The video highlights the challenging survival strategies of the golden snub-nosed monkeys in central China's forests. These monkeys rely on calorie-rich pine cones to prepare for the harsh winter, leading to intense competition among dominantly patrolled troops. As resources deplete, conflicts arise between rival families, heightening tensions and sparking battles over vital food supplies, affecting energy reserves for the winter ahead.

The narrative introduces the dynamic between macaques and humans in nearby farmlands. With the allure of bountiful fruits, monkeys often risk foraging in cultivated lands despite the presence of deterrents like electric fences and trained dogs. Despite these challenges, the monkeys persist, taking advantage of farmers' breaks to access and enjoy the fruits while also dodging canine patrols, making for a continuous cycle of risk and reward.

Key takeaways from the video:

💡
Dominant male monkeys play a crucial role in managing resource distribution and maintaining troop order.
💡
Human-wildlife conflicts arise due to shared resources, highlighting both risks and adaptive behaviors.
💡
Emotions such as grief and empathy are observed within primate communities, providing insight into their complex social dynamics.
Please remember to turn on the CC button to view the subtitles.

Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. dwindle [ˈdwɪndəl] - (verb) - To gradually diminish in size, amount, or strength. - Synonyms: (diminish, decrease, reduce)

As the number of pine cones dwindles, tensions between the rival families increase.

2. patrol [pəˈtroʊl] - (verb) - To keep watch over an area by moving through it regularly for security purposes. - Synonyms: (guard, watch, supervise)

Dominant males patrol the troop, making sure they get the pick of the crop.

3. benevolent [bəˈnɛvələnt] - (adjective) - Well-meaning and kindly; expressing goodwill. - Synonyms: (kindhearted, charitable, generous)

It's when animals leave the forest edge and move into farmland that the relationship with humans becomes less benevolent.

4. bravado [brəˈvɑːdoʊ] - (noun) - A bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate. - Synonyms: (swagger, boldness, boastfulness)

He puts on a show of bravado, but he knows he's in trouble.

5. reverie [ˈrɛvəri] - (noun) - A state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream. - Synonyms: (daydream, fantasy, contemplation)

Finally, the females are happy and the leader can take a moment to relax. But his reverie is short lived.

6. marauding [məˈrɔːdɪŋ] - (adjective) - Going about in search of things to steal or people to attack. - Synonyms: (raiding, plundering, looting)

Growing perfect produce is a Japanese obsession, so the last thing people want is marauding macaques.

7. humiliating [hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪŋ] - (adjective) - Causing someone to feel ashamed or foolish. - Synonyms: (embarrassing, degrading, shaming)

It's a humiliating defeat.

8. perils [ˈpɛrəlz] - (noun) - Serious and immediate danger. - Synonyms: (dangers, risks, hazards)

There are all sorts of perils, but there are rewards too, if you're willing to take some risks.

9. contemplative [kənˈtɛm.plə.tɪv] - (adjective) - Expressing or involving prolonged thought. - Synonyms: (meditative, reflective, thoughtful)

They react just as they do when their own babies die, a calm and contemplative mood descends on the colony.

10. empathy [ˈɛm.pə.θi] - (noun) - The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. - Synonyms: (sympathy, compassion, understanding)

There's a sense of grief as well as empathy for one another.

🔴 LIVE - Top 5 Monkey Moments - BBC Earth

The forests of central China. Home to the golden snub nosed monkey. They will not survive the fast approaching winter unless they stock up on calorie rich food. Top of their autumn menu, pine cones. They grew during the summer sunlight and are rich in fats. Few are now left and time to gather them is running out.

Dominant males patrol the troop, making sure they get the pick of the crop. As the number of pine cones dwindles, tensions between the rival families increase. Mere threats between two males may not be enough to settle disputes. Conflict is in the air. There's going to be a fight. Vital food is at stake, so every pine cone is worth fighting for.

The victor and his family enjoy the spoils of war. The losers get no more than a few dead leaves and will have fewer energy reserves for the coming winter. It's when animals leave the forest edge and move into farmland that the relationship with humans becomes less benevolent. The macaques of the lower forests are as bold as their mountain cousins and often venture out in search of new opportunities. There are all sorts of perils, but there are rewards too, if you're willing to take some risks.

For over a hundred years, people have been growing the finest fruit and vegetables on these warm, rich soils. For these cheeky thieves, it's irresistible. Growing perfect produce is a Japanese obsession, so the last thing people want is marauding macaques. As the day heats up, the farmers take a break. The coast is clear.

They have to be cautious. If they're spotted, there'll be trouble. But every day they brave the electric fences. They know all the weak spots where they can stage their raids and they gorge themselves on the fruit of the farmer's labors. They are almost impossible to stop. But the farmers are not prepared to give in.

They bring out their secret weapon, specially trained monkey dogs. The Japanese shiba inu is one of the world's oldest breeds and people have trained them to protect their crops against monkeys. There's even a Japanese saying that when people are fighting, they're like a dog and a monkey. But the rewards outweigh the risks. They'll be back again tomorrow.

The leader's job is to keep all the females and their babies safe and above all, happy. But he's new to the role and it's proving harder than he anticipated. The females are not easy to please. They demand constant attention. Their thick coats are made to withstand the tough mountain conditions and require daily grooming. If he doesn't indulge them sufficiently, they'll kick him out and replace him with a more attentive male.

The females have him exactly where they want him. Autumn brings him an additional challenge. Winters here are harsh. If the family is to survive, they'll need to fatten up. The leader is feeling the pressure. He's found them a small piece of paradise. The forests. Conifers produce a seasonal feast. Pine nuts are high in calories. Finally, the females are happy and the leader can take a moment to relax.

But his reverie is short lived. A rival family. It's led by the largest, most aggressive male in the forest. This will be a test of the young leader's courage. The females expect him to defend the family. He puts on a show of bravado, but he knows he's in trouble. His rival strength and experience prevails. It's a humiliating defeat. The family must abandon their feast. And the leader will be expected to find alternative arrangements for his disappointed females. They're bullied constantly and forced to live on the fringes of the troops as outcasts. Their only comfort is each other.

He's been snatched. Stolen by a higher ranking female. She. He is childless and she wants a baby of her own. He's only a few meters away, but if his mother approaches, the rest of the troop could well attack her. The kidnapper has never raised a baby before, so this one is in danger.

They're headed towards a cable car tower. The young mother can't let them out of her sight it. They are 30 meters up. If she tries to grab her baby and fails, he could fall to his death. The kidnapper refuses to surrender him. There's one last thing a mother can try. And to do it, she needs to recruit another macaque. Now the mother begins to groom her companions in full view of the kidnapper. All monkeys love to be groomed, even by a low ranking female. It's the basis for peace in macaque society.

Eventually, the urge to join in is just too strong. The kidnap is over and the youngster can climb back into his mother's arms. For our spy creatures, being immersed in the world of animals is not without its hazards. In Rajasthan, the temple langars have taken spy monkey into the heart of the family. But some are keen to take the budding relationship to the next level. And are getting a little too familiar. One seems to want to babysit her, but disaster strikes. An injured baby is a cause for concern.

And this langer seems to believe she's died. Then something extraordinary happens. The monkeys gather round the motionless spy creature as if it is a real baby. They react just as they do when their own babies die, a calm and contemplative mood descends on the colony. There's a sense of grief as well as empathy for one another. Quite accidentally, our spy creature is at the center of something extraordinary, capturing emotions that have rarely been observed. Such apparent expressions of grief may not be unique to primates.

SCIENCE, GLOBAL, INSPIRATION, WILDLIFE BEHAVIOR, ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY, HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTION, BBC EARTH