Nature (1982–…): Season 32, Episode 11 - The Funkiest Monkeys - full transcript
There's a magical
rainforest in Indonesia
that's home to Tarzan,
Samson, Uhura,
and my favorite, Peanut.
These funky little monkeys
with their punk rock hairstyles
are crested black macaques,
and I first encountered
them 25 years ago
when the island of
Sulawesi was a paradise.
Some parts of it still are
for these charming creatures,
or could be, at least,
if everyone saw them
as I do...
Funny, complex, and
engaging characters
as individual as you or I.
You can't help but
feel part of the fun!
But these monkeys
are in trouble,
and I feel I've got to try
and do something about it.
So, I've come back
with my camera.
Perhaps if I can
make them film stars
in this part of the world,
it just might turn
things around.
My name is Colin
Stafford-Johnson.
I'm a wildlife cameraman
and a biologist,
and I've come back to Sulawesi
in Indonesia for the
first time in 25 years.
Since I was last here, this
place has changed dramatically.
There are new roads
and buildings everywhere,
and the population has exploded.
Sulawesi was once
entirely covered in forest
and is home to some of
the rarest animals
on the planet.
But they're under pressure.
I've come here to make a film
about completely unique monkey,
the crested black macaque.
When I was here before,
they used to be a
fairly common sight.
But in the last 20 years,
their numbers have
dropped dramatically.
So, I've come to find out
why they're disappearing,
and to see if there's
something I can do to help.
The monkeys have evolved
only on this one island.
They've been cut
off and isolated
by a chain of ancient volcanoes,
and today, their last stronghold
is a special nature reserve
known as Tangkoko.
For the next few months,
I'll be working closely with
Giyarto, or Ugi for short.
He's the leader of
a team of biologists
from the Macaca Nigra project,
and he's been studying
the macaques' behavior
for seven years.
I love them because
they are cool,
they are so exotic,
the black color, the crest,
and for me, they
are quite different
from other species of monkey.
I can hear them.
What a great sound.
There they are, there they are.
Oh, wow.
So good to see them
again... after such a long time.
Such unique little animals.
They're unmistakable
to any other monkey.
Those wonderful little crests,
little, almost, punk hairstyles,
and extraordinary eyes.
When the light shines on
them they're just beautiful.
Crested black macaques
are extremely intelligent
and social animals,
and live in large family groups.
There are 70
individuals in this troop,
and Ugi has given
them all names,
to help understand their
complex web of relationships.
There's a very strict hierarchy,
dominated by the alpha male.
His name is Tarzan.
He has exclusive
access to all the females
coming into season,
and Ugi tells me he's
fathered 14 infants.
But Tarzan's position
is never secure.
In macaque society, the
males migrate between troops,
so Tarzan has to
be constantly alert
to potential threats
from newcomers.
How long has he been the alpha?
He's been alpha male
- for a year.
- A year?
How long do they normally
maintain that position?
Depends how the
other males support him.
And is there always competition?
Yeah, for sure.
The females form
the core of the group
and never leave it.
Their ranking system is even
more rigid than the males',
with each female inheriting
her position from her mother.
The alpha female
is called Uhura.
She is macaque aristocracy,
from a long line
of ruling females.
But Uhura is a harsh leader.
She dominates the other females
by bullying their infants.
After all these years,
the monkeys are now used
to being observed by Ugi,
and I'm amazed how
quickly they've accepted me
into their company.
The macaques spend more than
half of their time on the move,
foraging throughout
the forest floor.
They cover about
three miles a day,
and often end up at the
very edge of their territory,
on the beach.
After the dense,
humid atmosphere
of the rainforest,
the macaques seem
to enjoy the cool breeze
and the open space
of the ocean.
The beach is also a
comfortable location
for the monkeys' most
important social activity...
Grooming.
Any time the troop settles down,
they seem to get into these
long grooming sessions.
It's a lovely thing to watch,
it's such a peaceful
sort of occupation.
And they seem to love it...
Both the one who's
giving and receiving.
They're so intense
when they do it.
They take it so seriously.
They spend so many hours
grooming each other every day,
it just goes to show
how important it is,
not just for the
practical job of removing
all the little ticks and
mites that live in their fur...
An equally important
role is to just to sort of
reaffirm family
bonds and friendships.
But there's one small monkey
who's always on his own
at the very edge of the group,
and he very rarely gets groomed.
Ugi calls him Peanut.
He was caught in a
hunter's trap as a baby
and had to bite off his
own hand to escape.
Peanut is a survivor
and a constant reminder
of the daily threats
these monkeys face from
hunters coming into the forest.
The only place Peanut and
the other macaques are truly safe
is high up in the trees.
Each night they choose one
of their favorite sleeping trees
and come together
under the protection
of the group.
Up here they're out of reach
of their two deadliest predators,
pythons and people.
But life in the canopy
is not entirely without risk.
You need to hold on, even
when you're nodding off.
Things will only get
better for the monkeys
if people stop hunting them.
But Ugi and I have a plan that
might just help in some way.
We're going to make a film
to show the local community
how special these animals are...
Before they disappear forever.
Every morning at sunrise,
Ugi and I set off from camp
on the trail of the monkeys.
And when did you
first get here Ugi?
I came out here in 2006.
And you come out
with them every day?
Yeah.
They must know you pretty
well, you're one of the gang.
Yeah.
We need to reach the
bottom of their sleeping tree
before they head
off looking for food.
The monkeys are really busy
at this time in the morning.
I guess they haven't
eaten all night.
As soon as they get out of bed
they're really actively
foraging for a little while,
moving constantly all the time,
going up and down the
trees, grabbing what they can.
Just like every family you know,
there are some sleepy
heads and some early risers.
Ugi is studying the monkeys'
relationship with the forest
and the role
they play within it.
They are the gardeners
of the rainforest.
Roughly 60%
of the macaques'
diet is made up of fruit.
In return for this
bountiful harvest,
the monkeys scatter seeds
throughout their territory,
helping the trees to regenerate.
Both the macaques and the forest
depend on each
other for survival.
I guess the forest and the
monkeys have evolved together.
They've spent thousands of
years in each other's company,
and so the monkeys
know how to exploit
every little nook and cranny.
Peanut has to use
one of his feet to feed.
With only one hand, he
can't reach the best fruit
at the tops of the trees.
He's now six years old,
but he's really
small for his age
and will always be at the very
bottom of the pecking order.
The fact that he lost
his hand and his lower
arm all those years ago,
that's dictated his entire life.
He spends a lot
of time on his own,
and he will have no opportunity
to move up through
the hierarchy.
He's sitting there now,
grooming all by himself.
And with his little stump,
he's trying to groom himself
and he really
can't do it properly.
I just wish someone would
come along and groom him.
He can't reach all the
bits he needs to get to.
Over the last few days,
Ugi has noticed tension
growing within the troop.
The alpha male, Tarzan,
is under threat from
another large male
who looks like he's
about to attempt
a takeover.
There's been a lone male
who's been following this
group for a few days now...
What's he doing?
He is monitoring the group,
because if he has the chance
to go into the group,
he will try to take over
the alpha male position.
Ugi knows the new lone male...
He's called Samson,
and he comes from
a neighboring troop.
Tarzan is keeping
a wary eye on him.
So, what do you
think he's going to do?
I guess he will follow
the group for a few days
until he get the chance.
And so, is he
learning about them?
Is he sort of assessing the
other males in the group?
Yeah, exactly,
how strong they are and stuff.
Every time I've seen him,
he's either been
watching from a distance
or following,
and he's a monkey on
a mission, you know?
There's purpose to this.
And he's a strong-looking male.
So, it looks like he's left
whatever troop he came from,
and he might well be trying
to sort of see whether or not
he can get into our gang.
Tarzan has to take action if he
wants to keep hold of the group,
and starts heading
towards the lone male.
He's issuing a very
clear threat to his rival.
But Samson is not
so easily scared.
Tarzan stands his ground...
And eventually Samson backs off.
Tarzan has held onto power
without getting injured.
But Samson may
try again at any time.
As calm settles over the group,
another long bout of
grooming gets underway.
It's the hottest
part of the day,
and some of the older
monkeys are taking a siesta.
But while they sleep,
the younger members of the troop
head down the river to cool off.
As soon as the youngsters
get sight of the water,
they just can't
resist getting in
and just having a mess around.
Just to escape from
the humidity of the
forest and constant heat,
it must be so nice.
I wouldn't mind
getting in there myself.
You can't help but
feel part of the fun.
Peanut is trying
his best to join in,
but there's an edge to this
play and he can't compete.
The juveniles are
testing each other out.
It's like a rehearsal
for the power games
that Tarzan and Samson
have just played out for real.
Poor old Peanut will
never be in their league.
The monsoon season is upon us.
Tangkoko is now set for
five months of heavy rain.
The break in weather
is a welcome relief
from the humidity,
but it's not much fun
for us or the monkeys.
They really don't like
foraging in the rain,
and quickly get cold and hungry.
The poor monkeys, you know,
they really hate this weather.
They look absolutely miserable.
All they can do is find
shelter as best they can
and just wait till...
wait till the rain finishes.
There's one of them
on the ground over there,
just found a little leaf to hide
under like a little umbrella,
peaking out at the world,
hoping that this ends...
A bit like myself, really.
We're sort of all
in the same boat.
It's all a bit miserable.
This is the most
dangerous time of year
for our troop...
But not directly
because of the weather.
It's because of the rough seas.
Some local fishermen
who can't make a
living in these conditions
turn to the forest
for an income...
They hunt monkeys.
Peanut was lucky.
He escaped from a
hunter's trap and survived,
but countless
others never make it.
Ugi and I are heading to
the nearby town of Tomohon
to visit the local market.
He wants to show me firsthand
why these unique
animals are disappearing.
This looks like any
ordinary Indonesian market,
but it's far from it.
In fact, I've been sort
of mentally preparing
to come to this
place... I'm not sure if
I am actually quite prepared
for what I'm about to see.
The people of North Sulawesi
have a taste for wild meat.
Hundreds of them come here
every week to buy
animals freshly hunted
from the forest.
There's an overwhelming smell
of sort of raw meat
and burning flesh.
It's, uh... never been any
place quite like it before,
and I mightn't come
to such a place again,
I have to say... it's sort
of, um, it's hard to watch.
But it's just a cultural thing.
Here, it's completely normal.
Here, housewives are out
buying squirrels and
rats and snakes...
It's just what they do here.
You've got to be very careful,
I guess, not to be judgmental,
but it's very hard
for me to watch.
What seems to be happening is
the customers are choosing
the kind of meat they want,
then it's taken
under the counter,
and it's already prepared to
be brought home and consumed.
Wild pig, snakes.
- Bats.
- Bats.
Fruit bats.
That is some amount of bats
when you think of it.
If this amount are for sale
every day, seven days a week,
it just shows that the
demand for bush meat
is absolutely enormous.
Some of the animals here
are officially protected
and it's illegal to sell them.
But they're being traded
openly in the marketplace.
The most sought after
meat here is macaque.
It's also the most expensive,
as they are
critically endangered
and are supposed to
have maximum protection,
but the law is rarely enforced.
I know for a fact that monkey
is being traded in this market,
but because I'm a foreigner
it's disappearing under the
counter before I can see it.
We're using a secret camera
to see if we can gather evidence
that monkey meat is for sale.
And it's not long before we
capture undeniable proof,
a macaque, being illegally sold
in broad daylight.
I knew the monkeys
were in trouble,
but I had no idea
it was this bad.
It's little wonder for me now
that the crested macaque
is critically endangered,
and it's endangered and
on the verge of going extinct
because of this...
Because people like to eat them.
Any day, they could end up
being snared in a trap
and brought to this place,
and I can't imagine
anything worse
for a wild monkey
ending its life in this place,
particularly one
of my little mates.
It's just...
It's just hard to take.
We've just got to do
something about it.
To supply this endless demand,
the last wild
population of macaques
is steadily vanishing
from these forests.
Since I was here 25 years ago,
their numbers have
dropped by almost 90%.
These monkeys are
being eaten to extinction.
Once upon a time,
there were maybe
tens of thousands of them.
You can understand when
people were hunting and gathering
and they were part of
something that people ate,
but now people are choosing
to eat them just as a delicacy.
The fact that the species could
disappear in this day and age
with all our communications,
purely because people
like the taste of them.
That just makes no
sense, that really doesn't.
But the monkeys do
have some people,
some great people,
looking out for them.
Ugi and his team are
trying to understand
more about the crested black
macaques and how to save them.
Ugi's convinced that a film
made in the local language
could make a huge difference.
With his knowledge
and my footage,
maybe we can show people
how special these
monkeys really are,
and then they just might
think twice before eating them.
We've caught up with the
troop again this morning,
but something's not right.
They all seem on edge.
And then we discover why...
There's no sign of Tarzan,
and there's a new
male in his place.
Samson, the one who's been
tracking this group
for some time,
he's taken over and
established himself,
possibly just in one fight.
He's got a nasty
looking cut on his lip.
It really does look nasty.
You can sort of
see his teeth inside.
But I guess this was a
prize worth fighting for.
The new regime change
is an unsettling
time for the troop.
They're unsure
about the new male,
and they look to Uhura,
the alpha female, for a lead.
It's her job to keep
order in the group,
and she has no choice but to
accept Samson as her new male.
And not too far away,
the fallen king
is all on his own,
and not looking too good.
I've just spotted Tarzan,
and what a different
monkey he looks now.
He's got a bad looking
gash on his arm.
It looks raw.
He's sitting all on his own,
and he's literally
licking his wounds.
He's just trying to
keep it clean, I guess.
There are no other
monkeys around here now,
so for him this is a
new chapter in his life.
He's completely on his own.
That's not a good thing
to be if you're a monkey.
It's hard to believe,
looking at him now,
the state of him,
that yesterday he was
surrounded by females.
How the mighty can fall in
just a short space of time.
So, I really don't know
what's going to happen to him.
Tarzan's not the only monkey
that's all on his own.
Peanut is almost always alone,
and with no monkey
mates to play with,
he's now started
making friends with me.
I have to be careful
not to stare at him,
'cause he doesn't like it.
Hello.
I think he's had a life of
having to make friends
with everyone he meets
because he's so small,
he can't be aggressive,
there's no point.
He seems to like coming
on these little visits now
because there's some
days when he gets
very little company
within the group.
And I know I shouldn't
really have a favorite,
sort of like having a favorite
amongst your children,
but there's
something a bit special
about this little monkey.
Until now, Ugi and
his team of scientists
have always followed the
monkeys on the forest floor.
But they spend almost half
their lives up in the trees.
So, we've built a
platform 120 feet up,
to explore a huge part of
their world... the forest canopy.
Now, all we can do is
wait for them to come to bed.
There's a couple of
hornbills right over there.
Such a special
place, though, isn't it?
Beside you, beside
you, beside you.
Hello.
They're starting to climb
the trees all around us.
So good to see them
up in the canopy,
it really is,
to see what they experience.
They make it look so easy.
They're just so agile,
compared to us human beings.
They just seem to
ascend effortlessly,
even the little youngsters.
The strict social ranking
within the troop is maintained
even in their sleeping tree.
Samson and Uhura
sleep at the very top,
whilst Peanut occupies
the lowest branches.
You can see the mothers are
holding tightly onto the babies.
Just the chattering
quiet contact calls
and the rustling of leaves.
It's a perfect end to a day...
and the monkeys seem
very relaxed, quiet...
It's like the squabbles
of the day are over.
Absolutely magical.
Just magical.
This forest and these monkeys,
they're just so intertwined,
and I can't imagine sitting
up in the canopy like this
in 20 years' time and
not hearing those calls.
Having just an empty forest.
It's Easter Sunday.
Easter is a great
time of celebration
in this part of the world, which
is predominantly Christian.
Everyone's out on the streets
in their finery and
having a good time.
But it's a really dangerous
time for our monkeys
because they are on the
menu at this time of the year.
I've just heard that yesterday
four monkeys were
found at Tomohon market,
and there are lots of other bush
markets around this place, too,
so I wonder how many people
are celebrating Easter today
by eating monkey.
But the tide may
just be starting to turn.
The children of North Sulawesi
are already starting
to see things differently.
Ito and Elis
work for an education
charity in schools and villages
across North Sulawesi,
teaching the children
about the value of monkeys.
It's impressive work, and I
find it really moving to watch.
These kids seem to
have got the message,
but Ugi and I want to
help spread the word
to the wider community.
We've started editing our film,
and we plan to
show it in the village
before I leave in
a few weeks' time.
If people can see
monkeys as individuals,
and not just as meat,
they may yet survive.
Time is running out.
There are just 2,000
monkeys left here in Tangkoko,
and this is their
last stronghold.
When we meet up with them again,
there's still tension
at the top of the troop.
Tarzan's nursing nasty
injuries, but incredibly,
he's trying to work his
way back into his old group.
The new alpha,
Samson, won't like this,
especially when Tarzan starts
cozying up with the females.
It's great to see Tarzan
back in the group.
The females seem to like him.
But Samson's...
Samson's having a good
look at what's going on.
Okay, that was Samson
showing the females and Tarzan,
"Don't get too comfortable
with this situation...
I'm not having any of
that, thank you very much."
Tarzan's been the alpha
here for quite a while,
so he's got quite
strong relationships,
and he's got to rekindle those
without upsetting the
new man in charge.
If he crosses that line,
this new male could
teach him another lesson,
and he doesn't want that.
But Tarzan's being
a very clever politician.
By lip-smacking, he's
showing Samson respect.
There's the two big males
getting close together.
It's like Tarzan is trying to
find his way in the troop again.
But it's a moment like
this anything could happen.
Oh, look!
Right now, Tarzan is being
submissive to the new male...
He's, like, trying to
probably bond with him
to maybe become
the next in line,
to be his subordinate,
but that's something
I never could have imagined
happening just a week ago.
What a smart diplomat
Tarzan's proved himself to be,
negotiating his way out of
trouble and back into the troop
as Samson's second in command.
The more I get to
know these guys,
the more complex
this society becomes.
This is what Ugi and I
want people to understand,
that these monkeys are
clever, sensitive creatures,
just like us.
And in my final week here,
there's some really
good news for the group.
There's a brand new infant,
and Ugi has
christened him "Colin,"
after me.
This baby's only
a day or two old?
Yeah.
And what happens in the
troop when there's a new baby?
Normally if we have
a new baby born,
a lot of females get excited
and they would like to
play with the small baby,
and some female pretend
to groom the mother,
but actually she would
like to play with the baby.
Even when the babies
are just a few days old,
it's as if they can't wait
to get their little bit
of independence.
As soon as mum's back is turned,
they're sort of
getting into mischief.
It's as if they
can't wait to get out
and explore the
world for themselves.
And sometimes when
mum is grooming,
they start wandering away
and exploring the vegetation,
and sort of testing
their strength.
It's going to be like a
jungle playground for them
for the next while.
Baby Colin has wandered
too far from his mother.
He's stumbled into
the path of Uhura.
It's an early lesson
to keep a wary eye
out for the alpha female.
Once she's shown her dominance,
Colin is allowed to
return to his mother,
shaken but not harmed.
But then mum sees
what's going on,
gathers him back into the fold.
"You shouldn't
be doing that yet,
you're too young to
wander off on your own."
You know, when a species
is in this much trouble,
every birth has got
to be celebrated.
That's what we need is lots
more births, lots more monkeys.
We need this population
to stop declining, and soon,
and start building again.
It's monkey movie
night in the village.
Tonight we're planning
to show our film,
but first we need to get
the word out on the streets.
We're just trying to
drum up a bit of support
for our film tonight...
It's a lot of fun,
and it looks like lots of
people are going to come.
If they all turn up, we're
going to be in trouble.
Shall we stop here
and hand some out?
♪♪
Ugi and his megaphone
have worked wonders.
A crowd of about
500 have turned up
for our screening.
Despite the fact they're
almost neighbors,
most people here have
never seen the monkeys
behaving naturally,
and they seem to
find them fascinating.
The whole idea of the film
is to make people think,
and understand how
precious these monkeys are.
And it looks as
though it's working.
For the first time,
people are learning that the
monkeys live in family groups
and take care of their
young just like we do.
When the film reveals how rare
and endangered the monkeys are,
the atmosphere changes
and the crowd falls silent.
Now, I know the monkeys
won't be saved overnight
by people watching a film,
but just to get the
local community
learning about monkeys
and showing an interest
is progress of a kind.
If they can take home the idea
that the macaques are
about to disappear forever,
then the growing
movement to save them
could gain momentum...
And the monkeys
could still have a future.
Ugi and I
have got special
permission from the school
to bring the children
in to meet the monkeys.
It's the first time
many of these kids have
been into the rainforest,
and they're very excited
about seeing the macaques.
As the next generation
learn to value the monkeys,
I hope they might
not want to eat them,
and the hunting
should eventually stop.
My time with the troop
is coming to an end.
I've come to say goodbye,
especially to my
little favorite, Peanut.
I'm delighted to
see that for once
he's looking rather
pleased with himself.
This is a really lovely moment.
He spends so much
time on his own,
and he rarely gets groomed,
and here he's getting
a really good once over.
It's just lovely to see.
Peanut has made friends
with a young female
who's taken quite
a shine to him.
I've never seen him so happy.
Some of the youngsters
have become incredibly friendly,
and it feels like
I'm now part of the gang.
Now, I'd normally try
and keep my distance,
but there's nothing
I can do about this.
Might as well just
try and enjoy it.
And then a second pair of
hands starts grooming me, too.
All my hours of filming
are rewarded in
one single moment.
I can't quite believe
that that just happened
on my last day in the forest.
Such an amazing feeling.
Just saw them coming
closer and closer
until they filled my lens.
Then I just felt
that... The first touch.
And it wasn't just a
casual tap on the head.
It wasn't just that
sort of contact,
it was a full-on groom.
I wonder what they think of me.
I know what I think of them.
Wonderful, wonderful creatures.
It's like a...
Like a little
parting gift, I guess.
It's going to be really
tough leaving them behind.
But I'm leaving this place
with a real sense of hope,
a sense that all is not lost.
And that's because the people
who are working to save them
are working really hard.
It's just been such a privilege
not just to work
with these monkeys
but to work with the people
who are trying to save them.
I'm sad to go, but I
leave knowing that
over the coming months
the film that Ugi and I made
will eventually be shown
right across Northern Sulawesi.
I just hope our
message gets through
before it's too late for the
crested black macaque.
To learn more about what you've
seen on this "Nature" program,
rainforest in Indonesia
that's home to Tarzan,
Samson, Uhura,
and my favorite, Peanut.
These funky little monkeys
with their punk rock hairstyles
are crested black macaques,
and I first encountered
them 25 years ago
when the island of
Sulawesi was a paradise.
Some parts of it still are
for these charming creatures,
or could be, at least,
if everyone saw them
as I do...
Funny, complex, and
engaging characters
as individual as you or I.
You can't help but
feel part of the fun!
But these monkeys
are in trouble,
and I feel I've got to try
and do something about it.
So, I've come back
with my camera.
Perhaps if I can
make them film stars
in this part of the world,
it just might turn
things around.
My name is Colin
Stafford-Johnson.
I'm a wildlife cameraman
and a biologist,
and I've come back to Sulawesi
in Indonesia for the
first time in 25 years.
Since I was last here, this
place has changed dramatically.
There are new roads
and buildings everywhere,
and the population has exploded.
Sulawesi was once
entirely covered in forest
and is home to some of
the rarest animals
on the planet.
But they're under pressure.
I've come here to make a film
about completely unique monkey,
the crested black macaque.
When I was here before,
they used to be a
fairly common sight.
But in the last 20 years,
their numbers have
dropped dramatically.
So, I've come to find out
why they're disappearing,
and to see if there's
something I can do to help.
The monkeys have evolved
only on this one island.
They've been cut
off and isolated
by a chain of ancient volcanoes,
and today, their last stronghold
is a special nature reserve
known as Tangkoko.
For the next few months,
I'll be working closely with
Giyarto, or Ugi for short.
He's the leader of
a team of biologists
from the Macaca Nigra project,
and he's been studying
the macaques' behavior
for seven years.
I love them because
they are cool,
they are so exotic,
the black color, the crest,
and for me, they
are quite different
from other species of monkey.
I can hear them.
What a great sound.
There they are, there they are.
Oh, wow.
So good to see them
again... after such a long time.
Such unique little animals.
They're unmistakable
to any other monkey.
Those wonderful little crests,
little, almost, punk hairstyles,
and extraordinary eyes.
When the light shines on
them they're just beautiful.
Crested black macaques
are extremely intelligent
and social animals,
and live in large family groups.
There are 70
individuals in this troop,
and Ugi has given
them all names,
to help understand their
complex web of relationships.
There's a very strict hierarchy,
dominated by the alpha male.
His name is Tarzan.
He has exclusive
access to all the females
coming into season,
and Ugi tells me he's
fathered 14 infants.
But Tarzan's position
is never secure.
In macaque society, the
males migrate between troops,
so Tarzan has to
be constantly alert
to potential threats
from newcomers.
How long has he been the alpha?
He's been alpha male
- for a year.
- A year?
How long do they normally
maintain that position?
Depends how the
other males support him.
And is there always competition?
Yeah, for sure.
The females form
the core of the group
and never leave it.
Their ranking system is even
more rigid than the males',
with each female inheriting
her position from her mother.
The alpha female
is called Uhura.
She is macaque aristocracy,
from a long line
of ruling females.
But Uhura is a harsh leader.
She dominates the other females
by bullying their infants.
After all these years,
the monkeys are now used
to being observed by Ugi,
and I'm amazed how
quickly they've accepted me
into their company.
The macaques spend more than
half of their time on the move,
foraging throughout
the forest floor.
They cover about
three miles a day,
and often end up at the
very edge of their territory,
on the beach.
After the dense,
humid atmosphere
of the rainforest,
the macaques seem
to enjoy the cool breeze
and the open space
of the ocean.
The beach is also a
comfortable location
for the monkeys' most
important social activity...
Grooming.
Any time the troop settles down,
they seem to get into these
long grooming sessions.
It's a lovely thing to watch,
it's such a peaceful
sort of occupation.
And they seem to love it...
Both the one who's
giving and receiving.
They're so intense
when they do it.
They take it so seriously.
They spend so many hours
grooming each other every day,
it just goes to show
how important it is,
not just for the
practical job of removing
all the little ticks and
mites that live in their fur...
An equally important
role is to just to sort of
reaffirm family
bonds and friendships.
But there's one small monkey
who's always on his own
at the very edge of the group,
and he very rarely gets groomed.
Ugi calls him Peanut.
He was caught in a
hunter's trap as a baby
and had to bite off his
own hand to escape.
Peanut is a survivor
and a constant reminder
of the daily threats
these monkeys face from
hunters coming into the forest.
The only place Peanut and
the other macaques are truly safe
is high up in the trees.
Each night they choose one
of their favorite sleeping trees
and come together
under the protection
of the group.
Up here they're out of reach
of their two deadliest predators,
pythons and people.
But life in the canopy
is not entirely without risk.
You need to hold on, even
when you're nodding off.
Things will only get
better for the monkeys
if people stop hunting them.
But Ugi and I have a plan that
might just help in some way.
We're going to make a film
to show the local community
how special these animals are...
Before they disappear forever.
Every morning at sunrise,
Ugi and I set off from camp
on the trail of the monkeys.
And when did you
first get here Ugi?
I came out here in 2006.
And you come out
with them every day?
Yeah.
They must know you pretty
well, you're one of the gang.
Yeah.
We need to reach the
bottom of their sleeping tree
before they head
off looking for food.
The monkeys are really busy
at this time in the morning.
I guess they haven't
eaten all night.
As soon as they get out of bed
they're really actively
foraging for a little while,
moving constantly all the time,
going up and down the
trees, grabbing what they can.
Just like every family you know,
there are some sleepy
heads and some early risers.
Ugi is studying the monkeys'
relationship with the forest
and the role
they play within it.
They are the gardeners
of the rainforest.
Roughly 60%
of the macaques'
diet is made up of fruit.
In return for this
bountiful harvest,
the monkeys scatter seeds
throughout their territory,
helping the trees to regenerate.
Both the macaques and the forest
depend on each
other for survival.
I guess the forest and the
monkeys have evolved together.
They've spent thousands of
years in each other's company,
and so the monkeys
know how to exploit
every little nook and cranny.
Peanut has to use
one of his feet to feed.
With only one hand, he
can't reach the best fruit
at the tops of the trees.
He's now six years old,
but he's really
small for his age
and will always be at the very
bottom of the pecking order.
The fact that he lost
his hand and his lower
arm all those years ago,
that's dictated his entire life.
He spends a lot
of time on his own,
and he will have no opportunity
to move up through
the hierarchy.
He's sitting there now,
grooming all by himself.
And with his little stump,
he's trying to groom himself
and he really
can't do it properly.
I just wish someone would
come along and groom him.
He can't reach all the
bits he needs to get to.
Over the last few days,
Ugi has noticed tension
growing within the troop.
The alpha male, Tarzan,
is under threat from
another large male
who looks like he's
about to attempt
a takeover.
There's been a lone male
who's been following this
group for a few days now...
What's he doing?
He is monitoring the group,
because if he has the chance
to go into the group,
he will try to take over
the alpha male position.
Ugi knows the new lone male...
He's called Samson,
and he comes from
a neighboring troop.
Tarzan is keeping
a wary eye on him.
So, what do you
think he's going to do?
I guess he will follow
the group for a few days
until he get the chance.
And so, is he
learning about them?
Is he sort of assessing the
other males in the group?
Yeah, exactly,
how strong they are and stuff.
Every time I've seen him,
he's either been
watching from a distance
or following,
and he's a monkey on
a mission, you know?
There's purpose to this.
And he's a strong-looking male.
So, it looks like he's left
whatever troop he came from,
and he might well be trying
to sort of see whether or not
he can get into our gang.
Tarzan has to take action if he
wants to keep hold of the group,
and starts heading
towards the lone male.
He's issuing a very
clear threat to his rival.
But Samson is not
so easily scared.
Tarzan stands his ground...
And eventually Samson backs off.
Tarzan has held onto power
without getting injured.
But Samson may
try again at any time.
As calm settles over the group,
another long bout of
grooming gets underway.
It's the hottest
part of the day,
and some of the older
monkeys are taking a siesta.
But while they sleep,
the younger members of the troop
head down the river to cool off.
As soon as the youngsters
get sight of the water,
they just can't
resist getting in
and just having a mess around.
Just to escape from
the humidity of the
forest and constant heat,
it must be so nice.
I wouldn't mind
getting in there myself.
You can't help but
feel part of the fun.
Peanut is trying
his best to join in,
but there's an edge to this
play and he can't compete.
The juveniles are
testing each other out.
It's like a rehearsal
for the power games
that Tarzan and Samson
have just played out for real.
Poor old Peanut will
never be in their league.
The monsoon season is upon us.
Tangkoko is now set for
five months of heavy rain.
The break in weather
is a welcome relief
from the humidity,
but it's not much fun
for us or the monkeys.
They really don't like
foraging in the rain,
and quickly get cold and hungry.
The poor monkeys, you know,
they really hate this weather.
They look absolutely miserable.
All they can do is find
shelter as best they can
and just wait till...
wait till the rain finishes.
There's one of them
on the ground over there,
just found a little leaf to hide
under like a little umbrella,
peaking out at the world,
hoping that this ends...
A bit like myself, really.
We're sort of all
in the same boat.
It's all a bit miserable.
This is the most
dangerous time of year
for our troop...
But not directly
because of the weather.
It's because of the rough seas.
Some local fishermen
who can't make a
living in these conditions
turn to the forest
for an income...
They hunt monkeys.
Peanut was lucky.
He escaped from a
hunter's trap and survived,
but countless
others never make it.
Ugi and I are heading to
the nearby town of Tomohon
to visit the local market.
He wants to show me firsthand
why these unique
animals are disappearing.
This looks like any
ordinary Indonesian market,
but it's far from it.
In fact, I've been sort
of mentally preparing
to come to this
place... I'm not sure if
I am actually quite prepared
for what I'm about to see.
The people of North Sulawesi
have a taste for wild meat.
Hundreds of them come here
every week to buy
animals freshly hunted
from the forest.
There's an overwhelming smell
of sort of raw meat
and burning flesh.
It's, uh... never been any
place quite like it before,
and I mightn't come
to such a place again,
I have to say... it's sort
of, um, it's hard to watch.
But it's just a cultural thing.
Here, it's completely normal.
Here, housewives are out
buying squirrels and
rats and snakes...
It's just what they do here.
You've got to be very careful,
I guess, not to be judgmental,
but it's very hard
for me to watch.
What seems to be happening is
the customers are choosing
the kind of meat they want,
then it's taken
under the counter,
and it's already prepared to
be brought home and consumed.
Wild pig, snakes.
- Bats.
- Bats.
Fruit bats.
That is some amount of bats
when you think of it.
If this amount are for sale
every day, seven days a week,
it just shows that the
demand for bush meat
is absolutely enormous.
Some of the animals here
are officially protected
and it's illegal to sell them.
But they're being traded
openly in the marketplace.
The most sought after
meat here is macaque.
It's also the most expensive,
as they are
critically endangered
and are supposed to
have maximum protection,
but the law is rarely enforced.
I know for a fact that monkey
is being traded in this market,
but because I'm a foreigner
it's disappearing under the
counter before I can see it.
We're using a secret camera
to see if we can gather evidence
that monkey meat is for sale.
And it's not long before we
capture undeniable proof,
a macaque, being illegally sold
in broad daylight.
I knew the monkeys
were in trouble,
but I had no idea
it was this bad.
It's little wonder for me now
that the crested macaque
is critically endangered,
and it's endangered and
on the verge of going extinct
because of this...
Because people like to eat them.
Any day, they could end up
being snared in a trap
and brought to this place,
and I can't imagine
anything worse
for a wild monkey
ending its life in this place,
particularly one
of my little mates.
It's just...
It's just hard to take.
We've just got to do
something about it.
To supply this endless demand,
the last wild
population of macaques
is steadily vanishing
from these forests.
Since I was here 25 years ago,
their numbers have
dropped by almost 90%.
These monkeys are
being eaten to extinction.
Once upon a time,
there were maybe
tens of thousands of them.
You can understand when
people were hunting and gathering
and they were part of
something that people ate,
but now people are choosing
to eat them just as a delicacy.
The fact that the species could
disappear in this day and age
with all our communications,
purely because people
like the taste of them.
That just makes no
sense, that really doesn't.
But the monkeys do
have some people,
some great people,
looking out for them.
Ugi and his team are
trying to understand
more about the crested black
macaques and how to save them.
Ugi's convinced that a film
made in the local language
could make a huge difference.
With his knowledge
and my footage,
maybe we can show people
how special these
monkeys really are,
and then they just might
think twice before eating them.
We've caught up with the
troop again this morning,
but something's not right.
They all seem on edge.
And then we discover why...
There's no sign of Tarzan,
and there's a new
male in his place.
Samson, the one who's been
tracking this group
for some time,
he's taken over and
established himself,
possibly just in one fight.
He's got a nasty
looking cut on his lip.
It really does look nasty.
You can sort of
see his teeth inside.
But I guess this was a
prize worth fighting for.
The new regime change
is an unsettling
time for the troop.
They're unsure
about the new male,
and they look to Uhura,
the alpha female, for a lead.
It's her job to keep
order in the group,
and she has no choice but to
accept Samson as her new male.
And not too far away,
the fallen king
is all on his own,
and not looking too good.
I've just spotted Tarzan,
and what a different
monkey he looks now.
He's got a bad looking
gash on his arm.
It looks raw.
He's sitting all on his own,
and he's literally
licking his wounds.
He's just trying to
keep it clean, I guess.
There are no other
monkeys around here now,
so for him this is a
new chapter in his life.
He's completely on his own.
That's not a good thing
to be if you're a monkey.
It's hard to believe,
looking at him now,
the state of him,
that yesterday he was
surrounded by females.
How the mighty can fall in
just a short space of time.
So, I really don't know
what's going to happen to him.
Tarzan's not the only monkey
that's all on his own.
Peanut is almost always alone,
and with no monkey
mates to play with,
he's now started
making friends with me.
I have to be careful
not to stare at him,
'cause he doesn't like it.
Hello.
I think he's had a life of
having to make friends
with everyone he meets
because he's so small,
he can't be aggressive,
there's no point.
He seems to like coming
on these little visits now
because there's some
days when he gets
very little company
within the group.
And I know I shouldn't
really have a favorite,
sort of like having a favorite
amongst your children,
but there's
something a bit special
about this little monkey.
Until now, Ugi and
his team of scientists
have always followed the
monkeys on the forest floor.
But they spend almost half
their lives up in the trees.
So, we've built a
platform 120 feet up,
to explore a huge part of
their world... the forest canopy.
Now, all we can do is
wait for them to come to bed.
There's a couple of
hornbills right over there.
Such a special
place, though, isn't it?
Beside you, beside
you, beside you.
Hello.
They're starting to climb
the trees all around us.
So good to see them
up in the canopy,
it really is,
to see what they experience.
They make it look so easy.
They're just so agile,
compared to us human beings.
They just seem to
ascend effortlessly,
even the little youngsters.
The strict social ranking
within the troop is maintained
even in their sleeping tree.
Samson and Uhura
sleep at the very top,
whilst Peanut occupies
the lowest branches.
You can see the mothers are
holding tightly onto the babies.
Just the chattering
quiet contact calls
and the rustling of leaves.
It's a perfect end to a day...
and the monkeys seem
very relaxed, quiet...
It's like the squabbles
of the day are over.
Absolutely magical.
Just magical.
This forest and these monkeys,
they're just so intertwined,
and I can't imagine sitting
up in the canopy like this
in 20 years' time and
not hearing those calls.
Having just an empty forest.
It's Easter Sunday.
Easter is a great
time of celebration
in this part of the world, which
is predominantly Christian.
Everyone's out on the streets
in their finery and
having a good time.
But it's a really dangerous
time for our monkeys
because they are on the
menu at this time of the year.
I've just heard that yesterday
four monkeys were
found at Tomohon market,
and there are lots of other bush
markets around this place, too,
so I wonder how many people
are celebrating Easter today
by eating monkey.
But the tide may
just be starting to turn.
The children of North Sulawesi
are already starting
to see things differently.
Ito and Elis
work for an education
charity in schools and villages
across North Sulawesi,
teaching the children
about the value of monkeys.
It's impressive work, and I
find it really moving to watch.
These kids seem to
have got the message,
but Ugi and I want to
help spread the word
to the wider community.
We've started editing our film,
and we plan to
show it in the village
before I leave in
a few weeks' time.
If people can see
monkeys as individuals,
and not just as meat,
they may yet survive.
Time is running out.
There are just 2,000
monkeys left here in Tangkoko,
and this is their
last stronghold.
When we meet up with them again,
there's still tension
at the top of the troop.
Tarzan's nursing nasty
injuries, but incredibly,
he's trying to work his
way back into his old group.
The new alpha,
Samson, won't like this,
especially when Tarzan starts
cozying up with the females.
It's great to see Tarzan
back in the group.
The females seem to like him.
But Samson's...
Samson's having a good
look at what's going on.
Okay, that was Samson
showing the females and Tarzan,
"Don't get too comfortable
with this situation...
I'm not having any of
that, thank you very much."
Tarzan's been the alpha
here for quite a while,
so he's got quite
strong relationships,
and he's got to rekindle those
without upsetting the
new man in charge.
If he crosses that line,
this new male could
teach him another lesson,
and he doesn't want that.
But Tarzan's being
a very clever politician.
By lip-smacking, he's
showing Samson respect.
There's the two big males
getting close together.
It's like Tarzan is trying to
find his way in the troop again.
But it's a moment like
this anything could happen.
Oh, look!
Right now, Tarzan is being
submissive to the new male...
He's, like, trying to
probably bond with him
to maybe become
the next in line,
to be his subordinate,
but that's something
I never could have imagined
happening just a week ago.
What a smart diplomat
Tarzan's proved himself to be,
negotiating his way out of
trouble and back into the troop
as Samson's second in command.
The more I get to
know these guys,
the more complex
this society becomes.
This is what Ugi and I
want people to understand,
that these monkeys are
clever, sensitive creatures,
just like us.
And in my final week here,
there's some really
good news for the group.
There's a brand new infant,
and Ugi has
christened him "Colin,"
after me.
This baby's only
a day or two old?
Yeah.
And what happens in the
troop when there's a new baby?
Normally if we have
a new baby born,
a lot of females get excited
and they would like to
play with the small baby,
and some female pretend
to groom the mother,
but actually she would
like to play with the baby.
Even when the babies
are just a few days old,
it's as if they can't wait
to get their little bit
of independence.
As soon as mum's back is turned,
they're sort of
getting into mischief.
It's as if they
can't wait to get out
and explore the
world for themselves.
And sometimes when
mum is grooming,
they start wandering away
and exploring the vegetation,
and sort of testing
their strength.
It's going to be like a
jungle playground for them
for the next while.
Baby Colin has wandered
too far from his mother.
He's stumbled into
the path of Uhura.
It's an early lesson
to keep a wary eye
out for the alpha female.
Once she's shown her dominance,
Colin is allowed to
return to his mother,
shaken but not harmed.
But then mum sees
what's going on,
gathers him back into the fold.
"You shouldn't
be doing that yet,
you're too young to
wander off on your own."
You know, when a species
is in this much trouble,
every birth has got
to be celebrated.
That's what we need is lots
more births, lots more monkeys.
We need this population
to stop declining, and soon,
and start building again.
It's monkey movie
night in the village.
Tonight we're planning
to show our film,
but first we need to get
the word out on the streets.
We're just trying to
drum up a bit of support
for our film tonight...
It's a lot of fun,
and it looks like lots of
people are going to come.
If they all turn up, we're
going to be in trouble.
Shall we stop here
and hand some out?
♪♪
Ugi and his megaphone
have worked wonders.
A crowd of about
500 have turned up
for our screening.
Despite the fact they're
almost neighbors,
most people here have
never seen the monkeys
behaving naturally,
and they seem to
find them fascinating.
The whole idea of the film
is to make people think,
and understand how
precious these monkeys are.
And it looks as
though it's working.
For the first time,
people are learning that the
monkeys live in family groups
and take care of their
young just like we do.
When the film reveals how rare
and endangered the monkeys are,
the atmosphere changes
and the crowd falls silent.
Now, I know the monkeys
won't be saved overnight
by people watching a film,
but just to get the
local community
learning about monkeys
and showing an interest
is progress of a kind.
If they can take home the idea
that the macaques are
about to disappear forever,
then the growing
movement to save them
could gain momentum...
And the monkeys
could still have a future.
Ugi and I
have got special
permission from the school
to bring the children
in to meet the monkeys.
It's the first time
many of these kids have
been into the rainforest,
and they're very excited
about seeing the macaques.
As the next generation
learn to value the monkeys,
I hope they might
not want to eat them,
and the hunting
should eventually stop.
My time with the troop
is coming to an end.
I've come to say goodbye,
especially to my
little favorite, Peanut.
I'm delighted to
see that for once
he's looking rather
pleased with himself.
This is a really lovely moment.
He spends so much
time on his own,
and he rarely gets groomed,
and here he's getting
a really good once over.
It's just lovely to see.
Peanut has made friends
with a young female
who's taken quite
a shine to him.
I've never seen him so happy.
Some of the youngsters
have become incredibly friendly,
and it feels like
I'm now part of the gang.
Now, I'd normally try
and keep my distance,
but there's nothing
I can do about this.
Might as well just
try and enjoy it.
And then a second pair of
hands starts grooming me, too.
All my hours of filming
are rewarded in
one single moment.
I can't quite believe
that that just happened
on my last day in the forest.
Such an amazing feeling.
Just saw them coming
closer and closer
until they filled my lens.
Then I just felt
that... The first touch.
And it wasn't just a
casual tap on the head.
It wasn't just that
sort of contact,
it was a full-on groom.
I wonder what they think of me.
I know what I think of them.
Wonderful, wonderful creatures.
It's like a...
Like a little
parting gift, I guess.
It's going to be really
tough leaving them behind.
But I'm leaving this place
with a real sense of hope,
a sense that all is not lost.
And that's because the people
who are working to save them
are working really hard.
It's just been such a privilege
not just to work
with these monkeys
but to work with the people
who are trying to save them.
I'm sad to go, but I
leave knowing that
over the coming months
the film that Ugi and I made
will eventually be shown
right across Northern Sulawesi.
I just hope our
message gets through
before it's too late for the
crested black macaque.
To learn more about what you've
seen on this "Nature" program,