<i> This is a story about
an incredible primate.</i> <i> Highly sociable,
extremely affectionate,</i> <i> and very vocal.</i> (squeak) <i> The golden snub-nosed monkey.</i> <i> Its home: China's
remote mountain forests.</i> <i> China is a realm
of diverse landscapes,</i> <i> full of rare and
surprising creatures.</i> <i> For the first time,</i> <i> we'll uncover their
remarkable untold stories</i> <i> in</i> The Hidden Kingdoms
of China. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> A newborn golden
snub-nosed monkey.</i> <i> She's just a few hours old</i> <i> and entirely dependent
on her mother.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> In the year ahead she'll be
at her most vulnerable</i> <i> and will face many challenges.</i> <i> She'll need intelligence,
strength,</i> <i> and most of all,
her family's care and love,</i> <i> if she's to survive in China's
mountain forest kingdom.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> The endangered golden
snub-nosed monkey lives only</i> <i> in the high mountain forests
of central China.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> Up to 13,000 feet
above sea level.</i> ♪ ♪ (cry) <i> Our baby girl's troop lives</i> <i> in the world's largest
high altitude forest,</i> <i> where there are
more tree species</i> <i> than in any other
deciduous forest on Earth.</i> (birds chirping) <i> It's spring.</i> <i> And the monkeys
are in high spirits.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> The troop has five families.</i> <i> Each with one male,
several females,</i> <i> and their young.</i> (squeak) <i> Males that aren't
part of the family</i> <i> live in the troop's
bachelor gang.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> They're a boisterous bunch,</i> <i> but right now, they're not
the center of attention.</i> <i> That honor belongs
to our baby girl.</i> <i> She's the first born
this spring,</i> <i> and the females in the family</i> <i> will do anything
to get a cuddle.</i> (squeaking) <i> This auntie is first in line.</i> <i> But not for long.</i> (squeaking) <i> With only one baby
to go around,</i> <i> competition is fierce.</i> (squeaking) (squeaking) ♪ ♪ <i> When it all gets
a bit too much,</i> <i> it's mom to the rescue.</i> ♪ ♪ (squeak) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (squeak) ♪ ♪ <i> The monkeys' attention soon
turns to their tummies.</i> <i> In spring they spend
a quarter of daylight hours</i> <i> eating fresh new leaves.</i> <i> Their favorite food and
an important source of protein.</i> <i> As temperatures rise,</i> <i> trees higher up the mountain
spring to life.</i> <i> And the monkeys
follow the feast.</i> (cry) <i> Crystal clear streams
run through</i> <i> these high forest valleys.</i> <i> The surrounding trees
filter the rain,</i> <i> and their shade keeps
the water cool,</i> <i> helping to maintain healthy
levels of dissolved oxygen.</i> <i> These pristine streams
are a lifeline.</i> <i> And not just for the monkeys.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> One of China's strangest
creatures lives here.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> The Chinese giant salamander
has hardly changed</i> <i> since the Jurassic period
over 170 million years ago.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Growing up to 6 feet long,</i> <i> it's the largest amphibian
in the world.</i> <i> This female has tiny eyes
and poor vision,</i> <i> relying instead on smell, touch</i> <i> and sensing vibrations
to get around.</i> <i> She spends most of her life
underwater,</i> <i> absorbing oxygen
through her skin.</i> <i> Folds increase the surface
area, maximizing the process.</i> <i> Although revered for centuries
in China,</i> <i> illegal hunting and
habitat destruction has left</i> <i> these creatures critically
endangered in the wild.</i> <i> For the few who remain,</i> <i> remote forest streams like this
are a vital refuge.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Our baby girl is now
three weeks old</i> <i> and exploring her forest home.</i> <i> She soon discovers that she
shares it with other creatures.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> But it's the family's
playful youngsters</i> <i> that really catch her eye.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> A year or two older than her,</i> <i> their lives seem like
one endless play session.</i> <i> And she's eager to try out some
of the skills they've mastered.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> Hanging from one arm
is best tried</i> <i> close to the ground
to begin with.</i> (whimper) ♪ ♪ <i> Walking along a branch
looks easy,</i> <i> but for our baby
it takes concentration...</i> <i> bravery...</i> <i> and brain power.</i> <i> She's figuring out
how to turn around</i> <i> and get back to mom.</i> <i> A moment of comfort...</i> <i> ...before the next adventure.</i> <i> Babies learn very quickly.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> And soon, she's climbing trees.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> By following her instincts
and imitating others,</i> <i> she's grasping
essential monkey skills.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Spring is when all
the new babies are born.</i> <i> It offers them
the best chance of survival,</i> <i> as they'll have the warmer
months to grow strong.</i> <i> But in this high mountain
forest, nothing is guaranteed.</i> <i> Spring weather can change
in an instant.</i> <i> A sudden drop in temperature</i> <i> threatens all
the troop's babies.</i> <i> In China's
high mountain forests,</i> <i> spring rain brings
a sudden drop in temperature.</i> <i> Our baby girl doesn't yet
have a full coat</i> <i> to protect her from
the cold and wet.</i> <i> Alone in the treetops, she's
vulnerable to hypothermia.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (squeaking) <i> Her mom and family step in
to keep her warm and dry.</i> <i> But as the weather worsens,</i> <i> rain turns to snow.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Disaster strikes the family.</i> (crying) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> A mother cradles the lifeless
body of her newborn baby.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Her maternal instinct
is so strong,</i> <i> she cares for her infant
as though it's still alive.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Family members try
to comfort her.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> But she seeks solitude.</i> <i> These monkeys seem
to understand death,</i> <i> and this mother isn't
ready to let go.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> The sunshine returns,</i> <i> and life flourishes once more
in the mountain forests.</i> <i> In time, spring
turns to summer.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Trees are in full bloom,</i> <i> and food is plentiful.</i> <i> This area has more than
4,000 plant species,</i> <i> making these forests</i> <i> among the most biologically
diverse on Earth.</i> <i> With food in such easy reach,</i> <i> there's plenty of time
for other activities,</i> <i> such as grooming.</i> <i> An all-important part
of monkey society.</i> <i> It keeps skin and fur clean.</i> <i> But more importantly, builds
and cements relationships.</i> (squeak) <i> And it's just so relaxing.</i> <i> Naptime soon follows.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> Our baby girl
doesn't doze for long.</i> ♪ ♪ (squeaking) <i> At three months old,</i> <i> with stronger muscles
and hand-eye coordination,</i> <i> she's coming on
leaps and bounds.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> And she's taking a big step
in her social development.</i> <i> Playing with other babies.</i> ♪ ♪ (squeaking) <i> But at this age,
she's soon distracted</i> <i> and wanders off exploring.</i> <i> As the adults doze
in the afternoon sun,</i> <i> a cold-blooded killer
is waking up.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> And our baby girl has
caught his attention.</i> <i> A king rat snake is heading
towards our baby girl.</i> <i> This constrictor
eats any creature</i> <i> it can wrap itself around.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (yip) <i> The alarm is raised.</i> (squeaking, yipping) (squeaking, yipping) <i> Many pairs of eyes help
keep the monkeys safe.</i> (squeaking) <i> The troop moves on.</i> <i> In this complex society,</i> <i> these intelligent monkeys use
many different vocalizations.</i> (squeaking, yipping) <i> As the families and
bachelor gang travel together,</i> <i> contact calls keep them
all in touch.</i> (squeaking) <i> Individuals have their own
unique signature calls.</i> (whine) <i> Particularly useful
in dense vegetation</i> <i> when they can't see
each other well.</i> (squeaking) <i> They have lots to talk about
in their ever-changing world.</i> (squeaking) <i> And the seasons are
turning once more.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Fall is arriving.</i> <i> One of the most spectacular
times of year.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (squeaking) (squeaking) <i> At six months old,</i> <i> our baby girl still
depends on mom's milk.</i> <i> But she's also developing
a taste for new things.</i> <i> She takes her first bites
of solid food.</i> <i> Tries her hand at grooming.</i> <i> And she spends more time
than ever playing.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> Ten times more than
she did in summer.</i> (squeak) ♪ ♪ <i> Playing is fun,
but it's important, too.</i> <i> It keeps the monkeys
fit and strong,</i> <i> enhances their social skills,
and sharpens their brains.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> As long as they get
the landing right.</i> <i> In Chinese folklore,</i> <i> monkeys represent
rebellion and mischief.</i> (screeching) <i> One group that lives up
to that reputation</i> <i> is the troop's bachelor gang.</i> <i> These young males were evicted
from their families</i> <i> before they turned three.</i> (wee) (squeaking) (squeaking) <i> They wrestle endlessly,</i> <i> preparing for the day</i> <i> they'll fight to try
to win their own family.</i> <i> One of the older bachelors
has reached that point.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> Aged seven,
the warts on his lips</i> <i> show that he's sexually mature.</i> <i> Apparently, these warts
are attractive to females.</i> <i> He'll win the right to mate,
if he can take over a family.</i> (squeaking) ♪ ♪ <i> He's going to try to overthrow
our baby girl's dad.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (squeak) <i> Dad and his family
are under threat.</i> <i> Males who take over have
been known to kill babies,</i> <i> so that they can sire
their own offspring.</i> <i> Our baby girl could be
in grave danger.</i> (shrieking) <i> A challenger is battling
our baby girl's dad,</i> <i> hoping to take over his family.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> If he wins, he could kill her.</i> (shrieking) (shrieking) <i> Dad's an experienced fighter,</i> <i> but not as young and strong
as he used to be.</i> <i> What he does have</i> <i> is the support of his females.</i> (shrieking) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> The challenger is sent packing.</i> <i> Dad returns to our baby girl's
mom for comfort.</i> <i> It's thanks to the females</i> <i> that he's kept his position
in the family...</i> <i> ...including his mating rights.</i> <i> Fall is the breeding season,</i> <i> and the female who lost
her baby in spring</i> <i> is ready to mate again.</i> <i> To win the male's affections
she showers him with attention.</i> <i> Female golden snub-nosed
monkeys use grooming</i> <i> as currency, hoping
to exchange it for sex.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> And she seems to be finding
all the right spots.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (squeak) <i> They'll mate several times.</i> <i> But only time will tell if
she'll give birth next spring.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> With fall progressing
in China's forests,</i> <i> trees shed their leaves.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> A way to save energy during
the cold months ahead.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> With less on offer,</i> <i> the monkeys eat bamboo leaves
and pine needles.</i> <i> All the forest's creatures
get ready for winter.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> This remote
high altitude refuge</i> <i> is home to over
90 mammal species.</i> <i> But most are secretive
and seldom seen.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> Yellow-throated marten
search the forest floor</i> <i> for fallen fruit and seeds.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> The forest provides
this vital food source,</i> <i> and the martens
return the favor.</i> <i> Traveling far and wide,</i> <i> they spread seeds
through their droppings.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> And seeds disperse
in more than one way.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Some attach to
the monkeys' coats.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> In fall, the monkeys travel
up to two miles each day,</i> <i> spreading the seeds as they go.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> The forest's plants and animals</i> <i> depend on one another
for survival.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Our baby girl is now
nine months old,</i> <i> and with a thicker coat</i> <i> she's ready for
the harshest time of year.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> She seems fascinated by
the first snows of winter...</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> ...and explores
her frosty world.</i> <i> What she doesn't yet know</i> <i> is that four months of snow
lies ahead.</i> <i> To get through it, she'll need
to master a new skill,</i> <i> unique to these monkeys.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> As winter temperatures plummet,</i> <i> our baby girl seeks comfort
and warmth with her mom.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> They can't escape the cold.</i> <i> In fact, these monkeys tolerate</i> <i> the coldest
average temperatures</i> <i> of any non-human primate
on the planet.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Their dense golden coats
thicken up in winter...</i> <i> ...covering their
hands and feet.</i> <i> And those strange snub noses
are less exposed to frostbite.</i> <i> They also have another
remarkable adaptation.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> They're the only monkeys
in the world</i> <i> known to travel
on two legs in snow.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> It keeps their hands
off the cold ground.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> And helps them travel faster,</i> <i> reducing the time they spend
in contact with the icy snow.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Our baby girl reaches
another milestone...</i> <i> ...as she gets the hang
of this new skill.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> This unique behavior
could be the source</i> <i> of an ancient Chinese legend.</i> <i> These forests are said
to be home to wild men.</i> <i> Mysterious ape-like figures
with red hair,</i> <i> who walk upright
through the trees.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Sounds a lot like
the golden snub-nosed monkey.</i> <i> Or maybe there really are
unknown and mysterious wild men</i> <i> roaming these forests.</i> (bird caws) <i> To escape the freezing
temperatures</i> <i> in China's forests,
some creatures hibernate,</i> <i> and others migrate.</i> <i> For those who stick around,</i> <i> having a strategy is vital.</i> <i> This little guy is a sable.</i> <i> Rarely seen or filmed,</i> <i> he's a smaller cousin of
the yellow-throated marten.</i> <i> Today he's out hunting.</i> <i> Using his keen sense of smell
and sharp hearing</i> <i> to search for small prey.</i> <i> Large snowshoe-like feet
help him travel lightly</i> <i> on top of the deep snow.</i> <i> Winter is the hardest time
to find food,</i> <i> but he's got that covered.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> When times were good,
he stockpiled food underground.</i> <i> This survival strategy
is a lifesaver.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> To generate enough body heat
to stay alive,</i> <i> the monkeys now need
more calories</i> <i> than at any other time of year.</i> <i> Carbohydrate-rich bark
and lichens</i> <i> become their main
source of food.</i> <i> Diverse gut organisms and
a multi-chambered stomach</i> <i> help them digest
this tough diet.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> As winter reaches
its coldest point,</i> <i> the temperature plunges
to -4 degrees Fahrenheit.</i> (wind blowing) <i> The monkeys could
freeze to death.</i> <i> They need another way
to stay warm.</i> <i> In the depths of winter,</i> <i> our baby girl
and family struggle</i> <i> in subzero temperatures.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> But luckily, they have
another way to keep warm.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Sharing body heat.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> These affectionate monkeys
huddle all year round,</i> <i> but they do it
much more in winter.</i> <i> Their lives depend on being
surrounded by family...</i> <i> ...or fellow bachelors.</i> ♪ ♪ (squeak) <i> Our baby girl hides out
in the warmest spot...</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> ...until it's safe
to venture out again.</i> (chirping) (squeak) (birds chirping) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Winter's long silence
is finally broken.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> It's a time of transformation
and celebration.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> The monkeys have
lost body weight,</i> <i> but their favorite food
is growing again.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Our baby girl is
now a year old.</i> <i> As grown up as she's become,</i> <i> she still returns frequently
to mom for milk and comfort.</i> <i> She won't be fully weaned
for another year,</i> <i> when her mom gives birth again.</i> <i> And even then,
they'll likely stay close</i> <i> for a few more years.</i> <i> The cycle of life
keeps turning.</i> <i> And the family
continues to grow.</i> <i> The female that lost her baby
last spring has a new arrival.</i> <i> Already two weeks old,
he's healthy and strong.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> Our yearling girl is eager
to introduce herself</i> <i> to her new little cousin.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> No longer the baby,
she knows that in the future</i> <i> he'll be a playmate and
someone she can help care for.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> One day she'll likely
become a mother herself,</i> <i> and continue the long line of
these extraordinary monkeys</i> <i> living in China's
hidden forest kingdom.</i> Captioned by
Side Door Media Services
