1 00:00:02,969 --> 00:00:13,747 . [ TICKING ] >>> TONIGHT ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "60 MINUTES 2 00:00:13,813 --> 00:00:17,884 PRESENTS," ANIMAL MAGNETISM. >> WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE IN THE WATER WITH THEM? >> MAGICAL. 3 00:00:17,951 --> 00:00:25,158 >> "60 MINUTES" IS EYE TO EYE WITH THE WHALE OF MOBY DICK LEGEND. BUT MELVILLE'S NOVEL WAS 4 00:00:25,225 --> 00:00:28,995 FICTION. SPERM WHALES ARE ESPECIALLY MATERNAL. GENERATIONS LIVE TOGETHER WHILE 5 00:00:29,062 --> 00:00:38,705 TAKING CARE OF THEIR CALVES, AND THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST BRAIN IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. AND THEY SLEEP LIKE THIS. 6 00:00:38,772 --> 00:00:51,151 >>> THERE ARE ROUGHLY 1,800 MONKEYS ON CAYO SANTIAGO. THEY LIVE IN ISOLATION IN WHAT IS A NATURAL LABORATORY. 7 00:00:51,217 --> 00:01:00,193 TODAY SCIENTISTS ARE STUDYING HOW THE STRESS OF A DEVASTATING HURRICANE AFFECTED THEIR OVERALL HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIPS AND 8 00:01:00,260 --> 00:01:11,938 WHAT THAT MIGHT TEACH US ABOUT OURSELVES SINCE WE SHARE 94% OF OUR DNA WITH THEM. >>> SO THE TWO TOED, I ALWAYS 9 00:01:12,005 --> 00:01:17,277 SAY LOOK LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A WOOKIEE AND A PIG BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THAT SORT OF BEEP-ABLE NOSE. 10 00:01:17,343 --> 00:01:26,052 THEN THESE ONE HAVE THE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, BEATLES HAIR CUTS AND MONA LISA SMILES. >> BEHIND THAT RINGER FOR RINGO, 11 00:01:26,119 --> 00:01:33,726 COOKE SAYS, IS A SECRET. BEING NATURE'S COUCH POTATO IS THE REASON SLOTHS HAVE SURVIVED FOR MORE THAN 60 MILLION YEARS 12 00:01:33,793 --> 00:01:46,306 IN SPITE OF, WELL, THEMS >>> GOOD EVENING. I'M CECILIA VEGA. WELCOME TO "60 MINUTES 13 00:01:46,372 --> 00:01:56,216 PRESENTS." TONIGHT, THREE STORIES OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM ATTRACT US. LESLEY PAYS A VISIT TO MONKEY 14 00:01:56,282 --> 00:02:06,960 ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF PUERTO RICO, WHERE THE INHABITANTS ROAM FREE AND HAVE MUCH TO TEACH THE SCIENTISTS WHO STUDY THEM. 15 00:02:07,026 --> 00:02:14,300 SHARYN ALFONSI MOVES FRZ SO SLOWLY AMONG THE CENTRAL AMERICAN TREETOPS WITH SLOTHS. BUT WE BEGIN IN THE DEPTHS OF 16 00:02:14,367 --> 00:02:20,540 THE CARIBBEAN SEA. IN 2022, NEARLY EVERY MEMBER COUNTRY OF THE UNITED NATIONS PLEDGED TO PROTECT AT LEAST 30% 17 00:02:20,607 --> 00:02:26,312 OF THE WORLD'S LAND AND SEA BY 2030 TO REVERSE THE DAMAGE DONE BY HUMANS AND PROTECT VULNERABLE SPECIES. 18 00:02:26,379 --> 00:02:30,917 ONE OF THE ANIMALS AT RISK IS ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE OCEAN AND AMONG THE LEAST UNDERSTOOD. 19 00:02:30,984 --> 00:02:36,523 SPERM WHALES ARE NOT THE PREDATORS OF MOBY DICK LEGEND. THEY HAVE BRAINS SIX TIMES LARGER THAN OURS AND SPEND MOST 20 00:02:36,589 --> 00:02:42,428 OF THEIR LIVES IN THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE THEIR SIZE WITHOUT COMPARING 21 00:02:42,495 --> 00:02:53,573 THEM TO A SCHOOL BUS. LAST SPRING WE TRAVELED WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER ENRIC SALA TO THE CARIBBEAN 22 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:59,379 ISLAND OF DOMINICK CA, WHERE HE PROPOSED PROTECTIONS FOR THE HUNDREDS OF SPERM WHALES LIVING THERE. 23 00:02:59,445 --> 00:03:04,851 >> YOU GUYS READY? GO. GO, GO, GO CLAUM. >> LOOK IN THE WATER. 24 00:03:04,918 --> 00:03:11,491 COME STRAY TO YOU. >> Reporter: MOST OF ENRIC SALA'S DIVES DON'T START LIKE A FIRE DRILL THROWN THOUGH HE HAS 25 00:03:11,558 --> 00:03:16,596 SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS UNDERWATER AS AN EXPLORER. >> LOOK DOWN AND IN BACK OF YOU. THIS WAY. 26 00:03:16,663 --> 00:03:21,734 >> Reporter: WE CAME FACE TO FACE WITH A POD OF WHALES, BUT THESE ARE NOT THE WHALES WE TRAVELED ALL THIS WAY TO SEE. 27 00:03:21,801 --> 00:03:29,108 THEY ARE PYGMY KILLER WHALES KNOWN TO THREATEN SPERM WHALES. AND BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE, THE SPERM WHALES ARE NOT. 28 00:03:29,175 --> 00:03:37,550 THESE KILLER WHALES CAN GROW UP TO 8 1/2 FEET IN SIZE. SALA TOLD US SEEING THEM UP CLOSE ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS. 29 00:03:37,617 --> 00:03:41,554 >> YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET INTO THE WATER WITH ONE OF THESE. THEY'RE THAT ELUSIVE. 30 00:03:41,621 --> 00:03:46,826 >> THEY ARE VERY ELUSIVE. >> WHY IS THAT? WHY DO YOU NOT SEE THEM? >> THEY ARE VERY SMART. 31 00:03:46,893 --> 00:03:52,098 THEY HUNT LIKE WOLVES. THEY HUNT IN GROUPS. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT INTERACTING WITH HUMANS. 32 00:03:52,165 --> 00:04:01,774 THEY ARE AFTER THEIR PREY. >> Reporter: WE WERE OFF THE COAST OF DOMINIDOMINICA, A COUN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN. 33 00:04:01,841 --> 00:04:10,016 RESIDENTS CALL IT NATURE ISLAND. THOSE RAIN FOREST COVERED VOLCANIC PEAKS DROP THOUSANDS OF FEET DOWN TO THE SEA FLOOR 34 00:04:10,083 --> 00:04:14,020 BELOW, WHICH IS WHY HUNDREDS OF SPERM WHALES LIVE IN THESE WATERS. THEY ARE ONE OF THE DEEPEST 35 00:04:14,087 --> 00:04:19,392 DIVING MAMMALS ON THE PLANET. THEY ARE MOSTLY FEMALES HERE, FAMILIES MADE UP OF GRANDMOTHERS, MOTHERS AND 36 00:04:19,459 --> 00:04:26,633 DAUGHTERS WHO STAY TOGETHER FOR LIFE, NURSING AND RAISING THEIR YOUNG. WHEN ENRIC SALA WAS HERE, HIS 37 00:04:26,699 --> 00:04:33,473 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TEAM FILMED THIS. IT IS A POD OF SLEEPING FEMALE SPERM WHALES, VERTICAL GIANTS UP 38 00:04:33,539 --> 00:04:40,613 TO 40 FEET LONG SUSPENDED NEAR THE SURFACE. THEIR NAP LASTS ONLY ABOUT 15 MINUTES UNTIL THE WHALES ARE 39 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:48,688 READY TO DIVE AGAIN IN WHAT CAN BE AN HOUR-LONG JOURNEY FOR SQUID THOUSANDS OF FEET DOWN. EVEN TO RESEARCHERS, WHY THEY 40 00:04:48,755 --> 00:04:53,526 SLEEP LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT MYSTERIES. >> WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE IN THE WATER WITH THEM? 41 00:04:53,593 --> 00:05:01,934 >> MAGICAL. WE HAVE IN OUR MINDS THE LEGEND OF MOBY DICK, THESE NASTY, AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS. 42 00:05:02,001 --> 00:05:10,009 BUT YOU JUMP IN THE WATER, AND THEY ARE SO DOCILE AND GENTLE. THEY HAVE NEVER ATTACKED HUMANS, AND THEY ARE SO CURIOUS, 43 00:05:10,076 --> 00:05:15,014 ESPECIALLY THE BABIES. SO IT'S ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS THAT ONE CAN HAVE ON THE PLANET. 44 00:05:15,081 --> 00:05:22,288 >> YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE IS "EXPLORER IN RESIDENCE." NOT BAD. >> IT'S AN OXYMORON. 45 00:05:22,355 --> 00:05:25,491 EXPLORERS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN RESIDENCE. >> THAT'S TRUE. YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE 46 00:05:25,558 --> 00:05:31,164 SITTING IN ONE PLACE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO BE AN EXPLORER IN THE YEAR 2023? >> VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT AN 47 00:05:31,230 --> 00:05:37,070 EXPLORER OF THE 19th CENTURY WAS. I CAN DEDICATE MY LIFE AND WORK WITH AN AMAZING TEAM OF 48 00:05:37,136 --> 00:05:42,742 SCIENTISTS, POLICY EXPERTS, FILMMAKERS, STORYTELLERS TO WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENTS, AND INDIGENOUS 49 00:05:42,809 --> 00:05:50,216 PEOPLES TO ASSESS THE HEALTH OF OCEAN PLACES AND HELP TO PROTECT THEM. >> Reporter: HE GREW UP NORTH OF 50 00:05:50,283 --> 00:05:55,955 BARCELONA, SPAIN, NEAR THE COAST. HIS FIRST DIVE WAS IN A MARINE RESERVE. 51 00:05:56,022 --> 00:06:01,861 >> IT DROVE EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE DONE AFTERWARDS. IF WE GIVE THE OCEAN SPACE, IT CAN HEAL ITSELF. 52 00:06:01,928 --> 00:06:08,835 >> Reporter: SALA MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, WHERE HE WAS A PROFESSOR OF MARINE ECOLOGY FOR SEVEN YEARS AT THE SCRIPPS 53 00:06:08,901 --> 00:06:18,010 INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY. >> YOU HAVE HAD A LONG CAREER IN ACADEMIA AT A TOP UNIVERSITY, AND YOU TRIED THAT AND DECIDED 54 00:06:18,077 --> 00:06:23,783 "NOT FOR ME." YOU WALKED AWAY. >> I WALKED AWAY BECAUSE MY JOB WAS TO STUDY THE IMPACTS OF 55 00:06:23,850 --> 00:06:32,658 HUMANS ON THE OCEAN, THE IMPACTS OF FISHING AND GLOBAL WARMING. AND ONE DAY I REALIZED THAT ALL I WAS DOING WAS WRITING THE 56 00:06:32,725 --> 00:06:37,597 OBITUARY OF THE OCEAN. >> WRITING THE OBITUARY OF THE OCEAN? >> YEAH, I FELT LIKE THE DOCTOR 57 00:06:37,663 --> 00:06:44,370 WHO IS TELLING YOU HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DIE WITH EXCRUCIATING DETAIL, BUT NOT OFFERING A CURE. >> HAVE YOU FOUND THAT CURE? 58 00:06:44,437 --> 00:06:49,408 >> THERE IS ONE SOLUTION THAT IS PROVEN. IT'S A SUCCESS STORY EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS MARINE 59 00:06:49,475 --> 00:06:57,383 RESERVES OR MARINE PROTECTED AREAS, AREAS WHERE DAMAGING ACTIVITIES ARE BANNED AND MARINE LIFE CAN COME BACK. 60 00:06:57,450 --> 00:07:04,190 >> Reporter: HE FOUNDED THE PRISTINE SEAS PROJECT IN 2008. IT COMBINED SEA EXPLORATION, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC 61 00:07:04,257 --> 00:07:12,999 POLICY, AND HAS WORKED WITH 17 COUNTRIES TO TURN THESE LARGE SWATHS OF THE OCEAN INTO MARINE PROTECTED AREAS. 62 00:07:13,065 --> 00:07:22,175 IN DOMINICA, SCIENTISTS ESTIMATE THE SPERM WHALE POPULATION DECLINES BY 3% EACH YEAR. SALA SAYS A PRESERVE WOULD 63 00:07:22,241 --> 00:07:30,917 PROTECT THEM FROM THEIR GREATEST THREATS -- NOT THOSE PYGMY KILLER WHALES WE SAW OR WHALING, WHICH HAS BEEN BANNED FOR 64 00:07:30,983 --> 00:07:36,022 DECADES, BUT PLASTIC TRASH, OCEAN NOISE POLLUTION, AND SHIP STRIKES. >> IF THEY CONTINUE WITH THE 65 00:07:36,088 --> 00:07:40,726 STATUS QUO HERE, WHAT HAPPENS? >> IF NOTHING IS DONE, THE POPULATION WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE DECLINING. 66 00:07:40,793 --> 00:07:47,600 SO REDUCING THOSE THREATS HOPEFULLY WILL ALLOW THE SPERM WHALE POPULATION TO REBOUND. AND THE MORE WHALES THERE ARE, 67 00:07:47,667 --> 00:07:54,807 THE MORE BENEFITS DOMINICA AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WILL OBTAIN. >> Reporter: HURRICANE MARIA 68 00:07:54,874 --> 00:08:04,116 DEVASTATED THOSE COMMUNITIES IN 2017. TODAY THE ISLAND IS CONTINUING TO REBUILD AND PREPARE FOR THE 69 00:08:04,183 --> 00:08:09,689 FUTURE. FRANCINE BARON HEADS THE AGENCY IN CHARGE OF THAT EFFORT. >> WHAT WAS IT ABOUT HURRICANE 70 00:08:09,755 --> 00:08:18,164 MARIA THAT MADE THE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY SAY, "WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, WE REALLY HAVE TO ACT"? 71 00:08:18,231 --> 00:08:24,670 >> WE SUFFERED THE EQUIVALENT OF 226% LOSS OF GDP. SO WE COULD SEE THE TREND, AND WE REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO 72 00:08:24,737 --> 00:08:31,878 BECOME MUCH MORE RESILIENT. >> WHEN ENRIC SALA CAME TO YOU WITH THIS IDEA OF CREATING A SANCTUARY FOR THESE WHALES, WHAT 73 00:08:31,944 --> 00:08:40,019 WAS HIS PITCH TO YOU? >> WE SEE WHALE-WATCHING AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TOURISM PRODUCT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT 74 00:08:40,086 --> 00:08:47,326 NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED. AND THE IDEA OF CREATING PROTECTION FOR THE WHALES IS SOMETHING THAT DOMINICA IS VERY 75 00:08:47,393 --> 00:08:53,799 OPEN TO. AND WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THE SUGGESTION THAT ENRIC MADE TO CREATING A RECOGNIZED 76 00:08:53,866 --> 00:09:01,674 SANCTUARY FOR THE WHALES. >> Reporter: ENRIC SALA COMPARES IT TO A MODEL THAT HAS WORKED IN RWANDA, WHERE PROTECTING 77 00:09:01,741 --> 00:09:08,915 MOUNTAIN GORILLAS HELPED BRING TOURISM DOLLARS TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. >> YOU GOING TO FIND US SOME 78 00:09:08,981 --> 00:09:13,719 WHALES? >> SURE. >> ALL RIGHT. >> Reporter: CAPTAIN CURT BENOIT 79 00:09:13,786 --> 00:09:22,662 WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DOMINICA AND HAS BEEN IN THE WHALE TOURISM BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. 80 00:09:22,728 --> 00:09:26,933 HE "H" WE SET WE SET OUT ON HIS 38-FOOT LADY ROSE FROM A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE ON THE WEST COAST. 81 00:09:26,999 --> 00:09:33,072 OUR GOVERNMENT PERMIT TO SWIM WITH THE WHALES WAS GOOD FOR SIX DAYS. CAPTAIN BENOIT USES A HOMEMADE 82 00:09:33,139 --> 00:09:39,812 DEVICE THAT PICKS UP THE DISTINCT CLICKING OF SPERM WHALES AS FAR AS 11 MILES AWAY. >> WE'VE GOT WHALES IN THE 83 00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:44,517 SOUTH. >> Reporter: EVERY THREE MILES, WE CHECKED TO SEE IF WE WERE GETTING CLOSER. 84 00:09:44,583 --> 00:09:50,890 >> COME TO PAPA. DADDY'S HERE. >> TELL ME ABOUT THIS REALLY HIGH-TECH DEVICE YOU'VE GOT 85 00:09:50,957 --> 00:09:54,560 HERE. >> YOU HAVE AN UNDERWATER MICROPHONE WHICH PICKS UP SOUND FROM 360. 86 00:09:54,627 --> 00:10:00,766 SO WHAT I DID, I TOOK A SALAD BOWL WITH NEOPRENE. S THE HYDROPHONE IS KIND OF HIDDEN. 87 00:10:00,833 --> 00:10:07,273 SO AS IT GOES OUT, IT ACTUALLY BRINGS YOU STRAIGHT TO WHEREVER YOU HEAR THE SOUND. >> SO THIS IS A SALAD BOWL FROM 88 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:10,443 YOUR HOUSE? >> YES. >> WHAT DO THE WHALES SOUND LIKE? 89 00:10:10,509 --> 00:10:18,718 >> IT'S LIKE A HORSE IS GLAL OPING ON A HARD SURFACE. SO IF YOU HEAR SEVERAL OF THEM, THAT MEANS THERE'S A LOT OF 90 00:10:18,784 --> 00:10:25,091 WHALES THERE. >> LET'S KEEP THEM GOING. I'M GOING TO FIND THESE GUYS. >> ALL RIGHT. 91 00:10:25,157 --> 00:10:29,895 >> Reporter: ON THE SECOND DAY, A WATERSPOUT. >> SEE IT. IT'S RIGHT HERE. 92 00:10:29,962 --> 00:10:33,733 LOOK, GUYS. SEE HIM. >> GO! SWIMMERS IN THE WATER. 93 00:10:33,799 --> 00:10:38,571 >> Reporter: MALES HERE LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES UNTIL THEIR TEEN YEARS. THEN THEY ROAM MOSTLY ALONE, 94 00:10:38,637 --> 00:10:45,244 SWIMMING THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY, CARIBBEAN MALE SPERM WHALES HAVE BEEN FOUND AS FAR AWAY AS NORWAY, RETURNING HERE 95 00:10:45,311 --> 00:10:57,690 ONLY TO MATE. OUR CAMERAMAN GOT LUCKY ENOUGH, OR UNLUCKY ENOUGH, TO HAVE THE WHALE POOP ON HIM. 96 00:10:57,757 --> 00:11:03,596 >> SO THE WHALES GO DOWN. THEY HUNT SQUID. THEY COME BACK TO THE SURFACE. THEY BREATHE. 97 00:11:03,662 --> 00:11:08,868 THEY REST. AND THEY POOP. AND THAT POOP IS FULL OF NUTRIENTS, WHICH FERTILIZES THE 98 00:11:08,934 --> 00:11:14,273 SHALLOW WATERS. >> SO A GOOD THING, I GUESS? >> IT'S A GOOD THING. >> COME ON, PEOPLE. 99 00:11:14,340 --> 00:11:19,245 WE'RE LOOKING FOR SPOUTS. >> Reporter: BUT OUR LUCK DIDN'T LAST. >> OKAY, GUYS. 100 00:11:19,311 --> 00:11:24,150 NOTHING IS HERE. >> Reporter: WE SPENT THE NEXT DAY SEARCHING FOR SPERM WHALES, AND THE NEXT. 101 00:11:24,216 --> 00:11:31,924 >> NOTHING AT ALL? >> NOTHING AT ALL. >> Reporter: AND THE NEXT. NOT A SINGLE CLICK. 102 00:11:31,991 --> 00:11:37,496 >> YOU GUYS, IT'S PRETTY QUIET. >> Reporter: AND THEN IN THE LAST HOUR OF THE LAST DAY OF OUR TRIP -- 103 00:11:37,563 --> 00:11:47,173 >> WE HAVE LOTS OF ANIMALS IN THE AREA, GUYS. OH, THEY'RE COMING BACK. BUT I'M GETTING SOUNDS 360, SO 104 00:11:47,239 --> 00:11:52,211 THAT MEANS THE WHALES, WE ARE ABOVE THEM. WE ARE RIGHT THERE. >> THERE SHE BLOWS! 105 00:11:52,278 --> 00:12:00,219 THERE SHE BLOWS! GO, GO, GO! AND STAY THERE. IT'S COMING TO YOU. 106 00:12:00,286 --> 00:12:06,192 >> CECILIA. >> IT'S COMING TO YOU. >> Reporter: WE JUMPED IN THE WATER, AND A YOUNG FEMALE SWAM 107 00:12:06,258 --> 00:12:14,133 RIGHT TO US. SHE CAME WITHIN FEET. AT FIRST, HER SIZE WAS TERRIFYING. 108 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:21,974 SHE MADE A SOUND LIKE A CREAKING DOOR HINGE. IT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WHALES COMMUNICATE AND SOCIALIZE. 109 00:12:22,041 --> 00:12:31,584 WITH EYES ON THE SIDE OF HER HEAD, SHE STARED RIGHT AT US. SHE HAD SQUID IN HER MOUTH, LEFT OVER FROM LUNCH THOUSANDS OF 110 00:12:31,650 --> 00:12:41,093 FEET BELOW. SHE STAYED AND ROLLED AROUND, AND HER JAW WAS WIDE OPEN. SHE WAS USING ECHOLOCATION, 111 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:50,469 BOUNCING THOSE CLICKS OFF OF US, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WERE. >> YOU COULD HEAR THE CLICKING. 112 00:12:50,536 --> 00:12:55,574 YOU COULD HEAR HER. ONCE YOU WERE REALLY CLOSE TO HER, YOU COULD HEAR THAT SO WELL. 113 00:12:55,641 --> 00:12:59,945 >> VERY LOUDLY. I COULD FEEL IT IN MY BONES. >> MM-HMM. YOU GRABBED MY HAND. 114 00:13:00,012 --> 00:13:03,849 YOU COULD TELL I WAS NERVOUS. >> I WAS EXCITED TOO. >> YOU WERE? >> THEY ARE HUGE. 115 00:13:03,916 --> 00:13:09,522 YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THEM. >> YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THEM. THERE IS A SENSE OF AWE THAT COMES WITH BEING THERE. 116 00:13:09,588 --> 00:13:17,329 SHE WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT US. >> Reporter: AND SHE LEFT US A SOUVENIR. >> A PIECE OF SQUID. 117 00:13:17,396 --> 00:13:23,335 >> Reporter: SHANE GERO IS ANOTHER NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER, HE STARTED THE DOMINICA SPERM WHALE PROJECT, 118 00:13:23,402 --> 00:13:30,409 AND OVER THE PAST 18 YEARS, HE'S IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 30 FAMILIES. >> DID YOU RECOGNIZE THE WHALE 119 00:13:30,476 --> 00:13:36,182 WE SAW? >> THE ANIMAL YOU MET BELONGS TO THE EC2 CLAN, THE OTHER CLAN OF WHALES THAT WE'VE KNOWN EXISTS 120 00:13:36,248 --> 00:13:41,921 IN THE CARIBBEAN, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ALL THAT MUCH. AND THOSE GROUPS IDENTIFY THEMSELVES BY MAKING SPECIFI 121 00:13:41,987 --> 00:13:51,697 PATTERNS OF CLICKS CALLED CODAS. IT'S A PART OF WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEIR GRANDMOTHER GREW UP. SO IT REALLY TIES THE ANIMALS 122 00:13:51,764 --> 00:13:58,971 AND THE PLACE TOGETHER. >> WHAT IS THE CODA OF THE EC2 SOUND LIKE? >> THEY MAKE THE 5R3 CODA, AND 123 00:13:59,038 --> 00:14:08,881 IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS. [ CLAPPING ] FIVE SLOW CLICKS. AND SHE CAME UP TO YOU AND MADE 124 00:14:08,948 --> 00:14:15,454 THIS 5R3 CODA SAYING, I AM FROM THE EC2 CLAN. ARE YOU? >> SHE WAS ROLLING AROUND, AND 125 00:14:15,521 --> 00:14:22,995 SHE KEPT COMING BACK. BUT IS THAT ME ASSIGNING HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS TO A WHALE, OR IS SHE ACTUALLY A PLAYFUL 126 00:14:23,062 --> 00:14:28,968 ANIMAL? >> THESE ARE THE ANIMALS THAT ARE HOLDING THE LARGEST BRAIN TO EVER EXIST, MAYBE IN THE 127 00:14:29,034 --> 00:14:33,772 UNIVERSE. AND THEY USE THAT FOR COMPLICATED THINKING AND BEHAVIOR. 128 00:14:33,839 --> 00:14:41,947 ABSOLUTELY, THIS WAS AN ANIMAL THAT WAS PLAYFUL AND THAT CURIOSITY OF THE ANIMAL ACTIVELY COMING TOWARDS YOU JUST SHOWS 129 00:14:42,014 --> 00:14:48,520 THIS IS AN ANIMAL THAT'S INVESTIGATING SOMETHING IN ITS WORLD. >> Reporter: BACK ON THE DOCK -- 130 00:14:48,587 --> 00:14:55,227 >> THERE IS A TREASURE HERE. >> Reporter: -- ENRIC SALA SAYS IT'S THAT WORLD HE'S TRYING TO PROTECT. 131 00:14:55,294 --> 00:14:59,465 >> BEING IN THE WATER WITH SPERM WHALES IS A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE. THERE'S SOMETHING SPIRITUAL THERE. 132 00:14:59,531 --> 00:15:05,237 THIS IS MORE THAN SCIENCE AND DATA. THE SENSE OF AWE AND WONDER THAT IS UNAVOIDABLE WHEN YOU ARE IN 133 00:15:05,304 --> 00:15:16,081 THE WATER WITH THESE GENTLE GIANTS. >> Reporter: IN NOVEMBER, THE PRIME MINISTER OF DOMINICA 134 00:15:16,148 --> 00:15:24,356 ANNOUNCED THAT THE ISLAND NATION WILL CREATE THE FIRST SPERM WHALE RESERVE IN THE WORLD. THE SANCTUARY WILL BE 300 SQUARE 135 00:15:24,423 --> 00:15:34,733 MILES AND HAVE A NEW SENIOR WHALE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO ENSURE THE WHALES' SAFETY. [ TICKING ] 136 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:47,713 >> Announcer: CECILIA VEGA DESCRIBES WHAT IT WAS LIKE SWIMMING WITH SPERM WHALES. >> SHE IS SWIMMING RIGHT 137 00:15:47,780 --> 00:15:54,186 >>> WITH EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ON THE RISE ACROSS THE GLOBE, LIKE THE RARE CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE THAT HIT MEXICO IN 138 00:15:54,253 --> 00:16:01,427 OCTOBER, WE WERE INTERESTED IN A STUDY THAT'S TAKING PLACE ON A REMOTE ISLAND VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO VISIT, WHERE 139 00:16:01,493 --> 00:16:08,400 SCIENTISTS ARE STUDYING HOW THE STRESS OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES AFFECT LONGEVITY AND OVERALL HEALTH. 140 00:16:08,467 --> 00:16:16,709 AS LESLEY STAHL FIRST REPORTED IN NOVEMBER, THE SUBJECTS ARE NOT WHAT YOU'D EXPECT. THEY'RE MONKEYS, RHESUS MACAQUE 141 00:16:16,775 --> 00:16:24,183 MONKEYS, WHO HAVE BEEN STUDIED THERE FOR OVER 80 YEARS BECAUSE 94% OF THEIR DNA IS THE SAME AS HUMANS. 142 00:16:24,249 --> 00:16:32,091 THEY SURVIVED WITH RELATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY UNTIL SIX YEARS AGO, WHEN THE ISLAND WAS HIT WITH A DEVASTATING 143 00:16:32,157 --> 00:16:37,963 STORM. AFTER TAKING TESTS FOR TUBERCULOSIS, MEASLES, AND COVID, LESLEY AND HER TEAM WERE 144 00:16:38,030 --> 00:16:47,873 ALLOWED TO VISIT THE ISLAND, CALLED CAYO SANTIAGO, OR MONKEY ISLAND, OFF THE COAST OF PUERTO RICO. 145 00:16:47,940 --> 00:16:55,481 >>> THERE ARE ROUGHLY 1,800 MONKEYS ON CAYO. THEY LIVE IN ISOLATION IN WHAT IS A NATURAL LABORATORY HALFWAY 146 00:16:55,547 --> 00:17:02,388 BETWEEN CAPTIVITY AND THE WAY THEY WOULD LIVE IN THE WILD. >> ARE THEY FIGHTING? >> YEAH. 147 00:17:02,454 --> 00:17:07,893 SHE'S LOOKING AROUND AND SCREAMING FOR HELP, TRYING TO GET OTHERS TO COME TO HER AID. >> WOW. 148 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:16,068 >> Reporter: BIOLOGISTS JAMES HIGHAM OF NYU AND NOAH SNYDER-MACKLER OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ARE PART OF A TEAM OF 149 00:17:16,135 --> 00:17:23,609 INVESTIGATORS IN THIS LONG-TERM RESEARCH PROJECT. >> WHAT'S THE LIFESPAN USUALLY? >> THE LIFESPAN HERE ON THE 150 00:17:23,675 --> 00:17:32,484 ISLAND FOR THE FEMALES, THE MEDIAN LIFESPAN IS ABOUT 18 YEARS. THEN IN MALES, ABOUT 15 YEARS, 151 00:17:32,551 --> 00:17:37,189 RIGHT? >> IS THERE A PREDATOR? >> NO PREDATORS HERE. >> Reporter: ANOTHER WAY LIFE 152 00:17:37,256 --> 00:17:51,503 HERE IS UNLIKE THE WILD IS THAT THESE GUYS ARE SERVED THEIR MEALS EVERY MORNING. RESEARCHERS TELL US THERE'S A 153 00:17:51,570 --> 00:17:56,909 HIERARCHY. THE HIGHEST-RANKING MONKEYS GET TO EAT FIRST. >> I'VE EVEN SEEN HIGH-RANKING 154 00:17:56,975 --> 00:18:02,114 INDIVIDUALS GO UP TO A LOW-RANKING INDIVIDUAL WHO IS EATING FOOD IN THEIR MOUTH AND HOLD THEIR MOUTH OPEN AND -- 155 00:18:02,181 --> 00:18:07,786 >> NO. >> -- TAKE THE FOOD OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS AND THEN CLOSE IT. >> WHAT DO THEY GET? 156 00:18:07,853 --> 00:18:14,927 >> PURINA MONKEY CHOW. >> THERE'S MONKEY CHOW? >> THERE IS. >> MADE BY PURINA. 157 00:18:14,993 --> 00:18:20,933 >> OH, MY GOODNESS. >> Reporter: RHESUS MONKEYS ARE COMMONLY USED FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR 158 00:18:20,999 --> 00:18:27,306 CLOSE RELATIVES GENETICALLY AND PHYSIOLOGICALLY SIMILAR TO HUMANS. >> THEY HAVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE 159 00:18:27,372 --> 00:18:32,945 QUITE LIKE US, EYES THAT ARE LIKE US, LUNGS AND HEARTS THAT ARE LIKE US. >> Reporter: THESE RHESUS 160 00:18:33,011 --> 00:18:39,084 MACAQUE MONKEYS, THEIR ANCESTORS, CAME HERE FROM INDIA IN 1938. >> THE MACAQUE IS USED IN LARGER 161 00:18:39,151 --> 00:18:44,389 NUMBERS FOR MEDICAL AND ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH THAN ANY OTHER KIND OF PRIMATE. >> Reporter: AMERICAN 162 00:18:44,456 --> 00:18:53,298 PRIMATOLOGIST CLARENCE CARPENTER TOOK 500 OF THEM ON A GRUELING 14,000-MILE SEA VOYAGE THAT LASTED 51 DAYS. 163 00:18:53,365 --> 00:19:02,374 HE WANTED TO CREATE A NATURALISTIC RESEARCH FACILITY TO STUDY THE MONKEYS' SOCIAL AND SEXUAL BEHAVIORS. 164 00:19:02,441 --> 00:19:07,713 THEIR EARLY YEARS HERE WERE TOUGH. MANY DIED FROM DISEASE. BUT ENOUGH OF THEM LIVED ON SO 165 00:19:07,779 --> 00:19:18,991 THAT BY THE 1950s, SCIENTISTS BEGAN TATTOOING THEM AND TAKING A DAILY CENSUS. THAT METICULOUS RECORDKEEPING 166 00:19:19,057 --> 00:19:27,599 HAS CONTINUED WITH TODAY'S MONKEYS, ALL OF WHOM DESCENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL GROUP, GIVING SCIENTISTS RARE ACCESS TO MORE 167 00:19:27,666 --> 00:19:36,308 THAN SIX DECADES OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL DATA. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY LEARNED IS THAT THEY'RE HIGHLY 168 00:19:36,375 --> 00:19:43,415 ADAPTABLE, ACCLIMATING QUICKLY TO THE ISLAND. THEY ALSO LEARNED THAT THEY CAN BE QUITE AGGRESSIVE, ESPECIALLY 169 00:19:43,482 --> 00:19:49,955 AROUND FOOD AND DURING THE MATING SEASON. >> ARE THESE MONKEYS INTELLIGENT? 170 00:19:50,022 --> 00:19:54,293 >> SURE. THEY'RE PRETTY -- THEY'RE PRETTY INTELLIGENT. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SOCIALLY 171 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:58,931 INTELLIGENT. >> HOW SIMILAR TO US ARE THEY IN HOW THEY LIVE? >> THEY FORM REALLY STRONG 172 00:19:58,997 --> 00:20:04,202 SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR BEST FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. >> THEY HAVE BEST FRIENDS? 173 00:20:04,269 --> 00:20:11,843 >> SOME CLOSE FRIENDS, SOME BEST FRIENDS, RIGHT? >> Reporter: RHESUS MONKEYS LIVE IN FEMALE-LED SOCIETIES. 174 00:20:11,910 --> 00:20:19,151 MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, AUNTS, AND GRANDMOTHERS STICK TOGETHER IN GROUPS WHILE THE MALES LEAVE WHEN THEY REACH MATURITY AND 175 00:20:19,217 --> 00:20:31,063 JOIN OTHER TROOPS FOR BREEDING. FEW PEOPLE KNOW THE TROOP TENSIONS AND ALLEGIANCES THAN RESEARCH ASSISTANTS DANIEL 176 00:20:31,129 --> 00:20:40,505 PHILLIPS AND JOSUE NEGRON, WHO HAVE WORKED ON CAYO FOR YEARS. THEY ARRIVE EVERY MORNING BY BOAT AT 7:00 A.M., AND FOR THE 177 00:20:40,572 --> 00:20:50,015 NEXT SEVEN HOURS, THEY DOCUMENT THINGS LIKE AGGRESSION, GROOMING, VIGILANCE, AND FEEDING. 178 00:20:50,082 --> 00:20:56,021 >> DO YOU EVER GET TO KNOW INDIVIDUALS? IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, THAT MONKEY VERSUS THAT ONE? 179 00:20:56,088 --> 00:21:03,795 >> YEAH. WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THEM RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW, LIKE, WHO IS INTERACTING WITH 180 00:21:03,862 --> 00:21:10,068 WHO, HOW THEY LIKE GROOM EACH OTHER OR ATTACK EACH OTHER. >> AND HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE? 181 00:21:10,135 --> 00:21:17,843 WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT YOU SEE? >> YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES ON EVEN HOW THEY WALK, HOW THEY 182 00:21:17,909 --> 00:21:22,648 MOVE. THEY'RE EVEN FACES HAVE DIFFERENCES. >> IN OTHER WORDS, THEIR FACES 183 00:21:22,714 --> 00:21:28,954 BECOME AS ORDINARY IN A WAY TO YOUR EYES AS HUMAN FACES? >> YEAH. >> YES. 184 00:21:29,021 --> 00:21:33,525 >> YOU CAN RECOGNIZE EVEN FAMILIES. >> EXACTLY. >> LIKE YOUR FACE IS FAMILIAR, 185 00:21:33,592 --> 00:21:40,599 YOU SHOULD BE THE SON OF THIS FEMALE. >> Reporter: EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR THE RESEARCH AND THE MONKEYS 186 00:21:40,666 --> 00:21:56,481 WHEN HURRICANE MARIA SLAMMED INTO PUERTO RICO IN SEPTEMBER 2017. 155-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS SMASHED 187 00:21:56,548 --> 00:22:03,055 IN HOMES AND OFFICE BUILDINGS, DESTROYING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT, INCLUDING THE POWER GRID AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. 188 00:22:03,121 --> 00:22:14,933 NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE DIED. THERE WAS NO WAY FOR THE TEAM TO GET TO MONKEY ISLAND. ANGELINA RUIZ-LAMBIDES, THE 189 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:21,573 THEN-SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR OF CAYO, SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT AT THE TIME, SHELTERED IN HER HOME OUTSIDE OF SAN JUAN WITH HER 190 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:26,712 HUSBAND AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. >> YOU THOUGHT THE MONKEYS WERE ALL GOING TO DIE? >> YEAH, WE THOUGHT THAT THE 191 00:22:26,778 --> 00:22:35,921 MONKEYS WERE GOING TO DIE. >> Reporter: JAMES HIGHAM AND NOAH SNYDER-MACKLER COULDN'T GET ANY NEWS ABOUT THEIR COLLEAGUES 192 00:22:35,987 --> 00:22:44,062 OR THE MONDAYMONKEYS. SO TWO DAYS AFTER THE STORM, THE TEAM CAME UP WITH AN IDEA. >> AND YOU HIRED A HELICOPTER? 193 00:22:44,129 --> 00:22:52,671 >> WE HIRED A HELICOPTER. >> Reporter: THEY ENLISTED THE PILOT TO FLY OVER CAYO AND DO A SURVEY, AND THEY HAD A LIST OF 194 00:22:52,738 --> 00:22:57,209 QUESTIONS. >> CAN HE SEE ANY MONKEYS? ARE THEY ALIVE? WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE 195 00:22:57,275 --> 00:23:00,746 VEGETATION? ARE THERE STANDING POOLS OF WATER THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DRINK? 196 00:23:00,812 --> 00:23:06,251 >> Reporter: ANGELINA, WHO HAD DECIDED TO GO UP WITH THE PILOT, WAS HORRIFIED. THIS IS FOOTAGE SHE SHOT FROM 197 00:23:06,318 --> 00:23:16,728 THE HELICOPTER. >> I SEE THIS DESTRUCTION, LIKE 80-PLUS YEARS WORK COMPLETELY FLATTENED. 198 00:23:16,795 --> 00:23:25,270 >> Reporter: THIS IS CAYO BEFORE THE HURRICANE, WITH A DENSE CANOPY OF TREES AND LUSH FOLIAGE. 199 00:23:25,337 --> 00:23:32,544 THIS IS AFTER, A GREEN OASIS TURNED BROWN, BURIED IN DEAD BRANCHES. THE ISLAND LOST TWO-THIRDS OF 200 00:23:32,611 --> 00:23:40,385 ITS VEGETATION. HEARTBROKEN BY WHAT SHE WAS SEEING FROM THE AIR, ANGELINA WANTED A CLOSER LOOK. 201 00:23:40,452 --> 00:23:46,658 BUT EVEN ON THE GROUND, SHE DIDN'T SEE ANY MONKEYS. >> SO THEN I GET ON THE HELICOPTER AGAIN. 202 00:23:46,725 --> 00:23:54,666 >> BACK UP AGAIN? >> AND THAT'S WHEN I SEE A SOCIAL GROUP RUNNING FROM THE HELICOPTER. 203 00:23:54,733 --> 00:24:04,976 AND SO I GO, "THERE'S MONKEYS. THEY'RE STILL CAYO." I THINK I ESTIMATED, OKAY, THAT MUST BE AROUND LIKE 300, 400 204 00:24:05,043 --> 00:24:12,484 MONKEYS OR SO. >> OUT OF 1,700? >> YES. >> Reporter: BUT ONCE THE STAFF 205 00:24:12,551 --> 00:24:25,630 WAS ABLE TO RETURN AND DO A COMPLETE CENSUS ON THE GROUND, THEY FOUND TO THEIR UTTER ASTONISHMENT THAT MOST HAD 206 00:24:25,697 --> 00:24:27,732 LIVED. THEY ESTIMATED JUST ABOUT 50 HAD DIED. >> AND YOU'RE THINKING HOW COULD 207 00:24:27,799 --> 00:24:32,704 THEY SURVIVE THIS? HOW COULD THEY? >> HOW COULD THEY SURVIVE THIS? >> Reporter: IT'S STILL A 208 00:24:32,771 --> 00:24:38,276 MYSTERY. WHAT DID THE MONKEYS DO TO RIDE OUT THE STORM? WHERE DID THEY SHELTER FROM THE 209 00:24:38,343 --> 00:24:45,417 WIND? AND WHAT DID THEY EAT? >> SO ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS IS WITHOUT BEING FED, HOW WERE 210 00:24:45,483 --> 00:24:53,024 THEY NOURISHED? >> YEAH. SO ALTHOUGH THE HURRICANE DID DRAMATICALLY DE-VEG TATE THE 211 00:24:53,091 --> 00:24:59,731 ISLAND, ONE THING IT ALSO DID WAS DEPOSITED A GREAT AMOUNT OF SEAWEED AND ALGAE ONTO THE ISLAND. 212 00:24:59,798 --> 00:25:06,071 AND SO ONE POSSIBILITY IS THAT THE MONKEYS WERE EATING MORE OF THIS KIND OF VEGETATION. >> Reporter: WHICH THEY STILL 213 00:25:06,137 --> 00:25:13,111 SEEM TO ENJOY. AFTER THE HURRICANE, THE MONKEYS HAD TO ADJUST TO A NEW, FAR MORE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. 214 00:25:13,178 --> 00:25:20,452 THEIR INNATE ADAPTABILITY CERTAINLY HELPED. >> SO THEY BOB UP AND DOWN TO TRY AND STOP THEMSELVES FROM 215 00:25:20,518 --> 00:25:27,492 FALLING FORWARD. >> Reporter: SIX YEARS AFTER THE STORM, THE ADJUSTING CONTINUES. ATTEMPTS TO REPLANT THE TREES 216 00:25:27,559 --> 00:25:34,799 HAVE BEEN STYMIED BECAUSE THE MONKEYS, EVER CURIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING NEW IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT, UPROOT THEM BEFORE 217 00:25:34,866 --> 00:25:43,942 THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO GROW. SO NOW THERE'S VERY LITTLE SHADE. >> THIS USED TO BE ALMOST 218 00:25:44,009 --> 00:25:50,148 FORESTED, RIGHT? >> LOTS OF SPACE AND SHADE. >> NOW THEY'RE FORCED TO SIT IN A FEW SHADED AREAS. 219 00:25:50,215 --> 00:25:58,757 SO THEY'VE BEEN CLUMPED BY THE CHANGING DISTRIBUTION OF SHADE. >> SO AN INTERESTING THING THAT WE SAW IS THAT INDIVIDUALS 220 00:25:58,823 --> 00:26:03,295 BECAME MORE SOCIAL. >> Reporter: NOT JUST MORE SOCIAL. THE RESEARCHERS HAVE NOTICED 221 00:26:03,361 --> 00:26:13,138 THAT THE MONKEYS ARE MORE TOLERANT OF EACH OTHER, WHICH AT FIRST SEEMED COUNTERINTUITIVE. >> I'M THINKING OF HUMANS IN A 222 00:26:13,204 --> 00:26:20,779 SITUATION WHERE THERE'S FEWER RESOURCES, AND I SEE IN MY MIND'S EYE COMPETITION. I SEE THEM SAYING, GET OFF MY 223 00:26:20,845 --> 00:26:24,449 POPERTY OR WHATEVER. BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT WAS THE OPPOSITE HERE. >> PERHAPS. 224 00:26:24,516 --> 00:26:35,627 BUT THERE'S ALSO FAMOUS EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE PULLING TOGETHER. SO I THINK IT CAN GO BOTH WAYS. WE'RE CAPABLE OF GREAT GREED AND 225 00:26:35,694 --> 00:26:43,435 COMPETITION AND CRUELTY. BUT HUMANS ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF GREAT KINDNESS AND COMPASSION AND FRIENDSHIP AND GENEROSITY. 226 00:26:43,501 --> 00:26:52,911 AND THAT KIND OF DUALITY EXISTS IN RHESUS MACAQUE SOCIETIES TOO. >> AND I THINK ANYONE YOU TALK TO HERE IN PUERTO RICO WOULD 227 00:26:52,978 --> 00:26:57,816 BRING UP THE FACT THAT THEY -- YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO SORT OF GELLED AND INCREASED THEIR SUPPORT OF ONE 228 00:26:57,882 --> 00:27:05,090 ANOTHER IN THE FACE OF THIS EVENT. >> Reporter: BEYOND OBSERVING THEIR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, THEY 229 00:27:05,156 --> 00:27:11,730 WERE ALSO ABLE TO TRACK BIOLOGICAL CHANGES SINCE THEY HAD ACCESS TO BLOOD TESTS DONE ON THE MONKEYS FOR 13 YEARS. 230 00:27:11,796 --> 00:27:17,268 >> SO WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO'S HAD LIVED THROUGH THE HURRICANE HAD IMMUNE SYSTEMS THAT LOOKED LIKE THEY 231 00:27:17,335 --> 00:27:23,842 HAD AGED AN EXTRA TWO YEARS. >> WHAT IS THAT IN HUMAN YEARS? >> IT'S SIX TO EIGHT HUMAN YEARS. 232 00:27:23,908 --> 00:27:30,548 >> THEY AGED SIX TO EIGHT YEARS? >> THEY AGED SIX TO EIGHT HUMAN YEARS. >> OH, MY GOSH. 233 00:27:30,615 --> 00:27:35,920 THROUGH THE TRAUMA? >> THAT WAS ON AVERAGE. THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW, IS WHAT 234 00:27:35,987 --> 00:27:43,661 MAKES SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS MORE RESILIENT TO THE HURRICANE, RIGHT? >> IS THE HYPOTHESIS THAT IT HAS 235 00:27:43,728 --> 00:27:49,334 SOMETHING TO DO WITH FRIENDSHIPS? >> WE THINK THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ABLE TO 236 00:27:49,401 --> 00:27:55,707 HAVE STRONGER BONDS, STRONGER FRIENDSHIPS, MIGHT HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM THIS REALLY STRESSFUL EVENT. 237 00:27:55,774 --> 00:28:04,816 >> Reporter: THE HURRICANE OPENED ALL NEW AVENUES OF THEIR RESEARCH WITH QUESTIONS SUCH AS WHAT PREDICTS WHO SURVIVES A 238 00:28:04,883 --> 00:28:12,891 CATASTROPHE LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE OR A HURRICANE AND HOW QUICKLY THEY RECOVER. >> SO WHEN YOU STEP BACK AND 239 00:28:12,957 --> 00:28:24,369 LOOK AT YOUR STUDY IN TERMS OF CLIMATE-RELATED TRAUMA OR ANY KIND OF TRAUMA, ARE YOU EXPECTING TO FIND ANSWERS FOR 240 00:28:24,436 --> 00:28:31,543 SURVIVABILITY IN THESE SITUATIONS FOR HUMAN BEINGS? >> GIVEN THE STRONG SIMILARITY BETWEEN THESE PRIMATES, THESE 241 00:28:31,609 --> 00:28:41,252 MONKEYS AND US, WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT DO TO, YOU KNOW, BE MORE 242 00:28:41,319 --> 00:28:49,060 RESILIENT TO THIS MIGHT BE TRANSLATABLE TO HUMANS, TO US, AND MIGHT PROVIDE WAYS FOR US TO INTERVENE AND HELP BUFFER 243 00:28:49,127 --> 00:29:04,642 AGAINST THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THESE TRAUMATIC EVENTS. [ [ TICKING ] 244 00:29:04,709 --> 00:29:11,449 >>> THE STOPWATCH HAS LONG BEEN THE SYMBOL OF "60 MINUTES," BUT ANY MEASURE OF TIME IS POINTLESS FOR THE SUBJECT OF OUR NEXT 245 00:29:11,516 --> 00:29:19,757 STORY -- THE SLOW-MOVING SLOTH. YOU MIGHT THINK THESE DISTANT RELATIVES OF THE ARMADILLO WOULD MAKE THE PERFECT MEAL FOR JUST 246 00:29:19,824 --> 00:29:28,166 ABOUT ANYTHING FASTER, AND YET SOMEHOW SLOTHS HAVE BEEN HANGING ON IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER FOR 64 MILLION YEARS. 247 00:29:28,233 --> 00:29:35,907 TO UNDERSTAND THIS QUIRKY ANIMAL, "60 MINUTES" HUNG OUT WITH A QUIRKY ZOOOLOGIST. LUCY COOKE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING 248 00:29:35,974 --> 00:29:45,049 THE STRANGE LIVES OF SLOTHS FOR 15 YEARS. COOKE WAS SHARYN ALFONSI'S GUIDE ON A TRIP TO COSTA RICA, WHERE 249 00:29:45,116 --> 00:29:50,555 AS WE FIRST REPORTED IN SEPTEMBER, SCIENTISTS ARE MAKING NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT A CREATURE THAT'S TURNED SURVIVAL OF THE 250 00:29:50,622 --> 00:29:57,595 FITTEST UPSIDE DOWN. >> THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE LOTS OF SLOTHS, SO WE HAVE THAT ON OUR SIDE. 251 00:29:57,662 --> 00:30:01,699 >> Reporter: THE FIRST THING WE LEARNED ABOUT SLOTHS IS THAT IT'S HARD TO SPOT THEM IN THE WILD. 252 00:30:01,766 --> 00:30:12,210 WE WERE WARNED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE GROUND FOR POISONOUS SNAKES AS LUCY COOKE SCANNED THE TREATOP 253 00:30:12,277 --> 00:30:18,116 TREA TREE TOPS. THE SLOTH IS A MASTER OF DISGUISE. 254 00:30:18,183 --> 00:30:24,722 IT BLENDS INTO THE CANOPY AND CAN EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR A TUFT OF LEAVES. >> THEY TEND TO HUNKER DOWN WHEN 255 00:30:24,789 --> 00:30:30,762 IT RAINS, SO MAKING IT EVEN HARDER TO SEE THEM. >> Reporter: OUR LUCK IMPROVED ON THE BEACH. 256 00:30:30,828 --> 00:30:36,601 >> OH! THERE'S ONE UP THERE. SHE'S IN THE NOOK OF THE TREE, LOOKING A BIT LIKE A TERMITE 257 00:30:36,668 --> 00:30:40,538 HUMP. AND SHE'S HUNCHED OVER, SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS HER BACK. >> Reporter: THAT IS NOT THE 258 00:30:40,605 --> 00:30:46,711 SIDE 69 SLOTH WE WENT ALL THE WAY TO CENTRAL AMERICA TO SEE, SO LUCY COOKE TOOK US TO AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY TO GET A BETTER 259 00:30:46,778 --> 00:30:54,018 VIEW OF THE TWO SPECIES OF SLOTH THAT LIVE HERE, THE BRADY PUS, AND THE TWO-TOED. >> SO THE TWO-TOED I ALWAYS SAY 260 00:30:54,085 --> 00:30:59,190 LOOK LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A WOOKIEE AND A PIG BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THAT SORT OF BEEP-ABLE NOSE. 261 00:30:59,257 --> 00:31:07,165 AND THEN THESE ONES HAVE THE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, BEATLES HAIR CUTS AND MONA LISA SMILES. >> Reporter: BEHIND THAT RINGER 262 00:31:07,232 --> 00:31:13,805 FOR RINGO, COOKE SAYS, IS A SECRET. BEING NAFN'S COUCH POTATO IS THE REASON SLOTHS HAVE SURVIVED FOR 263 00:31:13,871 --> 00:31:21,079 MORE THAN 60 MILLION YEARS IN SPITE OF, WELL, THEMSELVES. THEIR EYESIGHT IS LOUSY. THEIR HEARING NOT MUCH BETTER. 264 00:31:21,145 --> 00:31:30,054 IN A TREE, THEY CAN MOVE LIKE A TAI CHI MASTER TO AVOID THE EYES OF HUNGRY PREY. BUT ON THE GROUND, COOKE SAYS 265 00:31:30,121 --> 00:31:35,093 GRAVITY REMOVES ANY SHRED OF DIGNITY. EVEN WITH A HURRICANE-STRENGTH TAILWIND, A SLOTH WILL TOP OUT 266 00:31:35,159 --> 00:31:41,799 AT A HALF-MILE-PER-HOUR. >> Reporter: THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT DESCRIBED THE SLOTHS, THE CONQUISTADORS THAT FIRST 267 00:31:41,866 --> 00:31:53,144 OBSERVED THEM, THEY SAID TERRIBLE THINGS. ONE SAID IT WAS THE STUPIDEST ANIMAL THAT HE'D EVER SEEN, AND 268 00:31:53,211 --> 00:31:58,683 ANOTHER SAID ONE MORE DEFECT WOULD MAKE ITS LIFE IMPOSSIBLE. AND THEY JUST -- THEY JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEM, YOU 269 00:31:58,750 --> 00:32:02,787 KNOW? >>Reporter: COOKE SAYS WHAT THOSE EARLY EXPLORERS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND WHAT IS FRANKLY 270 00:32:02,854 --> 00:32:10,194 HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN YOU WATCH THE EFFORT IT TAKES FOR A SLOTH JUST TO BLINK, IS THAT THIS HAIRY NINJA IS UNIQUELY BUILT TO 271 00:32:10,261 --> 00:32:14,399 SURVIVE. >> WHY SO SLOW? WHY DO THEY MOVE SO SLOW? >> BECAUSE THEY'RE SAVING 272 00:32:14,465 --> 00:32:19,470 ENERGY. THEY'RE VEGETARIANS, AND LEAVES DON'T WANT TO BE EATEN ANY MORE THAN ANTELOPE DO, RIGHT? 273 00:32:19,537 --> 00:32:25,843 SO THEY CREATE A LOT OF TOXINS. SO THE SLOTH CAN DIGEST THOSE TOXINS, BUT ONLY VERY, VERY SLOWLY. 274 00:32:25,910 --> 00:32:31,783 THEY DON'T WANT TO PROCESS THEM FAST, SO THEY'RE ALL ABOUT BURNING AS LITTLE ENERGY AS POSSIBLE. 275 00:32:31,849 --> 00:32:39,123 >> Reporter: SLOTHS SPEND ABOUT 90% OF THEIR LIVES HANGING UPSIDE DOWN AND TYPICALLY ONLY CLIMB TO THE GROUND FOR BATHROOM 276 00:32:39,190 --> 00:32:43,995 BREAKS ONCE A WEEK. WITH HABITS LIKE THAT AND NAILS LIKE THIS, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE SOLITARY CREATURES 277 00:32:44,062 --> 00:32:51,035 AND PREFER TO BE ALONE, UNTIL THEY DON'T. >> WHAT THEY DO IS THE FEMALES WILL CLIMB TO THE TOP OF A TREE 278 00:32:51,102 --> 00:32:57,675 WHEN THEY'RE IN HEAT AND SCREAM FOR SEX. >> SO REALLY LOW KEY. >> REALLY LOW KEY. 279 00:32:57,742 --> 00:33:05,016 BUT THEY SCREAM IN "D" SHARP, LIKE THAT'S THE -- THEY MAKE THIS -- I MEAN I'LL DO IT, AND I -- HE MAY WELL, ON THE 280 00:33:05,083 --> 00:33:12,757 STRENGTH OF MY IMPERSONATION. LET'S SEE IF TEDDY, WHO'S A BOY, LOOK AROUND. >> SWIPES RIGHT. 281 00:33:12,824 --> 00:33:23,434 >> OKAY. I'M GOING TO DO IT. WHEE! >> I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN BRADYPUSES 282 00:33:23,501 --> 00:33:27,472 HAVING SEX. IT'S THE ONLY THING THEY DO QUICKLY. I MEAN I WAS SHOCKED. 283 00:33:27,538 --> 00:33:36,681 BUT THEN AFTERWARDS, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE RETREATED AND HAD THE DEEPEST SNOOZE. >> Reporter: BEHIND LUCY COOKE'S 284 00:33:36,748 --> 00:33:44,689 CHEEKY SENSE OF HUMOR IS A HEFTY RESUME. SHE HAS A MASTER'S DREG FROM OXFORD AND PUBLISHED FOUR BOOKS, 285 00:33:44,756 --> 00:33:51,229 INCLUDING TWO ON SLOTHS. SHE'S ALSO HOSTED WILDLIFE PROGRAMS FOR THE BBC AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. 286 00:33:51,295 --> 00:33:58,369 THE PHOTOS COOKE TAKES ON HER EXPEDITIONS HAVE GONE VIRAL, LEADING TO DONATIONS FOR CONSERVATION AND CROWDS AT 287 00:33:58,436 --> 00:34:04,976 LECTURES THAT MIX BIOLOGY WITH STAND-UP. >> WE HUMANS ARE OBSESSED WITH SPEED. 288 00:34:05,042 --> 00:34:16,020 WE IDOLIZE ANIMALS LIKE THE CHEETAH, CAPABLE OF DOING NAUGHT TO 60 IN THREE SECONDS FLAT. WELL, SO WHAT? 289 00:34:16,087 --> 00:34:20,992 >> ARE THEY CUTE, OR ARE THEY SO UGLY THEY'RE CUTE? >> OH, NO. THEY'RE CUTE SURELY. 290 00:34:21,058 --> 00:34:30,935 BUT THEN, I MEAN, I THINK A NAKED MOLE RAT IS CUTE, SO YOU'RE ASKING THE WRONG PERSON. >> YOU LIKE A B-LIST ANIMAL. 291 00:34:31,002 --> 00:34:37,975 >> YEAH, BATS, HYENAS. I MEAN THERE'S A WHOLE LIST OF ANIMALS THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE EXTRAORDINARILY 292 00:34:38,042 --> 00:34:44,682 STRANGE AND WONDERFUL LIVES. AND JUST TO ME, JUST ADD TO THE RICHNESS OF THE UNIVERSE. >> Reporter: JUST LOOK AT HOW 293 00:34:44,749 --> 00:34:51,589 ONE OF THOSE B-LIST ANIMALS CAN LEAVE LUCY COOKE STARSTRUCK. >> YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS! 294 00:34:51,656 --> 00:34:58,629 >> Reporter: AS WE WERE MAKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE COSTA RICAN RAINFOREST, COOKE NOTICED THIS. WHAT LOOKED LIKE FLUFFY GOLF 295 00:34:58,696 --> 00:35:03,734 BALLS, SHE REALIZED WAS A CLUSTER OF SOMETHING WE'D NEVER HEARD OF. >> COME AND HAVE A LOOK. 296 00:35:03,801 --> 00:35:08,806 >> Reporter: THE ELUSIVE CARIBBEAN WHITE TENT-MAKING BATS. >> LOOK. 297 00:35:08,873 --> 00:35:14,645 THEY'RE BATS, BUT THEY'RE WHITE, AND THEY LIVE IN THESE LEAVES. MY HEART RATE'S GONE RIGHT UP. I'M GOING TO START POURING IN 298 00:35:14,712 --> 00:35:20,251 SWEAT, AND I MIGHT START CRYING ACTUALLY BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO -- I MEAN IT'S JUST A MIRACLE OF EVOLUTION. 299 00:35:20,318 --> 00:35:23,754 I MEAN IT'S JUST WHY? LIKE WHY? >> Reporter: THAT SENSE OF WONDER -- 300 00:35:23,821 --> 00:35:30,628 >> THAT'S ABOUT AS EXCITING AS IT GETS. >> Reporter: -- HAS MADE LUCY COOKE A COMPELLING ADVOCATE FOR 301 00:35:30,695 --> 00:35:34,165 SLOTHS. LIKE THEM, SHE LOOKS AT THE WORLD FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW. 302 00:35:34,232 --> 00:35:42,807 >> YOUR LATEST BOOK IS CALLED -- >> "BITCH." I DO APOLOGIZE. I REALLY LIKE YOU AND YOUR WORK, 303 00:35:42,874 --> 00:35:56,254 BUT, YEAH, MY BOOK'S CALLED "BITCH." >> Reporter: IN IT, COOK CHALLENGES THE NARRATIVE THAT IN 304 00:35:56,320 --> 00:36:07,632 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, MALES ARE USUALLY DOMINANT AND PROMISCUOUS, WHILE FEMALES ARE SUBMISSIVE AND MONOGAMOUS. 305 00:36:07,698 --> 00:36:15,172 SHE TRAVELED THE WORLD TO COLLABORATE WITH SCIENTISTS AND STUDIED DOZENS OF ANIMALS, REPORTING HOW KILLER WHALE PODS 306 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:26,183 ARE LED BY POST-MENOPAUSAL ORCAS AND HOW TYRANNICAL MATRIARCHS CONTROL MEERKAT SOCIETY. HER RE-EXAMINATION FLIPS PARTS 307 00:36:26,250 --> 00:36:32,623 OF CHARLES DARWIN'S THEORIES UPSIDE DOWN. >> CHARLES DARWIN'S A HERO OF MINE. 308 00:36:32,690 --> 00:36:38,863 I STUDIED EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY. BUT HE WAS A VICTORIAN MAN. AND SO WHEN HE CAME TO BRAND THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES, SHE CAME 309 00:36:38,930 --> 00:36:45,803 OUT IN THE SHAPE OF A VICTORIAN HOUSEWIFE. PASSIVE, COY, CHAFT. YOU KNOW, WE WERE SORT OF A 310 00:36:45,870 --> 00:36:52,009 FEMINIST FOOTNOTE TO THE MACHO MAIN EVENT BASICALLY. >> I CAN HEAR PEOPLE SAYING, IS THIS BIOLOGICAL WOKENESS? 311 00:36:52,076 --> 00:36:58,883 >> WELL, IT WOULD BE IF IT WASN'T TRUE. YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK THE HYENA, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEMALE SPOTTED 312 00:36:58,950 --> 00:37:05,456 HYENA IF SHE'S PASSIVE AND COY, AND SHE'LL LAUGH IN YOUR FACE AFTER SHE'S BITTEN IT OFF, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE- 313 00:37:05,523 --> 00:37:10,127 >> Reporter: CHALLENGING CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS A LARGE PART OF LUCY COOKE'S CRUSADE TO IMPROVE THE REP TAGSZ OF SLOTHS. 314 00:37:10,194 --> 00:37:17,001 BUT THERE IS A MORE SOMBER KIND OF REBE ILLTATION SHE WANTED TO SHOW US. >> HOW ARE THE SLOTHS INJURED? 315 00:37:17,068 --> 00:37:24,241 >> SO MOST OF THE TIME IT'S THROUGH ELECTROCUTION, WHERE IT WILL JUST LOOK LIKE THIS STRAIGHT VINE, YOU KNOW, GOING 316 00:37:24,308 --> 00:37:31,782 THROUGH THE FOREST. SO THEY'LL GRAB A HOLD OF THAT AND BECOME ELECTROCUTED. >> Reporter: LESLEY HOWLE WAS AN 317 00:37:31,849 --> 00:37:37,822 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WHO STARTED THE RANCH 19 YEARS AGO. NOW SHE HAS A TEAM OF SIX VETERINARIANS TO TREAT THE 318 00:37:37,888 --> 00:37:42,793 ELECTRICAL BURNS. MILLIONS OF YEARS OF EVOLUTION COULD NOT PREPARE THE SLOTHS FOR HUMAN SPRAWL. 319 00:37:42,860 --> 00:37:49,266 BUT THE VETS TOLD US THEY BELIEVE THE SLOTHS' SLOW METABOLISM SOMEHOW ALLOWS THEM TO RECOVER FROM INJURIES THAT 320 00:37:49,333 --> 00:37:57,208 MIGHT KILL OTHER CREATURES. THE TOUCAN RESCUE RANCH ALSO TAKES IN AORPHANS. >> THIS IS LITTLE GIO, AND THIS 321 00:37:57,274 --> 00:38:03,014 IS MARILYN. THEN WE HAVE LANDON HERE. >> OH, HE'S A TODDLER? >> HE'S A TODDLER. 322 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:08,819 AND THIS IS OUR TINIEST, LITTLE BENJI. >> OKAY. NOW MY OVARIES HAVE CRACKED. 323 00:38:08,886 --> 00:38:23,567 >> Reporter: IT CAN TAKE UP FOR TWO YEARS FOR THE ORPHANS TO BE READY TO GO BACK INTO THE WILD. WE WATCHED AS A FEMALE NAMED 324 00:38:23,634 --> 00:38:29,507 NOSARA WAS PREPARED FOR RELEASE. SHE WAS GIVEN A FINAL CHECKUP AND A TRACKING COLLAR BEFORE GETTING A LIFT TO A PROMISING 325 00:38:29,573 --> 00:38:34,178 TREE. >> OFF SHE GOES. >> AND IF SHE FALLS ASLEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RELEASE, IS 326 00:38:34,245 --> 00:38:42,753 THAT A BAD THING? >> THERE SHE GOES. >> OH. >> THAT'S A SCARY MOMENT, ISN'T 327 00:38:42,820 --> 00:38:47,792 IT? >> MISSION IMPOSSIBLE HAS NOTHING ON THIS, LIKE -- WHOO-HOO. 328 00:38:47,858 --> 00:38:54,665 >> Reporter: WITH THAT HIGH DRAMA BEHIND US, WE HEADED DOWN THE CARIBBEAN COAST WITH LUCY COOKE TO VISIT ANOTHER BRITISH 329 00:38:54,732 --> 00:38:59,503 SCIENTIST. BECKY CLIFFE IS CONDUCTING THE FIRST POPULATION STUDY OF SLOTHS EVER. 330 00:38:59,570 --> 00:39:08,746 THAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE LOW-HANGING FRUIT. IT IS NOT. >> WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET 331 00:39:08,813 --> 00:39:13,017 SCIENTIFIC DATA ON SLOTHS? >> THEY'VE EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 64 MILLION YEARS TO BE MASTERS OF DISGUISE, RIGHT? 332 00:39:13,084 --> 00:39:20,558 THEY ARE SO GOOD AT PRETENDING TO BE COCONUTS AND BIRD NESTS, THEN THEY'RE HIDING FROM THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO 333 00:39:20,624 --> 00:39:25,830 HELP THEM. >> Reporter: NEITHER OF THE SLOTH SPECIES IN COSTA RICA IS OFFICIALLY CONSIDERED 334 00:39:25,896 --> 00:39:31,502 ENDANGERED. BUT CLIFFE SAYS HER STAFF IS SUDDENLY SEEING FEWER SLOTHS, AND SOME ARE SUFFERING FROM AN 335 00:39:31,569 --> 00:39:39,744 ILLNESS SHE SUSPECTS MAY BE RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE. >> WE'RE GETTING EXTREME PERIODS OF HOT, DRY WEATHER, AND THEN 336 00:39:39,810 --> 00:39:45,716 EXTREME PERIODS OF PROLONGED COLD AND RAIN. AND THAT IS NOT WHAT SLOTHS HAVE EVOLVED TO SURVIVE IN. 337 00:39:45,783 --> 00:39:54,191 WHAT WE'RE DISCOVERING IS THAT THE MICROBES IN THE SLOTH'S STOMACH THAT THEY USE TO DIGEST THE LEAVES THEY EAT, WHEN THE 338 00:39:54,258 --> 00:39:59,330 SLOTH GETS TOO COLD, THOSE MICROBES DIE. SO EVEN THOUGH THE SLOTH MIGHT BE EATING AND LOOKING WELL, IT'S 339 00:39:59,396 --> 00:40:05,035 NOT DIGESTING ITS FOOD PROPERLY. SO THEY'RE LOSING ENERGY, AND THEY'RE GETTING VERY WEAK. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE 340 00:40:05,102 --> 00:40:08,739 STARVING TO DEATH BUT WITH A FULL STOMACH. >> THAT'S EXACTLY IT. IT'S A REALLY STRANGE PHENOMENON 341 00:40:08,806 --> 00:40:14,445 THAT I THINK ONLY HAPPENS IN SLOTHS. BUT IT'S HAPPENING HERE. >> Reporter: FOR CLIFFE TO 342 00:40:14,512 --> 00:40:20,050 COLLECT DATA, SHE HAS TO COLLECT SLOTHS. >> WHICH BRANCH IS SHE? >> Reporter: THAT'S THE 343 00:40:20,117 --> 00:40:28,192 FULL-TIME JOB FOR HER COLLEAGUE, DAYBER LEON. HE CLIMBED BAREFOOT UP A THREE-STORY-HIGH TREE COVERED IN 344 00:40:28,259 --> 00:40:36,400 BITING ANTS, SNATCHING THE SLOTH, THEN LOWERING IT IN A BAG. >> COME ON, LITTLE ONE. 345 00:40:36,467 --> 00:40:40,271 HI. >> THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. DO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT EVERY TIME YOU WANT TO GET A SLOTH 346 00:40:40,337 --> 00:40:45,176 DOWN? >> THIS IS EASY. >> Reporter: THE STUFFED SLOTH SHE'S HOLDING IS NOT A GIMMICK. 347 00:40:45,242 --> 00:40:52,016 IT WAS USED TO COMFORT THE REAL ONE AS WE HELPED REPLACE A MEMORY CHIP IN A TINY BACKPACK THE SLOTH WEARS. 348 00:40:52,082 --> 00:40:55,786 >> OH, YOU'RE VERY STRONG. >> VERY STRONG. AND THEN LEAN HER BACK A LITTLE BIT. 349 00:40:55,853 --> 00:41:04,662 COME ON, SWEETIE. I'M GOING TO CLIP THOSE LITTLE THINGS OFF. >> THIS IS LIKE DRESSING A BABY. 350 00:41:04,728 --> 00:41:08,833 >> DONE. WHAM BAM. >> WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION DOES THIS GIVE YOU? 351 00:41:08,899 --> 00:41:15,239 >> WE COLLECT A LOT OF MANUAL DATA IN TERMS OF WHAT TYPE OF TREE SHE'S IN, HOW HIGH IN THE TREE SHE IS. 352 00:41:15,306 --> 00:41:19,476 THERE'S ALSO A DATA LOGGER INSIDE HER WHICH COLLECTS A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT HER BEHAVIOR. 353 00:41:19,543 --> 00:41:29,386 SO EVEN HER MICROBODY MOVEMENTS ARE BEING RECORDED INSIDE THERE. >> HERE WE GO. YEAH, THAT'S A GIRL. 354 00:41:29,453 --> 00:41:34,925 >> Reporter: 32 SLOTHS WILL GET BACKPACKS AND BE RETURNED SLOWLY TO THE WILD. LUCY COOKE TOLD US SHE HOPES 355 00:41:34,992 --> 00:41:41,365 THIS STUDY WILL PROVIDE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF AN ANIMAL WE CAN BE TOO QUICK TO JUDGE. >> WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE 356 00:41:41,432 --> 00:41:47,838 SLOTH? >> WE CAN LEARN HOW TO BE MORE SLOW AND SUSTAINABLE OURSELVES, BECAUSE WE NEED TO. 357 00:41:47,905 --> 00:41:55,946 YOU KNOW, WE'RE DESTROYING THIS PLANET AT AN ALARMING RATE, AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR ADDICTION TO SPEED AND 358 00:41:56,013 --> 00:42:06,724 CONVENIENCE. SO IF WE TOOK A FEW CAREFULLY, SLOWLY DIGESTED LEAVES OUT OF THE SLOTH'S BOOK, YOU NOTE, WE 359 00:42:06,790 --> 00:42:18,068 MIGHT SAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL PLANET AND ALL OF THE AMAZING CREATURES THAT LIVE ON IT. [ 360 00:42:18,135 --> 00:42:24,308 [ TICKING ] >>> I'M CECILIA VEGA. WE'LL BE AWAY FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WHILE CBS CELEBRATES NEW 361 00:42:24,375 --> 00:42:31,115 YEAR'S EVE LIVE FROM NASHVILLE, AND ON JANUARY 7th, BROADCASTS THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS. WE'LL BE BACK ON JANUARY 14th 362 00:42:31,181 --> 00:42:52,369 WITH AN ALL-NEW EDITION OF "60 MINUTES."