Smithsonian Channel Announces New Series A LIFE AMONG MONKEYS

Smithsonian Channel will introduce viewers to a class-conscious community of Sri Lankan monkeys in a new documentary to air during the network's Wild Wednesday lineup. The one-hour special draws upon the remarkable work of Dr. Wolfgang Dittus, who has spent over 50 years studying the charismatic toque macaques of Sri Lanka, constituting the longest continuous monkey study in the world. Centered in the stunning ancient kingdom ruins of Polonnaruwa, A LIFE AMONG MONKEYS reveals trials and tribulations of life in the intricate social order of toque macaques, documented for the first time thanks to Dr. Dittus' pioneering work, and forces us to reevaluate what we thought we knew about primate societies. A LIFE AMONG MONKEYS premieres Wednesday, April 24 at 9 PM ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

Dr. Wolfgang Dittus arrived in Sri Lanka in 1968, sent by the Smithsonian Institution to study a tribe of toque macaques for 18 months, but his fascination with these charming primates has kept him following them to this day. Over the course of his 50-plus years observing these monkeys, Dr. Dittus has UNCOVERED a real life soap opera, charting the relationships, shifting allegiances and rigid hierarchies present within the community. He has recorded the lives of over 5,000 individual monkeys, identifying them via their unique facial markings and naming them in order to better follow their personal journeys - queen bee Maya outranks even her elders, while Fayuum provides back-up for his brothers in physical skirmishes, and maternal Pointa cares for orphaned babies in need of protection.

A LIFE AMONG MONKEYS presents this unique and groundbreaking study from the firsthand viewpoint of Dr. Dittus, interspersed with previously unseen archival footage taken over the course of his work. His vantage point shows the dramatic changes that have encircled this simian community, as their ancient forest home continues to shrink with manmade structures and settlements encroaching further and further.

A LIFE AMONG MONKEYS is produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios GmbH and Smithsonian Networks. Martin Meszaros is executive producer for Terra Mater. Tria Thalman and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where CURIOSITY lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy® and Peabody awards for its programming, combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, travel, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Pacific War in Color and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Coronation, The Mountain Lion and Me, Earth from Outer Space and Titanoboa: Monster Snake. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Channel Plus™, a subscription video streaming service delivering over a thousand hours of the Channel's stunning and diverse library of documentaries and series in HD and 4K Ultra HD. Smithsonian Channel is also available internationally in Canada, Singapore, Latin America and the UK. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.