One constant in the animal kingdom is the search for food, while a close second is the goal of increasing the odds of species survival by finding the right mate. To achieve these ends, animals use problem-solving, shared information, brute force, and even cannibalism. Filmmakers Hannah Gibson and Joanne Ashman’s three-part PBS-aired Nature documentary explains the "hunger wars," which often lead to a life of stealth and crime. Macaque monkeys thrive in urban environments by brazenly stealing from vendor carts or swiping a carelessly placed human lunch. On Christmas Island, coconut crabs pilfer anything resembling food, even boosting a hat or pistol. Mountain pikas, a small cousin of the rabbit, feather their nests with hay or grass stolen from a neighbor's nesting holes. Pygmy falcons employ a "protection racket," discouraging other predators who would attack other bird's nests, while casually claiming a few chicks for themselves. Dexterity and a keen sense of smell increase the chance of survival, although the fur and feces of the slow-moving three-toed sloth offer a smelly but tempting haven for breeding moths. Peacocks use a strategy of "fans, feathers, and flamboyance," while the female praying mantis devours the male after mating. Monkeys of Gibraltar engage in an elaborate baby-stealing plot as an improbable way of reducing conflict, but hyena pups are known to kill siblings and mothers allow starvation to promote survival of the fittest. Underscoring the fact that the natural world is an unforgiving place, this documentary features fascinating footage, informative commentary, and—when appropriate—welcome humor. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
Natural Born Rebels
(2018) 160 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video. ISBN: 978-1-5317-0473-5. Volume 33, Issue 6
Natural Born Rebels
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