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, I M DYLAN DREYER AND IT'S TIME FOR A WILDLIFE TRACK

TO THE MOUNTAINS OF INDIA.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, FOR THESE MACAQUES, TREETOP LIVING CAN BE

VERY FRUITFUL AND FRIGHTENING.

AND INDIA'S NOBLEST GIANTS TREK UP A MOUNTAIN FOR LIFE-SAVING

WATER.

PLUS IT'S TIME FOR THESE SUITORS TO SHAKE A LEG.

AND THIS SURE-FOOTED SPECIES FORAGES IN A SPECTACULAR

SETTING.

BUT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

IT'S ALL JUST AHEAD ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT IS DEFINED BY ITS MOUNTAINS,

FROM THE SNOWY HIMALAYAS TO THE RAINFOREST PEAKS INHABITED

BY RARE MACAQUE MONKEYS.

TO SURVIVE HERE, EVERYTHING IN THE MACAQUE'S JUNGLE TERRITORY

HAS TO BE WATCHED AND OUTWITTED, INCLUDING A 15-FOOT PYTHON.

TAKE A LOOK.

DOWN INDIA'S WESTERN COAST STRETCHES A NEARLY THOUSAND MILE

LONG MOUNTAIN CHAIN KNOWN AS THE WESTERN GHATS.

IT IS DEEP IN THE SUMMER MONSOON SEASON.

THE FORESTS HERE ARE HOME TO MORE THAN 30% OF INDIA'S

SPECTACULAR WILDLIFE, INCLUDING INCLUDING ITS LARGEST SNAKE

SPECIES.

THE INDIAN PYTHON CAN BE MORE THAN 10 FEET LONG.

SHE'S NOT VENOMOUS, BUT SHE CAN KILL ALMOST ANY ANIMAL IN THESE

MOUNTAINS.

HUNTING IN THE TREES THAT LINE THE SLOPES.

UP ABOVE IS ONE OF INDIA'S MOST ENDANGERED PRIMATES, THE

MAGNIFICENT LION-TAILED MACAQUE.

FEWER THAN 4,000 REMAIN IN THE WILD.

THEY SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN FOREST, SEARCHING FOR

FRUIT.

THIS ALPHA MALE'S MAIN JOB IS TO WATCH OVER HIS TROOP.

HE'S UNAWARE THAT THEY'RE ALSO BEING WATCHED.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: DISTRACTED MONKEYS PRESENT OPPORTUNITY.

THE PYTHON IS LARGE ENOUGH TO BRING DOWN A WILD BOAR.

A LION-TAILED MACAQUE WON'T PUT UP MUCH OF A FIGHT.

BUT THE ALPHA SEES HER COMING.

[MACAQUES SCREECHING]

DYLAN: THE PYTHONS COVER IS BLOWN.

THE MACAQUES CAN REFOCUS ON FORAGING.

AND IN THE WESTERN GHATS, THE SUMMER MONSOON IS JACKFRUIT

SEASON.

GROWING AT ELEVATIONS OF MORE THAN 5,000 FEET, THEY'RE THE

LARGEST TREE-BORN FRUITS IN THE WORLD.

WEIGHING UP TO 40 POUNDS, ONE IS ENOUGH TO FEED AN ENTIRE TROOP

OF MACAQUES.

BUT THEY PREFER TO FEED ON THE RIPEST FRUIT, SO THEY RELY ON AN

UNLIKELY HELPER TO TELL THEM WHEN A JACKFRUIT IS READY TO

EAT.

A GIANT INDIAN SQUIRREL FORAGES NEARBY.

SHE HAS A KEEN SENSE OF SMELL AND CAN EASILY SNIFF OUT RIPE

FRUIT.

THE MACAQUES WATCH HER EVERY MOVE.

THIS IS WHAT THE TROOP HAS BEEN WAITING FOR.

THEY SURROUND THE SQUIRREL, INTIMIDATING IT WITH THEIR

CALLS, READY TO MUSCLE IN AND STEAL THE FRUIT.

SHE'S FORCED TO SURRENDER.

A SNEAKY AND SUCCESSFUL TACTIC TO HARVEST A HEAVILY FAVORED

FOOD IN THIS MOUNTAIN HABITAT.

COMING UP, HOW ELEPHANTS FIND THEIR WAY THROUGH A LANDSCAPE

ALTERED BY HUMANS.

AND FIND OUT WHICH ONE OF THESE FROGS WILL TURN OUT TO BE A

REAL-LIFE PRINCE CHARMING.

PLUS, THIS ANCIENT EQUINE SPECIES TRIES TO STAY SAFE AT

15,000 FEET ELEVATION.

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.

DYLAN: THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT IS TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE.

NEARLY 8% OF THE WORLD'S SPECIES THRIVE IN THIS COUNTRY'S DESERT,

WETLANDS,

RAINFORESTS

AND MOUNTAINS.

MORE THAN 13,800 PEAKS MAKE UP THE MOUNTAINS HERE,

INCLUDING THOSE IN THE MIGHTY HIMALAYAS.

THE HIMALAYAS ARE ONE OF THE WORLD'S YOUNGEST MOUNTAIN

RANGES, FORMED LESS THAN 50 MILLION YEARS AGO.

ALTHOUGH NOT AS TALL AS THE HIMALAYAS, THE WESTERN GHAT

MOUNTAINS ARE A HOT SPOT OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

SPANNING 62,000 SQUARE MILES, THESE MOUNTAINS HAVE PLENTY OF

ROOM FOR AN ANIMAL GIANT, THE INDIAN ELEPHANT.

HERE AT 2,500 FEET UP, THERE ARE NO GRASSLAND SAVANNAS TYPICAL OF

ELEPHANT DIETS.

BUT INCREDIBLY, 25% OF ALL ASIAN ELEPHANTS LIVE

IN THESE FORESTS.

IT'S UP TO 20 DEGREES COOLER HERE THAN IN THE LOFTY

MOUNTAINS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AND THIS FAMILY IS ON THEIR ANNUAL MIGRATION TO FIND

FOOD.

IT'S A STEEP CLIMB TO A SECRET EDEN PRODUCED BY THE GHAT'S

INTENSE MONSOON RAINS.

[ELEPHANT GRUMBLING]

DYLAN: THE MATRIARCH IS 8 FEET TALL AND WEIGHS 4 AND A HALF

TONS.

SHE'S SURPRISINGLY SURE-FOOTED ON THE STEEP TERRAIN.

SHE'S MADE THIS JOURNEY DOZENS OF TIMES BEFORE, USING TRAILS

ESTABLISHED BY HER ANCESTORS.

BUT OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES, THE AGE-OLD CORRIDORS HAVE BEGUN

TO DISAPPEAR.

THE FORESTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH TEA PLANTATIONS.

BUT THE MATRIARCH'S DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE MOUNTAINS HELPS

HER TO NAVIGATE THROUGH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SHE'S FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS TRANSFORMED

WORLD.

THE MIGRATING ELEPHANTS GRAZE ON THE WEEDS BETWEEN THE CROPS,

LEAVING THE BITTER-TASTING TEA LEAVES BEHIND.

THE MATRIARCH URGES THE HERD ON.

THERE'S A GREATER FEAST WAITING HIGHER UP THE MOUNTAIN.

AFTER DAYS OF CLIMBING, THE MATRIARCH AND HER FAMILY CAN

FINALLY SEE THEIR DESTINATION.

A SECRET PASTURE, 5,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

THE MATRIARCH'S WISDOM PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS HAS

PAID OFF.

EACH MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY HAS A 330 POUND A DAY APPETITE.

AND HERE, THANKS TO THE MONSOON RAINS, THERE'S ENOUGH FOR

EVERYONE.

IT'S AN ELEPHANT-SIZED BUFFET WITH AN EPIC VIEW.

COMING UP, THIS TINY SPECIES IS A REAL SHOW-OFF WHEN IT COMES TO

LOVE.

AND THESE ANCIENT MEMBERS OF THE HORSE FAMILY HAVE ONLY ONE

PREDATOR, AND IT'S DANGEROUSLY CLOSE.

FIND OUT IF THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS 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: ANIMAL COURTSHIP CAN BE COMPLEX.

SOMETIMES THE MALES OF A SPECIES HAVE BRUISING BATTLES BUT ONE

FOREST CREATURE HAS DEVELOPED A MORE SUBTLE WAY TO COMPETE

FOR A MATE.

IT'S LESS OF A DUEL AND MORE OF A DANCE OFF.

THE WESTERN GHATS ARE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE WETTEST PLACES ON

EARTH.

AS THE LAND HEATS UP DURING THE SUMMER, IT PULLS IN WATER LAID

IN AIR FROM THE OCEAN.

TURRENTS OF WATER THEN FALL OVER THE MOUNTAINS.

THIS MONSOON DRENCHES THE WESTERN GHATS FOR SIX MONTHS OF

THE YEAR.

AND THESE WET CONDITIONS ARE IDEAL FOR AMPHIBIANS.

ONE TINY SPECIES FOUND NOWHERE ELSE HAS CARVED OUT A NICHE

ALONG A MOUNTAIN STREAM.

THIS YOUNG MALE DANCING FROG LIVES HERE YEAR-ROUND.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS THE SUMMER MONSOON COMES TO AN END, HIS CALLS

SIGNAL THE START OF THE BREEDING SEASON.

[FROG CHIRPING]

DYLAN: BUT BEFORE HE CAN SECURE A MATE, HE MUST ESTABLISH AND

DEFEND A TERRITORY.

[CHIRPING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: HIS BRIGHT WHITE VOCAL SAC HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF

A RIVAL MALE.

BOTH FROGS ARE JUST UNDER AN INCH LONG, BUT THERE'S ONLY ROOM

FOR ONE OF THEM ALONG THIS STRETCH OF STREAM.

WHO THAT IS WILL BE DECIDED, NOT WITH A FIGHT, BUT WITH A FLASH

DANCE.

FIRST, THE FOOT TAP.

HIS OPPONENT RESPONDS WITH HIS OWN BEAT.

THE YOUNG MALE DECIDES TO BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS.

HE STRETCHES HIS HIND LIMB TO ITS FULL LENGTH,

SPREADING OUT HIS TOES TO EXPOSE THE FLASHY WEBBING.

[FROG CHIRPING]

DYLAN: IT'S A SHOW OF STRENGTH AND BREEDING PROWESS.

A FEMALE IS QUIETLY OBSERVING.

NOW THE TWO MALES HAVE AN AUDIENCE.

SO THERE'S EVEN MORE REASON TO IMPRESS.

TIME TO TAKE THIS DANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

DETERMINED NOT TO LOSE THE FIRST CONTEST OF THE SEASON, THE YOUNG

MALE'S DANCE MOVES LET'S GET PHYSICAL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE FEMALE LIKES WHAT SHE SEES.

THE YOUNG KING OF THE DANCE FLOOR HAS SECURED HIS TERRITORY

AND FOUND HIS PARTNER.

PASSING ON HIS WINNING DANCE MOVES TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

COMING UP, THESE WILD GRAZERS MIGHT BE THE SOURCE OF THE

UNICORN MYTH.

WE LL FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THESE HIGH ALTITUDE BEAUTIES 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: BEYOND THE HIMALAYAS COLD HIGH ALTITUDE DESERT.

THE MOUNTAIN RANGE CREATES A RAIN SHADOW BLOCKING THE MONSOON

CLOUDS.

CONDITIONS IN THE REMOTE HIGH DESERT ARE COOL AND DRY AND

VEGETATION IS SPARSE.

BUT SOME SPECIALIZED SPECIES OF GRASS SURVIVE HERE AND AS LONG

AS GRASS SURVIVES SO CAN GRAZERS...

...LIKE THE KIANG.

AROUND 1,500 OF THESE WILD DONKEYS ROAM HERE.

MEMBERS OF THE HORSE FAMILY, THEY'RE THE GREAT NOMADS OF

INDIA'S HIGHEST PLATEAU.

AT ALMOST 15,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, AN OLD MATRIARCH LEADS

HER HERD, TREKKING MILES ACROSS THE PARCHED PLAINS IN SEARCH OF

WATER.

WINTER IS COMING TO AN END, BUT MOST WATER SOURCES IN THE

PLATEAU ARE STILL FROZEN OVER.

THE MATRIARCH GUIDES THE THIRSTY HERD TO A PATCH OF TOUGH NEEDLE

GRASS.

ITS DRY STALKS HOLD LITTLE NUTRITION.

BUT THEY'LL PROVIDE MOISTURE FOR THE KIANGS IF THEY EAT ENOUGH

OF IT.

SPECIALIZED GUT MICROBES ALLOW THEM TO BREAK DOWN THESE FIBROUS

GRASSES.

HUNGER AND THIRST ARE SATISFIED.

THE LEADER FINDS A GOOD SPOT TO HAVE A DUST BATH.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO REMOVE PARASITES.

BUT SHE CAN'T RELAX FOR TOO LONG.

GRASS MAY ATTRACT GRAZERS, BUT GRAZERS OFTEN ATTRACT

CARNIVORES.

A HIMALAYAN WOLF

IS THE KIANG'S ONLY KNOWN PREDATOR AND IT'S HEADING THEIR

WAY.

THE KIANG COULD RUN.

[KIANG BRAYING]

THEY CAN GALLOP MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR.

BUT THIS IS A STAMINA HUNTER.

THE MATRIARCH KNOWS THAT THEIR BEST BET IS TO STAY TOGETHER.

[KIANG BRAYING]

DYLAN: BUT THE WOLF DOESN'T COME FOR THEM.

THERE WILL BE FAR EASIER TARGETS THAN A UNITED HERD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THESE ANCIENT WILD ANIMALS SURVIVE ANOTHER DAY

TOGETHER.

ANIMALS LIKE THE ONES WE'VE JUST SEEN ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR COMPLEX

SOCIAL LIVES AND THEIR CRUCIAL ECOLOGICAL ROLES.

KEEPING THEM HEALTHY HELPS PRESERVE ALL THE PLANTS AND

ANIMALS IN OUR PRECIOUS NATURAL WORLD.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]