Chimpanzee Page #2

in the short term,

but how long can Scar

count on his men?

Far to the west,

a special fruit has come into

season beneath the waterfall.

Sacoglottis.

Trying saying that three times fast.

Freddy knows the fruit is a real bonus,

so it's best to make the most of it.

Isha collects a private stash

for herself and Oscar.

Remember to wash your food

before eating it.

Once washed,

the fruit is chewed to a pulp

so all the goodness can be sucked out.

You can do it without teeth.

No wonder Grandpa likes them!

That's a good look.

Not a lot of family photos

with Grandpa.

Very appetizing.

When the fruit is sucked dry,

rinse and repeat.

Wow, that is some good Sacoglottis!

Finally, this is something Oscar can

eat without his mother's help.

But it's anyone's guess where

the next meal is coming from.

With the fruit running low,

Freddy's family resorts

to another source of food.

Like us, they eat fruits,

vegetables, and meat.

But their choice in meat is something

that just might surprise you.

Monkeys.

The males take up the hunt.

They split up.

Fanning out through the forest,

they take up their places.

Freddy is at center stage.

Oscar and Isha watch

from the sidelines.

These colobus monkeys

are being hunted.

Smaller and lighter

than the chimpanzees,

they can run on thinner branches,

and this makes the hunt

much more challenging.

Freddy holds back.

This operation requires planning,

and everyone has a role to play.

One by one,

they silently take their positions.

The monkeys still haven't seen them.

Now, the blockers move up.

They're supposed to be seen,

and take a position in clear view.

Another blocker.

Another escape route closed.

Freddy climbs carefully.

He must not be seen.

As ambusher,

Freddy will stay hidden

until he makes the grab.

Perfect.

Now, for the driver.

He'll push the monkeys

towards the ambusher.

Ready,

steady,

go!

They've got one!

Freddy takes the best for himself.

After the initial scramble,

the group settles in for the feast.

For Oscar, it's time to try to

win a seat at the adult table.

Shares get dished out first to those

that helped in the hunt

or as payback for favors.

But no matter how hard you try,

there's always someone

who feels shortchanged.

The females couldn't care less.

When it comes

to guarding meat from the guys,

girl power usually wins.

Back up, big boy.

It's always good to add

a little fiber to your diet,

so don't forget the side salad.

As usual, Oscar was last in line,

so he missed the main course.

He'll have to settle

for his mother's milk.

He may not be the most popular

little boy with everyone,

but his mother's love

is something he can count on.

With dusk approaching, leopards will

soon prowl the forest floor.

If Isha and Oscar want to sleep safely,

the only way is up.

Young, flexible branches

can be woven into a platform.

And leaves from the same tree

will do for bedding.

Now, that's comfort.

Like most kids, Oscar hates bedtime.

Finally, Isha 's little rascal hits the sack.

Even if the kids let you sleep,

there's a good chance

the neighbors will keep you awake.

Ah, please...

Are you kidding me?

You know, frogs are edible.

Here we go.

Isha and Oscar go downstairs

the exciting way.

Early morning, just after breakfast,

is the best time of day to strengthen

friendships with a little grooming.

The bonds between Freddy's team

are more important than ever.

The group is far smaller

than Scar's rival army

and teamwork is their best chance

of protecting the nut groves

for the next generation.

Oscar's future is in all their hands.

Far to the east,

just inside Freddy's territory,

a fig tree comes into fruit,

and is an instant hit with everyone.

Figs are a lifeline in the forest,

often fruiting when

there is nothing else to eat.

Scar's gang is mounting a raid.

They've wiped out the fruit

in their own territory

and have crossed the border

to satisfy their hunger.

All other animals scatter.

Even these figs

won't keep them fed for long.

This is just a stepping stone.

When the moment is right,

they will try to take over the real prize,

the nut groves.

Scar's raid on the eastern border

goes unnoticed by Freddy's group.

A new kind of nut is ripening

in the nut groves.

These are far tougher

than the last ones.

It's time to bring in

the heavy equipment,

power tools!

Success with these nuts

is all about the quality of your hammer.

You can steal someone else's

while they're off collecting nuts.

And Freddy is an expert at this.

But, man, is he tough on his tools.

These things are

a community resource,

so can you please

try not to break them?

Safety first!

So please keep hands and feet

clear of rocks at all times.

Chimps have gathered here

to crack nuts for over 4, 000 years.

Nut-cracking is

part of the group's cultural heritage

and is passed through the generations,

especially from mother to child.

Learning, for Oscar,

will be a slow process.

It will be years before he could

even lift a rock like this.

Day after day,

it takes a committed mom to teach him

how to make a living in the jungle.

It will be many years

before Isha 's son can fend for himself.

A gathering storm

excites Scar's forces.

For Freddy's gang,

the rain is less welcome.

Chimps just hate getting wet.

Oscar gets all the warmth

he can from Isha.

Scar and his gang.

The storm is cover for a raid.

This time, they've got them cornered.

Isha and Oscar are in trouble.

Scar's army was overwhelming.

Oscar's group is in disarray

and badly shaken.

In all the chaos,

Oscar lost contact with his mom.

Isha is nowhere to be seen.

Isha has been injured and separated

from the group by Scar's gang.

She will struggle to get back safely.

This is no forest

to be alone in after dark.

Several of Isha 's friends

have been lost to leopards,

often when they have strayed

from the safety of the group.

Isha will never return to her family

or her son.

Oscar doesn't know

about his mother's death

and he searches for her everywhere.

With every hour that slips by,

he becomes more desperate.

Oscar's growing body

needs constant food.

He tries to remember

what his mom did to make their living.

But nothing comes easily without her.

Hours turn into days.

Oscar must spend less time searching

and more time focusing on his survival.

Hunger drives Oscar to a bees' nest.

Honey is good food, but he's always

relied on his mom to collect it.

The honey's too deep for small arms to

reach, and the bees are not happy.

Oscar's loss will be Freddy's gain.

The boss takes the biggest

piece of honeycomb,

but there's enough left

for everyone else,

except the little boy who found it.

The forest seems an

increasingly hostile place

for a young, hungry chimpanzee.

The razor-sharp jaws

of these army ants

can strip a frog or a lizard

to the bone in minutes.

Is it really a good idea to eat

something that can eat you back?

Oscar is the first to get bitten.

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