Original subtitles

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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, WE'RE OFF TO EUROPE FOR A HIGH ALTITUDE

ADVENTURE IN THE ALPS.

COMING UP, IMPOSSIBLY STEEP PEAKS AND SLIPPERY SLOPES.

HOW DO THESE CLIMBERS STAY STEADY ON THEIR FEET?

AND A BIRD'S EYE VIEW GIVES THIS APEX PREDATOR A DEFINITE

ADVANTAGE IN WINTER.

THEN, A NEED FOR SPEED IN A HIGH ALPINE FOOT RACE.

AND WHEN THE SNOW MELTS, THE REAL FUN BEGINS.

ALPINE SPILLS, CHILLS AND THRILLS JUST AHEAD ON EARTH

ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN THE ALPS SOME OF THE TOUGHEST CREATURES STAY

YEAR-ROUND IN THE HIGHEST PEAKS NO MATTER HOW WILD THE WEATHER

THAT INCLUDES ONE ASTONISHINGLY SURE-FOOTED ANIMAL WHOSE SECRET

TO SUCCESS STARTS YOUNG.

A LABYRINTH OF ICE AND ROCKY PEAKS WITH MOUNTAINS SOARING

MORE THAN 15,000 FEET SCRAPES THE SKY AT ONE OF THE MOST

POPULATED PLACES ON THE PLANET...

...THE ALPS ARE THE WILD HEART OF EUROPE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, HUMANS HAVE TRIED TO INHABIT

ITS MORE ACCESSIBLE PEAKS AND VALLEYS.

FIRST BY CREATING FOOTPATHS, THEN ROADS, VILLAGES, AND

CITIES, PEOPLE HAVE SUBJECTED THE MOUNTAINS TO A MULTITUDE OF

CHANGES.

TODAY, THOSE WHO LIVE HERE SHARE A COMMON MOUNTAIN CULTURE.

ONE BUILT ON RESISTANCE TO ADVERSE CONDITIONS AND OF

ADMIRATION, AWE AND RESPECT FOR THESE GIANTS OF ROCK.

BUT WITH SO MUCH HUMAN INTERVENTION, CAN LIFE HERE

STILL BE WILD?

WHEN SNOW COVERS EVERYTHING ELSE, THE STURDY IBEX FLOURISHES

IN THIS DIZZYING HIGH ALTITUDE WORLD.

ON THE ROCK SLABS AND CLIFF LEDGES, THESE WILD GOATS RELY ON

A SOPHISTICATED ADAPTATION THAT MAKES THEM SUPERB MOUNTAINEERS.

TO MOVE IN SUCH DEMANDING TERRAIN, THEIR HOOVES HAVE

EVOLVED INTO INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT INSTRUMENTS.

AT THE FRONT, THERE IS A HARD, SHARP EDGE BACKED BY A CENTRAL

AREA OF RUBBER-LIKE CONSISTENCY.

ITS DESIGN IS SIMILAR TO THE SHOES FREE CLIMBERS USE.

IN ADDITION, THE TWO HALVES CAN BE SPREAD APART ELASTICALLY SO

THAT A SINGLE HALF ALONE CAN STOP THE ANIMAL FROM SLIPPING.

WHEN FACED WITH A ROUTE IT DOESN'T KNOW, THE IBEX IS

CAUTIOUS.

RETRACING YOUR STEPS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.

EVERY MOVEMENT IS CAREFULLY MEASURED.

EACH SEQUENCE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES.

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR A MISTAKE.

BUT ON THEIR MOST FAMILIAR ROUTES, IBEX MOVE RAPIDLY WITH

GREAT CONFIDENCE.

THEY ALWAYS USE THE SAME SMALL PROTRUSIONS AND END UP PLACING

THEIR HOOVES AT EXACTLY THE SAME POINTS.

FOR THE GREATER PART OF WINTER, THE CLIFFS ARE ONE OF THE FEW

PLACES WHERE IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO FIND FOOD.

BETTER YET, FEW PREDATORS WILL FOLLOW THE IBEX UP THESE

TREACHEROUS CLIFFS.

THAT MAKES THESE PEAKS A SAFE PLACE TO CONGREGATE UNTIL THE

RICHER DAYS OF SPRING.

COMING UP, MOUNTAINS OF ALPINE WATER CREATE THE PERFECT SPOT

FOR THIS LITTLE DIPPER.

AND HOW TO PROVE YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT STUFF, NO MATTER HOW STEEP

THE CLIMB.

PLUS EVERYBODY'S GOT SPRING FEVER.

SOME IRRESISTIBLE NEWBORNS WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AT FIRST GLANCE, THE MOUNTAINS MIGHT SEEM LIKE AN

INANIMATE WORLD, BUT SOMETHING IS MOVING.

IN THESE OPEN SPACES, CAMOUFLAGE IS VITAL TO SURVIVAL.

BOTH THE MOUNTAIN HARE AND THE PTARMIGAN HAVE DEVELOPED A

BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM TO QUICKLY CHANGE THEIR WHITE WINTER COATS

WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE.

DARK COLORING AND SLOW MOVEMENTS IN THIS EMPTY TERRAIN ARE

ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM PREDATORS.

THESE ARE THE ICONIC ANIMALS OF THE MOUNTAINS.

CREATURES SO WELL ADAPTED TO THE RIGORS OF SURVIVING WHERE OTHERS

CANNOT.

AT NO TIME OF THE YEAR DO THEY COMPLETELY ABANDON THE MOUNTAIN

HEIGHTS.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENT CONSIDERING THAT

AT THIS ALTITUDE, SUMMER IS THE EXCEPTION AND WINTER THE RULE.

IF THE MOUNTAINS HAD A VOICE, THEY WOULD SURELY SING THE

MUSICAL NOTES OF WATER.

[WATER TRINKLING]

DYLAN: THE HIGHEST PARTS OF THE ALPINE CHAIN ACCUMULATE A HUGE

MASS OF WATER IN ITS SNOWY, SOLID FORM.

AROUND 40% OF THE FRESH WATER REACHING THE PLAINS OF CENTRAL

EUROPE ORIGINATE FROM THE SLOPES OF THESE MOUNTAINS.

BUT THE WATER CYCLE OF THE ALPS IS CHANGING.

THE TEMPERATURE INCREASE IN THE MOUNTAINS IS TWICE THE AVERAGE

FOR THE PLANET.

AS ICE MELTS, IT CAN TAKE STRUCTURES OF ROCK WITH IT.

[WATER STREAMING]

[ROCKS CRUMBLING]

DYLAN: THAT CAN AFFECT THE CREATURES WHO LIVE HERE AND

THOSE IN THE LOWLANDS BELOW.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS THE WATER RUNS DOWN INTO THE VALLEY, GLACIAL WATER

CONSTANTLY WASHES THE ROCKS, BECOMING ENRICHED WITH SALTS

AND MINERALS.

IT ALSO BRINGS WITH IT A MYRIAD OF LIVING ORGANISMS RUSHING DOWN

BELOW.

[WATERFALL RUSHING]

DYLAN: THERE ARE THOSE THAT KNOW HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

THE LIVES OF MANY INSECT LARVAE ARE DOMINATED BY A CONSTANT

EFFORT TO CLING TO THE ROCKS.

EVEN IF THEY NEED TO STRUGGLE TO A PRIME POSITION, THE ADVANTAGE

IS THAT FOOD CARRIED BY THE CURRENT ARRIVES CONSTANTLY.

TO HIDE FROM PREDATORS, CADDIS LARVAE BUILD A PROTECTIVE POUCH

OF TINY STONES FROM THE RIVERBED.

BUT IT'S NOT EASY TO AVOID A WHITE-THROATED DIPPER'S KEEN

GAZE AS IT PATROLS INCESSANTLY, FLYING THE STREAM WITH EASE,

WHETHER ABOVE OR BELOW THE WATER'S SURFACE.

IT'S SOMETHING FEW CAN DO.

WHILE THE HIGH MOUNTAIN IS STILL GRIPPED IN ICE, SPRING SLOWLY

RISES FROM THE VALLEY BOTTOM WITH EACH PASSING DAY.

ANIMALS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WITH A DESCENT OF JUST A

FEW HUNDRED YARDS.

WITH THE MOST TRYING TIME OF YEAR BEHIND THEM, THE IBEX

FINALLY LOSE THEIR HEAVY WINTER COATS.

THEY HAVE ENDURED LONG MONTHS ON ROCK OR IN SNOW.

FOR THEM, EACH NEW BLADE OF GRASS, EVERY SCENT CARRIES A

PROMISE.

THE NEW SEASON IS COMING.

IT'S TRULY TIME TO JUMP FOR JOY.

COMING UP, A THRILLING RACE UP, DOWN AND ALL AROUND THE

MOUNTAIN.

MAY THE BEST CHAMOIS WIN.

AND THIS HIGH ALTITUDE AIR SHOW IS REALLY ALL ABOUT ROMANCE.

AN ALPINE VALENTINE STILL AHEAD ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, SOME CREATURES PAIR UP FOR LIFE,

BUT SOMETIMES COMPETITION COMES BEFORE COURTSHIP.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, ROMANTIC RIVALRIES ARE BOTH HIGH ALTITUDE

AND HIGH STAKES.

TAKE A LOOK.

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ALPINE WINTER, AN APEX PREDATOR

LIKE THE GOLDEN EAGLE MUST CONTINUE TO FLY AND HUNT TO

SURVIVE NO MATTER HOW SEVERE THE CONDITIONS.

[EPIC MUSIC]

DYLAN: OUT IN THE OPEN, THE EAGLE ENDURES POLAR

TEMPERATURES, STRONG GUSTS OF WIND, AND MOUNTAIN STORMS THAT

CAN LAST FOR WEEKS.

AFTER THESE TRIALS, A MOMENT OF MIDWINTER MADNESS INTERVENES

WHEN THE AERIAL COURTSHIP OF THE EAGLES BEGINS.

THIS MALE LAUNCHES IN SWOOPING DESCENTS AND SUDDEN ASCENTS.

IT'S A DISPLAY OF STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE AND JOY IN THE SHEER

PLEASURE OF FLIGHT.

THE FEMALE CHECKS OUT THE NESTS OF PREVIOUS YEARS BEFORE MAKING

HER CHOICE AND THE MALE FOLLOWS HER.

FOR EAGLES, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING IS FUNDAMENTAL BECAUSE THIS PAIR

BOND HAS TO WITHSTAND THE TEST OF TIME.

AS MATES FOR LIFE, THE EAGLES WILL HELP EACH OTHER DEFEND

THEIR TERRITORY AND THEY'LL HUNT WITH GREATER SUCCESS AS A

COUPLE.

A STRONG BOND IS KEY BECAUSE WHEN THE TIME COMES TO

SUCCESSFULLY FEED A YOUNG EAGLET, EVERY PARENTING CHOICE

MATTERS.

EAGLES WILL BUILD THEIR NESTS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF CLIFFS,

MAKING IT EASIER TO DELIVER NEWLY CAUGHT PREY.

FROM THE END OF AUTUMN, THE SAME OUTGOING BEHAVIOR CAN BE SEEN IN

OTHER SPECIES.

THE FIRST SIGNS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE.

IBEX RUB THEIR HORNS ON STEMS AND BRANCHES TO LEAVE THEIR

SCENT AND MARK A TERRITORY.

THEN MATTERS BECOME A BIT MORE SERIOUS.

THE RIVALRY AMONG MALE CHAMOIS BRINGS OUT THEIR TRULY

ASTONISHING ABILITIES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR THESE SMALL GOAT ANTELOPE, THE STEEP MOUNTAIN

SLOPES MIGHT AS WELL BE A RACETRACK.

THEY BURN UP THE GRADIENTS IN A FEW SECONDS.

HEART AND LUNG CAPACITY PLUS MUSCLE AND TENDON ENDURANCE WILL

DETERMINE WHO WINS THE RACE AND THE FEMALE CHAMOIS ATTENTION.

IN DECEMBER, THE HEAVYWEIGHT IBEX TAKE CENTER STAGE.

FOR THESE STURDY WILD GOATS, WHO RUNS FASTEST IS NOT IMPORTANT.

THIS IS A CHALLENGE BASED ON BRUTE FORCE.

[HORNS CLACKING]

DYLAN: THE YOUNG IBEX START TRAINING EARLY.

THEY NEED TO LEARN TO CONTROL THEIR MUSCLES, IMPROVE ACCURACY

AND IMPACTS, AND TO RESPECT ADVERSARIES.

THEIR CURVED HORNS REALLY ARE WEAPONS.

THEY NEED TO BE USED WITH GREAT CARE, EVEN IF THIS ENCOUNTER IS

STILL JUST A GAME.

COMING UP, THIS LITTLE CLIMBER SEEMS TO HAVE A CASE OF THE

HESITATION BLUES.

HOW ANIMALS CURE CLIFFSIDE JITTERS WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY

RETURNS.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN THE ALPS, AS SOON AS THE GROUND IS FREE FROM SNOW

PLANTS AND INSECT LARVAE EMERGE IN PROFUSION INTO THE SUNLIGHT.

ANIMALS THAT LOOK FOR REFUGE UNDERGROUND ALSO COME OUT THEIR

ESSENTIAL LIFE PROCESSES HAD SLOWED DOWN DURING WINTER.

HIBERNATION IS A SURVIVAL STRATEGY FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T

MIGRATE TO WARMER PLACES AS MANY BIRDS DO.

EVEN THE MARMOTS, LARGE EUROPEAN GROUND SQUIRRELS, HAVE EMERGED.

THEIR SQUABBLING CAN BE USED TO ESTABLISH A HIERARCHY.

BUT MORE OFTEN IT SEEMS LIKE A WAY OF CELEBRATING THE END OF

WINTER DARKNESS AND ROLLING INTO SPRING.

ON HIGHER GROUND, SNOW STILL COVERS LARGE PATCHES OF LAND.

EVEN THE ROCK FACES ARE POPULATED.

INSTEAD OF HEADING DOWN TO THE VALLEYS, THE FEMALE IBEX TAKE

REFUGE ON THE MORE REMOTE SLOPES.

THERE'S JUST ONE REASON.

THE NEW ARRIVALS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH THE GROUP FOR A FEW DAYS.

FROM THE MOMENT OF BIRTH AND AS LONG AS THEIR OFFSPRING ARE

VULNERABLE, THE MOTHER IBEX GUIDE THEIR KIDS TO THE MOST

RUGGED PARTS OF THEIR TERRITORY, GATHERING THEM IN GROUPS OF TENS

OF INFANTS.

THE SLOPES ARE THEIR ALLIES.

FEW PREDATORS CAN FOLLOW THEM IN SUCH AN INACCESSIBLE LANDSCAPE,

ESPECIALLY OVER THE ROCKS WHERE THE KIDS AGILITY AND LIGHTNESS

OF FOOT MAKE THEM ALMOST MORE CAREFREE THAN THE ADULTS.

MOMENTS OF DOUBT CAN OVERTAKE ANYONE BUT THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR.

GET OVER IT.

AFTER ALL, WITH A LITTLE NUDGE FROM MOM, ALMOST ANYTHING IS

POSSIBLE.

BEFORE LONG, MANY NEW ALPINE BABIES, LIKE THESE PYGMY OWLS,

WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO NAVIGATE LIFE ON THEIR OWN IN

THIS MAGNIFICENT, EVER-CHANGING ALPINE PARADISE.

WE'VE SEEN HOW THE SEASONS SHAPE THE LIVES OF ALPINE ANIMALS.

PROTECTING THE MOUNTAINS' FRAGILE HABITAT FROM RISING

TEMPERATURES IS KEY TO A HEALTHY FUTURE.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]