Original subtitles

.

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

TELEVISION THAT’S EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI EVERYONE, I’M DYLAN DREYER.

WE’RE HEADED TO EUROPE FOR A WORLD-CLASS WALK IN THE WOODS.

THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

ON TODAY’S EPISODE, THIS RARE FELINE IS ON THE PROWL, BUT CAN

THIS YOUNG CAT CATCH HIS FAVORITE PREY.

AND WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN, PREDATORS ARE ON THE WING

AND IN THE WATER.

PLUS THIS MAGNIFICENT MAMMAL ISN’T AFRAID TO BUST A MOVE, BUT

JUST WHAT IS HE AFTER?

AND WE GET DOWN TO EYE LEVEL WITH SOME SMALL BUT MIGHTY

CREATURES.

JOIN US FOR THESE EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL ADVENTURES HERE ON EARTH

ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: MUCH OF EUROPE IS IN A TEMPERATE CLIMATE ZONE, WHICH IS

IDEAL FOR LEAFY FORESTS AND FLOWING RIVERS.

AND WHERE THOSE RIVERS MEET THE SEA, A MIX OF WILDLIFE COMES

TOGETHER, EAGER TO FIND FRESH FOOD AND AVOID BEING EATEN.

TAKE A LOOK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A MAJOR FEATURE IN ITALY’S MAREMMA LANDSCAPE IS THE

OMBRONE RIVER.

ITS MEANDERING BANKS, COVERED WITH VEGETATION, CARVE THE PLAIN

LIKE THE COILS OF A GIANT SNAKE.

TOWARDS THE MOUTH, THE RIVER’S WATERS SLOW DOWN THEIR RACE TO

THE SEA.

THE RISING TIDE PUSHES SCHOOLS OF YOUNG FISH, MULLETS AND

SMELTS TOWARDS THE RIVER, WHERE THEY’RE AT HOME IN THE BRACKISH

WATERS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE HERONS ARE AMONG THE FIRST TO NOTICE THE FISH FEAST

THAT MOVES IN THE MURKY WATERS OF THE OMBRONE.

HOWEVER, THE BIRDS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES LYING IN WAIT.

LARGE SEA BASS ARE HUNGRY, TOO.

THESE HIGHLY ADAPTABLE SEA PREDATORS PATROL THE FINAL

STRETCH OF THE RIVER.

[WATER SPLASHES]

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE LITTLE EGRETS, FLOCKING TO THE SHORE IN LARGE

NUMBERS, ALSO FEEL THE ANTICIPATION.

BUT THE SEA BASS ARE THE FIRST TO START THE ATTACK.

[WATER SPLASHING]

DYLAN: THE LITTLE EGRETS JOIN THE HUNT.

MULLETS SEEK SAFETY BY JUMPING OUT OF THE WATER.

IT LOOKS LIKE A HOPELESS CARNAGE.

BUT THE SMALL FISH ARE FAST AND VERY, VERY ABUNDANT.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM MANAGE TO ESCAPE.

WITHIN A FEW HOURS, THE TIDE PULLS BACK TO THE SEA, AND THE

SEA BASS HUNTERS RETREAT BACK TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.

COMING UP, IN EUROPE’S RUGGED MOUNTAINS, WE’LL MEET A RARE

WILDCAT ON THE PROWL.

AND FINDING A MATE WHEN YOU’RE ALONE IN THE FOREST TAKES SOME

TALENT.

PLUS, THIS ARMY OF SERIOUSLY STRONG INSECTS ARE MASTER ROAD

BUILDERS AND PREDATORS.

STAY TUNED.

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: THE PYRENEES MOUNTAINS CUT OFF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

FROM THE REST OF EUROPE.

AS A RESULT, MANY SPECIES ARE ENDEMIC ONLY TO IBERIA,

INCLUDING ONE OF THE RAREST WILDCATS ON THE PLANET.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE IBERIAN LYNX.

THIS YOUNG WILDCAT IS EXPERIENCING HIS FIRST SPRING

AS AN ADULT.

THIS SPECIES HAS A CHARACTERISTIC BEARD AROUND ITS

FACE, PROMINENT BLACK EAR TUFTS AND A BOBBED TAIL.

THE LYNX, ALTHOUGH SMALL FOR A WILDCAT, IS EUROPE’S THIRD

LARGEST PREDATOR, AFTER THE BROWN BEAR AND THE WOLF.

FULLY SEPARATED FROM HIS MOTHER, THIS SOLITARY MALE IS MASTERING

THE ART OF THE HUNT.

AT AROUND 25 POUNDS, HE’S A SMALL PREY SPECIALIST.

AND ONE ANIMAL MAKES UP ALMOST 95% OF HIS DIET,

THE EUROPEAN RABBIT.

TO SURVIVE, THE LYNX NEEDS TO CATCH AT LEAST ONE RABBIT A DAY.

THEY PREFER TO HUNT AT DUSK, DAWN, OR AT NIGHT.

BUT WHEN FOOD IS SCARCE, ANY TIME OF DAY WILL DO.

THEIR SPOTTED COAT HAS EVOLVED TO MATCH THE SPARSE SCRUBLAND.

THERE’S LITTLE COVER, SO STAYING LOW IS HIS ONLY CHOICE.

IF ONE RABBIT SPOTS HIM, THEY’LL ALL HEAD UNDERGROUND TO THEIR

NETWORK OF BURROWS CALLED A WARREN.

IF THE LYNX CAN CATCH JUST ONE, HE WON’T HAVE TO EAT FOR THE

REST OF THE DAY.

A FEW MILES AWAY, ANOTHER IBERIAN LYNX IS FOCUSED ON HER

OFFSPRING.

HER SPECIES USUALLY HAS JUST THREE CUBS, BUT SHE’S GOT FOUR.

THE YOUNG LYNX HAVE SURVIVED ON THEIR MOTHER’S MILK AND THE

SAFETY OF THEIR DEN.

NOW IT’S TIME TO START EXPLORING.

AND DO A LITTLE PLAY FIGHTING.

[GROWLING]

DYLAN: IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES, BUT IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT

SKILL SINCE THEY’LL NEED TO DEFEND A TERRITORY WHEN THEY

LEAVE THE DEN.

[GROWLING]

DYLAN: ONE YOUNGSTER IS SHOWING GOOD INSTINCTS, FOLLOWING HIS

MOTHER ON A HUNT.

LEARNING FROM HER WILL BE KEY.

BUT THE LITTLE CUB’S STRONG PREY DRIVE IS A DISTRACTION.

HE CAN’T RESIST INVESTIGATING A TEMPTING BIRD.

GOING OFF COURSE CAN MEAN A FAILED HUNT OR WORSE.

[CLUCKING]

DYLAN: NOW HE’S BEEN SEPARATED FROM HIS MOM.

THE CUB NOW NEEDS TO FIND HIS WAY BACK TO THE DEN.

HE DETECTS A FAMILIAR SMELL-- ONE OF HIS SIBLINGS.

HE’S HOME.

IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH, BUT CONQUERING HIS FIRST CHALLENGE

WILL SERVE HIM WELL.

THE CUBS WILL ALL HAVE TO LEAVE IN JUST FOUR MONTHS.

[GROWLING]

DYLAN: SPREADING FAR AND WIDE IS CRUCIAL TO CREATING A MORE

DIVERSE GENE POOL FOR ONE OF THE WORLD’S RAREST SPECIES.

COMING UP, EUROPE’S LARGEST PREDATOR IS PRIMARILY A

VEGETARIAN.

HOW THE MAGNIFICENT BROWN BEAR IS MAKING A COMEBACK.

AND TALK ABOUT TEAMWORK.

THESE INCREDIBLE ANTS GO ALL IN 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: OUR PLANET BOASTS AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF MORE

THAN 8 MILLION SPECIES OF ANIMALS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN

UNIQUE ABILITY TO FLOURISH.

ONE GREAT EXAMPLE IS EUROPE’S BROWN BEAR, A CONSUMMATE

SURVIVOR THAT HAS RETURNED FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION ON THE

IBERIAN PENINSULA.

WHETHER WITH CUBS OR ON THEIR OWN, THESE RARE BEARS HAVE A

STYLE ALL THEIR OWN.

IN NORTHERN SPAIN, AN IMPRESSIVE MOUNTAIN CHAIN STRETCHES FOR

MILES.

THE HIGHEST PEAKS SET THE STAGE FOR FIERCE CONFRONTATIONS.

[ROARING, HORNS CLASHING]

DYLAN: THEY’RE THE REFUGE OF THE LAST GREAT PREDATORS

OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA.

THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE CONTAINS SOME OF THE WILDEST AND ROUGHEST

LANDSCAPES IN THE REGION.

[WHISTLING]

DYLAN: EVEN SO, FOR SOME ANIMALS, IT’S THE PERFECT

HABITAT.

A GROUP OF CHAMOIS, A EUROPEAN GOAT-ANTELOPE, IS GRAZING ON A

STEEP SLOPE.

THEN SOMETHING CATCHES THEIR ATTENTION.

A RARE MOUNTAIN DWELLER IS SEARCHING FOR FOOD,

THE IBERIAN BROWN BEAR.

AS LONG AS THEY KEEP THEIR DISTANCE, EVERYONE IS SAFE.

ALTHOUGH THE BEAR COULD HUNT A CHAMOIS, THE CHASE IS NOT WORTH

THE EFFORT.

THIS ANCIENT LAND, RIPPED BY HIGH MOUNTAIN PEAKS, STILL HOLDS

SOME OF THE MOST PRISTINE HABITATS ON THE PENINSULA.

[GROWLING]

DYLAN: BROWN BEARS ARE ESSENTIALLY VEGETARIAN AND HAVE

PLENTY OF FOOD OPTIONS HERE.

[CHUFFING]

DYLAN: THREATENED BY CENTURIES OF PERSECUTION, RELENTLESS

HUNTING AND HABITAT LOSS, ITS PRESENCE IN THE TERRITORY HAS

BEEN REDUCED TO AROUND 200 INDIVIDUALS.

[MUSIC, BIRDS SINGING]

[CHUFFING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: IN THESE MOUNTAINS, THEY RESIDE IN THE LARGEST REMAINING

PATCHES OF NATIVE FOREST IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

FINDING FOOD IS NOT A PROBLEM IN THIS WELL-PRESERVED ECOSYSTEM.

THE FOREST HAS A LOT TO OFFER.

THE BROWN BEARS ARE EXTREMELY OPPORTUNISTIC ANIMALS.

ANYTHING WILL SERVE AS A MEAL.

THIS ANT HILL IS A NICE FIND FOR THIS MOTHER AND HER CUB.

BETWEEN SPRING AND AUTUMN, ALL BROWN BEARS MUST GATHER THE MUCH

NEEDED ENERGY RESERVES FOR THE NEXT HIBERNATION PERIOD.

BUT FOOD IS NOT THEIR ONLY CONCERN.

ONE THING THAT IS HARD TO FIND IN THESE LARGE AREAS IS A MATE.

HERE A BEAR CAN GO FOR WEEKS WITHOUT SEEING ANOTHER BEAR.

BUT FOR MATING, NATURE ALWAYS FINDS A SOLUTION.

WHEN BEARS WANT TO MAKE THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN, THEY COMMUNICATE

BY RUBBING THEMSELVES ON TREES IN ORDER TO LEAVE THEIR SCENT.

AND THEY DO IT WITH STYLE.

[GROWLING, LIGHTHEARTED MUSIC]

DYLAN: ONCE SPREAD ACROSS SEVERAL REGIONS OF THE IBERIAN

PENINSULA, BROWN BEARS ARE TODAY REDUCED TO A SMALL TERRITORY

HERE IN CANTABRIA.

THANKFULLY, THEIR POPULATION HAS BEEN RECOVERING IN NUMBERS,

MAINLY BECAUSE NOWADAYS THE BEAR IS SEEN AS PART OF THE RICH

NATURAL HERITAGE OF THE REGION.

IN THIS CORNER OF EUROPE, THE BROWN BEAR IS THE ULTIMATE

SYMBOL OF WILDLIFE RESILIENCE.

COMING UP, A TINY SPECIES CONSTRUCTS ITS OWN ROAD THROUGH

THE FOREST.

MORE AMAZING WILDLIFE STORIES RIGHT AFTER THIS

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]

[BIRDS TRILLING]

DYLAN: IN AN ITALIAN PINE FOREST, BIZARRE TRACKS RUN

ACROSS THE GRASS.

AMAZINGLY, THESE PATHS WERE MADE BY INSECTS, SPECIFICALLY

THOUSANDS OF HARVESTER ANTS.

WITH PAINSTAKING CARE, THEY BUILD TRACKS TO TRAVEL MORE

EFFICIENTLY.

THESE HORDES OF WORKER ANTS ARE ALWAYS BUSY FORAGING FOR FOOD.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS INTENSE ACTIVITY IS COLLECTING PLANTS

AND THEIR SEEDS.

NO FALLEN SEED IS WASTED.

ANTS CAN LIFT IMPRESSIVE WEIGHTS, MANY TIMES THEIR OWN.

THEIR STRENGTH DERIVES FROM THEIR SMALL BODY SIZE, WHICH

RESULTS IN A FAVORABLE RATIO OF SURFACE AREA TO VOLUME AND

MUSCLE MASS.

BASICALLY, IT REQUIRES VERY LITTLE EFFORT FOR ANTS TO LIFT

THEIR OWN BODY, WHICH LEAVES THEM WITH A LOT OF MUSCLE POWER

TO LIFT OTHER THINGS.

HOWEVER, THESE INSECTS CAN RELY ON THEIR DETERMINATION AND

MUTUAL HELP.

UNITY IS STRENGTH FOR HARVESTER ANTS.

WHEN THE SEEDS FOUND ON THE GROUND ARE NOT ENOUGH, HARVESTER

ANTS COLLECT THEM DIRECTLY FROM THE PLANTS.

AND SOMETIMES EVEN THESE PLANT EATERS WILL CONSIDER A

MEDITERRANEAN SNAIL A GOOD MEAL.

ALL THE ANTS NEED TO DO IS TAKE IT DOWN FROM THE PLANT AND BREAK

THROUGH ITS SEMI-RIGID MUCUS SEAL.

THAT’S TEAMWORK.

THE POPULATIONS OF SOME SPECIES OF ANIMALS, LIKE IBERIA’S LYNX

AND BROWN BEAR, ONCE DROPPED TO CRITICALLY ENDANGERED LEVELS.

BUT CONSERVATION GROUPS AND GOVERNMENTS ARE NOW COMMITTED TO

PRESERVING THESE MAGNIFICENT ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITATS.

I’M DYLAN DREYER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE YOU’LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WILDLIFE ADVENTURE HERE

ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]