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.

WE'RE HEADED FOR ADVENTURE ON THE IBERIAN PENINSULA.

THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, THIS ELEGANT FELINE IS BACK FROM THE BRINK OF

EXTINCTION AND ON THE PROWL.

AND IT'S TEETH VERSUS TALONS AS THESE ANCIENT ENEMIES FACE OFF

FOR FOOD.

PLUS THIS WATERY SANCTUARY BREEDS AN ASTONISHING AMOUNT OF

AVIAN LIFE.

AND THESE RABBITS ARE RUNNING FROM EXTINCTION.

THIS AND MUCH MORE, STARTING NOW ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: CENTURIES OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION HAVE PERMANENTLY

CHANGED THE FORESTS OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA, HOME TO

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

BUT AFTER NEARLY DISAPPEARING, ONE RARE AND FANTASTIC FELINE IS

MAKING A DELICATE COMEBACK IN HER MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY.

THE IBERIAN PENINSULA IS A REMARKABLE EUROPEAN HABITAT.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUT UNFORGIVING TERRITORY.

YET WILDLIFE HAS FOUND MANY WAYS TO THRIVE HERE, BOTH ON LAND

AND IN THE SKIES.

IN AN IMMENSE LANDSCAPE SHAPED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY, WILD AND

DOMESTIC ANIMAL SPECIES MUST SHARE NATURE'S GIFTS AND

CHALLENGES.

THE PENINSULA'S UNIQUE FORESTS ARE THE STAGE FOR AN ETERNAL

DANCE BETWEEN PREDATOR AND PREY.

DUE TO ITS ISOLATION, MANY IBERIAN LIFE FORMS HAVE TAKEN

NEW EVOLUTIONARY PATHS, CREATING NEW SPECIES OF PLANTS AND

ANIMALS.

BUT LIFE HERE CAN BE HARD.

TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL REACH EXTREMES AT BOTH ENDS OF THE

SCALE THROUGH THE SEASONS.

IN THIS THRILLING ECOSYSTEM, THERE ARE FIERCE CONFRONTATIONS

AND INSPIRING SURVIVAL STORIES OF SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC

INHABITANTS OF THE PENINSULA.

LIKE THE IBERIAN LYNX.

THE PRESENCE OF THE BIGGEST FELINE OF THE REGION IS ENOUGH

TO MAKE EVERYBODY NERVOUS.

PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO THIS ENVIRONMENT, THE LYNX EMBODIES

THE ESSENCE OF THE IBERIAN HUNTER.

AN APEX PREDATOR, HE ROAMS FREELY THROUGHOUT HIS TERRITORY,

SEARCHING FOR PREY.

BUT IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS.

IN RECENT TIMES, THE LYNX CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO EXTINCTION.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HABITAT LOSS, POACHING AND THE LACK OF PREY SPECIES

WERE WHAT MADE IT SO HARD FOR THEM TO SURVIVE.

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY, FEWER THAN 100

INDIVIDUALS LIVED IN ONLY ONE SMALL TERRITORY IN SOUTHERN

SPAIN.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: FORTUNATELY, IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE POPULATION OF THE

IBERIAN LYNX HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

THANKS TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS CARRIED OUT IN BOTH SPAIN AND

PORTUGAL, WE CAN NOW HOPE FOR BETTER DAYS FOR THE FUTURE OF

THIS MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL.

COMING UP, IT TAKES GUTS TO STAND UP TO AN ENEMY WITH

A SEVEN FOOT WINGSPAN,

AND A POD OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS LIVING ON THE EDGE.

PLUS, THESE SPOONBILLS ARE PLAYING THE FIELD AND LOOKING

FOR A MATE.

AND TALK ABOUT A CLEVER STRATEGY USING SCENT TO GUIDE PREY INTO

THE DANGER ZONE.

ALL THIS AND MORE 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: IN A QUIET PART OF PORTUGAL'S CORK FOREST,

A YOUNG FOX IS ON A DAILY QUEST FOR FOOD.

HUNTING IS A DIFFICULT TASK, AS MOST PREY ARE TOO DECEPTIVE.

FORTUNATELY, HE'S GOT HIS BROTHER'S COMPANY.

LIFE IS HARD FOR THESE BROTHERS.

THEY MUST LEARN TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND TO USE THE

KNOWLEDGE PASSED ON BY THEIR MOTHER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY SPLIT THEIR EFFORTS TO COVER MORE GROUND AND

INCREASE THEIR CHANCES.

SUDDENLY, THERE'S A SCENT OF FALLEN PREY IN THE AIR.

A RABBIT IS QUITE AN AMAZING FIND.

THIS IS A JACKPOT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT A FINDING LIKE THIS IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

THE REAL OWNER OF THE CARCASS IS ABOUT TO CLAIM ITS PRIZE.

THE RABBIT BELONGS TO HER,

A GOLDEN EAGLE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: RIGHT AWAY, THE EAGLE TRIES TO SCARE THE FOX, IMPOSING

HER SIZE AND STRENGTH.

BUT SOMETIMES, HUNGER SPEAKS LOUDER THAN FEAR.

THE FOX TRIES TO GRAB ANOTHER BITE.

DESPITE HIS COURAGE, THE FOX DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE AGAINST

SUCH A LARGE RIVAL.

THE FOX HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO GIVE UP.

THE EAGLE SHOWS WHO IS THE TRUE RULER OF THIS LAND.

AFTER TAKING HER STANCE, THE EAGLE GRABS PART OF HER MEAL AND

FLIES TO A NEARBY PERCH TO EAT IT.

RELUCTANTLY, THE FOX HIDES AND WAITS FOR AN OPPORTUNITY.

FINALLY, THE FOX GRABS HIS SHARE OF THE PRIZE.

THIS IS INTRIGUING AND UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR.

THE FOX IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE EAGLE'S PREY SPECIES.

PREDATOR AND PREY TOLERATE EACH OTHER, AT LEAST FOR NOW, WHILE

THERE IS FOOD FOR BOTH HERE ON THE IBERIAN PENINSULA.

COMING UP, A GETAWAY TO A REMOTE ISLAND TURNS OUT TO BE JUST THE

TICKET FOR THESE LOVEBIRDS.

PLUS, A BREATHTAKING GLIMPSE OF SOME ELEGANT MARINE MAMMALS.

AND DOES THIS RABBIT STAND A CHANCE AGAINST A WILD CAT WITH A

PLAN?

WE'LL FIND OUT WHO WINS THIS ROUND 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: WILD ANIMALS LIVE IN COMPLEX HABITATS AND SOMETIMES

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID THE NEIGHBORS, WHETHER THOSE ARE

OTHER WILD ANIMALS OR PESKY PEOPLE.

BUT IN IBERIA'S WETLANDS, IT TURNS OUT THERE'S AN AVIAN ART

TO GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL.

AFTER A LONG JOURNEY FROM IBERIA'S HIGHLANDS, SOME RIVERS

FORM DELTAS AND ESTUARIES RIGHT BEFORE REACHING THEIR FINAL

DESTINATION.

WETLANDS ARE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE HABITATS ON THE PLANET.

TWO OF THE LARGEST ESTUARIES IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA ARE FOUND

HERE IN THE SOUTH OF PORTUGAL.

DESPITE THE STRONG HUMAN PRESENCE IN THE REGION, WILDLIFE

HAS ADAPTED AND THRIVED.

THESE ALLUVIAL PLAINS ARE INTERTIDAL ZONES WHERE THE

RHYTHM OF THE SEA SETS THE PACE OF LIFE.

HERE WE CAN FIND A VERY SPECIAL MAMMAL.

A GROUP OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS.

THIS PARTICULAR GROUP LIVES IN THESE WATERS BETWEEN THE RIVER

AND THE SEA.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S THE ONLY GROUP THAT IS KNOWN TO DO SO IN THE ENTIRE

PENINSULA.

THEY ARE THE BRIGHTEST STARS OF THE ESTUARY.

THEIR PRESENCE CONTRIBUTES A LOT TO THE CONSERVATION OF THIS

PROTECTED AREA.

FARTHER TO THE NORTH, THE ESTUARY OF THE LONGEST RIVER ON

THE PENINSULA IS HOME TO AN ASTONISHING VARIETY OF BIRDS.

THE LAND HERE IS EXTREMELY FERTILE AND HUMAN INTERVENTION

IS VERY INTENSE.

THE BIRDS THAT LIVE HERE AND THOSE WHO ARE PASSING BY, HAVE

LEARNED TO ADAPT AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HUMAN INTERVENTION.

SPOONBILLS, WITH THE HELP OF THEIR SPECIALIZED SPOON-SHAPED

BEAKS, ARE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE HUNTERS.

FOR THEM, THIS IS A FEAST.

THEY WAIT FOR THE TRACTORS TO COME BY TO GET AN EASIER MEAL.

THEY KNOW THAT THESE EXPOSED SOILS ARE RICH IN LARVAE,

INSECTS AND CRAYFISH.

BUT AT THE MOMENT, FOOD IS NOT THEIR ONLY CONCERN.

IT'S EARLY SPRING AND THE SPOONBILLS ARE STARTING TO THINK

ABOUT MATING.

THIS COUPLE WILL FORM A SOLID BOND AND THEY WILL BUILD A NEST

TOGETHER TO CARE FOR THEIR SOON TO BE YOUNGSTERS.

BUT FOR THAT THEY MUST FIRST FIND THE IDEAL LOCATION.

AND FARTHER UPSTREAM THERE IS JUST THE PERFECT PLACE.

THIS SMALL ISLAND HAS BECOME A TRUE SANCTUARY, A BIRD HAVEN.

IT IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF BIRDS OF MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES.

THERE ARE NO PREDATORS HERE.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF SPACE.

THIS IS A CROWDED NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE SPOONBILL COUPLE MANAGES TO FIND A SPOT.

THERE, WITH TWO HUNGRY CHICKS, THE COUPLE FEEDS THEM CONSTANTLY

BY TAKING TURNS.

EVEN SO, THE CHICKS NEVER SEEM TO BE SATISFIED.

AND THEY KEEP ASKING FOR MORE.

IT SEEMS THAT THIS STRATEGY DOES YIELD RESULTS.

SOME SPECIES LIVE HERE PERMANENTLY, WHILE OTHERS ARE

JUST PASSING THROUGH.

THIS ISLAND IS A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF THE EXPLOSION OF LIFE

ONE CAN FIND AROUND THE IBERIAN PENINSULA, WHERE NATURE SHOWS

ONCE AGAIN HER EXTRAORDINARY RESILIENCE.

COMING UP, CONSERVATIONISTS STEP IN TO SAVE ONE FURRY SPECIES TO

KEEP ANOTHER ALIVE.

FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS REMARKABLE WILDLIFE STORY 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: HERE IN SOUTHERN SPAIN, THE FIRST RAYS OF SUN LIGHT

FINALLY REACHED THE HILLS.

THIS PATCH OF FOREST HAS SERVED AS THE LAST STRONGHOLD FOR THE

LYNX.

CONSERVATIONISTS HAVE PLACED RABBIT WARRENS HERE TO PROVIDE

ADDITIONAL SHELTER AND ENCOURAGE BREEDING.

THE EUROPEAN RABBIT, NATIVE TO THE IBERIAN PENINSULA AND THE

SOUTH OF FRANCE, IS ONE OF THE KEYSTONE SPECIES OF

MEDITERRANEAN ECOSYSTEMS.

BUT WHEN A VIRUS HELPED DECIMATE THE RABBIT POPULATION IN THE

1980S, PREDATOR POPULATIONS ALSO FELL DRASTICALLY.

IN ALL, ABOUT 80% OF RABBITS DISAPPEARED, AND THE LYNX ALONG

WITH THEM.

BUT NOW, WITH THE HELP OF DEDICATED CONSERVATION EFFORTS,

THE RABBITS ARE AGAIN A COMMON PRESENCE IN SOME PARTS OF THE

PENINSULA.

AND ONCE AGAIN, SO ARE THEIR PREDATORS.

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

DYLAN: SOME OF THE LOCALS HAVE SENSED DANGER.

THIS LYNX IS LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT MEAL.

AND A RABBIT WOULD BE THE PERFECT CATCH.

BUT THE RABBIT SENSES HIS PRESENCE AND FLEES.

THE LYNX CONTINUES STALKING, MOVING THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE

WITH THE HOPE OF CATCHING A LESS CAREFUL RABBIT.

HE MOVES SILENTLY.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE RABBIT RUNS AWAY.

THIS IS THE ETERNAL DANCE BETWEEN PREDATOR AND PREY.

ONLY THE MOST CUNNING AND CLEVER WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

NEAR HIS LAIR, THIS RABBIT TAKES NO CHANCES AND HIDES IN HIS

LITTLE MAN-MADE FORTRESS.

THE LYNX APPROACHES THE DEN AND TRIES A DIFFERENT STRATEGY.

HE KNOWS THE RABBIT IS INSIDE.

BUT THERE IS AN INTRICATE NETWORK OF UNDERGROUND TUNNELS.

THE RABBIT MIGHT BE ANYWHERE.

TRYING TO DECEIVE THE RABBIT, THE LYNX MARKS ALL THE ENTRIES

EXCEPT FOR ONE AND WAITS CAREFULLY AT ITS SIDE.

IF THE RABBIT DOESN'T SMELL HIM, IT MAY COME OUT THROUGH THE

CHOSEN EXIT.

IT CAN BE A VERY LONG WAIT.

BUT SOMETIMES WAITING IS ALL THERE IS LEFT TO DO.

IN THE END, PERHAPS IT'S TIME FOR THIS HUNTER TO FIND ANOTHER

OPPORTUNITY.

WE'VE SEEN HOW HUMAN INTERVENTION CAN WORK BOTH WAYS

WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMAL SURVIVAL.

THANKFULLY, SIMPLE CONSERVATION STRATEGIES ARE HELPING

VULNERABLE CREATURES IN EUROPE'S REMAINING WILD PLACES.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]