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.

IT‘S TIME FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY EUROPEAN ADVENTURE INTO THE

WILD.

THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

ON TODAY‘S SHOW, ONE WET AND WILY FAMILY SETS OUT TO CLAIM A

12-MILE STRETCH OF RIVER.

AND THESE HORSES ARE A EUROPEAN COWBOYS CLOSEST COMPANIONS,

PLUS SOMETIMES THE ONLY SOLUTION TO SHIVERING IS A LONG FLIGHT

SOUTH FOR THE WINTER

AND IT’S SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL WHEN THIS LITTLE ONE TRIES TO

SCARE OFF A PREDATOR

OUR ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AROUND EUROPE’S RIVERS AND SEACOASTS, A VERSATILE

MAMMAL SPENDS ITS NIGHTS FISHING AND ITS DAYS HUNKERED DOWN IN A

RIVERSIDE DEN.

BUT IT ISN’T ALL HARD WORK.

SOMETIMES IT’S PLAYTIME.

TAKE A LOOK AS THIS BABY OTTER TRIES TO LEARN TO SWIM.

ANDALUSIA IN SOUTHERN SPAIN HAS MILD WINTERS.

TEMPERATURES RARELY DROP BELOW 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, SO LIFE

HERE CONTINUES FROST-FREE YEAR-ROUND.

AND ALL YEAR, ONE AQUATIC SPECIES IS BUSY LETTING EVERYONE

KNOW THIS 12-MILE STRETCH OF RIVER IS TAKEN.

THE EURASIAN OTTER IS IN THE SAME FAMILY AS THE SKUNK,

BADGER, WEASEL, AND WOLVERINE.

SHE’S AN EXTREMELY EFFICIENT HUNTER, BUT RIGHT NOW, SHE’S A

PARENT FIRST.

IT’S HER KITS’ FIRST WINTER OUTSIDE THE OTTER’S DEN, CALLED

A HOLT, AND THEY’VE GOT A LOT TO LEARN.

JUST UNDER A YEAR OLD, THEY’RE BEING TAKEN ON A HUNTING

EXPEDITION.

THEIR THICK, WATERPROOF FUR AND WEBBED FEET HELP IN THIS WATERY

WORLD, WHICH IS RICH WITH FOOD.

[OTTERS VOCALIZING]

DYLAN: TODAY’S PREY ARE NUMEROUS, BUT ONE IS HEAVILY

ARMORED.

THE CRAYFISH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE FRESHWATER CRUSTACEAN IS RELATED TO THE LOBSTER

AND PERFECT FOR THE OTTER’S SEAFOOD-LOVING TASTE BUDS.

THE MOTHER OTTER IS A SEASONED PRO.

HER MUSCULAR TAIL HELPS STEER AND GLIDE THROUGH THE WATER,

ACTING LIKE A BUILT-IN BOAT RUDDER.

THESE OTTERS NORMALLY DIVE UNDERWATER FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS

BEFORE SURFACING FOR ANOTHER BREATH.

THE OTTER NEEDS TO MAKE CAREFUL CHOICES ABOUT WHERE TO DIVE.

LUCKILY, IT HAS A SECRET WEAPON...

WHISKERS.

LONG, SENSITIVE WHISKERS DETECT VIBRATIONS UNDERWATER FOR DIVING

AND HUNTING WITH PINPOINT ACCURACY.

[DISTANT QUACKING]

DYLAN: IT’S CRITICAL FOR THE KITS TO USE THIS TIME TO LEARN

FROM THEIR MOTHER WHAT TO EAT AND WHERE TO FIND IT.

[WATER SPLASHING, QUACKING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: SINCE THEY’RE NOT AS SKILLED AS THEIR TEACHER,

THEY STICK TO THE SHALLOWS.

IT’S NOT ELEGANT, BUT IT’S A GOOD START.

CRAYFISH, INSECTS AND OTHER CRUSTACEANS ARE HIDING UNDER

ROCKS, BUT ONCE THEY’RE ON THEIR OWN, THESE ADAPTABLE PREDATORS

WILL EAT ANYTHING THEY CAN GET THEIR PAWS ON.

THEY MIGHT BE STARTING TO GET THE HANG OF IT, BUT THESE YOUNG

ONES ARE STILL EASILY DISTRACTED.

AND THEIR PLAY FIGHTING HAS ATTRACTED AN AUDIENCE.

A COLORFUL KINGFISHER.

THE OTTER SPLASHING SCARCE FISH TO THE SURFACE.

AN EXPERT HUNTER, THE KINGFISHER DIVES STRAIGHT FROM HIS PERCH

WITH A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE WEDGE-SHAPED BEAK.

THE OTTER YOUNG WILL ONLY HAVE THREE MORE MONTHS WITH THEIR

MOTHER TO FINE TUNE THEIR HUNTING.

IT’S TIME TO CRAM IN AS MUCH PRACTICE AS THEY CAN.

BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, THEY’LL BE DUCKING AND DIVING IN THEIR

OWN SECTION OF THE RIVER.

COMING UP, HOW ANCIENT HORSES ANCHOR ONE OF ITALY’S MOST

BEAUTIFUL WILD PLACES.

PLUS, THEY’RE A FLOCK WHEN THEY FLY, BUT A GAGGLE ON THE GROUND.

WE GET INTO THE HEART OF THIS GREGARIOUS GROUP.

[GOOSE HONKS]

DYLAN: AND IT’S TIME TO MEET A PORCU-PET!

BUT STAY AWAY FROM THOSE QUILLS.

ALL THAT AND MORE 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: THE ITALIAN LANDSCAPE IS ONE OF THE MOST EVOCATIVE IN

EUROPE.

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, HUMANS HAVE SHAPED THE LANDSCAPE AND

LEFT THEIR MARK ON THE NATURAL WORLD.

STRETCHING FROM THE ALPS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN, ITALY IS A

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT IN EUROPE.

LUCKILY, A VAST NETWORK OF PROTECTED AREAS HELPS PRESERVE

THE COUNTRY’S NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE.

ONE SUCH PLACE IS THE MAREMMA PARK IN TUSCANY.

AT TIMES, A HARSH AND IMPENETRABLE ENVIRONMENT,

THE MAREMMA STRADDLES SANDY AND ROCKY COASTS WITH HILLS COVERED

WITH MEDITERRANEAN SCRUB AND VAST PINE FORESTS.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

DYLAN: HERE AT THE FOOT OF A MOUNTAIN RANGE, THE SUN RISES

OVER THE MISTS OF THE OMBRONE RIVER.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

DYLAN: GRAZING IN THE FIELDS IS ONE OF THE REGION’S MOST ICONIC

ANIMALS, THE MAREMMANO HORSE.

OVER THE CENTURIES, THE BUTTERI TUSCANY’S COWHANDS HAVE

BEEN STEWARDS OF THIS ANCIENT BREED.

THESE HORSES ARE BETTER ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE CHANGING

CONDITIONS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT, WHERE DROUGHT AND

WINDS CAN LIMIT FOOD RESOURCES.

THESE STURDY HORSES NOW MOSTLY LIVE SEMI-WILD IN THE MAREMMA

PLAINS.

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[HORSE GRUNTS]

DYLAN: BUT SOME HORSES ARE STILL TRAINED FOR SPECIFIC TASKS,

HELPING THE COWBOY HERDERS CARRY OUT THEIR DAILY WORK.

[ADVENTUROUS MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE DAY HERE STARTS AT THE CRACK OF DAWN, EVERY DAY OF

THE YEAR, IN ANY WEATHER.

THESE WORKING HORSES ARE A PART OF A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE IN

MAREMMA.

TO THE LOCALS, THESE ANIMALS ARE AS MUCH OF A PART OF NATURE AND

AS ESSENTIAL AS THE WILDER CREATURES WHO MAKE THEIR HOMES

HERE.

[HOOVES TROTTING]

DYLAN: OF ALL THE ANIMALS IN THE REGION, ONE IN PARTICULAR

EMBODIES THE IDEA OF A VERSATILE, CLEVER AND ADAPTABLE

HUNTER, THE FOX.

FOXES KNOW PERFECTLY WELL HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF HUMAN WORK AND

ACTIVITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ENJOY SUNBATHING ON TOP OF ROUND HAY

BALES.

THESE ROLLS OF HAY ARE COLLECTED IN LATE SUMMER TO SUPPLEMENT THE

CATTLE’S DIET IN WINTER.

THESE FOOD RESERVES ATTRACT MICE, WHICH EAT AND BUILD NESTS

IN THE HAY.

[RUSTLING, MICE SQUEAKING]

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A BIT OF FOX STRETCHING AND ONE OF THEM SETS TO WORK.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: MICE TEND TO HIDE IN TIGHT, CONFINED SPACES, WHICH

OFTENTIMES CAN WORK IN THEIR FAVOR.

[BIRD SQUAWKS]

DYLAN: A FAMILIAR NOISE DRAWS THE FOX’S ATTENTION AWAY FROM

THE MOUSE.

ANOTHER CHANCE FOR A GOOD MEAL IS APPROACHING.

IN AUTUMN, TRACTORS COLLECT THE HAY AROUND THE SAME TIME EVERY

DAY.

THE RODENTS ARE CONFUSED BY THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR CASTLE.

THEY’RE FORCED TO MOVE OUT ON OPEN GROUND.

THIS EXPERT HUNTRESS HAS SKILLFULLY EXPLOITED THE

SITUATION TO GRAB ANOTHER MEAL.

THE CATTLE EGRETS HAVE ALSO LEARNED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

HUMAN ACTIVITIES.

THEY USE THEIR LONG BILL TO CATCH INSECTS CRAWLING IN THE

SOIL TURNED OVER BY THE BIG TRACTOR WHEELS.

AND THEY CAN DO EVEN BETTER.

UNDAUNTED BY MACHINES, WITH A FEW QUICK WING STROKES, THEY

RAPIDLY FLY TO THE PERFECT SPOT TO SECURE A MEAL.

THERE AREN’T JUST GRASSHOPPERS AND HORSEFLIES ON THEIR MENU.

THE CATTLE EGRETS HAVE ALSO LEARNED TO EXPLOIT MICE AS A

SOURCE OF FOOD.

THEIR SPEED AND RESOURCEFULNESS COMPETE WITH THE FOXES.

NOT EXACTLY CAT AND MOUSE, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH.

FOR THE MICE, THEIR HAY BALE HOME MAKES FOR A LIFE ON ALERT,

FACING TWO VERY DIFFERENT PREDATORS.

COMING UP, WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING.

COME ALONG ON AN EPIC WINTER MIGRATION.

PLUS, HOW ONE BRAVE BABY USES HIS NATURAL DEFENSES TO STAY OUT

OF DANGER.

THIS AND MORE WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY COMES 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: WHEN WINTER ARRIVES, SOME BIRDS FLY SOUTH.

IN EUROPE, THAT CAN MEAN A TRIP FROM THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES,

LIKE FINLAND OR SWEDEN, ALL THE WAY TO NORTH AFRICA.

BUT SOME SPECIES STOP ON THE ITALIAN COAST, WHERE NOT ONLY

WILD HABITATS, BUT PARKS AND FARMS ALL PROVIDE GOOD EATING.

WHEN WINTER COMES TO THE MOUNTAINS, BIRDS FACE HARDSHIPS

LIKE ANY OTHER ANIMAL.

BUT ONE LARGER NORTHERN EUROPEAN BIRD SPECIES PREFERS TO LEAVE

THE HUNGER-INDUCING HARDSHIPS OF WINTER BEHIND.

IT’S FAMOUS FOR ITS LONG WINTER MIGRATION AND ORDERLY PATTERNS

IN FLIGHT.

[GEESE HONKING]

DYLAN: WILD GEESE FLY SOUTH TO COASTAL ITALY FOR THE WINTER

FROM AS FAR NORTH AS THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.

THEIR V-SHAPED FORMATIONS HELP CONSERVE ENERGY.

THE POSITION OF FRONT GOOSE ROTATES BETWEEN ALL MEMBERS OF

THE FLOCK, SO NO BIRD GETS TOO TIRED.

IT’S A DEAFENING CHORUS OF THOUSANDS.

MORE THAN 5,000 INDIVIDUALS GATHER IN THIS PROTECTED COASTAL

PARK EVERY WINTER.

DURING THE DAY, THEY TRAVELED TO NEARBY FARMS OF WHEAT FIELDS TO

FEED ON THE SHOOTS.

AS A GREGARIOUS ANIMAL, THE WILD GOOSE CAN RELY ON AN EFFECTIVE

SURVEILLANCE SERVICE, WITH LOOKOUTS READY TO DETECT ANY

MOVEMENT.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[GOOSE HONKING]

DYLAN: THE AGILE MARSH HARRIER IS TOO SMALL TO WORRY THESE

LARGE BIRDS.

INDEED, THEY SEEM TO BE IGNORING IT ALTOGETHER AND CONTINUE

FOCUSING ON THEIR MAIN ACTIVITY, EATING.

A NEARBY FOX, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A REAL THREAT.

[GOOSE HONKING]

DYLAN: ITS PRESENCE HASN’T GONE UNNOTICED.

SENTRIES SOUND THE ALARM, AND THE FOX REALIZES IT HAS NO

CHANCE.

COMMON CRANES ALSO FLOCK TO THIS CIVILIZED WINTER OASIS TO ESCAPE

THE NORTHERN COLD AND FOOD SCARCITY.

BOTH AVIAN SPECIES ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE THE MOST OF

THE RICH ADVANTAGES HERE, ENJOYING A LITTLE ITALIAN FOOD

BEFORE THE LONG FLIGHT HOME IN SUMMER.

COMING UP, THE HUNTERS COME AT NIGHT, BUT THEIR PREY JUST MIGHT

BE SHARPER THAN EXPECTED 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: THE TUSCAN COAST IS A HARSH AND AT TIMES IMPENETRABLE

ENVIRONMENT.

THE SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT SLOWLY ENVELOP EVERY CORNER OF THE

MAREMMA PARK IN ITALY.

MOST WILD MAMMALS ARE MORE ACTIVE IN THE DARK.

THEY USE SMELL AND HEARING TO GET A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF

THE SITUATION.

AS WITH THIS PORCUPINE LOOKING OUT OF THE ENTRANCE TO ITS DEN.

NOT JUST ONE PORCUPINE, BUT TWO.

A MOTHER WITH HER YOUNG.

LIKE ALL BABIES, IT’S ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO

DISCOVER.

THE MOTHER NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT HER LITTLE ONE, CALLED A

PORCUPETTE, DOESN’T DO ANYTHING RECKLESS.

[TENSE MUSIC]

DYLAN: DANGER IS LURKING IN THE DARK.

SENSING THE THREAT, THE MOTHER PORCUPINE QUICKLY PUSHES HER

YOUNG BACK INTO THE DEN.

ONLY WHEN SHE’S SURE THE BABY IS SAFELY UNDERGROUND DOES SHE

LEAVE WITH HER MATE IN SEARCH OF FOOD.

THE WOLVES HAVE SMELLED THE PRESENCE OF A HERD OF FALLOW

DEER.

BUT THE DEER HAVE SENSED THE PREDATORS IN TIME AND TAKE OFF

FLEEING HASTILY.

INTRIGUED BY THE NOISES, THE YOUNG PORCUPINE HAS VENTURED OUT

OF THE DEN.

THE ATTACKER IS NOT A WOLF, BUT A FOX.

THE BABY PORCUPINE IS CLICKING ITS TEETH, A WARNING SIGN THAT

THERE’S WORSE TO COME.

IT HAS BUILT-IN SPINY PROTECTION, BUT IT IS STILL

SMALL AND VULNERABLE.

[PORCUPINE VIBRATES]

DYLAN: THE ENEMY IS FACED WITH A WALL OF QUILLS.

AN IMPORTANT PORCUPINE DEFENSE, THE QUILLS DETACH EASILY AND CAN

CAUSE REAL PAIN.

[VIBRATION SOUND CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE FOX TRIES TO FIND A WEAK SPOT, BUT THE BARRIER IS

IMPENETRABLE.

BETTER FORGET IT AND FOCUS ON SOMETHING EASIER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR EXPEDITION INTO THE PICTURESQUE

WILDS OF EUROPE.

I’M DYLAN DREYER.

WE HOPE YOU’LL COME ALONG FOR OUR NEXT WORLDWIDE WILDLIFE

ADVENTURE HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]