Original subtitles

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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.

WELCOME TO ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL ADVENTURE HERE ON EARTH

ODYSSEY.

COMING UP, LOVE IS IN THE AIR.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHY GROUP HUGS AND GROOMING ARE KEY TO SURVIVAL

AT HIGH ALTITUDES.

AND YOUNG BUCKS WITH SPRING FEVER GET LOUD IN THE FOREST.

PLUS ONE VERY TINY DANCER IN WHAT COULD BE THE PERFORMANCE OF

A LIFETIME.

AND MARINE MAMMALS COZY UP ON THE BEACH UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR A

BATTLE OF THE BULLS.

ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE RIGHT NOW ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

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

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

PROTECTING THE WILD ON NBC.

IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE YOU.

DR. RAE: IT IS AWESOME TO BE HERE IN THE RAINFOREST WITH YOU.

DYLAN: WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T JUST HOST A TV SHOW ABOUT

ANIMALS.

YOU'RE AN ACTUAL WILDLIFE ECOLOGIST.

DR. RAE: IT'S TRUE, MY AREA OF EXPERTISE ARE NORTH AMERICAN

BEARS, SO BLACK BEARS, GRIZZLY BEARS, THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT I GOT MY START FROM WATCHING NATURE SHOWS LIKE WILD KINGDOM

OR THINGS LIKE EARTH ODYSSEY.

DYLAN: YEAH, AND HERE WE ARE NOW IN MORE OF A JUNGLE RAINFOREST

TYPE ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT STAND OUT TO YOU IN A HABITAT

LIKE THIS?

DR. RAE: I LOVE THIS HABITAT.

ALL AROUND US ARE FREE RANGING MONKEYS, PYGMY HIPPOS, MACAWS.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BIODIVERSITY, BUT I GOTTA SAY

THE MONKEYS ARE MY FAVORITE.

NOW, THESE ARE GUINEAN MONKEYS THAT HAVE THIS REALLY COOL

SOCIAL STRUCTURE.

THEY PRACTICE ALLOPARENTING.

SO THEY ACTUALLY KIND OF SHARE THE PARENTING AMONGST THE WHOLE

GROUP.

DYLAN: I WISH I COULD DO THAT.

DR. RAE: SAME, THAT WOULD BE NICE.

DYLAN: THAT ALSO REMINDS ME OF OUR FIRST STORY ABOUT A TROOP OF

MONKEYS ON THE TIBETAN PLATEAU.

DR. RAE: OH, LET'S GET INTO IT.

I CAN'T WAIT.

DYLAN: HIGH IN THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS OF SOUTHERN CHINA LIVES

AN IMPRESSIVE TREE DWELLER.

THERE AREN'T MANY ANIMALS THAT CAN SURVIVE THE LARGE SEASONAL

SWINGS OF CLIMATE HERE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT THE GOLDEN SNUB-NOSED MONKEY THRIVES AT EXTREME

ALTITUDES.

THEIR HOME IS A SMALL REGION OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU BETWEEN SIX

TO 13,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

IN WINTER, SNOW FALLS ACROSS THE RANGE SENDING TEMPERATURES

PLUMMETING.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT THE MONKEY'S NOSES ARE SNUBBED TO AVOID

FROSTBITE.

THEIR FINE GOLDEN COATS ARE MARVELOUS INSULATORS.

FOOD BECOMES EXTREMELY LIMITED ONCE THE FRUIT, NUTS AND LEAVES

ARE GONE.

SO THE MONKEYS MUST LIVE OFF LICHEN, MOSS AND BITS OF BARK.

INTENSELY SOCIAL AND COOPERATIVE AS THESE MONKEYS ARE, THEY STILL

HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO COPE WITH RIVALRY FOR FOOD AND MATES.

AS THE SEASONS CHANGE, SCARCE RESOURCES BREED INTENSE

COMPETITION.

THIS SPECIES SPENDS MOST OF ITS TIME IN THE TREES, BUT DOWN ON

THE FOREST FLOOR, A BRAWL IS BREWING.

A YOUNG CHALLENGER WANTS TO TAKE OVER ONE DOMINANT MALE'S ROLE

AND BREEDING PRIVILEGES.

BARING HIS RAZOR SHARP TEETH, THE DOMINANT MALE TRIES TO SCARE

OFF THE CHALLENGER, BUT THE YOUNGER MALE PERSISTS.

[MUSIC]

[CLAMORING, SCREECHING]

DYLAN: THE GROUP IS WHIPPED INTO A FRENZY AS THEIR LEADERSHIP

HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

LUCKILY, THIS BATTLE IS MOSTLY BLUFF AND BRAVADO WITHOUT ANY

PHYSICAL HARM.

THE CHALLENGER RETREATS TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

ALTHOUGH THE MALES COMPETE FOR DOMINANCE IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE

TROOP, IT'S THE FEMALES WHO ULTIMATELY CHOOSE THEIR OWN

PARTNERS.

AND HE'D BETTER BE GOOD AT GROOMING.

THEIR THICK COATS REQUIRE CONSTANT CARE IN THIS WEATHER.

IF THE FEMALES LOSE INTEREST OR GROW COLD TO HIS CARETAKING AND

ADVANCES, HE'LL BECOME THE TARGET FOR A TAKEOVER.

AND AS LOYAL AS THEY MAY APPEAR NOW TOWARD THE ALPHA MALE, SOME

FEMALES WILL ALSO FIND OTHER PARTNERS.

IT'S A CLEVER STRATEGY SINCE MALE MONKEYS WILL PROTECT THEIR

OWN GENETIC LINE.

[HOWLING]

DYLAN: FAMILY TIES ARE A GOOD HEDGE TO KEEP LITTLE ONES FROM

HARM.

ALL THIS BONDING AND SOCIAL COOPERATION HELP KEEP THE WHOLE

TROOP HEALTHY IN THE REMOTE FORESTS.

THEIR OFFSPRING WON'T MATURE FOR SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, ENOUGH TIME

TO LEARN THE KEY LIFE LESSONS OF THIS RECLUSIVE AND ENDANGERED

SPECIES.

WHEN WE COME BACK, THIS CALL OF THE WILD IS SUPPOSED TO BE

ROMANTIC.

PLUS, A MINUSCULE SPIDER SHOWS OFF SOME MAJOR TALENT.

AND MEET THE KING OF THE BEACH WITH A NOSE FOR NOISE

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: DESPITE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF CIVILIZATION, EUROPE'S

MEDITERRANEAN COAST IS STILL A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR ANIMALS.

[DISTANT SCREECHING]

DYLAN: A MODERATE CLIMATE AND WARM SUMMERS CREATE A RICH

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

DRAMATIC SHORELINES, MOUNTAINS, WOODLANDS, AND SCRUBS SHAPE THE

REGION.

SPOTTING WILDLIFE IN ITALY'S MAREMMA PARK ISN'T ALWAYS EASY,

BUT THESE FALLOW DEER ARE OUT IN THE OPEN.

THEY HAVE A DESTINATION IN MIND.

THEY PLAN TO CROSS THE RIVER AND GET TO THE WOODS ON THE OTHER

SIDE.

[BUCK BELLOWING]

DYLAN: A DARK CAVERNOUS CALL FILLS THE PARK'S FOREST.

[BELLOWING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: IT'S THE MATING CALL OF FALLOW BUCKS.

EVERY AUTUMN, THE HERD CONVENES IN THE DARK WOODS, FAR FROM

PRYING EYES, TO SELECT THE BEST MATCH.

THE DOES ASSESS EACH SUITOR CAREFULLY.

AS DARWIN CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD, IN MUCH OF THE ANIMAL WORLD, IT'S

THE FEMALES THAT CHOOSE THE BEST FATHER FOR THEIR YOUNG.

AND THEY MAINLY DO SO BASED ON PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND GOOD

HEALTH.

THE OPPONENTS CONFRONT EACH OTHER, ASSESSING BODY SIZE.

ALL THIS ACTIVITY IS EXHAUSTING FOR THE BUCKS, AS THEY NEED TO

FIRST FIGHT RIVALS, AND THEN WORK TO KEEP THE FEMALES CLOSE

BY AND AWAY FROM THE OTHER MALES.

IF THE BELLOWING, THE PARADES, AND THE INTIMIDATION DON'T WORK,

THERE'S NO OPTION LEFT BUT TO FIGHT.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

DYLAN: MIGHTY ANTLERS COLLIDE VIOLENTLY AND INTERTWINE.

WHICHEVER PUSHES THE OPPONENT BACK, WINS.

IN THE END, THE ONE CLAIMS VICTORY.

THE RIVAL HAS TO WALK AWAY, BUT AT LEAST WITH ITS HEAD HELD

HIGH.

COMING UP, THIS CREATURE'S OUT OF THIS WORLD COLORS ARE

DESIGNED TO GET A SPECIAL SOMEONE'S ATTENTION.

AND THESE MARINE MAMMALS COZY UP ON THE BEACH UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR

A BATTLE OF THE BULLS.

MORE INCREDIBLE ANIMAL STORIES STILL AHEAD ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

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: LOOKS AREN'T EVERYTHING IN THE WILD, BUT COLOR, SIZE,

AND EVEN THE RIGHT DANCE MOVES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT

COMES TO ANIMAL COURTSHIP.

IN AUSTRALIA, ONE TEENY TINY SUITOR IS ALL ABOUT STEPPING UP

WITH HIS BEST SELF TO ATTRACT A MATE.

ON THE AUSTRALIAN COAST, ONE ANIMAL HAS SPENT THE NIGHT

HIDING IN THE SAND INSIDE A BUBBLE WOVEN OF SILK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE COASTAL PEACOCK SPIDER IS A SPECIES OF BEACH

LOVERS SURVIVING ON THE DUNES.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS MALE IS ONLY THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE.

TO GET AROUND, HE'S EVOLVED AN EFFICIENT FORM OF LOCOMOTION.

[WHOOSHING]

DYLAN: WITH EACH LEAP,

HE CAN MOVE AN ASTOUNDING 40 TIMES HIS BODY LENGTH.

BEFORE EACH JUMP, HE ANCHORS A SAFETY LINE OF SILK

IN CASE HE FALLS.

BUT THIS ONE ISN'T HIS.

HE'S NOT THE ONLY SPIDER ON THE DUNES.

A FEMALE.

MATING IS THE ARACHNID'S ULTIMATE GOAL.

BUT FEMALE PEACOCK SPIDERS ARE CANNIBALISTIC.

RATHER THAN RUN, HE'S READY TO PERFORM THE COURTSHIP DANCE.

TALK ABOUT PRESSURE.

PEACOCK SPIDER EYES CAN PERCEIVE THE ENTIRE COLOR SPECTRUM.

SO HE UTILIZES AN OPTICAL ILLUSION.

THE DARK SPOTS ON HIS ABDOMEN ARE SUPER BLACK.

ONE OF THE MOST LIGHT ABSORBENT MATERIALS IN NATURE.

PERFECT FOR MAKING BRIGHT COLORS POP.

NOT JUST A DANCER, HE'S ON PERCUSSIONS AS WELL.

HIS ABDOMEN MAKES SUBTLE VIBRATIONS, WHICH THE FEMALE

DETECTS WITH SENSORY ORGANS IN HER LEGS.

[THUMPING NOISE]

DYLAN: HE'S WITHIN HER STRIKING DISTANCE.

IT'S THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

DENIED.

BUT HE'S DONE ENOUGH TO AVOID BECOMING DINNER.

NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE PERFECT PEACOCK SPIDER DANCE

ROUTINE IS.

BUT AUSTRALIA IS THE ONLY PLACE ON EARTH WHERE THESE VIBRANT

PERFORMANCES ARE STAGED.

COMING UP ON THIS NORTH AMERICAN BEACH, ELEPHANT SEAL BABIES ARE

PEACEFULLY PACKING ON THE POUNDS, BUT THEIR DADS ARE BUSY

WITH A CALL OF THE WILD.

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: ON THE CALIFORNIA COASTLINE, POWERFUL MARINE

MAMMALS HAVE MIGRATED BACK TO THE BEACH WHERE THEY WERE BORN.

AND WINTER AT THIS BREEDING GROUND CAN BE A CHALLENGING TIME

FOR MALE ELEPHANT SEALS.

THE MALES AND FEMALES HAVE BEEN APART FOR MANY MONTHS.

THE FEMALES HAVE SPENT THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS GETTING READY TO

GIVE BIRTH, FORAGING MAINLY ON FISH IN THE OPEN WATERS OF THE

PACIFIC.

THE ALPHA MALES HAVE SPENT THE LAST FEW MONTHS GORGING AS MUCH

AS THEY CAN ALONG ALASKA'S CONTINENTAL SHELF.

ON THE COASTLINE, THERE'S A GREATER RISK OF PREDATORS, BUT A

BETTER CHANCE TO PUT ON WEIGHT.

NOW IN BREEDING SEASON, THEY'LL INTEND TO PUT ALL THAT BLUBBER

TO GOOD USE.

THIS GIANT BEACH MASTER CONTROLS A PATCH OF SAND HARBORING AROUND

100 FEMALES.

HOLDING SUCH A POSITION IS A CONSTANT JOB FOR THE MONTHS THE

COLONY IS ON SHORE.

YOUNG MALES AREN'T BIG ENOUGH TO COMPETE UNTIL THEY'RE AROUND

NINE YEARS OLD.

EACH MATING SEASON, THE ALPHA MALES MUST GO WITHOUT FOOD FOR

A HUNDRED DAYS OR RISK LOSING THEIR MATING PARTNERS.

BUT THE BEACH MASTER HAS STORED ENOUGH FAT TO TOUGH OUT THE LONG

FAST AND STAND HIS GROUND.

OTHER MALES BARK OUT A CHALLENGE, TRYING TO TRESPASS ON

THE BIG BULL'S TERRITORY.

[SEAL ROARING]

DYLAN: ONE DOMINANT MALE MIGHT BREED WITH 40 TO 50 FEMALES

IN THE COLONY.

THE BEACH MASTER NEEDS TO TEACH THE YOUNG MALE A LESSON.

[INTENSE MUSIC, ROARING]

DYLAN: EVENTUALLY, THE YOUNG UPSTART BACKS OFF.

EVEN FOR OLDER BULLS, FIGHTING IS A COSTLY EXERCISE.

IT'S MUCH BETTER TO ESTABLISH DOMINANCE WITHOUT PHYSICAL

CONTACT.

THEIR LARGE NOSE OR PROBOSCIS SERVES AS A LOUDSPEAKER, AN

INSTRUMENT THAT ACTUALLY INFLATES TO AMPLIFY THEIR ROAR.

IT'S A VOCAL SIREN THAT'S DEVELOPED OVER MANY YEARS, A

SIGNAL OF BRAVADO, BRAWN AND AGE.

THE BEACH MASTER WILL NEED TO FIGHT OFF NUMEROUS CHALLENGERS

AND BATTLES CAN LAST ANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TO HALF AN

HOUR.

EVEN THOUGH COMBAT LOOKS PAINFUL, INJURIES ARE RARELY

SERIOUS.

CHALLENGERS LEARN TO BACK DOWN WHEN THE FIGHT HAS BEEN CLEARLY

WON.

LIFE CAN GO ON A BIT MORE PEACEFULLY HERE ON THE BEACH

UNTIL IT'S TIME FOR THE COLONY TO TAKE TO THE SEA AGAIN.

WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMAL FAMILIES, LOVE REALLY IS IN THE

AIR.

THE SO-CALLED DAWN CHORUS IS THE SOUND OF MALE BIRDS SINGING

LOUDLY ON SPRING MORNINGS, ALL TO ATTRACT MATES AND DEFEND

THEIR TERRITORY.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]