From pygmy marmosets no bigger than a tennis ball to the largest monkey, the technicolour mandrill, primates come in all shapes and sizes. This episode explores how our closest relatives use their bodies to master the art of living in jungle, forests, beaches, mountains and the savannah; and their minds to succeed in the freezing snow, dusty deserts, and – the biggest challenge of all – the urban jungle.
Many of life’s great themes – birth and death, competition and rivalry, love and loss, war and peace – all play out in the world of primates. And for some individuals, life can be particularly tough. How do you choose your friends, learn from those around you and know who to trust? This episode explores the complex world of primate social lifestyles, which are organised in complicated hierarchies, to reveal why living together pays dividends in the crowded primate world.
Our primate cousins are much smarter than you might imagine. Just like us they use tools, solve problems, and even have emotions. This episode discovers how these animals are individuals with a sense of self and why brainpower is essential to primate survival. It uncovers unseen aspects of our relatives’ lives, and reveals a surprising amount about ourselves in the process.