Monkey Thieves

Monkey Thieves (Hindi: बंदर चोर), 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, located in northwestern India. The show follows the "Galta Gang," a troop of sixty monkeys that live in the Galta Temple, which is a Hindu temple on the outskirts of Jaipur.

Monkey Thieves
बंदर चोर
External links
Website

Plot

Mother Rhesus macaque with her baby in Galtaji, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Each episode starts with an introduction of the Galta Gang, led by alpha male Tarak and his friend Rani. The troop defend their temple home from neighboring langur monkeys and other troops of macaques. They subsist on food offered to them by worshippers who revere them as the personification of Hanuman, a central character of the Indian epic Ramayana, and a continuous supply of water in pools fed by underground springs.

Zamir, the largest and most powerful male in the troop, is yet to be the leader and has ambitions to do so. In order to gain support from lower-ranking members, he needs to show he can feed his family, but his raids on kitchens, cars, and homes soon get him a reputation as the biggest monkey burglar in all of Jaipur. Zamir is eventually ousted from the troop, and spends months wandering the busy city streets on his own. Eventually, he joins another troop, but before he can put his plans in action, the alpha of his new gang is trapped by the city's monkey catcher along with many of his top lieutenants. Zamir suddenly finds himself in charge. When the annual monsoon rains fail to appear as scheduled, a drought threatens the desert city's food supply, and Jaipur's residents have no surplus resources for the Galta Gang. Tarak leaves their temple home unguarded as he leads his family into the city in search of feeding opportunities. The neighboring langur monkeys try to steal ownership of the ancient temple, but the Galta Gang returns and forces the langurs to flee. Zamir and his new troop launch a takeover bid for the temple but are defeated by the Galta Gang. He is eventually captured by the city's monkey catcher and relocated 70 miles away. Tarak dies from wounds he sustained during the battle with Zamir's troop. Rani, the queen of the troop, also disappears, turning up days later with her newest baby, Teejay. With their king gone and Zamir no longer a threat, Kamal, Tarak's second in command, assumes leadership of the Galta Gang.

The second season begins several months after the death of Tarak. Kamal does not have the skills necessary to lead the troop, now with 80 members. Macaque troops usually undergo a process known as fission to reduce their numbers in which lower-class members break off to form their own group. Bipin, Yash and Tito, plus as many as 40 others, splinter away under the rule of a new leading pair, alpha male Devdin and queen Chaia. Zamir finds his way back to Jaipur searching for the Galta Gang and encounters the new splinter group. Meanwhile, the Galta Gang lose their temple to a troop of langur monkeys and are forced to find a new territory in the city. Kamal cannot live up to his role as leader and the troop becomes unstable. They encounter the monkey catcher, and Teejay goes missing. In search of his family, he returns to the Galta Temple to discover the langur monkeys have taken up residence. Hungry and alone, Teejay climbs a high tension power pylon and suffers an electric shock similar to the one Kavi experienced in the first season. He is taken to the same animal rescue charity hospital, Help in Suffering. Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, he dies. The rest of the Galta Gang continues to survive living in the streets of Jaipur but then encounter the splinter troop and flee in fear. Zamir eventually finds the Galta Gang, but instead of launching an attack, he leads the troop to find food. Eventually he even leads them back to the Galta Temple and regains their residence from the langur monkeys. Zamir assumes the role as alpha male of the Galta Gang.

Galta Gang

Tarak

Tarak is the 10-year-old alpha male of the Galta Gang. With the support of his partner Rani, Tarak has led the troop for over three years. He has fathered the majority of the troop youngsters, including Esha.

Rani

Rani is the queen of the troop and mother to Esha and Teejay. She assumes leadership in the second season following Tarak's death and Kamal's ineffective leadership though later supports Zamir as the new alpha male.

Zamir

Zamir is a large 9-year-old male monkey who constantly challenges Tarak's leadership. He is ultimately exiled from the Galta Gang and wanders Jaipur until being accepted into Vasu's troop in which he ultimately assumes leadership and leads his troop in war with the Galta Gang. He seriously injures Tarak but is defeated and ultimately relocated by the monkey catcher to the forest. He returns to Jaipur and rejoins the Galt Gang to regain the Galta Temple from the langurs and become the new alpha male.

Kamal

Kamal is Tarak's second-in-command and assumes leadership of the Galta Gang after Tarak's disappearance following the skirmish with Zamir's troop. Under his leadership, the Galta Gang splits into two factions, and his faction flees the temple when challenged by the langur monkeys. He is ultimately relocated by the monkey catcher.

Binita

Binita is Rani's oldest daughter. She is referred to as 'Quirky Binita' and 'Eccentric Binita' because of her unusual preferences. Binita prefers odd activities like staring at her troop through a piece of plastic, gazing at her own image in a pool of water, or dressing up in fabrics, and doesn't seem to share her troop's drive for finding food. She's an overly enthusiastic babysitter. While female macaques frequently engage in "aunting," Binita kidnaps her baby sister from her distracted mother. Rani reacts quickly, and Esha is returned unharmed.

Esha

Esha is Rani's second and youngest daughter. She is known for her inquisitiveness in the first season.

Anoop

Anoop is one of the young males and a friend of Bipin, Yash and Tito. He enjoys ice cream.

Kavi

Kavi is a friend of Bipin, Yash and Tito. He is electrocuted while fleeing and is nursed back to health by an animal charity organisation called "Help in Suffering." When Kavi is released, he joins Zamir's troop but reunites with the Galta Gang during the battle at Galta Temple.

Teejay

Teejay is Tarak and Rani's youngest son. While escaping the langur monkeys, he is electrocuted and dies.

Splinter troop (season 2)

Bipin

Bipin was one of the rowdy teenage males in the Galta Gang. He suffered from depression when his best pals, Yash and Tito, were captured along with several other Galta Gang troop members by the city's monkey catcher. Fortunately, they managed to make their way back to city and Bippin was relieved. In season two, Bipin and around forty other lower-ranking of the Galta Gang were ousted from Galta Temple by queen Rani and her upper-class members. The Splinter troop established a territory in the city, only to encounter the Galta Gang (ousted from the temple by the langurs) but saw them off.

When Bipin, Yash and Tito reached sexual maturity, the splinter group exiled them. They became three bachelors roaming the city. They tried to join other gangs, but the alpha males of the groups did not want them. Eventually, Yash and Tito were each accepted into two separate groups; Bipin was left to wander alone. He met two rambunctious, trouble-making twin boys, Gangol and Ragin, who accepted Bipin; he hadn't been accepted by the group yet.

Meanwhile, the monkey catcher thought he had plotted a great plan by tricking the group into entering an apartment by providing their favorite cookies and treats. His ultimate plan was to relocate the twins about 90 miles outside of the city, into a forest with other macaques. The monkey catcher's hope was to catch the thieving twins, but only one of them went in with several others in the group. The monkey catcher closed the door, thinking that catching one was better than none. Watching outside were Bipin and the other twin. They heard the screams and cries of the other monkeys and wanted to do something about it. After a quick look at the door, the twin unlocked it and Bipin pushed it open. Soon, all the monkeys in the group were free and the monkey catcher's plans were foiled. Bipin was then welcomed into the gang.

But the monkey catcher wasn't done yet. He decided to stop trying to catch the twins and instead herd the gang up to the Galta Temple. The monkey catcher didn't take into account that Galta was already claimed by the original Galta Gang and for them to take the temple, they would have to fight. When the twins and their gang reached the temple, they were mesmerized by the paradise of pools and beautiful ground. But Bipin took one look at the Galta Temple and his former family and quickly changed sides.

Unfortunately, the Galta Gang didn't have a king and queen at the time. So it looked as if the twins and their gang were going to win.

Suddenly, Zamir reappeared. He had been exiled, but had returned to Galta and the twin's gang knew they didn't stand a chance. After the brawl, Zamir lay down in submission, leaving the king spot open for someone else for Elsa to choose, and she chose Gangol.

Yash

Yash was friends with Bipin and Tito. He was among those captured by the monkey catcher and relocated to the forest. He later reunited with the Galta Gang but was ousted by the upper class and joined the splinter group.

Tito

Tito was one of three rowdy teenage males and friends with Bipin and Yash. During a feeding foray, Yash, Tito and several other members of the Galta Gang were captured by the monkey catcher and relocated in the forest. The captured individuals eventually managed to find their way back to Jaipur and reunite with the Galta Gang. In season two, Tito and around forty other lower ranking Galta Gang members left the temple to form the splinter troop after being ousted by queen Rani and her upper-class family.

Devdin

After the lower ranking members of the Galta Gang were ousted from the temple by Rani, Devdin, a subordinate male, took leadership of his small splinter troop and became their new alpha male, with the support of his queen Chaia and their baby Dimple, and led his troop out of the temple and into the city searching for a new territory in take ownership of. During a run in with the bachelor males, Devdin led his troop out of the Pink City and into a desolate old castle building before deciding to lead his splinter troop back to the city and establishing a new territory, including fending off and the Galta Gang elite from their newfound patch of real-estate.

Fang

Named after his scar at the left side of his mouth, Fang was the Galta Gang's most feared enemy. He defended his territory from other troops, including Zamir when he tried to mate with one of the females.

Vasu

Vasu was the original alpha male of the troop Zamir joined after he reappeared from exile. He was impressed by Zamir's food-finding skills and in doing so allowed him to join his troop. During a feeding foray at a grain market, Zamir set Vasu and a handful of his troop members up and got them caught by the city's monkey catcher and were relocated to a faraway forest outside the city of Jaipur. Vasu and his captured followers learn to adapt to their new environment after realising that they could never make it back to the city of Jaipur.

Episodes

Episode 1: Apartment Job

We are introduced to the Galta Gang, a 60-strong troop of wild but urbanised rhesus macaques who live in Galta Temple residing in the city of Jaipur, northwestern India. Tarak is the alpha male, at ten years old, and has been in charge of the troop for nearly three years. He and his troop live a life of luxury within the compound of the Galta Temple where they are fed a continuous variety of food by passing worshippers who pay their respects to lord Hanuman. the Hindu monkey God. With so much food and an abundance of water at the spring pool situated at the lower compound of the temple, the Galta Gang have little reason to leave home and go to the ever busy streets of Jaipur. However, the long-awaited monsoon rains are late this year and food is running out, which means that Tarak and his troop are being given less and less food as people have to save what they have for themselves. As the drought continues meaning less food for the troop, Tarak leads the gang out into the city streets in search of feeding opportunities. Rhesus macaques are highly adaptable and can thrive almost anywhere. For this reason, the Galta Gang have adapted to living in close proximity to humans and can navigate through the network of electrical wires around the city streets. The three most troublesome youngsters: Bipin, Yash and Tito, along with young Kavi, get up to their usual mischievous antics. Kavi tries to chew on an electrical cable and gets a small and brief electrical shock. After travelling the streets for a few hours, Rani, the Queen of the troop, decides to engage the troop in some grooming. Rani is the alpha female, at fifteen years old, and already has six offspring. Her youngest and latest baby, Esha, automatically inherits the throne and has the highest rank in comparison to not only her older sisters but also all the females in troop. While most of the troop members enjoying a grooming session, the troublesome teens Bipin, Yash, Tito and tag-a-long Kavi resort to a game of jumping into a water trough, despite the interruption of street dogs visiting for a drink. Eventually the troop come across a feeding opportunity; an open window of an apartment. The human owners were out of sight, giving the Galta Gang an opportunity to enter the house through the kitchen window and search for food. The whole troop ransacked the kitchen, searching for food items. While most of the gang have their minds on food, Binita, Rani's oldest daughter, decides to do her own survey through the objects, such as utensils and cables, including breaking open a medicine bottle. Eventually the home owners hear the commotion and the troop flee from sight, with some of the gang tagging along their items. With everyone sated, Tarak leads the troop back to the temple for the evening, but one member did not make it back home. During the flee from the apartment, Kavi made a mistake of taking to the electrical wires networking around the streets and unfortunately he suffered a massive electrical shock. He is still alive but severely injured and vulnerable.

Episode 2: Fang's Market

As the drought continues, the Galta Gang have to make forays into the city in search of feeding opportunities as supplies at their temple are running out. Alpha male Tarak leads his troop to the city's main food productions, but stealing may lead to casualties with the people referring to the city's monkey catcher as they grow less tolerant of thieving macaques stealing what little food is left. The troop need to keep a low profile as to not attract attention to themselves. Meanwhile, Kavi is in deep trouble after suffering a big electrical shock, but fortunately luck is on his side. A kind human picks up the monkey and takes him to the animal charity 'Help In Suffering', where he is given immediate medical treatment. The vets rehydrate Kavi with fluid and treat his infected wounds, giving him the best chance to pull through. Meanwhile, the rest of the Galta Gang continue their search for food and end up at the city's fruit market. Here, a fresh supply of fruits are easy pickings for the ravenous troop and the Galta Gang begin to stock up on the rich pickings, but the territory has already been claimed by another rhesus macaque troop. The owner of this prime patch is Fang, a large male macaque whose prominent scar gives him a distinguishing feature. Fang and his formidable troop are fiercely protective of their territory, because it is the most valued real-estate within Jaipur's pink city walls with such a supply of food. Fang's troop eventually catch site of the Galta Gang and a brief but decisive battle takes place, sending the Galta Gang to flee. At the animal charity 'Help In Suffering', Kavi gets nurtured and looked after by the animal carer Saresh Valmiki and starts to make small attributes of pulling through to recovery. The Galta Gang survives the clash with Fang and returns to the Temple but, if the drought continues, they risk going into the city again and facing Fang and his formidable gang at their food-supplying market.

Episode 3: The Monkey Catcher

The Galta Gang is finding that life at the top can be tough. Tarak's queen Rani, baby Esha and the rest of the troop are hungry. The drought is taking its toll, with less worshippers handing out food to the monkeys at the temple. With his troop becoming more restless, Tarak has a crisis on his hands: there is a rebel in his ranks. Zamir, nine-year-old subordinate male, is one of the highest ranking males in the troop and has his eye on the alpha male position. Another threat closer to home are the troop's envious neighbours, the langur monkeys. These agile monkeys thrive on the forest leaves which macaques find inedible. They are after the temple's fresh supply of water at the spring pool. Meanwhile, Tarak leads the troop into the city in search of feeding opportunities and, while most of the troop have their eyes on the busy streets, Bipin, Yash and Tito have their eyes on the birds. The trio follow a pair of birds, closely followed by Zamir. The teens don't manage to get anything out of harassing the birds and move on. Zamir spots a cart seller pushing his cart full of food items; when the cart seller leaves, Zamir moves in to help himself to the food, closely followed by the teens. Eventually, Tarak and the rest of the Galta Gang hear the alarm call notifying that food has been found. They waste no time feeding on the food items on the cart before the cart seller spots his stock being eaten by a bunch of thieving monkeys. Most of the troop manage to flee from sight but Zamir gets cornered and lashes out to scratch the cart seller. The injured cart seller calls the city's monkey catcher who is soon hot on the gang's trail. He sets up a trap near the temple and fills it with food items to tempt the monkeys to take the bait. At the animal charity 'Help In Suffering', Kavi has been under the care of animal carer Saresh Valmiki since being found lying in the city after suffering an electric shock. He is given fresh food and accommodation daily, unlike the Galta Gang who have to deal with food shortages. Kavi makes substantial progress but still has a long recovery to go. Meanwhile, back at the temple, the Galta Gang have more pressing concerns: the langurs take the chance and invade the temple, but alpha male Tarak leads the Galta Gang into the defence of their precious temple and send the langurs to flee, though in the chase the troop once again find themselves in the city streets. On their way back, the troop come across the monkey catcher's trap and, while most of the more experienced individuals keep at a safe distance despite the food inside the trap, curiosity gets the better of the teens; Yash, Tito and several of the gang get captured. Bipin managed to escape the capture. The captives get shifted into small cages and are driven away for relocation. The monkey catcher's real target, Zamir, manages to escape; it is because of his act of scratching the cart seller that an innocent band of troop members were captured and taken to a forest, miles away from the city of Jaipur.

Episode 4: Taxi Raid

The exiled macaques are released in a faraway forest, where they have to look for ways of survival and the road back to home. At the temple, the monkey catcher refuses to do his job since it's Tuesday, the day of lord Hanuman. Showing his respect, he surprisingly offers food to the troop, which most of the members, especially Bipin, refuse to accept. Many teen members are thirsty and set out the search of water. They finally quench their thirst from a public tap, the only way to heal their pain of hunger to an extent. Tarak, with the responsibility to feed the whole hungry gang, heads towards the city with the gang. A mile away from home, the gang finds a few unguarded taxis, but investigation results in nothing edible available. Sorrowful Tarak gives up the quest, yet Zamir has plans for him and isn't ready to follow the leader. Along with a group of his followers, Zamir gets to a high vantage point where he spots a white taxi left alone along with a window open by its owner. His mistake results in the gang eating away and stealing every eatable in the taxi. It is a humiliating low to Tarak's strength as the leader. The gang returns to the temple. After having a restless night, Bipin, separated from his pair of close friends, wakes up the earliest and begins to stare at the horizon to find out any signs of the safe return of his friends. At 'Help in Suffering', the scenario is very critical as the little Kavi, being heavily wounded by electrical burns, gets one of his wounds infected by parasites. The veterinary team tries its best to cure the macaque.

Episode 5: Skid Row

The exile members spot a house amidst the jungle, but there are no signs of any human activity and, more importantly, food. It is nothing more than an abandoned house. Meanwhile, at the temple, Zamir, while framing more plans to conquer the crown, sees a devotee putting away a coconut in the pond. He takes it and wants to eat it alone, breaking the rule where the primary feeding rights lie with the alpha male. As Tarak senses what is going on, he comes to get his part. On his arrival, Zamir loses his nerve and is left with no other option rather than to flee away. Later on, while Rani and Tarak are spending time together, Binita attempts to kidnap her younger sister, Esha. Thanks to Bipin coming to her rescue, Rani is alerted and leaves no chance for Binita. The troop is hungry with no breakfast. Tarak is left with no source of food within the temple premise and, once again, has to lead the gang towards the city. He would not repeat the mistake of going to the city's fruit market, guarded by his arch rival, Fang. Finding no good place to steal food, the macaques have to find insects in the sand or to steal the birds' food. With no food source, Rani cannot produce breast milk and at worst, may have to abandon Esha. Having lost any hope to see fresh available food, the gang suddenly hears a much familiar sound. It is the sound that Vijay Sharma, a strong devotee of lord Hanuman, makes. He occasionally brings much food to the troop. Every member eats, and young Anoop gets the taste of ice-cream for the first time. The only problem is Zamir, whose hopes are shattered as he now cannot challenge Tarak with a satisfied troop. Back at the jungle, the exiles finally find a busy road but are eventually stuck at an intersection, where only one way leads home.

Episode 6: Monsoon Showdown

The monsoons finally break in the city of Jaipur accompanied by a storm, which is not good for Zamir, who has got his eyes on the highest rank. The local people celebrate the festival of Teej, a festival celebrated to welcome the monsoon. Zamir cannot wait anymore. He creates a chaos at the temple, attacking many gang members, including Rani, and almost gets the upper hand over Tarak, until he is attacked by the ferocious and united females of the gang. Facing defeat, he is thrown out of the gang. The chaos results in many gang members left heavily wounded, and the death of a baby macaque. Meanwhile, the exile monkeys are already going along the road and, after demonstrating their brilliant sense of directions and a ten-mile long trek, they are finally back in the city. Going through the street mazes, they reach the temple and are welcomed with a bath. Bipin is finally reunited with Yash and Tito, and is back to doing mischief. After all the action, there is a gentle peace at the Galta temple.

Episode 8: Return of the Rebel

Zamir searches for a new troop to lead against his former comrades at the temple, while Kavi waits to see if his family will accept his return.

Episode 9: The Great Escape

While Tarak has had six months of peaceful leadership, his old rivals, the monkey catcher and Zamir, are back in action. Zamir is now a member of a city-based troop led by their leader named Vasu. With his food-finding abilities, Zamir leads a few members to a government office where Sher Singh is in charge. As soon as Sher Singh leaves the office unguarded, Zamir sends in minor members in search of food and later enters himself. Although they find no food, many confidential public tax-related government documents are thrown out open in the streets. This incident attracts the monkey catcher to the site, setting up cages near the office. The monkey catcher now has his own supporting team consisting of his family members. The team waits but sees no monkey to be trapped. Meanwhile, at 'Help In Suffering', Suresh Valmiki makes another attempt to reunite Kavi with the rest of the gang, having already fail in an earlier try. Kavi is left out in a cage where Bipin and many others try to investigate the familiar face. After some time, Kavi finally loses his fear and is set free by Suresh. By the time Suresh bids him farewell, he quickly runs away somewhere unseen between the streets. Some of the gang members try to chase him but he is too fast to be caught. It remains unknown why Kavi had to run away. In the other part of the city, the monkey catcher is desperate to catch the infamous Zamir, one of his oldest targets. The monkey catcher's search for him leads to the city's grain market, where Vasu, Zamir and rest of the troop are set with a big plan in their minds. On spotting the macaques, the monkey catching team is set in action and cages are set up high on the roofs of the market. One of the members of the team hides near a cage in an oil container. Zamir precisely knows the plans of the team and cleverly decides to stay away from the traps. However, Vasu and some of the powerful males of his troop are caught in a trap, leaving Zamir's troop without an alpha male. Vasu is taken far away from the city of Jaipur and left in exile in a forest.

Episode 10: Trading Places

Vasu and the other trapped macaques are released in a forest far away from Jaipur, where they meet many other macaques that have been similarly caught and released from Delhi. While in the city, Vasu's 50-member troop is left with newly recruited Zamir as the only powerful male being capable enough to be the leader. A new day starts and Zamir already has plans to take the position. But he must prove it. He has to find a source of food for his troop. He leads the troop towards the city's fruit market, being unaware it's the area of the formidable Fang. Yet early in the morning, neither Fang nor any of the fruit-sellers are seen in the market as the market hasn't opened yet. At the Galta temple, members of the Galta Gang have now stopped any further investigation about Kavi, and are instead roaming in the city, facing the monkey catcher and his team. Meanwhile, in the forest, Vasu and his fellows find a road and start going along its ends, in the hopes of returning to the city and reuniting with the separated troop. In the city, Zamir finds no food available to loot as he leads the troop to a gem store where they once again find nothing edible and only beautiful gems. At the same time the Galta Gang takes shelter in a busy Hanuman temple amidst the city, where the gang is free from all the dangers of the monkey catching team, as in a Hanuman temple, monkeys are respected and devotees would oppose their catching. The devotees present at the temple also offer fruits to the gang, although Binita is interested in stealing away sandals of devotees. Meanwhile, at the gem store, Zamir flees away with his troop after creating chaos, leaving Fang and his troop at the scene. Zamir now tries his luck in a hotel, and succeeds as he finds the food store of the hotel, where plenty of food items are stored. Zamir's troop members eat away everything present, and happily accept Zamir as their new leader. Zamir celebrates the victory with alcohol drinks. At 'Help In Suffering', the team on duty gets a call regarding an injured macaque, putting Suresh Valmiki in fear as he assumes it might be Kavi. The team rushes towards the site, finds a macaque and quickly returns to the base. At the base it is revealed that the macaque they bought was an injured female along with a newborn baby. The female was left alone and separated by her troop. Suresh is happy to see it's not Kavi. But Kavi is finally seen in the city, where he meets none other than Zamir. Being away from the Galta Gang for months, Kavi is unaware of the fact that Zamir is no more a part of the gang and has a troop of his own. Zamir seems happy to see Kavi, and happily recruits the young macaque in his newly acquired gang.

Episode 11: Rising Forces

Animal caretaker Suresh tries to nurse a mother monkey and her baby back to health, but it is proving difficult. Zamir plots an attack on Tarak and the temple troop, but the attack is foiled.

Episode 12: Heroes & Villains

Esha gets lost in the city. Zamir and his troop launch their attack on the temple, but Tarak and the loyal Kamal mount a strong defense.

Episode 13: A New Dawn

The gang gains several new faces. But in the wake of the great battle, Tarak is seriously injured, and the troop wonders who will replace him.

Episode 1: Divided We Stand

As the troop expands and the economy plunges, scarce offerings at the temple leave the macaques competing with each other for sustenance.

Episode 2: Hard Times

The Galta Gang splits into two troops, with Bipin, Yash and Tito leading the splinter group into the city—and into the traps of the monkey catcher.

Episode 3: Searching For Sanctuary

Rani and the temple troop rely on handouts, while Bipin and the exiles search for a new base. As prospects dim, the suddenly find a ray of hope.

Episode 4: Urban Exile

While Jaipur overrun by langurs, the splinter group must try every trick in the book to locate food. In a faraway forest, Zamir reappears.

Episode 5: Street Life

The remaining Galta troopers leave the temple when offerings dry up, but a close encounter with the monkey catcher sends them scurrying back home.

Episode 6: Home Hunters

While the Galta Gang are off looking for food in town, the watching troop of langur monkeys take their chance and take over the Temple. When the gang return, they fight to reclaim their home, but they are out-numbered and when gang leader Kamal runs away; the troop have little choice but to leave.

Episode 7: Beggars Banquet

Homeless and on the streets, the Galta Gang hear Temple bells. Recognising this as the sound of food, they follow the sound and find a small park. The gang think they have found a new home, until another troop turns up. This is the bachelor gang, and they sidle up to the females. Kamal is paying undivided attention to his food and isn't noticing what's going on. When he does, the rest of the gang sense a fight is coming. But Kamal is scared to fight anyone and he turns and leaves. The rest of the gang follow.

Episode 8: Cops and Robbers

Locals call the police over the antics of the Galta Gang, which brings a policeman to the area, who specialises in advising residents how to protect their property from monkey thieves. When he leaves his radio unguarded behind him on a ledge, Binita spots it, sneaks up and steals it. The policeman gives chase and calls in the monkey-catching team, headed by the monkey catcher. Before the catchers arrive, the gang steal a turban and some pretty cloth, and play dress-up until Kamal spots the catchers and raises the alarm. The gang run in every direction, and once they have escaped, Rani realises that Teejay is not with them, but it is not safe to return to the ground to search for him. She can only wait and worry: with 4,000 macaques on the prowl in the city, young macaques need their mothers to keep them safe, especially one as playful and adventurous as Teejay, but night falls with no sign of him. Zamir returns to Jaipur after eight months in the bush, after having been removed by the monkey catcher. After initial confusion about his location, he finds his bearings and sees his old home in the distance.

Episode 9: Missing In Action

The Galta Gang elite are still homeless and Teejay is still missing, but Kamal finds them a potential new home with an abundance of food and no obvious threats. The grain depot has bags of food that the gang can eat, and the staff don't seem to be bothered by them at all. While Kamal is pleased with himself, Rani is still concerned: she knows that if something seems too good to be true it probably is. Suddenly a monster-sized langur comes to scare them away. This odd looking predator is a 42-year-old mime artist whose job it is to scare away monkey gangs, and he is very effective. Kamal is the first to bolt, leaving his unprotected gang to escape for themselves, which they do. Now on the streets again, Rani needs Kamal's protection more than ever before, but he is nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, without anyone to rein in his behaviour, Teejay is playing acrobatics on the city's maze of power lines. Eventually, remembering he is all alone, he sees his old home in the distance, the Temple. He hurries there, but instead of finding familiar faces, he finds a new gang there, the large pack of langurs. Surrounded, Teejay initially panics, but the young langurs want to play and groom, and the senior langurs don't mind at all. When Zamir turns up, there is a commotion as the langur pack prepare to defend their home, but Zamir recognises that he is outnumbered and leaves. Seeing Zamir reminds Teejay that he must find his family, so he too takes off. Unfortunately, his reckless climbing on wires finally takes its toll as he is electrocuted and falls into a dried out water trough, which cushions his fall but hides him from pilgrims who could help him.

Episode 10: Drug Raid

Kamal leads the gang to a market, but they come face to face with their former underlings, the splinter group that they chased off from the temple. The splinter group, led by Devdin and including Bipin, Yash and Tito, are well fed and strong. Rani knows that the tables have turned and, while the youngsters of each group initially play, Rani calls them off as this is no time to play. Kamal then flees, and the Galta Gang know that their chance of taking over this market has gone with him, so they flee also. Needing to redeem himself, Kamal finds an empty room at the local hospital, and though the gang can't open the child-proofed medicines, they still feast on several available medical products, including sweet cough syrup. Chased off by hospital staff, the gang are nonetheless happy with themselves, especially Kamal who is finally starting to feel like a leader. However, the hospital staff have called the monkey catcher and he and his team manage to cage Kamal, leaving Rani and her gang alone and vulnerable. Zamir had spotted his former gang and had hoped to try his luck for a third time to takeover the gang, but before he could approach them, he sees the monkey catcher and leaves before he too is a target for capture. Lost baby Teejay, suffering terrible injuries from a big shock from a power cable, is found by locals, one of whom takes the small monkey to the animal charity 'Help in Suffering'. He is in critical condition and may have suffered internal organ failure, so he is medicated and left in a recuperation cage overnight, with worker Suresh looking after him.

Episode 11: The Curse of the Jade Monkey

The monkeys are in trouble again, and it is effecting the whole gang. Hapless monkey-catcher Habu and his dimwitted hound Zuzu finally seem to have the Galta Gang outwitted and outmatched at an abandoned meat packing plant downtown. Zamir, still reeling from the realization that his father is still alive, leads the whole gang around a blind corner and into Habu's waiting trap.

Episode 12: An Unlikely Hero

Rani finally comes face to face with her arch enemy, Zamir. He scares off the bachelors and takes charge. The Galta Gang elite launch an attack on the splinter's troop market. But Zamir is distracted and abandons the assault. He finally leads the whole troop for a night feast at the central fruit market, securing his position as alpha male.

Episode 13: Deliverance

Fortunes change as Zamir takes firm charge of the troop and leads them back to the Galta Temple, where a battle awaits with the surprised langurs.

Episode 1: Coming of Age

Ten months after birthing a baby boy, Rani seems lethargic. At the fruit market, Bipin, Yash and Tito have reached maturity and show interest in their troop's females. After a successful raid for food, they get groomed by the interested females. But when they return, Devdin punishes the females who came late, and then turns on the trio, driving them out.

Episode 2: Zamir's Legacy

Ejected from their troop, Bipin, Yash and Tito search for water. They are soon blamed for the violent raids of Zamir's wayward twins, Gangol and Ragin.

Episode 3: Royal Retreat

When Queen Rani disappears, Zamir's leadership is challenged by other temple males. Gangol and Ragin attack a bakery with their rogue troop.

Episode 4: Paradise Lost

Leaderless, the temple gang descends into chaos. Gangol and Ragin gorge on a delivery truck's split peas. Bipin, Yash and Tito try country living.

Episode 5: Sweet Revenge

Now on the right track, the monkey catcher goes undercover to catch the unruly twins. Bipin, Yash and Tito may have finally found a new troop.

Episode 6: Three's a Crowd

At the temple, Esha pulls rank to save a baby. Gangol and Ragin attack a sweet paan vendor, when he is busy. Bipin and Tito suffer a betrayal at the fruit market when they fall into trouble with the market troop. Yash joins them in driving former friends out of the complex.

Episode 7: Allied Forces

Its early morning and Bipin is grooming Tito, who is dreaming about joining a troop. Suddenly, a troop catches their eye, but there are no females. It is a bachelor gang. They try to join it but an aggressor spots them and scares them off. After they get accepted in the gang (by a friend who drives off the aggressor), the gang moves on heading for the hospital market. Meanwhile, at the temple, the langurs are moving in, forcing the Gang to the perimeter. If someone doesn't take charge soon, they will lose the prized territory. On the other side of town, the bachelor's advances are stopped by Devdin who warns them. After his warning, he keeps a watch when suddenly he spots two individuals who he thinks haven't learnt their lesson and drives them out. Bipin and Tito decide to leave the bachelors and go their way.

Episode 8: Last Man Standing

As the Gangaur Marriage Festival unfolds, Bipin and Tito ingratiate themselves with the Palace females, which only Tito joins. Meanwhile, the monkey catcher finally has a small victory, when he manages to cage one of the troop's bachelor's males.

Episode 9: Low Life

War ensues when Gangol and Ragin's gang raids the monkey catcher's kite store. Esha discovers that the ranks support her and assumes leadership of her troop.

Episode 10: Bad Boys

Bipin is travelling at the rear of the rogue troop along with Gangol, who is sizing him. Meanwhile, Ragin is leading the troop towards base, but he does not know he is leading them into a trap. After being trapped, Bipin and Gangol turn up and realize something is off. Gangol unlocks the door, while Bipin pushes it open, and calls to the troop who rapidly escape the house.

Episode 11: Gate Crashers

The twin's troop, with their newest member Bipin, boldly raids a children's birthday party, leading the monkey catcher to attempt a new strategy.

Episode 12: Like Father, Like Sons

The twin's troop is driven out of the city by the monkey catcher's corralling strategy, but as they near the Galta Temple, Bipin recognizes his former home.

Episode 13: Arrested Development

Temple leader Queen Esha finally gets an alpha male, Garud, to rule beside her. They will need each other when the twin's troop arrives at the temple.

References

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