Nature Season 9 Episode 9 Monkey Island

In season 9 episode 9 of the show Nature, viewers are taken on a journey to the small tropical island of Cayo Santiago, off the coast of Puerto Rico. The island is home to over 1,000 rhesus macaques, who are free to roam and live in their natural habitat. The episode, titled "Monkey Island," explores the lives of these monkeys and the impact of human interference on their way of life.

The episode begins by introducing the audience to the macaques of Cayo Santiago. Viewers are shown how they interact with each other, how they play, and how they go about their everyday activities on the island. We learn about the social hierarchies within the monkey society, where the strong dominate the weak, and how the monkeys have developed complex communication systems to interact with one another.

However, despite the natural beauty of the island and the lives of the monkeys, humans have had a significant impact on their way of life. The episode explores how humans have used the island to conduct research on the macaques for over 80 years. Viewers are shown the laboratories and the various studies that have taken place on the island. The researchers, who have become familiar with the monkeys, provide insights into the benefits of studying the behavior of these monkeys.

As the episode progresses, viewers learn about the impact that human activity has had on the macaques. The monkeys have become entirely dependent on the research facilities for their food, and their natural habitat has been compromised. This has resulted in changes to their behavior, and the macaques have become less fearful of humans. The researchers worry about the consequences of this, as the monkeys could become a danger to the tourists who visit the island.

Despite the negative impact of human interference, the episode shows how the macaques have adapted to their changing environment. We see them use the research facilities to their advantage, such as using the laboratory structures to hide from predators. The researchers also help the monkeys by providing them with medical care and protection when necessary.

The episode concludes by highlighting the ongoing research being conducted on the island and how the insights gained could help to save other species. For example, the researchers are studying the monkeys to learn about the origins of human phenomena such as culture, language and social behavior. The researchers believe that this research could have implications for human health and understanding of human behavior.

Overall, the episode provides a fascinating insight into the lives of the macaques of Cayo Santiago and how their existence has been shaped by human interference. Viewers come to understand the importance of studying these monkeys' behavior and how it could have far-reaching implications for our understanding of the world around us.