Original subtitles

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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.

JOIN ME ON A MAGICAL TRIP TO THE WILDS OF INDIA.

THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

COMING UP, IN THE SHADOWS OF THE HIMALAYAS LIE GIANTS.

THEN WE'LL CLIMB THE PEAKS WITH AN EXQUISITE HIGH ALTITUDE CAT.

PLUS A TINY BUT MIGHTY COMPETITOR KNOWS WHEN TO STAY

PERFECTLY STILL.

AND AN AGILE TREE DWELLER YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS AS WE HEAD

INTO THE STUNNING MOUNTAINS AND RAINFORESTS OF INDIA, JUST AHEAD

ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: INDIA IS FAMOUSLY HOME TO LIONS, TIGERS, AND BEARS, NOT TO

MENTION SNOW LEOPARDS, MONKEYS, AND EVEN BISON.

INCREDIBLY THOUGH, TWO MORE LARGER-THAN-LIFE SPECIES ALSO

ROAM HERE, HIDDEN AWAY IN A REMOTE FOREST WHERE THEY CAN

RAISE THEIR EXTRA-LARGE YOUNGSTERS IN PEACE.

IN NORTHERN INDIA, THE MIGHTY HIMALAYAS DOMINATE THE

LANDSCAPE.

BUT BELOW THESE MOUNTAIN SUMMITS LIES A WARMER, GREENER REGION,

NOURISHED BY MOIST MONSOON WINDS.

HERE IN THE FOOTHILLS LIES KAZARENGA NATIONAL PARK.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE PLACES ON

EARTH.

THE GRASSLANDS ARE SHAPED BY THE THIRD LARGEST RIVER IN THE

WORLD, THE BRAHMAPUTRA.

FOR MILLENNIA, ITS WATERS HAVE FLOWED DOWN FROM THE HIMALAYAS

AND DEPOSITED NUTRIENT-RICH SEDIMENTS INTO THE PARK.

THE FERTILE PLAINS DRAW IN HERDS OF HERBIVORES, INCLUDING ONE OF

THE RAREST AND MOST VULNERABLE CREATURES ON THE PLANET.

ASIA'S MOST ELUSIVE GIANT STANDING ALMOST SEVEN FEET TALL.

THE GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINO.

MORE THAN 2,400 ROAM THESE DENSE GRASSLANDS.

IT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST POPULATION.

THIS MALE'S PRIORITY IS FINDING FOOD.

MONSOON SEASON IS CRUCIAL FOR A RHINO.

NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF HIS DIET CONSISTS OF GRASS.

HE'LL DEVOUR ALMOST 60 POUNDS OF IT EVERY DAY.

BUT HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE FOR THE RICH GRAZING.

[RUMBLING]

DYLAN: ELEPHANTS HAVE MIGRATED FROM THE NEARBY HILLS, TIMING

THEIR ARRIVAL WITH THE MONSOON TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE

EXPLOSION OF FOOD.

THE ELEPHANTS ARE JUST VISITING WHILE THE RHINO LIVES HERE YEAR

ROUND.

THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN INDIA WHERE THESE TWO GIANTS, BOTH

ENDANGERED, CAN BE SEEN TOGETHER.

THEY SEEM TO TOLERATE ONE ANOTHER.

BUT THE VISITING ELEPHANTS KNOW NOT TO GET TOO CLOSE TO THE

TWO-TON MALE.

WITH SO MANY HUNGRY MOUTHS TO FEED, THE ELEPHANTS DECIDE TO

SEARCH FOR THEIR OWN QUIET PATCH OF GRASSLAND.

THE RHINO IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE LEFT ALONE.

BUT HIS SOLITUDE IS SHORT-LIVED.

A CURIOUS BABY, LESS THAN A TENTH HIS WEIGHT, APPROACHES

HIM.

IT'S UNUSUAL FOR TWO UNRELATED RHINOS TO INTERACT LIKE THIS.

THE MALE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO ACT AROUND THE VULNERABLE CALF.

BUT THE YOUNGSTER'S MOTHER DOESN'T TAKE KINDLY TO

STRANGERS.

MALE RHINO IS BIGGER, BUT HE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO TAKE ON A

PROTECTIVE MOTHER.

HE FALLS BACK, HOPING TO FIND ANOTHER GRASSY CLEARING ALL TO

HIMSELF.

COMING UP, THIS INCREDIBLE MOUNTAIN HUNTER IS ON THE PROWL.

AND IN THE DARK, IT CAN BE HARD TO TELL WHO IS REALLY THE

PREDATOR AND WHO'S THE PREY.

PLUS, A CUTE AND COLORFUL FOREST CRITTER 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: NINE OUT OF TEN OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST MOUNTAINS ARE

FOUND IN THE HIMALAYAS.

WITH MORE THAN 100 SUMMITS RISING 24,000 FEET ABOVE SEA

LEVEL.

FARTHER UP THE WESTERN END OF THE RANGE IS A FRIGID WORLD OF

CLIFFS AND ROCK, ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE PLACES ON EARTH.

IT'S A FINAL REFUGE FOR ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST ELUSIVE

PREDATORS IN INDIA.

BLINK AND YOU'LL MISS HIM.

THE SNOW LEOPARD'S FUR IS THE ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN CAMOUFLAGE.

THE TIME HAS COME FOR THIS MALE TO FIND A MATE.

NOT AN EASY TASK.

WITH A RANGE STRETCHING MORE THAN 15 SQUARE MILES, HE PATROLS

IT CONTINUOUSLY.

UP TO NEARLY 18,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, HE LIVES AT THE

HIGHEST ALTITUDE OF ANY CAT.

HE'S A MOUNTAIN SPECIALIST, SUPERBLY ADAPTED TO LIFE UP

HERE.

THICK FUR TO TACKLE THE COLD.

AND A LARGE NASAL CAVITY THAT WARMS THE COLD MOUNTAIN AIR

BEFORE IT REACHES HIS LUNGS.

HUGE PAWS SPREAD HIS WEIGHT OVER THE ROCKS, AND A BULKY TAIL

HELPS HIM BALANCE WHILE CLIMBING.

GRAZING ON THE BARREN PEAKS ARE BLUE SHEEP,

[SHEEP BLEATING]

DYLAN: ANOTHER SPECIES AT HOME ON STEEP, HIGH ALTITUDE TERRAIN.

[BLEATING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: CATCHING AN ADULT WOULD PROVIDE THE SNOW LEOPARD WITH

ENOUGH FOOD FOR A WEEK.

BUT EVEN THAT CAN'T TEMPT HIM AWAY FROM HIS MISSION.

HE'LL COVER UP TO 25 MILES EACH DAY IN HIS SEARCH FOR A MATE,

TAKING WEEKS TO COVER HIS ENTIRE TERRITORY.

AND WITH JUST 500 SNOW LEOPARDS SPREAD ACROSS THE INDIAN

HIMALAYAS, HIS MISSION SEEMS FUTILE...

...UNTIL THE HAUNTING CALL OF ANOTHER SNOW LEOPARD.

[LEOPARD YOWLING]

[YOWLING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: COULD THIS BE IT?

[LEOPARD YOWLING]

DYLAN: THE MALE CALLS BACK.

[YOWLING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: BUT THE MOUNTAINS HAVE GONE SILENT.

FORTUNATELY, HE HAS ANOTHER WAY OF LETTING THE MYSTERY CALLER

KNOW THAT HE'S IN THE AREA.

HE CAN LEAVE A MESSAGE.

HE LEAVES HIS SCENT ON A NEARBY ROCK.

A SENSORY DATING PROFILE ADVERTISING TO THE FEMALE SNOW

LEOPARD.

WITH A LITTLE LUCK, HIS SEARCH COULD SOON BE OVER.

THE SURVIVAL OF THIS RARE AND BEAUTIFUL SPECIES DEPENDS ON IT.

COMING UP, A NOCTURNAL HUNTER AVOIDS A STICKY SITUATION.

AND WE'LL MEET AN UNDENIABLY CUTE CREATURE 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: IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, PREDATORS MIGHT USE SPEED,

STEALTH, OR CAMOUFLAGE, NOT TO MENTION SUPER KEEN SENSES,

TO CATCH THEIR SUPPER.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A HUNTER REALIZES IT'S ALSO BEING HUNTED?

WE STEP INTO THE RAINFOREST ON A MOONLIT NIGHT TO FIND OUT.

3,000 FEET UP IN THE EASTERN HIMALAYAS LIE SOME OF INDIA'S

MOST ISOLATED AND UNSPOILED RAINFORESTS.

HIDDEN UNDER THE CANOPY, A MOUND OF ROCKS PROVIDES A VALUABLE

SHELTER.

THE TOKAY GECKO.

JUST 10 INCHES LONG, NOT YET FULLY GROWN, HE'S ALREADY A

GIANT OF THE GECKO WORLD, WITH A GIANT APPETITE.

MILLIONS OF MICROSCOPIC HAIRS ON HIS TOE PADS ALLOW HIM TO CLING

TO VERTICAL TREES AND STALK NOCTURNAL INSECTS.

A COCKROACH OUT IN THE OPEN.

ONE FALSE MOVE AND THE INSECT WILL VANISH.

BUT TONIGHT IS HIS LUCKY NIGHT.

DINNER IS COMING TO THIS AMBUSH PREDATOR.

ALL HE HAS TO DO IS SNAP.

HIS STEALTH HAS PAID OFF.

IT'S TIME TO HEAD HOME.

BUT IN THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS, HUNTERS ALSO NEED TO WATCH THEIR

BACKS.

A KING COBRA IS PASSING BELOW.

REACHING 18 FEET, IT'S THE WORLD'S LONGEST VENOMOUS SNAKE.

THE GECKO'S BEST DEFENSE IS TO STAY PERFECTLY STILL TO BLEND IN

WITH THE BARK.

A DEFENSE TECHNIQUE BIOLOGISTS CALL "CRYPSIS."

FINALLY, IT'S SAFE TO HEAD BACK DOWN TO THE COMFORT OF HIS

HIMALAYAN HOME.

COMING UP, THIS ACROBATIC FURBALL IS NOT YOUR USUAL PANDA.

ONE UNFORGETTABLE ANIMAL 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: 12,000 FEET UP IN INDIA'S EASTERN HIMALAYAS, CLOUD FORESTS

DOMINATE THE SLOPES.

RAINFALL IS HEAVY, AND MIST FORMS AS MOISTURE IS PUSHED

UPWARDS AND COOLS.

HERE AMONG THE TREETOPS LIVES THE REMARKABLE RED PANDA.

HER SPECIES WAS DISCOVERED ALMOST 50 YEARS BEFORE THE GIANT

PANDA BEAR.

SHE'S NOT A BEAR AT ALL, BUT THE RED PANDA IS SPECIALLY

ADAPTED TO MOVE AROUND HER FOREST ENVIRONMENT.

SEMI-RETRACTABLE CLAWS AND ELONGATED WRIST BONES HELP HER

GRIP SLIPPERY BRANCHES.

SHE CAN EVEN WALK DOWN TREES HEAD FIRST, THANKS TO ROTATING

ANKLES.

BUT SHE DOES HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON WITH THE GIANT PANDA.

AN APPETITE FOR BAMBOO.

BUT TO REACH THE YOUNG PLANTS, SHE NEEDS TO CLIMB DOWN FROM THE

TREES TO WHERE PREDATORS ROAM.

ON THE GROUND, SHE'S OUT OF HER ELEMENT.

THE SOONER SHE FINDS SOME FOOD AND RETURNS TO THE SAFETY OF THE

TREES, THE BETTER.

A YELLOW-THROATED MARTEN.

NORMALLY, THIS MOUNTAIN HUNTER WOULDN'T TARGET AN ADULT RED

PANDA.

BUT WHILE ON THE FOREST FLOOR, SHE'S VULNERABLE TO THIS

OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTER.

SHE CUTS HER MEALS SHORT AND DISAPPEARS UP ABOVE, SAFE.

LIFE IS A DAILY STRUGGLE FOR THE INHABITANTS OF INDIA'S

MOUNTAINS.

THESE EXTREME WORLDS ARE BEAUTIFUL, MYSTERIOUS, AND THE

LAST REFUGE FOR MANY OF THE COUNTRY'S RAREST SPECIES.

THANKFULLY, MORE PLACES IN INDIA ARE NOW PROTECTED AS PARKS AND

WILDLIFE CORRIDORS, HELPING VULNERABLE ANIMALS FLOURISH

WITHOUT FEAR.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]