[mysterious music playing]
[David Attenborough] This forest is home to the biggest and heaviest
of all tree-living animals.
[branches rustling]
-[whimsical music playing] -[David] During their long lives,
they may never even put a foot on the ground.
That is why so little was known about them
until just a few decades ago.
Yet they are one of our closest relatives,
sharing nearly 30 physical characteristics with us.
Even their name, orang hutan, means "person of the forest."
Despite their great size and strength,
these are gentle, thoughtful, problem-solving creatures…
and perhaps more relatable to us than any other great ape.
[bird chirping]
Looking at an orangutan, it's hard not to see something of ourselves.
And while we may never know exactly what they're thinking,
think, they surely do.
[whimsical music continues]
[music fades]
[contemplative music playing]
Orangutans once lived right across the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
But much of their forest has now been felled.
And today, the few thousand that remain are restricted to the far north.
Here, one place stands out.
Suaq.
A small stretch of swamp forest…
bordered to the west by the Limbang River,
which acts as a barrier to human development.
[majestic music playing]
Suaq's forest has remained unchanged for thousands of years.
It's prime orangutan habitat…
and now has the highest density of these red-haired apes
as anywhere on the planet.
[whimsical music playing]
It's a neighborhood of over 200 identifiable individuals.
And for the last 30 years,
they have been watched by scientists of the Orangutan Research Project.
But whether the observers are field scientists or filmmakers,
just glimpsing an orangutan in the treetops of the swamp below
is not enough.
You need to see them close up, high in the canopy.
[branches cracking]
And new filming techniques, such as small drones,
are now enabling us to do exactly that,
revealing more details of their private lives than ever before.
Orangs are normally solitary,
but those living here are remarkably social.
[whimsical music continues]
They watch and learn from one another,
and by doing so have created a unique culture.
The use of tools is rare among orangutans elsewhere,
but not here,
and such skills are passed down to each new generation.
[music fades out]
At the center of this long-running study are three closely related females.
The most senior is Friska,
skilled at sucking termites out of sticks.
[gentle music playing]
She's over 60 years of age and one of the world's oldest wild orangs.
Next, Friska's daughter Ellie, always eating.
And lastly, Ellie's child, Eden,
who is approaching the biggest milestone in an orang's life.
She's recognizable by the spike in her hair,
a feature she's had since she was a baby.
This is Eden, aged two,
with Mum Ellie.
The bond between mother orangutan and child
is one of the longest and strongest in the natural world,
second only to humans.
A young orangutan will spend thousands of hours watching its mother.
That is how they learn which of the jungle's many species of plant
are safe to eat…
and, just as important, how to eat them.
It's an education that can take a decade.
But all that was six years ago.
Eden is now eight and knows quite a lot about the jungle.
She's learned which plants in this sea of green are good to eat.
What hasn't yet changed is her relationship with her mother.
[animal calling]
Ellie is never far away,
and watching her is still Eden's quickest way of finding food.
Such as these termites.
For Eden, sharing with her mother is a way of life.
Until now.
That slap is not a good sign.
Something has changed.
[intriguing music playing]
There has been a new arrival.
It's about half the size of a human baby
and probably the first newborn that Eden has ever seen.
[chitters]
All rather bewildering.
Though the newcomer is surely worth a closer look.
But her mother doesn't want her too close.
[whimsical music playing]
For eight years, mother and firstborn have done everything together.
[contemplative music playing]
Now, two have become three,
and it all seems different.
Nevertheless, it's still best to follow Mum.
[whimsical music playing]
Even at the age of eight, Eden has always kept her mother in sight.
That is not easy in the dense jungle…
but getting lost would be dangerous.
And wherever Ellie is, food is not far away.
To power their big brains and bodies,
orangutans spend much of their day eating.
These melaka fruit are just one of over 300 kinds of food
that Ellie and Eden will eat.
Collecting some food requires special techniques.
[munching]
For Eden, copying Mum has always been the best policy.
But when a snack can bite back…
[mandibles clanging]
…you've got to get the technique just right.
Eden will quickly learn that using your fingertips
is not the best way to pick up ants.
[shrieks]
As ever, nothing comes between Ellie and her food,
and that includes baby's arm.
[baby squeals]
With a new baby to support,
Ellie must eat around 3,000 calories a day.
Leaves are an important part of their diet.
But even the right kind need some processing.
Which means spitting out the bitter-tasting tannins.
[whimsical music continues]
[gentle music playing]
Newborn orangutans spend a lot of time sleeping,
just as human babies do.
The only difference is that they must do so
while keeping a tight grip on Mother.
After a few hours spent feeding, orangutans like to take a nap.
But now, the new baby seems to have taken Eden's place in the nest.
It's hard when your mother doesn't seem to be as interested
in you as she once was.
Soon Eden will have to find a new home in this forest
and fend for herself.
[animals chittering]
[contemplative music playing]
Elsewhere in the neighborhood,
Eden's cousin Pepito is facing his own moment of truth.
His mother, Piniata, is ready to have another baby.
A year older than Eden,
this is as good a sign as any
that it's time for Pepito to go off by himself.
[expectant music playing]
Going solo is the most dangerous time in a young orang's life.
To succeed, you need know-how, confidence,
and vigilance.
[suspenseful music playing]
[intriguing music playing]
And what better way to show confidence…
than quelling the demons in the swamp below?
[adventurous music playing]
Even if it's only a harmless tortoise.
[music intensifies]
[tense music playing]
[adventurous music playing]
This might appear to be a somewhat over-the-top reaction,
but in orang society,
boys are known to be more boisterous than girls.
And that isn't the only difference between the genders.
[music fades]
To fulfill their potential,
newly independent young males like Pepito
must find an adult male as a role model from whom to learn.
[contemplative music playing]
In the meantime, there's an opportunity to watch the use
of an important Suaq skill.
The fruiting of cemanang trees
is much anticipated by adult orangutans.
The pods contain very nutritious seeds.
But you have to know how to get at them.
Until they ripen, the pods are almost impossible to open.
Inside each are dozens of seeds,
protected by thousands of glass-like hairs.
Once open, the only safe way to reach the calorie-rich seeds
is by using a tool.
And with decades of experience,
60-year-old Friska is an expert.
[upbeat music playing]
With the right size stick,
she can pop out the seeds without touching the irritating hairs.
Suaq's orangs are virtually the only ones able to do this,
though perfecting the skill can take years.
Females have usually learned it by the time they're about 14 years old.
Most males take a little longer than that.
Youngsters like Pepito and Eden have to watch the adults carefully
if they're ever to master the technique and enjoy this high-protein food.
And remarkably, even after they've been chewed by the orangs,
the seeds are still able to germinate.
-[animals chittering] -[music fades out]
Old Friska is on a trip through the neighborhood.
[whimsical music playing]
She's come to visit her daughter Ellie.
Perhaps she's aware of the new addition to her family.
Friska is not just mother of six, she's also a great-grandmother.
And this new baby is her fifth grandchild,
making her the neighborhood's most successful female.
But the relationship between grandchild number five and number four,
spiky-haired Eden, remains frosty.
Mothering styles among orangutans vary.
Friska is known to be strict.
The researchers noticed that compared to other mothers,
she let her infants cry more often
and gave in to their demands less frequently.
A tough-love approach that has been inherited by Ellie,
who is now applying it to her oldest child, Eden.
[gentle music playing]
Her mother's attention is now focused on the new baby,
who seems to have won over even grumpy Granny.
Like cousin Pepito,
the moment has come for Eden to spend time away from Mum.
It will be a whole new experience,
being on her own.
And without her mother,
she will have to deal with many unfamiliar orangutans.
[music fades]
One of these will be very interested in the more independent Eden.
[intriguing music playing]
Twenty-eight-year-old Sulli,
always on the lookout for new relationships.
So any movement in the trees catches his eye.
Despite his age, Sulli hasn't yet developed into a fully mature male
with the pads on his cheeks that are known as flanges.
And even for an unflanged male, he's still rather small.
But what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in determination.
And Sulli the unflanged has just spotted a familiar face.
[intriguing music continues]
Twenty-one-year-old Lily.
As a subordinate male,
Sulli must take the initiative when it comes to befriending females.
She doesn't seem interested,
but when you're an unflanged male, you have to persevere.
[music fades]
[tense music playing]
With his focus on Lily,
Sulli hasn't realized that he's being watched by Split Lip Otto,
Suaq's old but still dominant flanged male.
He won't tolerate a subordinate like Sulli
getting friendly with females on his patch.
[music intensifies]
[music becomes quiet]
Otto must remind him who's boss.
Sulli had better make himself scarce.
[music intensifies]
One advantage of being an unflanged male
is that you can move much faster than heavyweights like Otto.
So staying one step ahead isn't hard.
For Otto, it's not easy putting the frighteners on someone
if you can't get close.
But shaking branches
is a flanged male's way of saying, "Get lost."
Job done.
At least for now.
[tense music becomes quiet]
[warbling call echoes]
[warbling continues]
This sound is a long call…
[calling]
…made by another flanged male.
[calling]
[moody music playing]
Titan.
He wants Otto's title.
If he gets it, he will be the one that breeding females will choose.
So Titan the challenger goes in pursuit,
and Otto makes a run for it.
[dramatic, action music playing]
[calling]
Combat risks injury or worse.
So flanged males will only fight if they have to.
Far better if the contest can be decided by a show of strength.
And Titan knows how to rattle the old man's cage.
[animals howling]
Otto's only goal now is getting as far away from Titan as possible.
[music becomes quiet]
Titan may have seen off Otto,
but he's not yet the dominant male.
To win that title, he will probably have to face much stronger opponents.
This won't be one of them.
[comical music playing]
-It's Pepito. -[music fades]
For a newly independent young male,
Titan is the perfect role model to learn from.
[upbeat music playing]
At nearly 90 kilos,
Titan can use his weight to swing across gaps between trees, and so save energy.
That's worth a go, surely.
[upbeat music becomes lively]
The problem of being a lightweight.
[music becomes quiet and suspenseful]
But there are other ways to cross gaps.
[music becomes mysterious]
The question is, will this vine carry his weight?
Perhaps it's a bit risky.
It's a big drop to the swamp below.
Oh, what the hell.
[adventurous music playing]
He's not saved any energy,
but play is all part of the learning experience.
[music stops]
[calling]
Titan is advertising.
[Titan calling]
[upbeat music playing]
Time for Pepito to resume his shadowing of the big, flanged male.
[calling]
If he can disentangle himself from these branches.
[Titan continues calling]
Long calls are not just about power and territory.
Scientists have recently discovered they also communicate future travel plans.
Titan's call tells other orangutans in which direction he'll be traveling,
even into the next day.
[Titan continues calling]
[music becomes ominous]
Fair warning to any other flanged male in his path.
[animal grunting]
[music becomes quiet and dramatic]
It's not good news for Split Lip Otto.
Once the king of Suaq, what he now needs is a quiet retirement.
That could lie on the other side of the river,
but how's he to get there?
Orangutans are afraid of water.
[animal grunting]
A bridge used by the monkeys could be the answer.
But Otto is more than ten times heavier than a langur monkey.
And there could be crocodiles in the river below.
[music becomes moody]
Otto's self-imposed exile from Suaq marks the end of an era.
And without an established dominant male,
other younger males will rise from the ranks to claim the position.
So it won't be long before Titan will have to face another opponent.
[music fades out]
[upbeat music playing]
[animal calling]
Over the last few months,
Eden has settled down in her own patch of swamp forest,
not far from Ellie, her mother.
She's returned home several times,
but such visits are now less frequent.
And like all the neighborhood orangutans,
she's getting used to being by herself.
But she still wants to know what's going on when other residents appear,
particularly if they are family or friends.
It's Olala, a juvenile female.
She isn't family,
but here in Suaq, young unrelated females often tolerate each other.
[dramatic musical hit]
-But not this time. -[mischievous music playing]
Eden and Olala's families have had a long-running feud.
And there's no sign of it cooling.
Eden must try to drive Olala away.
[dramatic music playing]
[music becomes quiet and dramatic]
[gentle music playing]
Standing up to Olala and defending her territory
shows she's come a long way since leaving home.
She returns to her berries,
not yet aware of a new visitor.
[mysterious music playing]
It's Sulli, the unflanged.
[whimsical music playing]
He's come here to make friends with Eden.
Eden seems unsure.
She's never been alone with a male before.
Eden pauses, perhaps to assess the situation.
He seems friendly.
But what Eden doesn't know
is that Sulli's strategy is more calculated.
If he can develop a friendship with her now,
he might have more of a chance when she's old enough to breed.
[music stops]
[contemplative music playing]
Maybe that look was an encouraging sign.
Eden settles down with a stick full of termites.
And when Sulli catches up,
he shares her stick.
So far, everything Eden has learned has come from her mother, Ellie.
But watching Sulli is a chance to learn other ways of doing things,
expanding her knowledge of how to live in this forest.
And while motherhood is not yet on her mind…
perhaps this strange male is more interesting than she first thought.
[music fades out]
Not far away, Eden's mother, Ellie, is in a mango tree.
[heartfelt music playing]
Her baby is doing well.
The human observers have named him Emen.
Three months old, he still has a lot to learn about the world around him.
[whimsical music playing]
In Suaq, termites are a very familiar sight.
The shy, fluffy-backed tit-babbler, on the other hand…
[chirping]
…is more often heard than seen.
There are thousands of different species of animal in this forest.
And wherever the two orangs go,
there will be new things for Emen to wonder at.
[upbeat music continues]
[grunts]
Emen will eventually become familiar with most of these creatures…
and learn which are harmless,
and which are not.
[music becomes ominous]
Ellie needs to warn her son when animals are dangerous
so that Emen knows how to avoid them.
A bite from a pit viper could be fatal.
[music stops]
[gentle music playing]
Like Eden before him,
Emen will be closely guarded by Ellie for many years to come.
It's why infant survival is higher among orangutans than any other great ape.
It's time for Ellie to make a nest for the night.
She prepares a leafy mattress.
It will be years before Emen is able to build a nest for himself.
Exactly how to do that is something he'll learn from his mother.
Orangutans build new nests every night.
And they're the most complex made by any great ape.
The style varies from one individual to another.
Some even add leaf pillows.
[yawns]
[quiet snoring]
[music fades out]
-[contemplative music playing] -[animals chittering]
It's 6:00 a.m.
Wake-up time.
[insects buzzing]
For those having a lie-in, the morning alarm is about to go off.
[music stops]
[whooping sounds]
Siamang gibbons.
[rapid whooping]
Suaq's dawn chorus.
Their inflatable throat sacs amplify their calls.
[whooping continues]
And it's deafening, if, like Titan, you've been sleeping right underneath.
[lively music playing]
Other residents are already on the move.
There are over 30 different species of termite in Suaq.
These are processional termites.
They feed on leaves, lichen and bark, which they take back to their nest.
Their columns can be hundreds of meters long.
[car horns honking]
Termites play a vital role in recycling nutrients back into the forest…
[loud rumbling]
[faint screams]
…and are also themselves food for large, hairy apes
like Titan.
[whimsical music playing]
[music stops]
Pepito is still watching what goes on.
Anything he learns from Titan
will be useful if he eventually becomes a flanged male.
Titan, however, has more important matters on his mind,
such as ripe fruit.
And he knows where there is a tree full of it.
[adventurous music playing]
He takes the shortest route…
only stopping if he sees other delicacies on the way.
Titan was an adult when he first appeared in Suaq,
but over the last decade he's built up a mental map of the fruiting trees,
memorizing not only where they are, but when they will be ready to pick.
If he wants to add to his already impressive physique
and become king of the jungle,
he needs to eat, eat, eat.
As many as 8,000 calories a day.
[lively music playing]
[animals chittering]
[mischievous music playing]
Unable to keep up with Titan,
Pepito has homed in on Olala, the young female.
She is eating the fruits of a medang baru tree.
It's likely that Pepito has never been around her before.
So she's worth a closer look.
And she seems interested in him.
But whether this was the introduction she had in mind…
is hard to say.
At this distance, Pepito can really check out her feeding technique.
And maybe learn something new.
But Olala has had enough of being stared at.
For Pepito, learning from his peers is another part of his education,
and might even increase his survival prospects.
[music stops]
[upbeat music playing]
There's something else on Titan's mind.
And it doesn't appear to be Yulia.
As the leading male, he's a magnet for adult females like Yulia
who are looking for a relationship.
Oddly, she's finding it difficult to get him in the right mood.
Perhaps it will help prodding him in a delicate area.
[sniffing]
[grunts]
Time for a rethink.
A gift of a few leaves, perhaps?
Well, there's a limit on what you can do
to get someone's attention.
Or is there?
-[grunts] -[music stops]
Yulia finally gets the message.
[melancholic music playing]
Leaving the distracted Titan to his thoughts,
anxious, perhaps, about the possibility of a challenge
from a more powerful flanged male.
[thunder rumbling]
-[loud thunder rumbling] -[music stops]
Eden has found her own medang baru fruits.
[upbeat music playing]
By her side is Sulli, the unflanged.
His perseverance appears to have paid off.
To filter out the fruit's unpalatable bits,
Eden sieves the juice through her fur.
Surprisingly, Sulli uses Eden's fur for the same job.
But has he overstepped the mark with this apparently intimate action?
She puts a little distance between them.
Sulli follows.
He's nothing if not persistent.
Researchers at Suaq have always known Sulli to be a friendly, playful character…
but he's not reading the signs from Eden.
[shrieking]
What might be playfulness starts to look more threatening,
and Eden wants no more of it.
[thunder rumbling]
[music fades out]
Not even a sudden rainstorm can dampen Sulli's enthusiasm.
It's all too much for Eden.
[thunderclap]
And Sulli is left alone to ponder.
[introspective music playing]
[raindrops falling]
[distant thunder rumbling]
[music fades out]
[tense music playing]
[orangutan calling]
The long calls of mature males are as individual as fingerprints,
and this one isn't Titan's.
[calling continues]
It's another flanged male,
and one with fresh scars of battle.
[deep breathing]
This is Rakus.
Ten months ago, he was a subordinate male.
Since then, a huge surge of hormones
has caused him to nearly double his size and grow cheek pads.
[deep breathing]
-Rakus now wants the top spot. -[branches cracking]
but he hasn't yet seen off his current opponent.
It's Titan.
-[calling] -[dramatic music playing]
[calling continues]
Titan's title defense could be over.
[music ends]
And Rakus looks like being the new contender,
though it has come at a cost.
[tense music playing]
He has a badly cut hand…
[low groan]
…a broken middle finger…
and a torn face.
These wounds will heal in time,
but his severed thumb is a different matter.
Despite his injuries, Rakus must try and stay alert.
Titan could still return.
[bird chirping]
But he can't keep watch forever.
Exhaustion will take its toll.
[tense music continues]
[insects buzzing]
Passing overhead is Sulli, the unflanged.
Ten months ago, when Rakus was still unflanged, the two were friends.
[music becomes suspenseful]
Not anymore.
And males challenging for dominance
have a very short fuse.
[dramatic action music playing]
[grunts]
In his haste to give chase, Rakus makes an error of judgment.
-[branch cracks] -[loud thud]
-[animals chittering] -[music stops]
[tense music playing]
But he seems okay.
[moody music playing]
He's in desperate need of rest.
[calling]
But even now, Rakus finds the energy to send out
one more message to the neighborhood.
It's a warning to flanged males, and an invitation to adult females.
[animals chittering]
[music fades out]
[dramatic music playing]
Old Friska is the first to respond to Rakus's call.
[branch cracking]
[music becomes tense]
[calling]
The sound of her moving in the trees above sets him off again.
He doesn't yet realize it's Friska.
[continues calling]
[melancholy music playing]
The two have known each other for years…
though Friska may not have seen Rakus since he became a flanged male.
But wise old females like Friska
are very good at telling who the next dominant male will be.
So her visit is a vote of confidence for the new contender.
And if Friska is to breed again and have her seventh child,
it's likely to be with him.
[music fades out]
[contemplative music playing]
[animals chittering]
Friska's grandson, Emen, is one,
and ready for his next big milestone.
[music becomes playful]
For the first four years of its life,
a baby orang is carried by its mother wherever she goes through the forest.
But Emen has reached an age when he wants to explore the world away from Ellie.
[playful music continues]
And he gets an opportunity whenever she stops.
As now.
[chitters]
It's a long way down.
Best hang on tight.
But this playtime is over.
[squeaking]
Now the laws of physics come into play.
Ellie must apply just the right force to overcome the resistance.
Another opportunity?
Emen slips off again.
[playful music continues]
This may well be the furthest Emen has been away from his mother.
Three points of contact are usually recommended…
but which toddler doesn't push the boundaries?
[insects buzzing]
Emen's moment of freedom, however, is largely an illusion.
Like mothers the world over,
keeping an eye on baby is second nature to Ellie.
And when he is bored of going solo,
Mum's body makes an excellent playground.
[playful music fades out]
[soothing music playing]
Eden has returned home.
There are still important things for Eden to learn from Mother.
Watching Ellie and Emen together might be the best opportunity Eden has
to see mothering in action before she has her own baby.
So will her style be…
[Emen exclaims]
…tough love?
[comical music playing]
[soothing music resumes]
Or the more nurturing kind?
As with all orangs,
watching and learning will be key to Eden's success.
[upbeat music playing]
And if there's one thing that gets the attention of all adult orangs,
it's a tree hole.
Things live in them,
sometimes edible things.
So it's worth checking out every hole.
[insects buzzing]
And when something is buzzing around the opening,
such as stingless bees,
it's even better.
Because that means grubs or honey.
[upbeat music continues]
Small holes require stick tools to reach what's inside,
but not this one.
Mmm, finger-licking good.
And the best thing,
it's a honey meal with no stings attached.
Unfortunately for Eden, sharing isn't an option.
Eden must look for her own honey pot.
And she knows of one.
-[upbeat music continues] -[bees buzzing]
Like Ellie's, insects are buzzing around the entrance.
A good sign.
But these look bigger and more menacing.
It's time for a smash and grab.
[music becomes lively]
The thing about sticking your hand into a wasp's nest
is that you make them very angry.
The handful of grubs may not have been worth all the stings.
She'll know better next time.
[music becomes gentle and heartfelt]
Several months have passed since Rakus's fight with Titan.
His eye wound has healed nicely.
And he has established his status as the undisputed king of Suaq.
To remain on top, he must stay fit and strong.
High-protein termites will help.
Though working around rotten wood comes with risks.
[comical music playing]
[loud thud]
Ouch!
It's not a good start to Rakus's day,
but a sore head can feel better after a cool drink,
and in this forest, that's not difficult to find.
[upbeat music playing]
Pitcher plants.
[water trickling]
The forest's natural water pots.
Each contains a mixture of rainwater and partially digested insects.
Nice!
As the now dominant male, Rakus' life will never be the same again.
[contemplative music playing]
He will form relationships with neighborhood females
like Friska and Ellie.
But he will shun all other orangutans.
Yet, as the established king,
his very presence will stop unflanged males from developing flanges.
And this will extend his reign, which could last as long as ten years.
[music stops]
[heartfelt music playing]
Things have also moved on for Eden.
She is fashioning a stick tool…
to try and reach whatever is in this hole.
For the very first time, she's figured out how to use a tool
without her mother, Ellie, showing her how.
This one, however, hasn't produced the right result.
She needs a rethink.
She's really trying to solve the problem.
So could this vine do the trick?
[uplifting music playing]
The stick is longer,
but perhaps it's still not long enough.
It will be a few years before Eden is an accomplished tool user,
but this skill is a major milestone in her own journey.
A sure sign that she's ready for an independent life in the jungle.
There will be other challenges ahead for Eden,
but the biggest challenge for her and all the neighborhood orangs
will come from the world beyond their boundaries.
[music becomes heartfelt]
When old Friska was Eden's age, orangutans were found across Sumatra.
Not now.
In the last 20 years,
a staggering 80% of the world's orangutan jungles have gone.
So will Suaq's forest last long enough for Pepito to make a long call?
Or for Eden to raise her own family?
With their long education,
these slow-growing apes cannot cope with rapid changes to their habitat.
Today, only the narrow Limbang River
stands between Eden's home and relentless human development.
But as long as Suaq's forest remains protected,
the story of these remarkable relatives of ours will continue for generations yet.
That, surely, is not too much to hope for.
[music fades]
[mysterious music playing]
[orangutan calling]
[lively music playing]
[music ends]
全世界最大也最重的樹居動物
住在這片森林裡
即使牠們壽命很長
還是可能一輩子都沒碰過地面
所以人類從數十年前起
才開始慢慢了解牠們
但是牠們的血緣和人類相近
與我們有將近卅個身體特徵相同
就算“紅毛猩猩”這個名字 原意也是“森林裡的人”
雖然牠們體型和力氣都很大
個性卻很溫和、體貼，也會解決問題
可能比其他大型猿類更像人類
衹要看著紅毛猩猩 就能輕易看出與人的共通點
雖然人類可能無法知道牠們的想法
但是牠們的確會思考
《紅毛猩猩的秘密生活》
紅毛猩猩以前遍佈印尼的蘇門答臘島
（馬來西亞，蘇門答臘）
但牠們棲息的森林遭到大量砍伐
現在剩下的幾千座森林都在偏遠北部
這裡有一個地方非常特別
蘇瓦克
這是一小片沼澤林
西側以林夢河為界
把人類開發區隔離在外
蘇瓦克的森林已經維持數千年不變
是紅毛猩猩的主要棲息地
現在更是地球上紅毛猩猩最密集的地方
科學家在這裡辨識出皕隻紅毛猩猩
過去卅年來
紅毛猩猩研究計畫的科學家觀察牠們
不過無論是田野科學家還是拍片小組
如果衹能從沼澤仰望樹頂的紅毛猩猩
絕對是不夠的
必須從林冠高處近距離看才行
然而新的攝影技術，例如小型無人機
現在能讓我們如願
揭露更多牠們私下不為人知的生活
紅毛猩猩通常是獨居動物
但是牠們在這裡卻有社會關係
會彼此觀摩、學習
因此創造出獨樹一格的文化
其他地方的紅毛猩猩很少使用工具
這裡則不然
而且這種技能會代代相傳
這項長期研究計畫的重點 是三隻關係密切的母猩猩
最年長的是“捲毛”
擅長舔食棍子上的白蟻
牠現年超過六十歲 是全球野生紅毛猩猩的元老
接下來是捲毛的女兒艾莉
老是吃個不停
最後是艾莉的女兒“伊甸”
即將面對紅毛猩猩的重要生命階段
我們從龐克頭就能認出這位小姐
這是牠從小就有的特徵
這是兩歲的伊甸
和媽媽艾莉在一起
紅毛猩猩的母子關係
在自然界裡稱得上最久也最親密
僅次於人類
小紅毛猩猩會觀察媽媽幾千個小時
牠們就這樣學到叢林裡的多種植物中
哪些能吃
同樣重要的是怎麼個吃法
整個教育過程可能長達十年
不過這都是六年前的事
伊甸現在八歲，非常了解這片叢林
牠學到這片樹海裡的哪些植物可食用
但是牠和媽媽的關係仍然沒變
艾莉一直都在附近
伊甸如果想覓食 觀察媽媽仍然是最快的方法
例如這些白蟻
伊甸的生存之道就是跟媽媽分享
但現在不同了
這一掌可不是好兆頭
情況已經改變
因為有了新生命
小猩猩體型約為人類嬰兒的一半
伊甸可能是頭一次看到新生兒
牠搞不清楚狀況
雖然新生命很値得就近觀察
但是媽媽不希望牠靠得太近
媽媽和新生兒會在八年內形影不離
現在一家兩口變成三口了
感覺也完全不一樣
不過最好還是跟著媽媽
就算已經八歲 伊甸還是不肯讓媽媽離開視線
但是在茂密的叢林裡很難如此…
然而迷路非常危險
不管艾莉在哪裡，食物都會在附近
為了供應大腦和身體養份
紅毛猩猩大部份時間都在吃東西
艾莉和伊甸能吃的食物超過三百種
這種油柑菓衹是其一
採集某些食物需要特殊技術
對伊甸來說，模仿媽媽絕對是上策
不過如果食物會反擊…
獵食技巧就不能出錯
伊甸馬上就要學到抓螞蟻時
最好少用手指頭
老樣子，對艾莉來說，吃飯皇帝大
連小孩的手也可以不管
因為要餵新生兒
所以艾莉每天得攝取大約三大卡熱量
葉子是牠們的重要食物
可是就算找對葉子，也需要處理
也就是吐掉味道很苦的丹寧
剛出生的紅毛猩猩 跟人類嬰兒一樣需要大量睡眠
唯一的差別是牠們必須一邊睡
一邊抓緊媽媽
紅毛猩猩喜歡在吃完幾小時後打個盹
但是現在新生兒 佔去伊甸在巢裡的位置
如果媽媽沒跟以前一樣細心呵護
感覺一定很受傷
伊甸馬上就得在這片森林裡找個新家
並且自力更生
伊甸的親戚“帕皮托”
也在這區的另一個地方面臨重要時刻
牠的媽媽“萍孃妲”準備再生一胎
帕皮托比伊甸大一歲
這也代表帕皮托這個小伙子該自立了
小紅毛猩猩學著獨當一面 是生命中最危險的時期
想克服挑戰，就必須有知識、自信
還有警覺性
展現自信最好的方法
就是攻擊樹下沼澤裡的惡魔
就算對方衹是個性溫和的烏龜
這種反應看似過於激烈
但在紅毛猩猩的社會裡
男生本來就比女生暴躁
兩性差異還不衹如此
為了發揮潛力
帕皮托這種剛自立的小猩猩
必須找個成年公猩猩當學習榜樣
現在有個大好機會，可以觀察
蘇瓦克的一項重要技能
喆麻楠樹的菓實
是成年紅毛猩猩的美味佳餚
菓莢裡的種子非常營養
但是得先懂得怎麼取出種子
菓實成熟前，幾乎誰都打不開菓莢
每個菓莢裡有幾十顆種子
還有幾千根類似玻璃的保護纖毛
菓莢裂開後 如果想安全取出高熱量的種子
就必須用工具
六十歲的捲毛儼然是專家 畢竟牠有幾十年經驗
用大小合適的棍子就能摳出種子
不會碰到討厭的絨毛
衹有住在蘇瓦克的紅毛猩猩會這招
不過學會這種技巧需要好幾年
母猩猩通常能在十四歲左右學會
大部份公猩猩要久一點
帕皮托和伊甸這種小猩猩 必須仔細觀察成年猩猩
才能掌握技巧，享用這種高蛋白食物
最特別的是，就算紅毛猩猩咀嚼過
這些種子還是能發芽
老捲毛穿越這片區域前進
前來探視女兒艾莉
也許是因為知道有新的家族成員
捲毛不但有六個孩子 自己也當上曾祖母
這個新生兒是第五個孫子
使牠成為本區最多產的母猩猩
但是五號孫子 和四號孫子龐克頭伊甸的關係
還是相敬如“冰”
每隻紅毛猩猩的教養方式都不同
捲毛是出了名的虎媽
研究人員發現，跟其他媽媽相比
牠比較常讓幼猩猩哭泣
而且比較少順從牠們的要求
艾莉承襲這種斯巴達教育
現在用來教導自己最大的孩子：伊甸
牠媽媽現在把全副精力放在新生兒上
連脾氣暴躁的外婆都疼這個小孫子
伊甸跟親戚帕皮托一樣
必須離開媽媽，自己過日子
自食其力可說是
全新的經驗
沒有媽媽後
牠就必須應付很多不熟的紅毛猩猩
其中一個同類 對比較獨立的伊甸很感興趣
廿八歲的蘇立
一直在找新伴侶
所以牠會註意樹林裡的風吹草動
雖然年紀不小 但蘇立還不是完全成年的公猩猩
因為牠還沒長出肉頰 也就是臉上的肉墊
就算以沒有肉頰的公猩猩來看
牠的體型還是很小
雖然牠欠缺身材優勢 卻能以決心來彌補
還沒長出肉頰的蘇立 剛剛發現一個熟面孔
也就是廿一歲的莉莉
蘇立是低階雄性
必須主動跟母猩猩交好
但是對方好像沒意願
衹是非堅持不可，畢竟蘇立沒有肉頰
牠衹註意到莉莉
完全不知道“破唇奧托”在盯著牠
奧托雖然老 卻仍是這裡有肉頰的優勢雄性
牠不會容忍蘇立這種低階猩猩
跟地盤裡的母猩猩交朋友
奧托必須提醒對方誰才是老大
蘇立最好馬上開溜
還沒長肉頰的公猩猩有一項優勢
那就是比奧托這個重量級對手快很多
所以跑在牠前面並不難
對奧托來說，如果沒辦法接近
也很難嚇阻對方
不過搖晃樹枝的動作
等於長肉頰的公猩猩在說：“滾開”
搞定
至少現在如此
這就是“長呼聲”
由另一隻長肉頰的公猩猩發出
牠是泰坦
想搶走奧托的王位
如果成功，想生育的母猩猩就會選牠
所以挑戰者泰坦開始追擊
奧托於是逃走
打鬥會有傷亡的危險
所以有肉頰的雄性衹在必要時打架
用展現力量的方式決定勝負當然更好
泰坦知道怎麼動搖老頭子的意志
奧托現在唯一的目標就是遠離泰坦
泰坦雖然送走了奧托
但仍然不是優勢雄性
想成為優勢雄性 就可能得面對其他強大對手
然而牠們並不是對手
牠是帕皮托
對於剛獨立的小猩猩來說
泰坦正是理想的雄性學習榜樣
泰坦將近九十公斤
能利用體重在樹林中擺盪，節省力氣
所以値得一試吧？
這就是體重輕的煩惱
但是跨越這段距離有其他方法
問題是這根藤蔓撐得住牠的體重嗎？
也許有點危險
離樹下的沼澤很高
管他去的
牠沒省到力氣
但是遊戲本來就是學習的一部份
泰坦在昭告天下
帕皮托要繼續跟隨 長肉頰的大塊頭公猩猩
但是牠得先解開纏住自己的樹枝
長呼聲不衹代表權力和地盤
科學家最近發現 長呼聲也能預告未來的行程
泰坦在告訴同類牠要往哪裡走
甚至包括第二天行程
善意提醒沿途其他有肉頰的公猩猩
這對破唇奧托來說是個壞消息
牠曾是蘇瓦克的君主 現在必須悄悄退位
牠可能要歸隱到河的另一邊
但是怎麼過去呢？
紅毛猩猩很怕水
猴子用的“橋樑”也許能解決問題
但是奧托比印度葉猴重了超過十倍
而且底下的河裡可能有鱷魚
奧托離開蘇瓦克流亡 像徵一個時代的結束
而且因為還沒有公認的優勢雄性
其他較年輕的公猩猩就會搶奪大位
所以泰坦不久後就要面對另一個敵手
（三個月後）
過去幾個月來
伊甸在自己的沼澤林區域安頓下來
距離媽媽艾莉並不遠
牠回過娘家幾次
但是回去次數越來越少
跟附近所有的紅毛猩猩一樣
牠也習慣自己過了
不過牠還是想知道 其他居民出現後變得怎麼樣
尤其是親友出現時
牠是正値少女年紀的歐拉拉
並不是親戚
不過在蘇瓦克這裡 非親非故的猩猩少女通常都相安無事
但這次不一樣
伊甸和歐拉拉的家族素有恩怨
而且沒有降溫的跡像
伊甸必須想辦法趕走歐拉拉
敢對抗歐拉拉和保護自己的地盤
代表牠離家後已經成長很多
牠繼續吃莓菓
還不知道有新來賓
是還沒長出肉頰的蘇立
牠來這裡跟伊甸交朋友
伊甸有點遲疑
牠從來沒跟公猩猩獨處過
伊甸暫停一下，可能在評估狀況
對方好像很和善
但是伊甸並不知道
蘇立其實很有心機
如果現在能跟伊甸交朋友
等伊甸有生育能力時 蘇立就能近水樓臺
也許那個眼神是個好兆頭
伊甸拿著爬滿白蟻的棍子坐下
蘇立跟上去時
跟伊甸舔同一根棍子
到目前為止 伊甸都是效法媽媽艾莉
但是觀察蘇立也可以學其他做事方法
拓展牠在這片森林裡的生存知識
雖然伊甸還沒想到要當媽媽…
但這隻奇怪的公猩猩 也許比牠當初所想的還有意思
伊甸的媽媽艾莉在附近芒菓樹上
牠兒子發育良好
觀察人員幫牠取名為“伊曼”
牠現在三個月大 還必須多了解這個世界
白蟻在蘇瓦克這裡很常見
但是這隻害羞的絨背紋胸鶥…
經常衹聞其聲，不見其鳥
這片森林裡有幾千種動物
無論這兩隻紅毛猩猩去哪裡
伊曼都能大開眼界
伊曼遲早會熟悉大部份這些生物…
學到哪些能和平共存
哪些不行
艾莉必須警告兒子哪些動物很危險
伊曼才知道該怎麼躲
被蝮蛇咬一口可能送命
跟姊姊伊甸一樣
伊曼會受到艾莉細心呵護好幾年
所以紅毛猩猩的嬰兒生存率 才會比其他大型人猿高
艾莉該搭建晚上睡覺用的巢了
牠用樹葉當床墊
伊曼還要好幾年才能自己築巢
築巢方法得跟媽媽學
紅毛猩猩每天晚上都會築新巢
而且牠們的巢在大型人猿中最為複雜
每隻紅毛猩猩的巢都有不同風格
有的甚至會加上樹葉枕頭
現在是早上六點
該起床了
賴床的猩猩即將聽到早上的鬧鐘
大長臂猿
蘇瓦克地區的早晨合唱團
牠們的喉囊能夠膨脹，可放大叫聲
如果你像泰坦睡在正下方 一定覺得這叫聲震耳欲聾
其他動物已經開始作息
蘇瓦克的白蟻超過卅種
這些是行軍白蟻
專吃樹葉、苔蘚和樹皮，還會搬回家
牠們的隊伍可綿延數百公尺
白蟻扮演重要角色 能把營養素回収到森林…
本身又是大型長毛人猿的食物
例如泰坦
帕皮托還在看是怎麼回事
泰坦教的東西
能在牠最後長出肉頰時派上用場
但是泰坦現在想的事情更重要
例如成熟的水菓
而且牠知道哪裡有結實纍纍的樹
牠抄最近的路…
而且絕不休息 除非在路上看到其他美食
泰坦出現在蘇瓦克時就已經成年
但是過去十年來 牠的心裡已經有了菓樹地圖
不但記得位置，還記得採収時間
如果想讓自己的身材更壯碩
成為森林之王，就得吃個不停
一天最高可達八大卡熱量
帕皮托跟不上泰坦
所以改找年輕的母猩猩歐拉拉
牠正在吃細柄木薑子樹的菓實
帕皮托可能沒在這隻母猩猩身邊過
所以應該近距離觀察
歐拉拉好像對帕皮托有意
但牠是否想過帕皮托會這樣出場
就很難說了
帕皮托可以在這種距離 仔細觀察牠的進食方法
也許能學到新招
但是歐拉拉不喜歡牠瞪著看
對於帕皮托來說 同儕學習也是教育的一環
甚至可能增加生存機會
泰坦現在有別的心事
而且應該不是在想尤莉雅
牠是公猩猩領袖 自然會吸引尤莉雅這種成年母猩猩
畢竟牠想找如意郎君
怪的是，尤莉雅挑不起泰坦的興趣
也許戳泰坦的隱私部位能助興
該想別的辦法了
也許送上幾片葉子當禮物？
唉，總不能為了吸引對方註意
而沒有下限吧？
還是要豁出去？
尤莉雅總算識趣了
牠讓心不在焉的泰坦獨自沉思
牠的焦慮可能是擔心更勇猛
也有肉頰的公猩猩下戰帖
伊甸自己找到了細柄木薑子菓實
旁邊是還沒長出肉頰的公猩猩蘇立
蘇立的窮追不捨法似乎奏效
為了濾掉這種菓實的苦澀殘渣
伊甸用自己的毛過濾汁液
沒想到蘇立也拿伊甸的毛當濾網
但是這種明顯的親密舉動會過頭嗎？
伊甸小姐拉開雙方的距離
蘇立緊跟在後
畢竟牠生性堅持到底
蘇瓦克的研究員知道 蘇立本來就親切、愛玩…
但是牠看不出伊甸的闇示
看似嬉鬧的行為開始變得危險
伊甸小姐不玩了
但是突如其來的大雨 也澆不熄蘇立的熱情
伊甸受夠了
蘇立衹能獨自思考原因
成年雄性的長呼聲有如人類指紋
這不是泰坦的叫聲
而是另一隻有肉頰的大爺 臉上還有最近打架的傷口
牠是雷酷斯
十個月前還是低階雄性
後來由於賀爾蒙暴增
使得牠的體型幾乎加倍，也長出肉頰
雷酷斯現在想登上王座
但是牠還沒趕走目前的對手
泰坦來了
泰坦的王座保衛戰可能要結束了
雷酷斯看來是新的挑戰者
雖然代價慘重
牠的手嚴重割傷
中指骨折…
臉上也掛彩
這些傷口遲早會痊癒
但是斷掉的拇指就無可奈何了
雖然受了傷，雷酷斯還是得保持警覺
畢竟泰坦可能捲土重來
但是牠無法一直警戒下去
重度疲勞會有嚴重後果
還沒有肉頰的蘇立從上方經過
雷酷斯十個月前還沒長肉頰 當時牠們兩個還是好朋友
現在不同了
爭奪優勢地位的公猩猩
就像火爆浪子
雷酷斯急著追蘇立，結果判斷錯誤
不過好像沒事
牠現在非常需要休息
但是雷酷斯到現在都還有力氣
向整個區域發佈公告
警告有肉頰的公猩猩迴避 也邀請成年母猩猩上門
老捲毛聽到雷酷斯的叫聲後率先行動
牠在上方移動的聲音再度激怒雷酷斯
因為還不知道對方是捲毛
牠們兩個已經相識多年…
但是捲毛可能還沒看過 雷酷斯長出肉頰的樣子
不過捲毛是睿智雌性
很能分辨將來的優勢雄性會是誰
所以牠這次前來 等於認可這名新的挑戰者
如果捲毛還想生育，產下第七胎
也許就會懷雷酷斯的孩子
（八個月後）
捲毛的孫子伊曼已經一歲
即將迎來下一個重要階段
小紅毛猩猩在四歲以前
都是由媽媽抱著在森林裡到處遊蕩
但是伊曼現在這個年紀 已經想離開艾莉自己闖
衹要媽媽停下來，牠就能找到機會
像是現在
這裡距離地面很遠
最好抓緊點
不過遊戲時間結束了
現在是物理定律在玩牠
艾莉必須拿捏力道才能克服阻力
又有機會了嗎？
伊曼再次偷跑
伊曼大概也衹能離開媽媽這麼遠了
通常最好要抓緊三個點…
但是哪個幼童不想挑戰自我？
不過伊曼的自由時間多半衹是假像
跟全天下的媽媽一樣
艾莉早就習慣時時盯著孩子
等孩子自己玩膩時
媽媽的身體就成了最佳遊樂場
伊甸回家了
伊甸還有重要課題要跟媽媽學
觀察艾莉和伊曼的互動 也許是伊甸最好的學習機會
這樣才能在生小孩前學會育兒技巧
所以牠的教養風格是
斯巴達型？
還是慈母型？
紅毛猩猩都一樣
伊甸想當個好媽媽，就得要觀摩
衹有一種東西能讓所有紅毛猩猩註意
那就是樹洞
因為有東西住在裡面
有時是能吃的東西
所以每個洞都得仔細檢查
如果洞口附近有東西嗡嗡叫
例如無螫蜂
那就更好了
因為代表有幼蟲或蜂蜜
如果是小洞，就得用棍子才能伸進去
但是這個不用
吮指回味樂無窮
最棒的
就是不必被叮就能享用蜂蜜大餐
可憐的伊甸，沒辦法有福同享
伊甸必須自己找蜂蜜
不過牠知道一個地方
跟艾莉的蜂巢一樣，入口也有嗡嗡聲
這是好兆頭
不過這些蜜蜂更大、外表更威猛
現在該打帶跑了
徒手捅黃蜂窩的缺點
就是一定會惹火牠們
被叮這麼多包 衹吃到幾隻幼蟲，恐怕不划算
牠下次就會學乖了
雷酷斯幾個月前和泰坦打架
現在眼睛的傷口復原良好
牠已經成為蘇瓦克的共主
必須身強體壯才能保住王位
白蟻含有高蛋白，非常滋補
但是攀爬腐朽的樹木會有風險
好痛！
雷酷斯今天一早就不順
但是喝冷飲能讓頭痛好一點
要在這片森林找冷飲並不難
瓶子草
森林裡的天然水壺
每株都含雨水和消化到一半的昆蟲
好喝
雷酷斯現在成了優勢雄性 牠的生活從此將完全不同
牠會跟這一區的母猩猩建立關係
例如捲毛和艾莉
但是牠也會避開其他紅毛猩猩
不過牠確定成為國王後
沒有肉頰的公猩猩就自動長不出肉頰
這種現像能延長牠的在位時間
最長可持續十年
伊甸小姐也有所成長
牠製作了棍子工具
想挖出這個洞裡的東西
這是牠第一次想出怎麼利用工具
不必靠媽媽艾莉示範給牠看
但是這次的結果並不順利
牠必須再想想
牠眞的很努力在解決問題
所以這根藤蔓有用嗎？
這根棍子比較長
但也許還是不夠長
伊甸還要好幾年才能成為工具高手
但是這種技巧 已經是牠生命中的一大成就
證明牠已經能在叢林中獨立自主
伊甸未來還有其他挑戰
但是牠和這一區所有同類的最大挑戰
來自邊界以外的世界
老捲毛在伊甸這個年紀時 蘇門答臘到處都是紅毛猩猩
現在則不然
過去廿年來
全世界有紅毛猩猩的叢林 已經有百分之八十消失在地球上
所以蘇瓦克地區的森林 能延續到帕皮托發出長呼聲嗎？
還是到伊甸建立自己的家庭？
由於教育養成時間長
所以這些發育緩慢的猩猩 無法適應棲息地的快速變化
現在，人類永無止盡的開發區
和伊甸的家園之間 衹有狹小的林夢河一水之隔
不過衹要蘇瓦克的森林繼續受到保護
這些和人類近似的奇妙生物 就能把故事繼續流傳下去
這當然也算不上什麼奢求