Aping apes

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Synopsis

An orangutan with a baby paddles a boat along the river; another sits washing socks on a jetty next to the river. Attenborough explains that these aren't circus tricks, the orangutans are doing it entirely on their own initiative, copying behaviour they've seen around them. This ability to imitate and use tools started among monkeys but has been brought to a much greater level by the apes. The two talents ultimately led to the transformation in the world. These orangs from camp Leakey have been rescued from captivity and then returned to the world, so have lived partly in the human world and can give us insight into what we have in common. One old lady loves DIY, as does her son who was born in the wild. Even her new infant is interested. Her hands are so similar to human hands: the skiill with which she picks things up and grasps a tool, and the fact that she's clearly ieft-handed. But the most important thing we share is our big brain. It's that that has produced so many of the abilities and talents we have in common.

Credits

Presenter

David Attenborough

Producer

Huw Cordey

Producer

Mike Salisbury

Writer

David Attenborough