Original subtitles

.

NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

SET YOUR COMPASS FOR SOUTH.

WE'RE HEADED TO WILD AUSTRALIA.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, HOW AN ANCIENT PREDATOR CAME TO BE TOP

DOG ON A DESERT ISLAND.

AND ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST LOVED FURBALLS IS ALSO ONE OF

ITS MOST MYSTERIOUS.

PLUS, JUST HOW BIG IS THE BIGGEST FISH ON EARTH?

AND WE GET UP CLOSE TO SOME VERY PETITE PENGUINS.

IT ALL STARTS NOW ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HI EVERYONE, I AM HERE WITH A VERY SPECIAL GUEST TODAY,

DR. RAE WYNN-GRANT FROM MUTUAL OF OMAHA'S WILD KINGDOM:

PROTECTING THE WILD ON NBC.

IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE YOU.

DR. RAE: IT IS SO GOOD TO BE OUT HERE WITH YOU, DYLAN.

DYLAN: YOU KNOW, AS A KID, I GREW UP WATCHING WILD KINGDOM.

DR. RAE: SO DID I.

AND WILD KINGDOM DEBUTED IN 1963.

TODAY, IT IS BACK ON NBC AND WE'RE GOING AROUND THE WORLD

TELLING STORIES OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND INTRODUCING

PEOPLE TO THE AMAZING BIOLOGISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS WORKING TO

SAVE WILDLIFE.

DYLAN: I LOVE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.

AND HERE WE ARE IN A DESERT ENVIRONMENT AND YOU'RE VERY

FAMILIAR WITH THIS HABITAT.

DR. RAE: WILD KINGDOM SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN DESERTS, I HAVE

TO SAY, BUT THEY'RE SUPER BIODIVERSE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE DESERT TORTOISES THAT MAKE BURROWS UNDER THE

GROUND TO KEEP THEMSELVES COOL OR BIGHORN SHEEP THAT GO ABOVE

AND BEYOND ON CLIFFS TO FIND WATER.

DYLAN: WELL, SPEAKING OF THE DESERTS, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE

YOU TO THE DESERTS OF AUSTRALIA AND INTRODUCE YOU TO AN ICONIC

ANIMAL THAT WAS PROBABLY BROUGHT TO THE CONTINENT BY ANCIENT

HUMANS THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

DR. RAE: OKAY, THIS MUST BE THE DINGO AND I LOVE DINGOES.

DYLAN: THEN YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS.

IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA, 10 MILES OFF THE COAST OF QUEENSLAND,

LIES GARRY, AN ISLAND COVERED IN RAINFOREST, PINE AND

EUCALYPTUS WOODLAND.

IT'S THE LARGEST SAND ISLAND ON EARTH.

HERE, PLANTS HAVE EVOLVED TO EXTRACT NUTRIENTS FROM SAND, NOT

SOIL, TURNING THE GRAINS A BRILLIANT WHITE.

AND THIS PICTURE-PERFECT ECOSYSTEM SUPPORTS AUSTRALIA'S

LARGEST LAND-BASED PREDATOR,

DINGOES.

ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE DESCENDANTS OF DOMESTIC DOGS,

NEW STUDIES PROVE THE DINGO IS AN ANCIENT GENETIC LINK BETWEEN

WOLVES AND DOGS.

THEY LIKELY ARRIVED ON THE CONTINENT WITH HUMAN SEAFARERS

AT LEAST 3,000 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN AUSSIE MAINSTAYS EVER

SINCE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ON THE MAINLAND, DINGOES OFTEN INTERBREED WITH DOMESTIC

DOGS, BUT ON GARRY, PETS ARE BANNED, MAKING THE ISLAND'S

FERAL DINGOES GENETICALLY PURE.

THE MAJORITY OF THIS MALE'S DIET IS SMALL MAMMALS AND REPTILES,

BUT WITH HIS FOREST HOME BACKING ONTO THE COAST, HE ALSO GETS

PLENTY OF SCAVENGING OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE SEA.

THE DINGO'S SENSE OF SMELL IS EXCEPTIONAL.

A GOOD FIND, BUT JUST A SEAFOOD STARTER.

THESE PUPS ARE LEFT IN A SECLUDED DEN SITE BY THE FOREST

EDGE, BUT THEY AREN'T HOME ALONE.

DINGOES ALWAYS GUARD THEIR DEN.

THE PARENTS' LITTER FROM LAST YEAR IS STILL PART OF THE PACK.

[SNARLING]

DYLAN: DEDICATED FAMILY MEMBERS, THESE BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS

GUARD THE DEN SITE, HELP PROVIDE FOOD, AND STILL FIND TIME FOR

PLAY WITH THE YOUNGER PUPS.

AND THIS BEACH LITTER IS A SOUGHT-AFTER TOY.

THEIR FATHER HAS RETURNED EMPTY-HANDED, BUT IS HAPPY TO

JOIN THE FRAY.

PLAY IS IMPORTANT FOR ESTABLISHING DOMINANCE IN THIS

PACK OF PREDATORS.

WHILE THEY SOCIALIZE, THEIR MOM IS DELIVERING A SEABIRD DINNER

TO THE LITTER.

THE PUPS ARE OLD ENOUGH NOW TO EAT MEAT.

THAT MEANS THE PARENTS' NEXT BREEDING CYCLE IS ONLY MONTHS

AWAY.

FOR THE OLDER OF THE PUPS, THEIR PARENTS' NEW MATING SEASON WILL

BE THEIR CUE TO LEAVE HOME.

THEY WON'T LEAVE THE ISLAND, BUT THEY'LL SEPARATE FOR GOOD FROM

THEIR FAMILY.

IT'S ALL PART OF BECOMING AN ADULT.

ON THEIR OWN, THESE WILD YOUNG DOGS WILL ESTABLISH NEW PACKS IN

THIS PROTECTED AUSTRALIAN HABITAT.

CONTINUING THE LEGENDARY LINES OF THE GARRY DINGOS.

COMING UP, WE'LL HEAR AN ICONIC TREE HUGGER'S KOALA OF THE WILD.

[BELLOWING NOISE]

DYLAN: PLUS, A COLOSSUS IS ROAMING THE CORAL REEFS,

BUT IS IT AS FIERCE AS IT LOOKS?

AND IT'S A VOICE ONLY A PENGUIN COULD LOVE.

[PENGUIN VOCALIZING]

DYLAN: DON'T GO AWAY.

EARTH ODYSSEY WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ALTHOUGH AUSTRALIA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS SCORCHING DESERT

INTERIOR, OFTEN CALLED THE OUTBACK, THIS VAST COUNTRY IS

ALSO RICH WITH TEMPERATE AND TROPICAL FORESTS,

INCLUDING MILLIONS OF ACRES OF EUCALYPTUS.

THESE TOUGH TREES HIDE A DECEPTIVELY TENDER-LOOKING

INHABITANT.

THEY MAY LOOK LIKE TEDDY BEARS, AND THEY ARE EVEN MISTAKENLY

CALLED BEARS,

BUT KOALAS ARE MARSUPIALS AND NOT BEARS AT ALL.

WITH FORMIDABLE CLAWS AND A SOLITARY LIFESTYLE, THIS MALE IS

NOT AS HUGGABLE AS HE LOOKS.

THE EUCALYPTUS FOREST IS THE KOALAS' NATURAL HOME.

IT'S ALSO THEIR MAIN FOOD SOURCE.

THE TREES' STRONG-SMELLING, OILY LEAVES REPEL MOST PLANT EATERS.

IN FACT, THE LEAVES ARE DOWNRIGHT POISONOUS.

BUT KOALAS CAN'T GET ENOUGH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TO DIGEST THIS TOXIC CUISINE, THEY GRIND THE LEAVES

TO A FINE PASTE.

SPECIAL GUT MICROBES IN THEIR STOMACHS DETOXIFY THE GOO FOR

HOURS.

ALL THAT CHEWING STILL ONLY GIVES KOALAS ENOUGH ENERGY FOR

TWO HOURS OF ACTIVITY A DAY.

AND RIGHT NOW, THIS LONE MALE NEEDS ALL THE STAMINA HE CAN

MUSTER.

[KOALA BELLOWING]

DYLAN: HIS LOW-FREQUENCY BELLOW HAS EVOLVED TO BE HEARD

MORE THAN HALF A MILE AWAY.

[KOALA BELLOWING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: HE'S CALLING FOR A MATE, BUT SO FAR, CRICKETS.

IT'S TIME TO WIDEN HIS SEARCH.

DOWN ON THE GROUND, KOALAS ARE EXPOSED TO PREDATORS LIKE

DINGOES AND AUSTRALIA'S MANY POISONOUS SNAKES.

FORTUNATELY, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO FAR.

HE FINALLY FINDS A TREE THAT HAS THE SCENT OF WHAT HE'S BEEN

AFTER,

A FEMALE.

BUT SHE'S GOT A YOUNG JOEY, WHICH MEANS SHE WON'T BE MATING

ANYTIME SOON.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT THE SOUND OF A FEMALE'S MATING CALL MEANS HE'S

NOT FAR OFF.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CHECK EVERY TREE.

AS FOR THE MOTHER KOALA, SHE'S NOT IN A RUSH.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

NG UP, THIS INCREDIBLE SHARK IS STARRING IN ONE WHALE OF A

TALE.

AND BRINGING UP BABY OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA.

WE BRAVE THE COLD WITH THESE SMALL BUT MIGHTY OCEAN PREDATORS

WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S NO SECRET THAT HUMANS ARE AFRAID OF SOME

ANIMALS.

NEAR THE OCEAN, THAT OFTEN INCLUDES SHARKS.

BUT WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS TELL US WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TO FEAR FROM

MOST SHARKS, AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE OF THE BIGGEST

SHARK OF ALL.

ON THE EAST INDIAN OCEAN, 750 MILES NORTH OF PERTH, AUSTRALIA

LIES A CORAL REEF TEEMING WITH LIFE.

NINGALOO REEF IS YOUNGER THAN THE FAMOUS GREAT BARRIER REEF.

IT WAS FORMED WHEN WARMING OCEAN CURRENTS CAUSED CORAL LARVA TO

DRIFT SOUTH FROM THE EQUATOR.

NOW, THE DIVERSE HABITAT STRETCHES FOR NEARLY 200 MILES.

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS NAMED IT A WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

IT HAS A VAST NETWORK OF SUBTERRANEAN CAVES AND

WATERWAYS.

TODAY, MORE THAN 200 CORAL SPECIES ARE FOUND IN NINGALOO.

IT'S A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM WITH MORE THAN 500 DIFFERENT KINDS OF

FISH, INCLUDING THE BIGGEST ONE ON THE PLANET.

THE WHALE SHARK.

AT MORE THAN 30 FEET LONG, HE'S AROUND 30 YEARS OLD.

BUT WHALE SHARKS CAN GROW UP TO 40 FEET.

THAT'S BIGGER THAN A SCHOOL BUS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE SHARK'S ARRIVAL HERE IS IN SYNC WITH THE CORAL'S MASS

SPAWNING.

PLANKTON NUMBERS EXPLODE AS THEY FEED ON THE SPAWN.

IN TURN, PLANKTON ATTRACT THE HUNGRY WHALE SHARKS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS ONE'S TRAVELED MORE THAN 900 MILES TO GET HERE.

AND TO A WHALE SHARK, THIS REEF IS PARADISE.

SHARKS HAVE A FEARSOME REPUTATION FOR ATTACKING PREY,

BUT THE WHALE SHARK IS A FILTER FEEDER, MAKING HIM A GENTLE

GIANT.

HIS FIVE FOOT WIDE MOUTH ENGULFS MILLIONS OF THE MICROSCOPIC

PREY.

HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TRAWLING THE PLANKTON BLOOM.

400 OF THESE GIANT OCEAN FISH DESCEND ON THE REEF EVERY YEAR

FROM TROPICAL WATERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ONLY ACTUAL WHALES ARE BIGGER THAN THE WHALE SHARK IN

THE EARTH'S OCEANS.

DESPITE THEIR ENORMOUS SIZE, THEY FEED ON THE SMALLEST OF

OCEAN PREY.

BUT AS SOON AS THE PLANKTON LEVELS DROP, THESE SIZABLE

SHARKS WILL HEAD BACK OUT TO DEEPER WATERS IN THE INDIAN

OCEAN.

COMING UP, THESE SMALL BUT MIGHTY SAILORS ARE TAKING A BIG

RISK COMING ASHORE WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA, THE GREAT SOUTHERN REEF

STRETCHES FOR AROUND 5,000 MILES ALONG THE COAST.

WITHIN ITS WATERS RESTS PHILLIP ISLAND.

MADE UP OF INTERCONNECTING KELP FORESTS, THE SURROUNDING OCEAN

TEEMS WITH MARINE LIFE.

BUT EVERY NIGHT, AN UNLIKELY AUSTRALIAN SPECIES EXITS THE

AQUATIC REALM,

LITTLE PENGUINS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY ARE TRUE SEAFARERS.

THE MAJORITY OF THEIR LIFE IS SPENT IN THE OCEAN, BUT THEY'RE

COMING ASHORE ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION.

TO FEED THEIR CHICKS.

LITTLE PENGUINS ARE JUST 12 INCHES TALL AND WEIGH UNDER

THREE AND A HALF POUNDS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: FORMING MANY RAFTS OF PENGUINS JUST OFFSHORE, THEY

WAIT FOR NUMBERS TO MUSTER ENOUGH COURAGE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FALSE STARTS ARE A STANDARD.

THEY'RE RIGHT TO BE CAUTIOUS.

ON LAND, THEY ARE AT THEIR MOST EXPOSED.

LITTLE PENGUIN COLORING IS MADE FOR THE SEA.

THEIR DARK NAVY BLUE FEATHERS MATCH THE OCEAN

AND THEIR WHITE BELLIES BLEND WITH THE SKY, PROVIDING

CAMOUFLAGE FROM PREDATORS BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW.

BUT ON LAND, IT'S NOT MUCH HELP.

IT'S NOW OR NEVER.

SEA EAGLES PATROL THE COAST WHEN THE SUN RISES AND THE PENGUINS

HAVE AN IMPORTANT DELIVERY TO MAKE ON LAND.

IT'S TIME TO RUN OR WADDLE.

NO ONE WANTS TO GET LEFT BEHIND.

THEIR BURROWS ARE DOTTED AMONGST THE DUNES BEYOND THE BEACH.

HE RECOGNIZES THE DISTINCTIVE CALL OF HIS OFFSPRING,

THE SOLE REASON FOR HIS DARING DASH.

[DISTANT PENGUIN CALLS]

DYLAN: MALE AND FEMALE PENGUIN PARENTS SPEND AROUND 60 DAYS

FEEDING THEIR YOUNG 24/7 BEFORE THEIR CHICKS ARE STRONG ENOUGH

TO FOLLOW THEM INTO THE OCEAN FOR AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE AT SEA.

THANKS FOR SHARING OUR VOYAGE TO AUSTRALIA'S WILD HABITATS.

ONE THING IS CLEAR, DIVERSITY OF SPECIES IS ONE OF THE MOST

FASCINATING ASPECTS OF LIFE ON OUR PLANET.

I'M DYLAN DREYER, SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]