Rise of the Warrior Apes on Animal Planet tonight is an epic tale of a troop of Ugandan chimpanzees, following them over 23 years as their complex society sees leaders rise and fall.
The troop live in the country’s Ngogo region and have four warrior leaders who use every trick in the book to stay in power.
These ape leaders would put some of our most devious politicians to shame as they use alliances, shaky morals and betrayal to stay in charge.
The troop itself is the largest every discovered and controls a vast area of territory.
They regularly patrol and defend this area and use various weapons to establish their dominance.
Over the years their number has swollen to over 200 and they have killed so many of the neighbouring troop that they are able to take over their land.
The documentary offers a unique look at these remarkable and occasionally scary animals as they show us just how much in common they have with our own societies.
Rise of the Warrior Apes airs tonight, Tuesday July 11, on Animal Planet.