Monkey Thieves
Monkey Thieves (), also known as Rebel Monkeys, is a documentary series produced by National Geographic, examining the habits and social interactions of rhesus macaques in the city of Jaipur, in northwestern India. "Monkey Thieves" follows a family of urban macaques within Jaipur's 'Pink City' and all the drama that comes from living close to humans. The series tells the story of the "Galta Gang", a sixty-strong troop that lives in the Galta Temple, a Hindu temple on the outskirts of Jaipur. This bunch live in luxury because worshipers believe they personify Hanuman, the cherished 'Monkey God' who banished evil in the Indian epic Ramayana. Defending their prized home from invaders including neighboring langur monkeys and other troops of macaques, as well as exploring Jaipur in search of food and adventure, keeps this troop in action.
Monkey Thieves
At the beginning of the show, we are introduced to Tarak, the 10-year-old alpha male of the Galta Gang, a troop of rhesus macaques who live in the Galta Temple situated within the Pink City of Jaipur, northwestern India. With the support of his partner Rani (the alpha female), Tarak has led the troop for over three years. He has fathered the majority of the troop youngsters including his latest offspring with Rani, Esha. Although secure in his position, one of Tarak's biggest concerns is disposal and his devious subordinate Zamir has his eye on the top job. Tarak continues to try to maintain control over his troop while Zamir proves his good attributes of being a leader with his food finding skills. Fortunately Tarak knows that Zamir is more powerful than he is and that he his out his game with Zamir and knows that Zamir will eventually defeat him and take command of the galta gang. Rani the alpha female gives Tarak support of the troop and her sisterhood. During a drought season, Tarak leads the Galta Gang into the city where they undertake burglary in stealing food from people's households, a far cry from the luxury they are used to at the Galta Temple where food is just handed over to them. With Tarak's success in leading the troop to find food means the guarantee of survival of the troop and its youngsters. Unfortunately during one foray, some of troop are trapped by the 'monkey catcher' and relocated, Tarak's troop with half the number of individuals originally in the Galta troop. As drought hits, the burden on Tarak's shoulders increases and at any sign of weakness is a sign for Zamir to try a take over bid. With Zamir's eventual ousting by the Galta Gang females, Tarak becomes a lot more at ease and his leadership over the troop secures, so much so that he was able lead his troop into fitting off a troop of langur monkeys from the neighbouring forest. Zamir returns with his own troop and launches a take over bid for ownership of the temple, and during the fight Tarak gets injured and disappears, along with his heavily pregnant queen Rani. The rest of his troop manage to see off Zamir's troop under the leadership of his second in command, Kamal. Tarak and Rani remain missing for a day or so until finally Tarak is found to have died from his wounds, leaving his troop under Kamal, his trusted right-hand man. Rani re-appears with her new baby, Tarak's last offspring with Rani, Teejay.