These long-tailed macaques live in Bali.
Every morning, the troop heads for a building
in the centre of their territory.
Tourists come here every day in crowds.
So the temple grounds are full of opportunities,
if you know where to look.
There is a constant supply of hats
and sunglasses.
But this harvest is not for eating,
it’s for bargaining.
Seems like a fair trade.
But there are greater rewards to be had
for those who know how to get them.
And this old male appears to be doing
very well.
He and the other elders in this troop
have both experience and knowledge.
They’ve been working the temple for over 10 years
and now concentrate on the big stuff.
No one wants to walk home
with just one shoe.
And these old boys can’t wait to get their hands
on the latest tech.
The older males understand
something the youngsters have yet to learn –
the art
of the deal.
A banana?
How dare you?
A bar of chocolate?
That’s better.
The real skill is in the negotiations.
The macaques
are playing us at our own game.
They demand
whatever they want.
