Ep 4. Next of Kin

Walking With Beasts is a nature documentary series that gives viewers a glimpse of the prehistoric animal kingdom. The show uses state-of-the-art computer graphics and cutting-edge science to take us back in time and bring ancient creatures to life. In Season 1 Episode 4, titled "Next of Kin", the show explores the world of primates and their evolution.

The episode begins with a scene of a group of apes living in the forests of Africa around 30 million years ago. These primates are the ancestors of modern-day monkeys, apes, and humans. The narrator explains how they were small, furry creatures that lived in the trees and evolved to have forward-facing eyes, allowing them to judge distances accurately and catch insects more efficiently.

The audience then travels to a jungle in the Miocene era, around 16 million years ago. Here, we see a group of new world monkeys, which are found in Central and South America. We learn about their adaptations, their social structures, and behavioral traits. We also see how they communicate with each other and how they use their prehensile tails to hang upside down and grasp objects.

The next scene takes us to a small island in the Mediterranean, around 7 million years ago. The climate has changed, the forests have disappeared, and the island is now home to a strange-looking primate called Oreopithecus. This bipedal creature walks upright and has opposable thumbs, making it the first primate to be adapted to life on the ground. The narrator explains how they may have evolved to survive on an island with limited resources.

The show then jumps forward in time to Africa, around 3 million years ago. We see a group of Australopithecus, the earliest known human species. They are not yet fully adapted to life on two legs, and they still spend most of their time in the trees. We see how they use their hands to make tools and how they communicate with each other.

The final section of the episode takes us to the Pleistocene era, around 2 million years ago. Here, we see a group of Homo erectus, the first human species to leave Africa and spread across the globe. We learn about their physical changes, such as an increase in brain size, which allowed them to make more complex tools and communicate more effectively with each other.

Walking With Beasts: Next of Kin is an enthralling exploration of the evolution of primates. It highlights the remarkable adaptations that primates evolved over millions of years to become the intelligent, social creatures we see today. The episode uses stunning computer graphics and animations to bring the world of primates to life, and the engaging narration helps viewers understand the complexities and nuances of primate behavior.