Tufted Capuchin Babysitters
In Tufted Capuchin Babysitters, narrator Gordon Buchanan describes how a tufted capuchin mother discovers there’s honey in a bee’s nest at the top of a canyon. In order to climb to the top, she enlists the help of another capuchin to watch her baby while she makes the climb for the honey. However, the babysitter abandons the young capuchin after she gives in to the temptation to join in on the search for honey. The young capuchin finds itself alone and vulnerable, however after a call to its mother for help, it is quickly reunited with her and out of danger. This video is excerpted from BBC's Animal Babies, a heartwarming show that follows the first breaths, first steps, and first feeds of some adorable baby animals, revealing the challenges they face to survive in some of the toughest but most beautiful places on the planet.
Lesson Express
Q: Why is the bee’s nest so tempting that the mother would leave her baby behind?
A: It contains honey, a rich source of calories the capuchins need.
Q: What do you think of the babysitter? What advice would you give to her?
A: She shouldn't have tried to climb the cliff with the baby; she shouldn't have abandoned the baby to get honey for herself; in some ways, she did what the mother did but less responsibly.
Q: How did the monkeys in the video communicate and why?
A: The monkeys that found the bee’s nest shouted to the others; the baby monkey cried for help from the mother.
More Like This
In Everyone Loves a Fig, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the popularity of the fig tree. Up to 44 different kinds of birds and monkeys have been seen feeding from a single fig tree. Learn how different species interact with one another to gain access to the fruit. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Crystal Clear Waters of Bonito, explore the many types of fish that swim in the crystal clear waters of Bonito, a region in Brazil. The fish can see the monkeys above, feeding on berries, and wait for them to accidentally drop them into the water. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In High Altitude Living in China narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how only a few animals are adapted to survive winter on the high mountain slopes. Watch a giant panda munch on bamboo and a group of golden snub-nosed monkeys huddle for warmth. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Pecking Order of Barbary Macaques, narrator Sir David Attenborough spotlights four groups of monkeys living on Gibraltar. They have a strict pecking order, and one monkey and her son are outcasts. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Everyone Loves a Fig, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the popularity of the fig tree. Up to 44 different kinds of birds and monkeys have been seen feeding from a single fig tree. Learn how different species interact with one another to gain access to the fruit. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Crystal Clear Waters of Bonito, explore the many types of fish that swim in the crystal clear waters of Bonito, a region in Brazil. The fish can see the monkeys above, feeding on berries, and wait for them to accidentally drop them into the water. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In High Altitude Living in China narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how only a few animals are adapted to survive winter on the high mountain slopes. Watch a giant panda munch on bamboo and a group of golden snub-nosed monkeys huddle for warmth. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Pecking Order of Barbary Macaques, narrator Sir David Attenborough spotlights four groups of monkeys living on Gibraltar. They have a strict pecking order, and one monkey and her son are outcasts. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.