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Narrator: Why does this elephant
look like it's smoking?
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00:00:07,341 --> 00:00:10,442
This behavior is
completely unique.
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00:00:10,444 --> 00:00:12,978
Narrator:
How is the brazilian rainforest
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00:00:12,980 --> 00:00:14,179
Suddenly submerged?
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00:00:14,181 --> 00:00:18,017
Why are fish swimming
through the trees?
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00:00:18,019 --> 00:00:20,452
Narrator:
And what has happened
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00:00:20,454 --> 00:00:23,288
To this snake's
most defining feature?
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00:00:23,290 --> 00:00:24,790
Nelson: It's a rattlesnake
without a rattle.
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00:00:24,792 --> 00:00:28,093
I don't know if that's even
a rattlesnake anymore.
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00:00:28,095 --> 00:00:30,863
Narrator:
Nature is awe-inspiring,
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00:00:30,865 --> 00:00:33,365
But sometimes it just
doesn't make sense.
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00:00:33,367 --> 00:00:35,667
Man: I have never seen
anything like this.
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00:00:35,669 --> 00:00:39,338
Our team of experts investigates
the weirdest animal behavior...
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00:00:39,340 --> 00:00:40,572
That's amazing.
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00:00:40,574 --> 00:00:42,207
...And the most unexpected
events...
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00:00:42,209 --> 00:00:43,942
What is causing that?
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00:00:43,944 --> 00:00:45,277
...Ever caught on camera.
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My god!
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00:00:46,514 --> 00:00:47,746
These are...
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00:00:52,453 --> 00:00:53,752
-- Captions by vitac --
www.Vitac.Com
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00:00:53,754 --> 00:00:55,220
Captions paid for by
discovery communications
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Jardim, brazil, February 2018.
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00:00:59,627 --> 00:01:03,028
Overnight, a forest footpath
in an ecopark
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00:01:03,030 --> 00:01:07,232
Takes on a slightly surreal
and soggy look.
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00:01:07,234 --> 00:01:11,870
What you're looking at is not
a crystal-clear aquarium,
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00:01:11,872 --> 00:01:16,241
So why are fish
swimming through the trees?
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00:01:16,243 --> 00:01:17,376
Riskin:
So, this is a weird one.
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It looks like some kind
of alien world
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Where everybody lives
underwater,
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But there are walkways,
but it's not.
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This is nature,
so why is it like that?
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Narrator: The question is, where
did all this water come from
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00:01:32,693 --> 00:01:36,395
And why is is
so perfectly crystal clear?
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Clues may lie on
the other side of the globe.
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Every year, green lake
in austria
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Is transformed
into a scuba divers' playground.
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The park's trees and benches
are totally submerged.
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So, green lake floods every
spring and summer
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When the glaciers melt,
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00:02:00,254 --> 00:02:05,157
So it's that clean, clear runoff
from glacial melt,
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00:02:05,159 --> 00:02:07,459
And the streams and the rivers
all adding to green lake,
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00:02:07,461 --> 00:02:11,263
Which is why it's so clear.
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Narrator: Could the flooded
ecopark in brazil
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00:02:13,467 --> 00:02:15,501
Be the result
of something similar?
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00:02:17,638 --> 00:02:21,073
This is like that,
but it can't be the same thing
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Because green lake is water
that comes from a glacier.
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It's fresh, clear water
with nothing in it
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Because it comes from snow.
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00:02:32,052 --> 00:02:34,887
Narrator: The jardim area
doesn't get any snow.
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The ecopark is in a rainforest
and it gets really hot here
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In February --
up to 85 degrees fahrenheit.
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If this water is not from snow,
could it be from a recent flood?
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00:02:50,538 --> 00:02:52,638
Riskin:
Maybe the river swelled up.
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It's a big flood and now
everything's underwater.
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Narrator: Flooding does happen
in other parts of brazil.
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00:02:59,213 --> 00:03:02,981
Nearly 100,000 square miles
of amazon rainforest
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00:03:02,983 --> 00:03:07,219
Are submerged every year as the
famous river spills its banks
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00:03:07,221 --> 00:03:10,522
And rises by 30 feet.
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00:03:10,524 --> 00:03:14,026
Yellow-spotted river turtles
swim through the trees,
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00:03:14,028 --> 00:03:17,629
While caiman become
temporary forest dwellers,
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00:03:17,631 --> 00:03:21,266
And arboreal animals
like sloth have to swim
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Rather than climb
through the branches.
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00:03:25,339 --> 00:03:29,141
So, is something similar
happening in jardim?
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00:03:29,143 --> 00:03:30,642
This isn't part of the amazon.
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This is south of that, so that
shouldn't be happening here.
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00:03:33,347 --> 00:03:36,715
Narrator: The amazon is over
1,000 miles north of jardim,
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00:03:36,717 --> 00:03:39,785
But the source of the amazon's
floods may still hold clues
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To what's happening here.
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00:03:42,256 --> 00:03:43,522
Riskin:
Another possibility
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00:03:43,524 --> 00:03:47,359
Is that there's just been
a lot of rain.
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00:03:47,361 --> 00:03:50,195
Narrator: Well, in early 2018,
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The area was indeed hit
by a deluge of heavy rain.
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00:03:54,201 --> 00:03:58,971
Increased rainfall could cause
flooding in the area.
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00:03:58,973 --> 00:04:01,273
Narrator: But normally, heavy
rain transforms a river
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00:04:01,275 --> 00:04:02,941
Into a murky mess,
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00:04:02,943 --> 00:04:07,412
The opposite of the
crystal-clear water of jardim.
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00:04:07,414 --> 00:04:09,348
In reality, it can't just be
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00:04:09,350 --> 00:04:11,883
The run-of-the-mill
flash flooding
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00:04:11,885 --> 00:04:13,785
Because very quick flooding
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00:04:13,787 --> 00:04:16,755
Really always brings in
a lot of sediment.
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00:04:16,757 --> 00:04:18,557
You would really expect
the water
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00:04:18,559 --> 00:04:21,893
To be much more cloudy
and murky and full of debris,
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00:04:21,895 --> 00:04:24,796
But that was definitely
not the case here.
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00:04:24,798 --> 00:04:27,132
Riskin: It's almost like this
water's been filtered.
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00:04:27,134 --> 00:04:28,767
There's something else going on.
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00:04:31,338 --> 00:04:33,639
The region is made up of bedrock
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00:04:33,641 --> 00:04:36,575
That is comprised
of porous limestone,
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00:04:36,577 --> 00:04:40,912
And that filters mud and sand
and silt beautifully.
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Narrator: Usually, the water
comes up through springs
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That supply the famously
transparent rio de prada,
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00:04:47,121 --> 00:04:48,620
Which makes this river
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00:04:48,622 --> 00:04:51,356
And its amazingly transparent
tributaries
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A snorkeler's paradise.
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00:04:54,295 --> 00:04:57,296
But heavy rains
overloaded the system.
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All the extra water
filtered down
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Through the limestone bedrock,
supercharging the springs,
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00:05:03,437 --> 00:05:07,873
And causing the river level
to rise from below.
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00:05:07,875 --> 00:05:12,778
The result --
a crystal-clear filtered flood.
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00:05:12,780 --> 00:05:14,980
But there's one more thing.
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00:05:14,982 --> 00:05:19,685
So, the underlying bedrock of
the area acts as a water filter,
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Making the water the nice clear
that we see,
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00:05:22,756 --> 00:05:26,024
And on top of that,
the limestone particles
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00:05:26,026 --> 00:05:28,460
In the water
actually refract the light
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00:05:28,462 --> 00:05:31,063
And make it
this nice blue color.
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Narrator: But the phenomenon
is short-lived.
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Within a day or two,
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This submerged dream world
disappears,
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00:05:39,807 --> 00:05:43,141
Taking the fish with it
as the flooding subsides
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And the water
flows back down the river.
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It's incredibly rare
for this to happen.
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The rainforest only gets
transformed
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About once every four years,
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Turning a walk in the park
into a swim.
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♪
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Isla santa catalina,
sea of cortez.
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A scientific expedition
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Stumbles upon a strange
species of rattlesnake.
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It's a rattlesnake
without a rattle.
119
00:06:17,811 --> 00:06:20,846
I don't know if that's even
a rattlesnake anymore.
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00:06:20,848 --> 00:06:22,414
Riskin: So, here's a mystery --
you've got a snake
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00:06:22,416 --> 00:06:23,815
That looks like a rattlesnake.
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It's got the head
of a rattlesnake,
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It's got the body
of a rattlesnake,
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It even shakes its tail
like a rattlesnake,
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But there's no rattle.
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So what's going on?
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00:06:34,495 --> 00:06:36,495
Narrator: Animal planet host
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00:06:36,497 --> 00:06:40,699
And wildlife biologist
forrest galante is also curious.
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00:06:40,701 --> 00:06:43,301
All other living species
of rattlesnake
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00:06:43,303 --> 00:06:44,603
Have an active rattle.
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That's why they're called
rattlesnakes.
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00:06:46,306 --> 00:06:47,672
But this one doesn't.
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Why?
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00:06:49,076 --> 00:06:51,543
Narrator: With no rattle,
how do we even know
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00:06:51,545 --> 00:06:56,114
The santa catalina rattler
is a rattlesnake to begin with?
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00:06:56,116 --> 00:06:58,183
Well, aside from a rattle,
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00:06:58,185 --> 00:07:02,621
Rattlers have a triangle-shaped
head and vertical pupils,
138
00:07:02,623 --> 00:07:04,456
Just like our catalina rattler.
139
00:07:06,260 --> 00:07:09,294
They also share
the same type of venom
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00:07:09,296 --> 00:07:12,831
And give birth to live young --
another check.
141
00:07:12,833 --> 00:07:16,535
So the santa catalina snake
is indeed a type of rattlesnake.
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00:07:16,537 --> 00:07:21,773
Question is, how and why
did it become rattleless?
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00:07:21,775 --> 00:07:25,310
Nelson: So, it might be
as a form of camouflage.
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Being camouflage means you can't
be seen in the environment.
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Narrator:
Unlike other rattlesnakes,
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00:07:31,885 --> 00:07:35,387
The santa catalina rattler's
tail is camouflaged,
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00:07:35,389 --> 00:07:37,556
Just like the rest of its body.
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00:07:37,558 --> 00:07:41,259
So, did the catalina rattlers
lose their rattles
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00:07:41,261 --> 00:07:45,397
In order to become more stealthy
in pursuit of their prey?
150
00:07:45,399 --> 00:07:47,666
Perhaps not.
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00:07:47,668 --> 00:07:51,069
But this wouldn't make sense
because every other rattlesnake
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00:07:51,071 --> 00:07:54,973
Everywhere else in the world
is a very efficient predator.
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00:07:54,975 --> 00:07:57,909
Narrator: They can strike
in just 50 milliseconds.
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So fast that if you blink,
you really would miss it.
155
00:08:03,183 --> 00:08:05,817
So, why would a rattlesnake need
to lose his rattle
156
00:08:05,819 --> 00:08:07,452
To be a good predator?
157
00:08:07,454 --> 00:08:09,554
Doesn't make sense.
158
00:08:09,556 --> 00:08:10,956
Narrator: If losing your rattle
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00:08:10,958 --> 00:08:12,657
Doesn't make you
a better hunter,
160
00:08:12,659 --> 00:08:14,659
Maybe we need to go back
to the reason
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00:08:14,661 --> 00:08:17,729
That rattlesnakes have rattles
in the first place.
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00:08:19,766 --> 00:08:22,334
Galante: They're a snake that
has evolved itself
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An entirely unique
defense mechanism --
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00:08:25,138 --> 00:08:29,608
An object on the end of its tail
that it can shake like crazy
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And rattle to send off
a warning signal to say,
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"hey, I'm venomous,
I'm dangerous.
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00:08:34,648 --> 00:08:36,615
Leave me alone."
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00:08:36,617 --> 00:08:39,050
Narrator:
Most animals avoid tangling
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00:08:39,052 --> 00:08:41,520
With these snakes'
venom-filled fangs,
170
00:08:41,522 --> 00:08:42,821
But there may be a downside
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00:08:42,823 --> 00:08:45,290
To the rattlesnakes'
early warning system.
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00:08:45,292 --> 00:08:48,393
Could the rattle actually
attract unwanted attention?
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00:08:48,395 --> 00:08:51,229
[ bird screeches ]
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00:08:51,231 --> 00:08:52,931
So, perhaps in this instance,
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00:08:52,933 --> 00:08:56,468
When the isla catalina
rattlesnake rattles its tail,
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00:08:56,470 --> 00:08:58,970
It's actually alerting predators
to its whereabouts.
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00:08:58,972 --> 00:09:01,172
It's creating a beacon, saying,
178
00:09:01,174 --> 00:09:03,708
"I'm right here,
come and eat me."
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00:09:03,710 --> 00:09:06,811
Riskin: So, maybe it's possible
that predators are the reason
180
00:09:06,813 --> 00:09:09,180
That these snakes
have lost the rattle.
181
00:09:09,182 --> 00:09:10,882
There are predators
that do eat snakes.
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00:09:10,884 --> 00:09:12,951
Things like hawks --
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00:09:12,953 --> 00:09:15,654
All kinds of animals
that will go after an easy meal,
184
00:09:15,656 --> 00:09:19,291
And that rattle might be a way
of attracting predators.
185
00:09:31,505 --> 00:09:35,240
Narrator: Isla santa catalina,
sea of cortez.
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00:09:35,242 --> 00:09:37,375
A scientific expedition
encounters
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00:09:37,377 --> 00:09:40,445
A rather unusual reptile.
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00:09:40,447 --> 00:09:42,981
Of the 36 species
of rattlesnake,
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00:09:42,983 --> 00:09:47,352
The santa catalina
snake has no rattle.
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00:09:47,354 --> 00:09:48,920
Why?
191
00:09:48,922 --> 00:09:51,590
Well, despite their
fearsome reputation,
192
00:09:51,592 --> 00:09:54,593
Some animals will prey
on rattlesnakes,
193
00:09:54,595 --> 00:09:58,463
So maybe the rattle
was lost to avoid detection.
194
00:09:58,465 --> 00:10:02,567
On catalina, one of those
predators is a surprise.
195
00:10:05,672 --> 00:10:09,474
The rattlesnakes coexist
with feral pigs.
196
00:10:09,476 --> 00:10:11,042
Narrator: So, one theory is...
197
00:10:11,044 --> 00:10:14,079
Galante: Because pigs harass
rattlesnakes, that over time,
198
00:10:14,081 --> 00:10:16,047
The rattlesnakes
have lost their rattles.
199
00:10:16,049 --> 00:10:18,249
This would enable them
to hide better from these pigs
200
00:10:18,251 --> 00:10:20,919
That are messing with them.
201
00:10:20,921 --> 00:10:23,455
So could it be that pigs
have literally scared
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00:10:23,457 --> 00:10:27,058
The rattle
out of rattlesnakes?
203
00:10:27,060 --> 00:10:29,260
This is an interesting theory
because --
204
00:10:29,262 --> 00:10:31,329
Well, pigs,
they love to eat snakes.
205
00:10:31,331 --> 00:10:32,998
They will search out
rattlesnakes,
206
00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,766
Stomp them, eat them.
207
00:10:34,768 --> 00:10:37,102
It would be a good meal
for a little pig.
208
00:10:37,104 --> 00:10:39,771
Narrator: Pigs are only one of
a handful of mammals resistant
209
00:10:39,773 --> 00:10:43,341
To snake venom and they
can survive snake bites.
210
00:10:43,343 --> 00:10:46,745
So, if pigs are not scared
of attacking snakes,
211
00:10:46,747 --> 00:10:49,781
Could this be why the santa
catalina rattlers
212
00:10:49,783 --> 00:10:51,149
Lost their rattles?
213
00:10:51,151 --> 00:10:53,318
Maybe, but...
214
00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,121
It's doubtful, though,
that pigs are the whole story.
215
00:10:56,123 --> 00:10:57,989
There just aren't enough pigs
216
00:10:57,991 --> 00:11:00,091
Where there are
these rattlesnakes.
217
00:11:00,093 --> 00:11:02,460
Narrator: In fact, there are
very few predators
218
00:11:02,462 --> 00:11:05,363
Of any kind living
on this island,
219
00:11:05,365 --> 00:11:07,899
Making santa catalina
a pretty safe place
220
00:11:07,901 --> 00:11:10,168
For the snakes to call home.
221
00:11:10,170 --> 00:11:12,837
So instead, could this lack
of predators
222
00:11:12,839 --> 00:11:16,608
Have caused the snakes
to shed their rattles?
223
00:11:16,610 --> 00:11:18,743
Riskin: Places where there are
dangerous animals,
224
00:11:18,745 --> 00:11:22,180
That rattle really comes
in handy to ward them off,
225
00:11:22,182 --> 00:11:26,384
But on this island, there were
no animals to worry about.
226
00:11:26,386 --> 00:11:30,989
So, it's not all that big
of a benefit to have the rattle.
227
00:11:30,991 --> 00:11:33,491
Narrator: But why are the
island's missing predators
228
00:11:33,493 --> 00:11:36,027
Important to our mystery?
229
00:11:36,029 --> 00:11:38,963
The answer may lie in how
a rattlesnake's rattle
230
00:11:38,965 --> 00:11:40,832
Is normally made.
231
00:11:40,834 --> 00:11:42,333
So, what I have here is
232
00:11:42,335 --> 00:11:45,770
One of the most beautiful
rattlesnake species on earth.
233
00:11:45,772 --> 00:11:49,374
This is the spectacled
rattlesnake and look at him go.
234
00:11:49,376 --> 00:11:52,010
Listen to that rattle hum away,
235
00:11:52,012 --> 00:11:53,712
And when you look
at that rattle,
236
00:11:53,714 --> 00:11:57,348
You realize there's a little
tiny bead in every single ring.
237
00:11:57,350 --> 00:12:00,218
So what you can assume is that
the body's genes
238
00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:03,321
Are telling it
to make that little bead.
239
00:12:03,323 --> 00:12:05,323
Narrator:
A new bead or rattle segment
240
00:12:05,325 --> 00:12:08,993
Is added every time
the snake sheds its skin.
241
00:12:08,995 --> 00:12:11,029
The distinctive rattle sound
is made
242
00:12:11,031 --> 00:12:14,532
Whenever these segments
smash into one another.
243
00:12:14,534 --> 00:12:18,203
Galante: Now, in an area with
very few predators, over time,
244
00:12:18,205 --> 00:12:20,872
What happens
is the snakes stop wasting
245
00:12:20,874 --> 00:12:24,709
That valuable biological energy
to create this bead.
246
00:12:24,711 --> 00:12:26,845
Narrator: Since arriving
on santa catalina,
247
00:12:26,847 --> 00:12:28,613
These snakes have
gradually evolved
248
00:12:28,615 --> 00:12:30,582
To stop growing
the one body part
249
00:12:30,584 --> 00:12:33,551
They simply don't need anymore.
250
00:12:33,553 --> 00:12:37,021
Over time, more snakes
continued to lose their rattle
251
00:12:37,023 --> 00:12:40,024
Because it wasn't having
an adverse affect on them.
252
00:12:40,026 --> 00:12:42,594
Now you have an entire
population
253
00:12:42,596 --> 00:12:45,563
Of rattleless rattlesnakes.
254
00:12:45,565 --> 00:12:48,566
A rattlesnake without a rattle.
How cool is that?
255
00:12:48,568 --> 00:12:56,341
♪
256
00:12:56,343 --> 00:12:58,343
Narrator: April 2016.
257
00:12:58,345 --> 00:13:01,913
Nagarhole national park, india.
258
00:13:01,915 --> 00:13:04,949
Scientists from the wildlife
conservation society
259
00:13:04,951 --> 00:13:09,020
Are on a safari when they
stumble upon something strange.
260
00:13:12,592 --> 00:13:15,093
Okay, so, it's putting
something in its mouth
261
00:13:15,095 --> 00:13:17,695
And it's puffing it out.
262
00:13:17,697 --> 00:13:19,998
Smoking, not good.
263
00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,713
Narrator: April 2016.
264
00:13:35,715 --> 00:13:38,183
Nagarhole national park, india.
265
00:13:38,185 --> 00:13:42,921
Scientists encounter an elephant
acting strangely.
266
00:13:42,923 --> 00:13:45,056
I have never seen
this behavior before.
267
00:13:45,058 --> 00:13:49,227
To see an elephant blow
out a plumage of smoke,
268
00:13:49,229 --> 00:13:51,329
That was very interesting.
269
00:13:51,331 --> 00:13:53,531
Narrator: The elephant seems
to repeat this action
270
00:13:53,533 --> 00:13:56,634
Again and again.
271
00:13:56,636 --> 00:14:00,038
This indian elephant is picking
something up off of the ground,
272
00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,473
Clearly chewing on it,
and then on his exhale,
273
00:14:02,475 --> 00:14:04,509
This huge cloud of smoke
274
00:14:04,511 --> 00:14:06,211
Is coming out
either side of his mouth
275
00:14:06,213 --> 00:14:08,279
And just engulfing
his whole head,
276
00:14:08,281 --> 00:14:10,281
And then he chews,
picks up another piece,
277
00:14:10,283 --> 00:14:11,482
And does it again.
278
00:14:11,484 --> 00:14:14,319
And it looks like he's smoking.
279
00:14:14,321 --> 00:14:16,654
Narrator: But could this
elephant really be smoking?
280
00:14:16,656 --> 00:14:18,523
I mean, when you look at it
at first,
281
00:14:18,525 --> 00:14:19,991
It looks like it's pulling
on a cigarette
282
00:14:19,993 --> 00:14:22,060
Or something like that,
but there's too much smoke
283
00:14:22,062 --> 00:14:23,361
And there's no cigarette.
284
00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:26,531
This is something else.
285
00:14:26,533 --> 00:14:28,199
Narrator:
The local forestry department
286
00:14:28,201 --> 00:14:30,268
Recently burnt areas
of the jungle
287
00:14:30,270 --> 00:14:34,138
In an attempt to prevent future
forest fires from spreading.
288
00:14:34,140 --> 00:14:37,208
This left behind
burnt wood and ash.
289
00:14:39,412 --> 00:14:42,580
In this case, the elephant is
not foraging its typical diet,
290
00:14:42,582 --> 00:14:44,916
But it is in fact
picking up with its trunk
291
00:14:44,918 --> 00:14:46,951
And chewing on
and eating charcoal.
292
00:14:46,953 --> 00:14:48,753
Narrator:
So, the elephant isn't smoking,
293
00:14:48,755 --> 00:14:52,624
It's blowing the ash off pieces
of charcoal and chewing it.
294
00:14:52,626 --> 00:14:53,825
This is new.
295
00:14:53,827 --> 00:14:56,361
Until this video,
296
00:14:56,363 --> 00:15:00,465
No one else had ever seen
an elephant eating charcoal.
297
00:15:01,935 --> 00:15:03,234
Narrator: The mystery is,
298
00:15:03,236 --> 00:15:06,104
Why eat charcoal
in the first place?
299
00:15:09,376 --> 00:15:13,912
Perhaps it's using the charcoal
to help clean its teeth.
300
00:15:13,914 --> 00:15:17,015
There's actually a lot of
different instances of animals
301
00:15:17,017 --> 00:15:20,852
Using tools as dental tools
to aid in hygiene.
302
00:15:20,854 --> 00:15:22,887
Narrator:
And charcoal is something
303
00:15:22,889 --> 00:15:25,790
That can be used to clean
and even whiten our smiles.
304
00:15:27,794 --> 00:15:32,163
So, is the smoking elephant
caring for its teeth?
305
00:15:32,165 --> 00:15:34,866
Well, perhaps.
306
00:15:34,868 --> 00:15:38,202
Daly: Teeth are a vital part
of an animal's life.
307
00:15:38,204 --> 00:15:41,739
If a tooth was to become loose
or if it was to become sore,
308
00:15:41,741 --> 00:15:44,208
That could really impede
the feeding of that animal
309
00:15:44,210 --> 00:15:45,977
And they could also be in pain.
310
00:15:45,979 --> 00:15:47,979
It's so important, actually,
that in some species,
311
00:15:47,981 --> 00:15:53,217
They use tools to actually help
clean and maintain those teeth.
312
00:15:53,219 --> 00:15:55,219
Galante: Long-tailed macaques
live in thailand,
313
00:15:55,221 --> 00:15:57,522
And these animals
are very adaptable.
314
00:15:57,524 --> 00:16:02,060
They live near a shrine
where people often frequent.
315
00:16:02,062 --> 00:16:03,995
Narrator:
These monkeys have adopted
316
00:16:03,997 --> 00:16:05,430
A strangely familiar routine
317
00:16:05,432 --> 00:16:09,167
For their dental care --
flossing.
318
00:16:09,169 --> 00:16:11,302
Galante: They've learned that
if they collect human hair,
319
00:16:11,304 --> 00:16:13,204
They can actually use it
as dental floss.
320
00:16:13,206 --> 00:16:16,174
They sit around and actually
floss with human hair,
321
00:16:16,176 --> 00:16:17,308
And just like you're human,
322
00:16:17,310 --> 00:16:18,309
Kind of check it out
and then discard it.
323
00:16:18,311 --> 00:16:20,378
Be like,
"yeah, my teeth are clean."
324
00:16:20,380 --> 00:16:23,948
Narrator: So, is this elephant
using charcoal
325
00:16:23,950 --> 00:16:25,650
To clean its ivories?
326
00:16:25,652 --> 00:16:28,019
To find out,
we need to understand
327
00:16:28,021 --> 00:16:30,321
How elephants' teeth work.
328
00:16:30,323 --> 00:16:33,291
Elephant teeth are not
like our teeth.
329
00:16:33,293 --> 00:16:34,525
They're weird.
330
00:16:34,527 --> 00:16:36,594
New teeth come in
at the back of the mouth
331
00:16:36,596 --> 00:16:38,563
And then everything
shifts forward
332
00:16:38,565 --> 00:16:40,331
And then old teeth
fall out the front,
333
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:42,200
And they just
keep rotating through.
334
00:16:42,202 --> 00:16:44,168
Daly: Elephants have six sets
of teeth
335
00:16:44,170 --> 00:16:47,038
To keep up with
the sheer amount of food
336
00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:48,940
That they're going through.
337
00:16:48,942 --> 00:16:51,342
Narrator: With new teeth
growing all the time,
338
00:16:51,344 --> 00:16:56,014
Elephants don't have the same
oral-hygiene concerns as we do,
339
00:16:56,016 --> 00:16:58,516
So tooth care is ruled out.
340
00:16:59,853 --> 00:17:03,554
So, we need to consider
something else.
341
00:17:03,556 --> 00:17:05,823
Narrator: Perhaps there's
something inside the charcoal
342
00:17:05,825 --> 00:17:07,525
The elephant is after.
343
00:17:07,527 --> 00:17:10,962
After all, wood ash
does hold some minerals.
344
00:17:10,964 --> 00:17:13,998
Maybe the charcoal
contains nutrients
345
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,433
That are in short supply,
346
00:17:15,435 --> 00:17:17,168
And so maybe it's just trying
to fill out its diet.
347
00:17:17,170 --> 00:17:19,470
It's like a vitamin.
348
00:17:19,472 --> 00:17:21,372
Narrator: One of the most
sought-after minerals
349
00:17:21,374 --> 00:17:25,510
In the natural world is salt.
350
00:17:25,512 --> 00:17:28,012
Elephants have been known
to go to extreme lengths
351
00:17:28,014 --> 00:17:31,482
To get salt in their diet.
352
00:17:31,484 --> 00:17:34,886
Narrator: In kenya's mount
elgon national park,
353
00:17:34,888 --> 00:17:38,089
Some exceptional elephants
have become experts
354
00:17:38,091 --> 00:17:41,092
In harvesting salt
from the earth itself,
355
00:17:41,094 --> 00:17:42,293
And they've passed
the knowledge
356
00:17:42,295 --> 00:17:46,931
Of how to reach it down
through generations.
357
00:17:46,933 --> 00:17:51,035
Every evening, they descend deep
into dark cave tunnels
358
00:17:51,037 --> 00:17:55,106
For six-hour shifts,
mining the salt-rich rocks.
359
00:17:56,743 --> 00:18:00,578
These are the only elephants
in the world to do this.
360
00:18:02,982 --> 00:18:06,584
The elephants will dig
into soft rock with their tusk,
361
00:18:06,586 --> 00:18:08,386
Wearing down their tusk
while they do it,
362
00:18:08,388 --> 00:18:10,655
Just to break up the dirt
so that they can eat it
363
00:18:10,657 --> 00:18:12,757
And get the salt.
364
00:18:12,759 --> 00:18:15,293
Narrator: They have been mining
like this
365
00:18:15,295 --> 00:18:16,694
For thousands of years,
366
00:18:16,696 --> 00:18:19,630
And in that time,
they've extended the entire cave
367
00:18:19,632 --> 00:18:23,501
By over 170 meters
into the mountainside.
368
00:18:23,503 --> 00:18:27,338
Such is the importance
to elephants of salt.
369
00:18:27,340 --> 00:18:29,841
So, if there's salt in this
charcoal that the elephants
370
00:18:29,843 --> 00:18:31,576
Are picking up,
it would make total sense
371
00:18:31,578 --> 00:18:33,444
For them
to be putting it in their mouth.
372
00:18:33,446 --> 00:18:36,614
Narrator: So, could this
elephant be after salt
373
00:18:36,616 --> 00:18:37,815
In the charcoal?
374
00:18:37,817 --> 00:18:39,117
Galante: I'm not convinced.
375
00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,787
Charcoal does contain some salt
but not that much.
376
00:18:42,789 --> 00:18:45,957
Not enough that an elephant
would be chewing on it.
377
00:18:45,959 --> 00:18:48,292
Narrator:
As the largest land mammal,
378
00:18:48,294 --> 00:18:51,129
An elephant would have to eat
a lot of charcoal
379
00:18:51,131 --> 00:18:53,131
To supplement its diet.
380
00:18:53,133 --> 00:18:57,602
So, if not for the salt,
why else are they eating it?
381
00:18:57,604 --> 00:18:59,804
Might the charcoal
contain chemicals
382
00:18:59,806 --> 00:19:02,240
That could benefit
the elephants' health?
383
00:19:14,587 --> 00:19:16,587
Narrator: April 2016.
384
00:19:16,589 --> 00:19:19,690
Nagarhole national park, india.
385
00:19:19,692 --> 00:19:23,094
Scientists record
never-before-seen behavior --
386
00:19:23,096 --> 00:19:25,696
An elephant eating charcoal.
387
00:19:25,698 --> 00:19:27,698
Why is it doing this?
388
00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:31,769
Is it possible the elephant is
using it as a type of medicine?
389
00:19:31,771 --> 00:19:34,539
Animals across the world
use a variety of plants
390
00:19:34,541 --> 00:19:37,041
And materials
to help stave off infection
391
00:19:37,043 --> 00:19:39,243
Or protect themselves
from disease.
392
00:19:41,347 --> 00:19:45,383
Narrator: Many animals have been
seen chewing charcoal.
393
00:19:45,385 --> 00:19:49,020
Maybe they hold the answer
to the smoking elephant.
394
00:19:50,423 --> 00:19:53,257
Red colobus monkeys in zanzibar
395
00:19:53,259 --> 00:19:55,526
Have been seen
to ingest charcoal,
396
00:19:55,528 --> 00:19:58,629
Which is meant to help
with settling their stomachs.
397
00:19:58,631 --> 00:20:01,065
What charcoal can do
is it can treat poisoning
398
00:20:01,067 --> 00:20:03,601
If an animal has
ingested toxins.
399
00:20:03,603 --> 00:20:07,939
It can also act as a laxative
and it can help with digestion.
400
00:20:09,576 --> 00:20:12,543
Narrator: So, it seems that
eating charcoal
401
00:20:12,545 --> 00:20:14,011
Is not for tooth care
402
00:20:14,013 --> 00:20:18,115
Or to consume
the salt minerals it contains.
403
00:20:18,117 --> 00:20:22,186
Instead, it's a medicine
that will neutralize toxins
404
00:20:22,188 --> 00:20:24,422
In the elephant's stomach.
405
00:20:24,424 --> 00:20:29,293
Until now, we've seen
colobus monkeys eating charcoal
406
00:20:29,295 --> 00:20:31,128
To presumably
settle their stomachs,
407
00:20:31,130 --> 00:20:32,997
And now we have
this elephant footage
408
00:20:32,999 --> 00:20:35,199
Showing that they may do
exactly the same thing.
409
00:20:35,201 --> 00:20:36,701
It's pretty special.
410
00:20:36,703 --> 00:20:38,402
Galante:
Charcoal is a natural filter.
411
00:20:38,404 --> 00:20:40,204
It helps with stomach problems,
412
00:20:40,206 --> 00:20:42,673
And, in fact, human beings
will buy charcoal pills
413
00:20:42,675 --> 00:20:44,909
When they're having
upset stomachs.
414
00:20:44,911 --> 00:20:47,812
Narrator:
So, this puffing pachyderm
415
00:20:47,814 --> 00:20:50,314
Has raided nature's
medicine cabinet
416
00:20:50,316 --> 00:20:52,250
To treat indigestion.
37086
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