets out into the forest.
723
00:48:12,240 --> 00:48:14,680
The chimps move with purpose...
724
00:48:16,880 --> 00:48:19,120
..and in silence.
725
00:48:27,880 --> 00:48:31,480
Signs of the rival group
confirm they're nearby.
726
00:48:33,920 --> 00:48:38,080
It takes an extraordinary amount
of skill to get so close
727
00:48:38,080 --> 00:48:39,720
without being detected,
728
00:48:39,720 --> 00:48:42,760
but that's only the first part of
this fascinating behaviour.
729
00:48:42,760 --> 00:48:45,120
So many chimps
gathered together like this
730
00:48:45,120 --> 00:48:47,600
represents a lot of muscle power,
731
00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:50,560
capable of carrying out
a full-on attack.
732
00:48:54,760 --> 00:48:57,360
The patrol edge forward.
733
00:49:02,280 --> 00:49:07,040
The way in which the chimps approach
is so deliberate, so coordinated,
734
00:49:07,040 --> 00:49:10,560
that some scientists liken it
to an act of warfare.
735
00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:14,320
(SHRIEKING)
736
00:49:14,320 --> 00:49:17,200
Loud calls
announce the start of the battle.
737
00:49:18,400 --> 00:49:22,040
The aim is to terrorise
and intimidate their rivals.
738
00:49:23,880 --> 00:49:25,760
This is a numbers game,
739
00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:28,720
and they need to show
they're a formidable group.
740
00:49:33,040 --> 00:49:35,080
They push out the opposition.
741
00:49:41,600 --> 00:49:44,000
In such a frenzied situation,
742
00:49:44,000 --> 00:49:46,240
it's all too easy to become a victim.
743
00:49:46,240 --> 00:49:48,960
(SHRIEKING CONTINUES)
744
00:49:53,320 --> 00:49:55,800
One female is brutally attacked.
745
00:49:57,720 --> 00:50:02,200
She escapes, but chimps can easily
be killed in fights like these.
746
00:50:09,800 --> 00:50:12,520
Resorting to violence has worked.
747
00:50:14,960 --> 00:50:18,800
And now they can feast on
the best fig tree in the area.
748
00:50:23,000 --> 00:50:26,200
To get the resources
they desperately need for the group,
749
00:50:26,200 --> 00:50:28,960
chimps must try
to expand their territory
750
00:50:28,960 --> 00:50:31,320
by any means possible.
751
00:50:31,320 --> 00:50:35,320
Mounting an all-out attack
is a massive risk.
752
00:50:35,320 --> 00:50:39,440
But if it means all the family get
to eat, it's a risk worth taking.
753
00:50:44,360 --> 00:50:46,640
Food is essential to survival,
754
00:50:46,640 --> 00:50:49,320
and it can be hard to come by.
755
00:50:50,320 --> 00:50:53,280
So, it's no wonder
it's resulted in so many...
756
00:50:53,280 --> 00:50:54,600
(SCREECHES)
757
00:50:54,600 --> 00:50:57,360
..seemingly underhand tactics.
758
00:50:58,400 --> 00:50:59,440
From theft...
759
00:51:02,360 --> 00:51:03,680
..to predatory tricks...
760
00:51:05,760 --> 00:51:07,440
..broken promises,
761
00:51:07,440 --> 00:51:10,000
and even brute force.
762
00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:15,360
The lengths animals will go to
to get a meal are simply spectacular.
763
00:51:15,360 --> 00:51:18,000
Finding food is a fundamental need,
764
00:51:18,000 --> 00:51:22,080
and it's driven the evolution of some
extraordinary survival strategies
765
00:51:22,080 --> 00:51:24,960
all across the animal kingdom.
766
00:51:24,960 --> 00:51:26,640
Look at that!
767
00:51:29,120 --> 00:51:31,800
Now, some species
will clearly stop at nothing,
768
00:51:31,800 --> 00:51:34,560
but what can be mistaken
as dishonest behaviours
769
00:51:34,560 --> 00:51:37,560
are, in fact, remarkable approaches
770
00:51:37,560 --> 00:51:41,600
to winning the source of food
that's up for grabs.
771
00:51:41,600 --> 00:51:43,240
And when you look at it that way,
772
00:51:43,240 --> 00:51:44,960
these behaviours are testament
773
00:51:44,960 --> 00:51:47,280
to the intelligence
and the resourcefulness
774
00:51:47,280 --> 00:51:49,360
of the animals all around us.
775
00:51:52,800 --> 00:51:57,480
Next time I meet nature survivors -
776
00:51:57,480 --> 00:51:58,800
the delinquents..
777
00:51:58,800 --> 00:52:00,520
They're breaking and entering.
778
00:52:01,760 --> 00:52:02,960
..deceivers...
779
00:52:04,480 --> 00:52:06,120
..and brutes,
780
00:52:06,120 --> 00:52:10,080
doing whatever it takes
to stay alive.
60965
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