Family Matters

S1, E1: The key to primate success is that, like us, most species live in close-knit family groups. How do you choose your friends, learn from those around you and know who to trust? We explore the complex world of primate social lifestyles. In Peru, Emporer tamarin males are conned into childcare; vervet monkeys in South Africa have a sophisticated alarm system to warn for predators, and by using team work chimpanzees have become some of the most success hunters on the planet. But living in families isn't always easy. in Gibraltar barbary macaques steal babies to impress their boss. Hamadryas baboon males in Ethiopia rule with an iron fist and in matriarchal ring-tail lemur societies the girls have to fight pitched battles with babies in tow.