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Can the secrets of our past be found in the jungle? And what can it tell us about our future?

Accompany researchers in NATURE’s Deep Jungle: The Beast Within as they explore tropical forests for clues about the origins of humans and what our own future might hold.

In a bid to understand the genesis of human aggression, primatologist David Watts travels to Uganda’s Kibale National Park to study chimpanzees. In the past, researchers had witnessed these primates hunting, killing, and eating colobus monkeys. Watts, however, made a chilling new discovery that these primates also hunted and murdered their own kind. The theory under investigation is that violence may help chimp groups cement social ties.

In Brazil, clever capuchin monkeys use heavy rocks to crack open nuts for food. “Deep Jungle: The Beast Within” marks the first time the behavior has been captured on film. Tool use, which was previously thought to be a skill only of primates — humans and chimps — reminds us that human abilities arose long before the evolution of our species.

In Central America and Cambodia, archaeologists ponder the ruined remains of ancient cities that once flourished in the jungle. What might have happened to these lost civilizations? And can modern cities avoid the fate that befell those that came before?

In the Central African Republic, primatologist Chloe Cipolletta enlists the help of the BaAka people in her effort to preserve the jungle’s future. The BaAka have lived in the forest for generations, and are experts at tracking the elusive western lowland gorilla. Together, Chloe and the BaAka are gaining the gorilla’s trust and in return, the BaAka are learning to see the gorillas as more than a threat.

Production Credits
Television Credits  

Narrator
PAUL CHRISTIE

Series Producer
DAVID ALLEN

Written & Produced by
RUPERT BARRINGTON

Camera
KEVIN FLAY

Additional Camera
JUSTINE EVANS
RICHARD KIRBY
BRIAN SEWELL

Rope Specialist
JAMES ALDRED

Sound
BECCA CECIL-WRIGHT

OMAR PAREJA VALENCIA

Music
WILL SLATER

Editor
ANDREW CHASTNEY

Dubbing Editor
SEAN RICHARDS

Dubbing Mixer
RICHARD LAMBERT

Online Editor
CHRISTIAN SHORT

Colorist
JET OMOSHEBI

Visual Effects
JELLY TELEVISION

Archive Researcher
LAWRENCE BREEN

Thanks to:
Amazon Conservation Association
Benedito Mutran
Beth King (STRI)
Carlos Araya Carmozina
Elizabeth Losos
Enrique Ortiz

Havier Gordillo
Inka Natura
Janalee P. Caldwell
Los Amigos Research Centre
Mirko Fernandez
Sean Morris
Stratford Upon Avon Butterfly Farm
Tambopata Research Centre

Researcher
JAMES REED

Assistant Editor
GARY THOMAS

Assistant Producers
BECCA CECIL-WRIGHT
BILL MARKHAM
BARNY REVILL

Production Coordinators
HELEN WHILE

LISA MENIKIDES

Production Manager
WOLFGANG KNOEPFLER

Head of Production
TERESA WATTS

Executive Producer
BRIAN LEITH

© Granada 2004

  For NATURE 

Series Editor
JANET HESS

Supervising Producer
JANICE YOUNG

Producers
PATTY JACOBSON
JILL CLARKE

Associate Producers
IRENE TEJARATCHI
GIANNA SAVOIE

Production Secretary
RACHAEL TEEL

Manager
EILEEN FRAHER

Production Manager
JULIE SCHAPIRO THORMAN

Online Editor
BRUNO PELLEGRINI

Sound Mixer
ED CAMPBELL

Series Producer
BILL MURPHY

Executive in Charge
WILLIAM GRANT

Executive Producer
FRED KAUFMAN

A Co-Production of Granada Wild and Thirteen/WNET New York in association with National Geographic Channel International and France 5

This program was produced by Thirteen/WNET New York,
which is solely responsible for its content.

© 2005 Thirteen/WNET New York
All Rights Reserved

Web Credits

Producer
DANIEL B. GREENBERG

Associate Producer
TANNER VEA

Designer
MICHAEL DIMAURO

Pagebuilding
BRIAN SANTALONE

Technical Director
BRIAN LEE

About the Writer
David Malakoff is a journalist covering research discoveries and the politics of science for SCIENCE MAGAZINE in Washington, D.C. His writing has appeared in a wide range of venues, including THE ECONOMIST, THE WASHINGTON POST, and ABCNews.com.

Photo for “Overview” © Rupert Barrington / Granada Media Group. Photos for “The Amazing Brazil Nut Tree” © Brett Von Buddenbrock / Granada Media Group. Photo for “Meet the Scientists” © Justine Evans. Photo for “Resources” © Granada Media Group. Other images from DEEP JUNGLE.

Thirteen Online is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York’s Kravis Multimedia Education Center in New York City. Dan Goldman, Executive Director, thirteen.org. Bob Adleman, Business Manager.

 

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