72 Cutest Animals (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 12 - Origin of Cute - full transcript

NARRATOR:
Cute is in the eye of the beholder.

Revealing 72 of the world's cutest animals
is an eclectic list.

They're unique, possibly eccentric
with a touch of the unusual

and of course, totally adorable.

We explore a broad range
of the cutest animals across the world

and in the process, define just how cute

even the quirkiest of animals can be.

(ELEPHANT TRUMPETING)

Leaping into the arena first up

is a mini rascal who's big on socialising.

There's not many who can
still pull off a mohawk.



Unless you're a monkey of course,

and then it's all about that mane.

KERRY BEBBINGTON:
That tuft, it becomes quite large.

When they get excited or scared,

the tuft on their head actually
does stand right up like a mohawk.

NARRATOR:
The Cotton-top Tamarin,

appropriately named
for their punk-rocker look

and endless antics,

are tiny primates found
in North-western Columbia.

Inquisitive, cute

and always surprising.

BEBBINGTON: Because there's always
something different that they'll do.

They love me because
I bring them mealworms.

(CHUCKLING)
Which they do love



which is a favourite

and I love them because
their facial expressions are amazing.

Just the way they look at you,

they squeak and they squawk at each other

that know what's going on.

NARRATOR:
The Cotton-tops are very social primates,

always looking out for their family

and making sure everyone is in the loop.

So that's them from a bird,
that's flown over.

So that's actually, they're scared.

BEBBINGTON:
A bird is a major threat to them,

being as small as what they are...

That's why they need all of this sort of,

the brush and the bamboo,
this is how they'd hide.

In logs, under brush, through bamboo,

where things like birds can't get to.

So this is them now warning each other
that something's around.

NARRATOR:
Unfortunately birds aren't the only threat

for these little guys.

They are among the most
endangered primates in the world

due to habitat loss,

making Kerry's job super important.

BEBBINGTON:
We've bred a few through the years,

not as many as we would like.

This is actually a family unit here.

We have the father, who's Levi,

we have the mother who's Lilly

and we have the little girl, who's Lulu.

When you deal with so many primates
sometimes you've just got to

make it simple and they all
have to start with the same letter.

(CHUCKLES)

NARRATOR: Tamarins do an excellent job
of raising their families,

especially this group of three.

BEBBINGTON: So when they're born
they're round-about 30 grams...

Very, very small.

The father will help bring them up,
so he'll do a bit of the carrying

and then mother will have them
back to feed them.

NARRATOR: Being so loveable
makes looking after them easy

and it's not like
they're difficult to handle.

A typical day for these fellas

involves foraging, playing and resting.

I like to just come in and do this.

Feed them mealworms,
get up nice and close to them.

See as well that they're healthy
and that they look good.

They will play together in a family group

but they are more so sun-baskers,

jump through the bamboo
for a little while.

Really not as busy
as your common marmoset.

NARRATOR: Perhaps their shock
of white hair is more of a reflection

of their intelligence and wisdom
than it is for style.

But who says it can't be for both?

They are just a very laid-back monkey.

It's like they're a mature monkey
in a little body.

(LAUGHS)

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

NARRATOR: There is more to being cute
than just having a pretty face.

Some animals instantly make us smile

and while others may not be so attractive,

their quirkiness and relationship
with humans can be incredibly charming.

We explore the characteristics
that allows each animal

to claim the title of "cute".

Who will be the cutest?

In the end,
it's more than just good looks.

A pocket full of cuteness,

the Cotton-top Tamarin will bask
in the glory of number one, for now.

But keen to take that spot

is a creature whose reputation
is questionable

when it comes to fine dining.

BRETT MCKECHNIE: A lot of people think
being a zookeeper is glamorous.

It is great fun, don't get me wrong,

but if you're ever looking to get into it,
it's 5% fun and 95% poo.

You're not always picking it up,
you're also scraping it off your shoes

and picking it out
underneath your nails too.

NARRATOR:
Australian zookeeper, Brett McKechnie,

doesn't mind giving us a reality check

and one particular animal in his care

that is notorious
for adding to his dry-cleaning bill

is this little guy.

The cassowary.

Would you guys, look...

Do you know how much money
I spent on these?

MCKECHNIE: Whenever you pick one up
after they've got a full belly,

their instant reaction
is to drop their guts on you.

So you pick them up
and you point them away.

Never face one away from you
because you will wear it every time.

NARRATOR: Sage words of advice indeed,

but as generous as the business end
of the cassowary is,

this is a species that has
always taken recycling very seriously.

These youngsters will only eat
what their dad has eaten.

Literally.

Cassowaries don't process their food
really, really quickly

so a lot of it comes out in solid form.

By eating the food out of the poo,
they're not only getting the food

but also the bacteria
passed on from the dad

which is a really, really good boost
for immune system.

NARRATOR: "Yes, thank you
for dinner, Dad... That was lovely!"

Young cassowaries
are obviously easily pleased.

It's no wonder Brett has a soft spot
for their low maintenance character.

MCKECHNIE:
They're just full of character.

Ever since day one,
when they come out of the egg,

they find their feet,
they start moving around a little bit.

They get a bit of a taste
for blueberries and other fruits

and they just start eating,
more than you can imagine

and they're just real cheeky.

They're like little rascals.

NARRATOR:
A mischievous youngster perhaps,

but as an adult the cassowary
is fiercely devoted to family

and encountering a protective parent
can be a tad risky.

MCKECHNIE: They can jump up to about
one and a half metres in the air

and they stand nearly two metres tall

so you can be in real trouble
if they decide to turn against you.

Cassowaries and along with
the other flightless birds,

are the closest relatives
in the bird world to the dinosaurs.

They do have the same hip bone structure.

And these guys,
when they get a lot bigger

will develop a crest
on the top of their head,

quite like a dinosaur as well.

That's not used for defence but more so
used for running away from things.

So if they feel threatened

they will just put their head down
and run straight through the bushes.

NARRATOR: This unusual bird
with its unusual habits

has head-butted its way
into Brett's heart.

One cassowary in particular
has provided him

with one of the most satisfying moments
of his zoo keeping career.

Pulling little Woody here out of the egg,
raise him from, you know,

cool temperatures, not eating,

to have him grow up
and fit in with the rest

is the most rewarding part
of the job I've ever done.

It was something special
that I will never forget.

Hey, Wood...

NARRATOR:
The unusually delightful cassowary

certainly earns a few points
in the cute stakes,

but not enough to bump the mischievous
Cotton-top Tamarin out of the way.

However, slinking into the arena
in full stealth mode

is a rather regal contender
with an enviable robe.

(SNARLS)

DERMOT O'GORMAN: Tigers for me,
are the kings of the jungle.

I grew up fascinated
with stories about tigers.

And then when I've worked
in tiger conservation,

they've really lived up
to their expectations.

NARRATOR:
A first time encounter with a tiger

is a bit like a major world event.

You'll always remember
where you were when it happened.

The first time I saw a tiger in the wild,

it just appeared,
like a ghost out of the blue,

on the trail in front of us.

And she stood there looking
completely unafraid of us

and we were quite apprehensive about it.

And then she just walked into the jungle

and just blended in and disappeared.

About 30 seconds later

she appeared behind us
and gave us such a startle.

But it really was for me,

iconic of how the tiger is at one
with the jungle

and those stripes allow them to blend in
and disappear at will.

NARRATOR: Melting into the shadows

is something tigers are able to do
no matter where they call home.

There are subtle differences
across ten sub-species in all.

The Bengal tiger
found in Nepal and India

is well suited to
a tropical savannah climate.

O'GORMAN: Whereas the Siberian tiger
found in the Russian Far East,

has a much thicker fur and much heavier.

And able to survive
those much colder climates.

NARRATOR: Geography may influence
their stripey wardrobe,

but one thing all tigers share

are clearly defined gender roles.

Male tigers are quite solitary animals,

coming together very rarely with females.

And have very large ranges
where they range around as well.

The male tiger doesn't play a role
in bringing up the cubs,

that's the role of the female.

NARRATOR:
All the fun of a roaming Romeo,

with zero responsibility.

But in sticking to their guns,
they miss out on what are possibly

the most adorable offspring
in the animal kingdom.

A mother tiger will give birth to
two to three cubs, in a typical litter

and those cubs will be very small

and totally dependent on their mother
in the beginning

and they will stay with their mother
while they grow up

until they get to an age where
she chases them off

and they go to fend for themselves.

NARRATOR:
But the tough approach is not the only way

to teach life's lessons

to these mischievous cubs.

Tigers are cats and so cats love to play.

So not only the cubs, but also adults.

The mother will play a lot
with the baby cubs,

lots of wrestling, and that's part
of getting them ready

to go out into the world by themselves.

NARRATOR: Throughout its lifetime,

a tiger will be an enviable combination

of early delightfulness and later,
full-grown magnificence.

Dermot won't be changing his opinion
any time soon.

O'GORMAN: For me, tigers are
the king of the jungle, yeah.

They're majestic, they're regal.

So, cuteness?

I think that they're
incredibly cute.

In the same way that they're
also very strong and powerful.

(GROWLS)

NARRATOR: The tiger ticks many boxes
from adorable to majestic,

but all from a safe distance.

However it will come between
the poo crazy cassowary

and the Cotton-top Tamarin who is still
soaking up the stardom of number one.

But lumbering into contention
is a shaggy creature

whose coat is like the perfect doona.

It works just as well
in tropical conditions

as it does in snow-covered highlands.

Highland cattle don't just think
they're beautiful, they know it.

And with a coat this luscious,
what's not to like?

Sure, they may be a little heavyset

but it's the model attitude
that makes the big time.

And with a pout like that,

these divine bovines
are certainly ready for the runway.

High fashion and the height of cuteness,

especially when you're a wee tot.

You can't beat a new-born
fluffy Scottish Highland calf.

You just want to cuddle it.

They are a very small, cute,
docile, fluffy creature.

NARRATOR:
Far from Scotland, Elena, Laura and Sonny

call the rolling hills
of southwest Australia, home.

Their loving owner, Debbie Maddams

has been breeding highlanders
for over 25 years

and her appreciation goes beyond
their rugged good looks.

They're very friendly as you can see.

Very much easier
to become friends with them,

they get to know their name

and they certainly know where the food is

and they mix well with other animals.

We always have them, when they're young,

they're in with the goats and the sheep
and with the emus even.

So they get along with all
the other animals, which is great.

We sell most of ours as pets
and they're great.

Some of the funny photos
I've had people send me

from their calves
being sleeping on the veranda

to playing with their dog,
so yes lovely pets.

NARRATOR:
Cool cow by looks, cool cow by nature.

The highlander is not easily stressed
and likes to keep things practical

so their everyday outfit
is a layered coat and sunglasses.

The coarse outer hairs
protect from the elements

while a soft and fluffy undercoat
moderates body temperature.

Topped off with a distinctive fringe
called a dossan

that protects their eyes
from snow, sun and insects.

They're great in the Scottish area
obviously because during the winter

they don't have to put them in the sheds
so they're a lot more versatile,

a very hardy animal.

NARRATOR: In the highland herd,
gender equality rules.

Both the males and females
are adorned with horns,

a nice accessory but a little sharp.

And they do have big horns
so you do have to watch where you stand.

You know you wouldn't want to corner one
and then the horns are in the way

but we've never had any issues with them
but you do have to watch.

They're actually a bit naughty
with each other.

Sometimes they'll use their horns
to push each other out of the way

but we've certainly never had any issues
but we do give them a healthy respect.

(LAUGHS)

I do know of a few people
that have trimmed the horns of their pets

just because they're concerned,
that you know,

maybe with their young children,
but it's not a necessary thing

you've just... Like I said
just be aware they've got the horns.

But that's part of their charm.

NARRATOR: Attractive, great personality,
good pets, they're the full package.

And for Elena, Laura, and Sonny,
good looks mean the good life.

I have seen some mounted horns
and hide products

in other locations. (CHUCKLES)

So they probably would make
a nice mat on the floor

but none of ours would go that way.

(CHUCKLES)

NARRATOR: Shaggy, delightful
and being incredibly adaptable

is enough to see the Highland cattle
mosey on in to number two,

pushing the striking tiger, to three,

and the idiosyncratic cassowary, to four.

But wait for it.
And by that we mean wait a while,

in fact, a long while,

for our next loveable giant,
who nonetheless, is so worth it.

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you.

This is just what life
in slow motion looks like.

Everything is at a different pace than us.

They walk slowly, they eat slowly,

it's almost like they
think in slow motion as well.

CHRIS BRAY: They walk at about
point three kilometres an hour.

That means if you were trying to walk
around a standard athletic track,

it would take a tortoise about 80 minutes
to walk around.

Whereas for a human it would take about
four or five minutes.

NARRATOR: Clearly when we say slow,

we do mean slow.

But, it was the tortoise who beat the hare

and if you had to put money on them,

the Galapagos tortoise is the one
least likely to be distracted

and let's face it,
even if it was distracted

it would take way too long
for this chilled out beast to react.

BRAY: It is really cute.
It's equipped with the weirdest features

like these stompy legs and this long neck
and big heavy shell.

And they just seem to be so old and slow

and they're kind of adorable
in the same way

that like an old, old grandpa is adorable.

NARRATOR:
The oldest known Galapagos tortoise

lived to be an estimated 175 years
in captivity,

so it's no wonder their likeness
to great-great-granddad is uncanny.

Unfortunately they don't have
a very good sense of hearing

so, they don't realise you're there

until you pass right in front of them
and they suddenly see you

and then they freak out,
withdraw their neck into their shell,

-which makes a weird hissing noise.
-(HISSES)

BRAY: They're pulling themselves in
and compressing their lungs

so all the air has to come out
through their nose really.

But then they go,
"Oh, okay, it's just a person."

And then they gradually
put their neck out again.

Really long neck and then
they start munching on the grass again.

You can hear them,
it's like mowing the lawn.

They just sit there going...
(BRAY MIMICS MUNCHING)

A bit like elephants.

Their feet
are a lot like elephants' as well,

they've really got big, fat, heavy feet,
round kind of stompy little legs.

NARRATOR: Indeed their features
are some of the most fascinating

and well documented in the world.

Clearly they have a trick
or two up their shell

when it comes to living forever,

not least of which is to physically
adapt their body to better their survival.

One common misconception really
with tortoises is people think

you can just pull a tortoise
out of the shell.

But it's actually like
an integral part of the skeleton

like the backbone and things
is fused inside the shell.

NARRATOR:
As if they weren't already iconic enough,

the Galapagos tortoise was made famous

when Charles Darwin
paid the islands a visit.

The renowned naturalist was struck
by how the creatures

had perfectly adapted to their environment

which would later lead to
his groundbreaking scientific research.

It was really the scientific experiment
for his development

of the Theory of Evolution.

O'GORMAN: That's why I think
they play a special role

in the science of our natural world.

NARRATOR: Their unique way of survival

also means they can last up to a year
without food or water,

having the ability
to store it in their body.

It's abundantly clear,
slow and steady has won this race.

And they're obviously the winner
when it comes to our affection.

They're quite regal.

And I think because of their age,
they seem quite wise.

So for that reason,
I think they are in my top 10.

NARRATOR:
The wise old sun baking Galapagos tortoise

is going straight to number one.

Well, eventually.

It claims the crown on longevity
and super quirky appeal.

The Cotton-top Tamarin isn't so happy
but it's probably got the rest of the show

before the tortoise arrives
to takes its spot.

Which brings us to
the last of the 72 animals in our series.

But what is it exactly?

Could it be two animals in one?

Scent plays an important part
in the animal kingdom,

yet to us it's usually
not the biggest draw card.

In fact, some animal fragrances
can be quite...

...well, unpleasant.

But not when you're a binturong,

which looks a bit like a cross
between a cat and a bear,

so many people prefer to call it,

you guessed it,

a bearcat.

They have scent glands that they use
for marking their territory

and letting other binturongs

know what kind of mood they're in

and when they're excited
they smell like popcorn.

NARRATOR:
Popcorn, yum, who doesn't love popcorn?

You wouldn't necessarily think

that this big, bushy animal
would smell like popcorn.

NARRATOR: No, JoAnn, you wouldn't.

This is probably
the only animal you'd want

marking its territory in a movie theatre.

For the binturong, giving off its aroma
is a family thing,

it's just what they do.

They're related to civets

and civets give off a really strong scent.

But the other thing that's
really interesting about a binutrong

is that it hangs on with its tail.

It lives up in the trees

and its tail acts like one more hand.

So it can really stretch out
to try to gather up its food.

They have certain modifications
in their wrist bones

so that they can climb up a tree
and then turn around,

turn their wrists down and it lets them
climb down the tree head first.

NARRATOR: Nine subspecies of the binturong

can be found hanging around
in the forests of South East Asia

and up in to the Indian subcontinent.

They may not be tall in stature,
but their low centre of gravity

gives them excellent balance
up in the forest canopy.

The binturong is a deceptively flexible
ball of muscle.

I can tell you from having it
leaning over my shoulder,

they're not small animals.
It's pretty heavy

and it has pretty nice claws to go along
with its truly wonderful whiskers.

NARRATOR: The binturong may be
one of nature's more obscure animals,

but this unassuming jungle acrobat
smells like popcorn.

And that, for some people,
is enough to seal the deal.

How can you not think that this is

one of the cutest animals
you've ever seen,

with those wonderful whiskers?

NARRATOR: A popcorn smelling bear or cat

known as a binturong,
it's definitely adorable.

It's going to roll into number five,

knocking the eccentric cassowary to six,

and leaving the grand old
Galapagos tortoise

to rest with its crown at number one,

with a sigh of relief of course

that it doesn't have to
pick up its shell and move again.

It's time to wrap up

the cute, loveable, adorable
and quirkiest of our favourite animals,

plus of course those weird critters

with a few unsociably peculiar habits
like the cassowary chicks,

who like to dine on the food
from their old man's poo.

Definitely a big tick for the unusual.

However the cassowary
has only made it to number 71.

Taking last spot in the state of play
is the ever-curious rat.

And for all those rat lovers out there,

we also believe the rascally rat is cute,

just not quite at the top end of the pack.

But heading closer to the top,
we reveal our twenty cutest animals.

At number 20,
is the totally adorable red panda

followed closely
by the mischievous fur seal

who's twitching its whiskers
for a little added appeal.

However, these two need to be wary

as there are a couple of wild cards
waiting in the wings.

Continuing down the line-up, the fluffy
white winter coat of the Arctic fox

is sealing this creature
in the top 20 at number 18,

followed by a pair of
equally cool characters,

the dashing king penguin at 17

and the rocking rock hopper penguin
at sweet 16.

Zooming into 15 is the speedy wombat

who can pump out a hundred metre sprint
in less than 10 seconds.

Hard to believe
when it's just wombling around

and just as barrel shaped

as the giant guinea pig look-a-like
capybara at number 14.

A trio of cheeky monkeys
takes the ranks at 13, 12 and 11.

While the spider monkey and marmoset
are up to no good,

the laid-back snow monkey
sees this behaviour

as way too much effort
and takes in the show

of the swinging mischief makers
from its hot tub, where else?

Definitely unusual
and always up for attention

is the odd but loveable Malayan tapir,

it's claiming number 10 followed by
a couple of tiny and inquisitive critters,

the Cotton-top Tamarin at nine

and the ring-tailed lemur at eight.

Both big ticks when it comes to
adorably cute.

Slowly making its way into the line-up
is the Galapagos tortoise.

It's happy to bask in the sunshine
at number seven,

when it eventually gets there.

And on that note
we might skip to number five,

where the endearing sloth
is also meandering into position.

The cuddly koala is nestling in between
at number six,

too busy sleeping to be concerned

whether the sloth or the tortoise
is faster.

A race that may take some time.

But speeding up the pace, well a little,

is the delightfully sweet otter.

This floating teddy bear
is claiming number four,

making way for one of
the friendliest creatures on our list,

the ever so charming
and humorous orangutan.

A loveable friend for life.

Which brings us to
the top two cutest animals.

Majestic as an adult
and a complete fluff ball as a baby,

the polar bear, resplendent in white,
is settling into number two,

leaving the mega adorable
and totally huggable giant panda

as the indisputable winner
of the 72 Cutest Animals.

This is an animal
who knows it defines cute,

although it's too busy chomping on bamboo
to notice all the fuss.

So, as the giant panda
settles into number one,

the list is not quite as complete
as it may seem.

Is one of your favourite animals missing?

It's time to mix it all up
and introduce the two Wild Cards.

Who's not in the list
that you would love to hug?

Well, how could you go past
the playful antics

of the charismatic gorilla,

it's stomping its way into number seven,

bumping everyone down
and waving goodbye to the red panda.

But the red panda wasn't so thrilled
at being at number 20 anyway,

it's off to find a new friend
in another tree.

However it's also time for the fur seal
to swim to a new playground

as the drum roll begins
for the next mysterious Wild Card.

Triumphantly trumpeting its way
into number 10,

is the totally loveable elephant.

Always a crowd favourite.

It's an incredibly popular
and adorable inclusion

in the 72 Cutest Animals line-up.

Everyone's idea of cute is different.

And it's been a tough, but wonderful job

ranking such a delightfully
eclectic mix of animals.

We've explored the crazy,
quirky, fluffy and adorable

in our list of 72 cutest animals

and revealed a few rather peculiar habits
amongst our furry friends.

But no matter what spot they take,

they'll all win a special place
in your heart.