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.

GET READY TO SAY CIAO TO INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE IN ITALY.

THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, WE HEAD TO TUSCANY TO WITNESS AN ANCIENT

BATTLE BETWEEN THE ITALIAN WOLF AND ITS PREY.

AND WE DIVE RIGHT IN TO SEE ONE OF NATURE'S MOST SPECTACULAR

HUNTERS.

PLUS, THIS BEAUTIFUL ROSE HAS A DANGER LURKING WITHIN.

AND WE HEAD TO THE BEACH FOR A FROLICKING GOOD TIME.

THAT AND SO MANY MORE MAGICAL MOMENTS ARE JUST AHEAD ON EARTH

ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ITALY IS HOME MORE ANIMAL SPECIES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY

IN EUROPE.

THAT BIODIVERSITY IS PARTLY THANKS TO PROTECTED HABITATS.

ONE COASTAL PARK IN TUSCANY LOOKS LIKE A MEDITERRANEAN

DREAM.

BUT FOR THE WILDLIFE THAT LIVE HERE, ANY DAY CAN BRING A BATTLE

FOR SURVIVAL.

ON A MILD SPRING DAY ON THE TUSCAN COAST OF ITALY, THIS PACK

OF WOLVES JUST PICKED UP A SCENT TRAIL LEFT BY SOME FALLOW DEER.

BUT THEIR PREY IMMEDIATELY BOLT.

TODAY, HOWEVER, THE PACK LOOKS LIKE IT MEANS BUSINESS.

THE WOLVES SPREAD OUT, FOLLOWING SEVERAL TRAILS IN PARALLEL.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A PROMISING LEAD.

HUNTING IN SUCH RUGGED TERRITORY IS NO EASY JOB.

THE YOUNG FALLOW DEER FIND THEIR WAY OUT OF THE WOODS AND

EVENTUALLY ESCAPE THE WOLVES.

BUT THEIR ANXIETY SPREADS TO THE ADULT DEER AND THE COWS.

LUCKY FOR THEM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE WOLVES LOST A GOOD CHANCE.

MEANWHILE, AT THE FOOT OF A ROCK WALL, HIDDEN AMONG THE OAKS,

GROWING ON THE SLOPE, IS A FOX DEN.

THE CUBS ARE HEALTHY AND READY TO EXPLORE.

THE TYPICAL CURIOSITY OF YOUNG MAMMALS HELPS THEM GET TO KNOW

THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND ITS EVERYDAY SMELLS.

NEARBY IS ANOTHER FOX DEN, HIDDEN IN THE JUNIPER SCRUB.

THESE CUBS ARE YOUNGER, BORN A FEW DAYS LATER THAN THOSE AT THE

NEIGHBORING DEN.

SOME OF THE CUBS JUST LAZE AROUND, WHILE OTHERS STAY BUSY

SHARPENING THEIR TEETH ON DRY BRANCHES.

IT'S LUNCHTIME AND THEIR DAD IS COMING BACK WITH FOOD.

THE CUBS COME RUNNING, HOPING THEIR FATHER IS BRINGING

SOMETHING TASTY.

WITH THE PROSPECT OF A MEAL, THE YOUNGSTERS ARE BACK TO THEIR

NORMAL RAMBUNCTIOUS SELVES.

NOW IT'S GOING TOO FAR.

EXASPERATED, THEIR FATHER HURRIES AWAY FROM HIS UNRULY

CUBS.

THEN HE OPENS WIDE, SHOWING HIS CANINES.

THAT'S THE SIGNAL THEY NEED TO STOP.

BACK AT THE OAK GROVE, THE FEMALE IS ALARMED.

SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.

A WOLF.

THE DANGER TO THE FOX, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE CUBS, IS VERY

SERIOUS.

WOLVES HAVE NO PROBLEM ATTACKING OTHER CANINES.

THAT WAS A CLOSE CALL.

AS SPRING TURNS TO SUMMER, THE PLANTS WILL SOON BE AT THEIR

FULLEST.

WOLVES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LUSH GREENERY IN A VARIETY OF

WAYS.

THESE TWO YOUNGSTERS CAN TRAVEL NEARLY UNSEEN ALONG THEIR

FAMILIAR PATHS.

AS FOR THE HERBIVORES, THE GREENS ARE THEIR SOURCE OF FOOD.

OF COURSE, CHOOSING THE BEST PARTS IS IMPORTANT.

THISTLES TASTE GOOD, BUT ALL THOSE PRICKLES MAKE IT A TRICKY

MEAL.

EAT WITH CAUTION.

THE WOLVES ARE MANEUVERING SILENTLY AROUND THE REEDS.

BUT THE FALLOW DEER ARE ALSO ON ALERT.

GUIDED BY SMELL RATHER THAN SIGHT, THE PREDATORS TRY TO GET

A SENSE OF THE SITUATION.

IT'S GETTING TENSE QUICKLY.

THE HUNTERS CAN SMELL THE YOUNG DEER AND A NEARBY WILD BOAR, BUT

THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR EXACT POSITION.

ALL THE SAME, THE WOLVES DECIDE TO MOVE.

FEAR SPREADS LIKE A WAVE, PROMPTING THE ANIMALS TO FLEE.

TONIGHT, THE WOLVES ARE OUT OF LUCK.

THE DEER AND THE BOAR PIGLETS ARE SAFE, AT LEAST UNTIL THE

CHASE BEGINS AGAIN TOMORROW.

COMING UP, WE GET SOME EYES ON THESE ANCIENT FLYERS.

AND THIS OSPREY FEEDS ITS FAMILY FEET FIRST.

PLUS, THE TORTOISE AND THE SNAIL.

IT'S A RACE UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU'VE EVER SEEN.

STAY TUNED.

OUR ITALIAN WILDLIFE ADVENTURE CONTINUES 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: ITALY IS HOME TO EUROPE'S HIGHEST MOUNTAINS AND MILES OF

COASTLINE, BUT ITS NATURAL HABITATS HAVE ENDURED THOUSANDS

OF YEARS OF DISRUPTIVE HUMAN ACTIVITY.

FORTUNATELY, IN THE MAREMMA REGIONAL PARK, THE OMBRONE RIVER

AND ITS SURROUNDING CANALS ARE STILL FILLED WITH WILDLIFE ABOVE

AND BELOW THE SURFACE.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE CALMER STRETCHES OF WATER COME ALIVE

WITH THE NON-STOP FLIGHT OF THE DRAGONFLIES.

THEIR FOUR INDIVIDUALLY CONTROLLED WINGS MAKE THEM ONE

OF THE FASTEST, MOST AGILE INSECTS IN AERIAL MANEUVERS.

THE RIVER ALSO NOURISHES SEVERAL BIRD SPECIES.

THE COOTS DIVE IN THE WATER TO COLLECT AQUATIC PLANTS AND

INSECTS.

THEY'RE PROTECTED BY THEIR WATER-REPELLENT PLUMAGE.

IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER, THE DRAGONFLIES ARE MORE ABUNDANT

THAN EVER.

THEY'RE FAST AND IT TAKES THE RIGHT TECHNIQUE TO CATCH THEM.

FINALLY, SUCCESS!

YOU NEED TO APPROACH THE PREY WITH YOUR HEAD DOWN SO IT WON'T

GET SUSPICIOUS AND WAIT UNTIL THE VERY LAST SECOND TO SPRING.

IT'S A FASCINATING BEHAVIOR AND VERY DIFFICULT TO OBSERVE.

AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER, HUNGRY LITTLE ONES IMPATIENTLY

DEMAND FOOD.

IN LATE SUMMER, THESE YOUNG OSPREYS HAVE ALREADY LEFT THE

NEST, BUT THEY STILL RELY ON THEIR PARENTS FOR FOOD.

FINALLY, THE ADULTS GET READY FOR SOME FISHING ACTION.

ONE OF THEM PATROLS THE SHORE FROM ABOVE, TRYING TO LOCATE

SCHOOLS OF FISH.

THEN IT SWOOPS DOWN LIKE AN ARROW.

MANY ATTEMPTS FAIL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SOMETHING HAS CAUGHT THE BIRD'S EYE.

THREE MULLETS ARE SWIMMING CLOSE TO THE SURFACE.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE YOUNG OSPREYS, THE LUCKY FISHER WASN'T

ONE OF THEIR PARENTS.

INDEED, INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THE NEST, IT PERCHES ON A TREE

AND STARTS EATING.

TOWARDS EVENING, THE IMPATIENCE OF THE YOUNG OSPREYS IS

APPEASED.

ONE OF THEIR PARENTS IS COMING BACK WITH A FISH.

A LONG SERIES OF CRIES GREETS THE FATHER CARRYING THE PRIZE.

THE QUICKER OF THE TWO YOUNG BIRDS MANAGES TO GRAB THE FISH.

THE SIBLING MAY HAVE TO WAIT.

LET'S HOPE HE DOESN'T MISS DINNER COMPLETELY.

COMING UP, YOU MIGHT NOT SEE THEM AT FIRST, BUT THESE

PREDATORS ARE ON A MISSION.

AND JUMPING FOR JOY ON A BEACHY WINTER MORNING 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: AMONG ITALY'S MANY WILD CREATURES ARE SOME TINY BUT

MIGHTY PREDATORS.

WHEN THE SPRING FLOWERS BLOOM, THESE SMALL HUNTERS EMPLOY AN

ARRAY OF TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING A KIND OF CAMOUFLAGE SO EFFECTIVE

YOU COULD CALL IT AN INVISIBILITY CLOAK.

TAKE A LOOK.

IN THE WILDER PART OF TUSCANY, ITALY, THE DAYS ARE GETTING

LONGER AND THE TEMPERATURE IS RISING.

THE TREES ARE ALREADY IN LEAF AND THE BLOOM IS IN FULL SWING.

THE DELICATE FLOWERS OF THE PINK ROCK ROSE ARE ONE OF THE ICONIC

SYMBOLS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SCRUB.

THE ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF NECTAR IS A BOON TO POLLINATING INSECTS.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE HIDING UNDER THAT FLOWER, AND

IT'S NOT AN INSECT.

IT'S A FLOWER CRAB SPIDER, A SPECIALIST IN CATCHING

POLLINATORS.

WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THEM, BUT THEY'RE INVISIBLE TO POLLINATING

INSECTS, WHICH PERCEIVE COLORS AND OUTLINES DIFFERENTLY.

FOR THE AMBUSH TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE SPIDER NEEDS TO LIE IN WAIT

IN THE RIGHT POSITION, FULLY EXTENDED LEGS, READY TO SNAP

SHUT LIKE A TRAP.

WHEN AIR MOISTURE LEVELS ARE HIGH, THESE SNAILS AWAKEN FROM

THEIR SLUMBER.

THEY'RE OPPORTUNISTIC HERBIVORES AND CAN SEAL OFF THEIR SHELL TO

SURVIVE PERIODS OF DROUGHT.

THEY WANDER CEASELESSLY THROUGH THE UNDERGROWTH, MUNCHING ON

DECAYING PLANT LEFTOVERS.

NEARBY, A YOUNG HERMAN'S TORTOISE EMERGES FROM THE SAND.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE WARMTH OF THE SPRING SUN AFTER THE NIGHT'S SHOWERS

STIR IT INTO ACTION.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS INDIVIDUAL IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.

SNAILS.

EVEN FOR AN HERBIVORE LIKE THE TORTOISE, THESE MOLLUSKS ARE AN

EXCELLENT SUPPLEMENT TO ITS DIET.

CALCIUM AND PROTEIN IN ONE FELL SWOOP.

A LITTLE FARTHER ON, SOMETHING IS MOVING QUICKLY AT THE WATER'S

EDGE.

SANDHOPPERS, FAST MARINE CRUSTACEANS CAPABLE OF LEAPING

LONG DISTANCES.

THEY'RE NOT EASY TO SEE BECAUSE THEY'RE USUALLY USUALLY HIDING

IN THE SAND.

THEY ARE ABOUT A THIRD OF AN INCH LONG AND FEED ON ORGANIC

RESIDUES CARRIED ASHORE BY THE WAVES.

A TIGER BEETLE.

THE NIGHTMARE OF SANDHOPPERS.

IT HUNTS ON THE SAND CLOSEST TO THE WATER'S EDGE BY CHASING ITS

PREY.

IT GRABS THE SANDHOPPERS WITH ITS LARGE, ARCHED JAWS AND

DEVOURS THEM IMMEDIATELY.

THEY'RE A THREAT TO ANY SMALL BUG MOVING ON THE BEACH.

AFTER ALL, THE TIGER BEETLE'S LIFE IS SHORT, AND THERE'S NO

TIME TO WASTE.

COMING UP, THESE BEACHGOERS LEAP RIGHT INTO THE SURF.

A SURPRISING DAY AT THE BEACH.

DON'T GO AWAY.

EARTH ODYSSEY WILL BE 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: IT'S EARLY WINTER IN ITALY.

WITH EACH PASSING DAY, THE DAYLIGHT HOURS GROW SHORTER AND

SHORTER.

COLD WINDS BLOW FROM THE NORTH, BUT THE MAREMMA SELDOM HAS TO

FACE FROST AND SNOW.

EVEN IN WINTER, THIS PLACE TEEMS WITH LIFE, ATTRACTED BY THE MILD

CLIMATE AND AVAILABILITY OF FOOD.

DRIVEN BY WINDS FROM THE SAHARA DESERT, ANGRY WAVES HAVE BEEN

WHIPPING THE ITALIAN COAST FOR DAYS.

BUT NOW THE SWELL IS ABATING.

MOST BEACHES MAY BE DESOLATE IN WINTER, BUT HERE THERE IS

PLENTY OF ACTIVITY.

THIS MORNING, THE BEACH HAS SOME VERY SPECIAL VISITORS: A GROUP

OF FALLOW DEER.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR VEGETATION CARRIED ASHORE BY THE WAVES, BUT

THIS IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SWIM.

THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS NOT OBSERVED VERY OFTEN.

BUT THEN, SOMETHING CATCHES THE DEER'S ATTENTION.

SOMETHING THREATENING.

A WOLF IS WALKING ALONG THE BEACH ON ITS WAY TO REJOINING

THE PACK.

HOWEVER, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

THE WOLF IS NOT HUNTING FOR PREY, BUT FOR SMELLS.

SCENT TRAILS CAN INDICATE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WOLVES FROM OTHER

PACKS VENTURED INTO THIS TERRITORY.

IN THIS CASE, THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING ALARMING, AND THE

PREDATOR RESUMES ITS WALK ALONG THE BEACH.

AFTER DAYS OF SCIROCCO WINDS BLOWING FROM AFRICA, THE WINDS

ARE NOW BLOWING IN FROM THE NORTH AND AN ICY BREEZE FLATTENS

THE SEA.

IN THE EARLY MORNING, THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE

NOT-YET-COLD WATER AND THE FROSTY AIR PRODUCES A THICK MIST

BRUSHING THE SHORE.

THE WARMTH OF THE NEWLY RISEN SUN DISSOLVES THE FOG INTO

FLAMING HALOS.

THE DESERTED, DANGER-FREE BEACH BECKONS THE FALLOW DEER BACK.

THEY TAKE A FEW SIPS OF SALT WATER BENEFICIAL TO THEIR DIET.

A TRULY MAGICAL SIGHT HERE IN ONE OF ITALY'S WILD

HABITATS.

ITALY'S BIODIVERSITY STEMS FROM ITS INCREDIBLY VARIED GEOGRAPHY

AND ITS THOUSANDS OF PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS, TOTALING MORE

THAN 20% OF ITS TERRITORY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]