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 FOR AN EXCITING AUSTRALIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURE.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, IT'S A SPECTACULAR GET-TOGETHER WHEN

WHALES MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

AND A COLORFUL COURTSHIP IS DISRUPTED BY A DANGEROUS

INTRUDER.

PLUS, A FANTASTIC TREE HOUSE FOR THE JUNGLE'S HARDEST WORKERS.

AND IT'S TIME FOR KANGAROO KICKBOXING IN THE OUTBACK.

IT'S ALL JUST AHEAD ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SOME ANIMALS REALLY ARE CREATURES OF HABIT, INCLUDING A

GENTLE GIANT THAT RETURNS EVERY YEAR TO THE WARM WATERS OF

SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA.

AND WHEN DOZENS OF THEM ARRIVE SIMULTANEOUSLY, IT'S A WHALE OF

A MEET-UP.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE CALM WATERS WHERE THE INDIAN AND SOUTHERN OCEANS MEET.

THIS MAGNIFICENT BAY IS WELCOMING A LONG DISTANCE

TRAVELER...

A SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE.

SHE'S AN OCEAN GIANT.

AND SHE SWAM MORE THAN 1,500 MILES FROM ANTARCTICA TO GET

HERE.

WEIGHING UP TO 176,000 POUNDS, SHE STOCKED UP ON

PLENTIFUL KRILL IN THE COLDER WATERS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN.

SHE'S MADE THIS GRUELING JOURNEY FOR THE WARMER WATER AND THE

SOCIAL SCENE.

MORE THAN 500 SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES COME TO AUSTRALIA'S

COAST.

AND HER ARRIVAL IS GARNERING ATTENTION.

A MALE.

HE'S HERE TO IMPRESS HER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT HE WON'T BE ABLE TO COURT HER ON HIS OWN.

SHE HAS MANY SUITORS, BUT THERE WON'T BE A BIG BATTLE FOR HER

ATTENTION.

STILL, SHE PUTS HER POTENTIAL PARTNERS TO THE TEST WITH A GAME

OF CHASE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER WHALE SPECIES, RIGHT WHALE

ROMANCE IS A HARMONIOUS EVENT.

A GROUP OF MALES WILL CIRCLE AROUND A SINGLE FEMALE AND SHOW

OFF TO WIN HER FAVOR.

ONCE SHE'S CARRYING HER FUTURE OFFSPRING, SHE WILL HEAD BACK TO

ANTARCTICA TO FEED.

AND THEN ONE YEAR LATER, SHE'LL SWIM BACK TO THESE SHORES TO

WELCOME HER NEWBORN CALF.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: RIGHT WHALE BABIES ARE BORN WITHOUT THE INSULATING

LAYER OF BLUBBER THAT ADULTS HAVE.

THE WARM WATERS HERE MAKE THE PERFECT NURSERY.

THE CALF WILL DOUBLE IN LENGTH AND FATTEN UP BEFORE MAKING ITS

FIRST TRIP WITH ITS MOTHER TO ANTARCTICA TO FEED.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: BUT EVERY YEAR, THE YOUNG WHALE WILL RETURN TO THE

BAY OF ITS BIRTH.

A REALM OF SANCTUARY, BOUNTY, AND NEW LIFE

ON AUSTRALIA'S WILD COASTS.

COMING UP, THIS PYTHON HAS A BRUSH WITH DANGER.

AND THIS COLORFUL HUNTER HAS EVOLVED TO LOOK WEIRDLY LIKE ITS

PREY.

PLUS, TALK ABOUT A HERO POSE.

THIS JOEY IS ALL MUSCLE.

MORE WILD STORIES FROM AUSTRALIA 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: DAWN BREAKS OVER NORTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA.

THIS IS THE OLDEST TROPICAL RAINFOREST IN THE WORLD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST IS HOME TO AN AVIAN ROMANCER

KNOWN AS THE SATIN BOWERBIRD.

THE MALE LOOKS STRIKINGLY DIFFERENT FROM THE FEMALE.

HE'S A GLOSSY BLUE-BLACK WITH VIOLET EYES.

THOSE INTRIGUING EYES ARE FIXATED ON HIS POTENTIAL MATE,

WATCHING FROM A BRANCH ABOVE.

HE KNOWS SHE IS FOND OF BLUE, A RARE COLOR IN THE FOREST.

THIS DISPLAY DEMONSTRATES HIS PAINSTAKING EFFORTS.

HE'S MADE A TRAIL OF BLUE STRAWS AND CUTLERY,

BOTTLE TOPS AND PLASTIC RINGS,

LEADING TO HIS CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED BOWER OF STICKS.

IT'S AN ORNAMENTAL STAGE FOR HIS GRAND PERFORMANCE.

HE POSITIONS HIMSELF IN THE CENTER FOR SOME FINISHING

TOUCHES.

COATING THE BOWER WITH VEGETABLE MATTER AND SALIVA.

SHE DROPS DOWN FOR A CLOSER INSPECTION.

HE'S ON A WINNING STREAK,

AND IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR HIS COURTSHIP DANCE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT IN THE RAINFOREST, THINGS RARELY GO AS PLANNED.

A BRUSH TURKEY HAS MADE HIS OWN GIANT NEST NEARBY, AND THE

BOWERBIRD'S ACTIVITY CATCHES HIS EYE.

THE TURKEY BARGES INTO THE SCENE WITHOUT A HINT OF CONSIDERATION

FOR THE PAINSTAKING WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS FESTIVAL OF BLUE.

BUT THERE ARE EVEN BIGGER PROBLEMS TO WORRY ABOUT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A CARPET PYTHON EYES THE SCENE.

HE FEEDS ON BIRDS WHEN HE CAN CATCH THEM.

THE SNAKE SLIDES TOWARDS THE BOWER.

THE CARPET PYTHON IS AN AMBUSH HUNTER, BUT THERE IS NO CHANCE

OF A SUBTLE APPROACH HERE.

THE TURKEY SPOTS THE SNAKE LONG BEFORE IT REACHES THE

BOWERBIRDS.

HE BEGINS KICKING UP A STORM, SENDING DEBRIS FLYING AT THE

SERPENT.

[LEAVES SCUFFLING]

DYLAN: IT APPEARS UNFAZED UNTIL THE TURKEY GOES BIG.

IT'S TOO MUCH FOR THE SNAKE, WHO HEADS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE BOWERBIRD, SO DOES HIS LOVE INTEREST.

LOVE LOST, BUT HAPPILY, BIRD BRAVERY WINS THE DAY.

COMING UP, HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF AGAINST AN ENEMY WHO

LOOKS LIKE A FRIEND.

AUSTRALIA'S ANTS MEET THEIR MATCH.

AND MAMA KANGAROOS ARE ENDLESSLY PATIENT WITH THEIR BABY BOXERS.

FIND OUT WHY 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 THE WILD, PREDATORS USE MANY STRATEGIES TO CATCH

THEIR PREY.

BUT PRETENDING TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME SPECIES THEY'RE HUNTING IS

NEXT LEVEL SNEAKY.

AND THIS FEARLESS MIMIC ISN'T JUST A LOOK-ALIKE, IT'S GOT THE

MOVES TO MATCH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ACROSS THE AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST, BATTLES RAGE IN

ALMOST EVERY CORNER.

HIGH IN THESE TREETOPS, GREEN ANTS BATTLE THE FORCES OF NATURE

TO CONSTRUCT A NEST.

BENDING TWIGS AND LARGE LEAVES INTO A USABLE FORM TAKES BRUTE

STRENGTH AND COOPERATION.

ONCE THE NEST SITE IS CHOSEN, THE ANTS FORM A CHAIN.

WORKER UPON WORKER, BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ONE LEAF AND

ANOTHER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: USING THEIR MANDIBLES LIKE STAPLES, THEY SLOWLY PULL

THE LEAVES TOGETHER.

A LINE OF WORKERS HOLD THE FOLIAGE AS OTHER ANTS JOIN THEM.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE STRUCTURE IS COMPLETE.

A SMALL TREEHOUSE, IMPERVIOUS TO THE RAIN, AND WELL CAMOUFLAGED,

IDEAL FOR RAISING OFFSPRING.

WHEN IT COMES TO CONQUERING PREY, GREEN ANTS ARE JUST AS

DETERMINED.

OVERWHELMING INSECTS MUCH LARGER THAN THEMSELVES.

MOST STEER CLEAR OF GREEN ANTS IF THEY CAN,

EXCEPT FOR ONE CURIOUS-LOOKING SPIDER,

WHICH HAS CHOSEN TO LIVE AMONG THEM.

TURNING THE ANTS' COOPERATIVE STRENGTH INTO A WEAKNESS.

THE GREEN ANT MIMIC.

MARKING ON HIS REAR END RESEMBLE AN ANT'S HEAD.

REFLECTIVE HAIRS ON HIS BODY CATCH THE LIGHT, IMITATING AN

ANT'S SHINY EXOSKELETON.

LIFTING HIS LEGS TO RESEMBLE ANTENNAE, THE ILLUSION IS

COMPLETE.

IT'S A DELICATE HIGH WIRE ACT.

ONE WRONG MOVE AND THE SPIDER WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS AN

IMPOSTER.

A WORKER COLLECTS LARVAE.

HE IS ALONE AND VULNERABLE.

A PERFECT TARGET.

EVEN AS IT FACES ITS PREDATOR, THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF

AGGRESSION.

THIS MASTERFUL DISGUISE IS A POWERFUL WEAPON ON THE

RAINFOREST BATTLEFIELD.

COMING UP, KANGAROOS CAN LEAP 25 FEET IN A SINGLE BOUND.

IT'S A BATTLE OF THE FITTEST 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: AUSTRALIA'S UNIQUE CLIMATE AND GEOLOGY MEANS SOME

ANIMALS ARE DRIVEN TO COVER GREAT DISTANCES TO FIND FOOD,

SHELTER OR A MATE.

KANGAROOS CAN'T WALK OR RUN, BUT THAT'S NO HANDICAP.

THEIR GIANT LEGS PROPEL THEM MORE THAN 30 MILES PER HOUR.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT FOR MALE KANGAROOS, HIND LEGS ARE ALSO WEAPONS.

ALPHA MALES MUST ENDURE BRUTAL BATTLES TO RETAIN THE TOP SPOT

BECAUSE ONLY THE BEST MAY BREED.

FROM THE MOMENT THEY LEAVE THE POUCH, MALE JOEYS ENTER THE

BOXING RING.

THEY BEGIN TO HONE THEIR SPARRING TECHNIQUE, AND THEIR

MOTHER IS A RELUCTANT PUNCHING BAG.

BUT AS HER JOEY GETS STRONGER, HE NEEDS TO PRACTICE WITH A

PARTNER HIS OWN SIZE.

SPARS USUALLY BEGIN WITH A SLAP TO THE FACE.

THE ULTIMATE AIM IS TO GRAB THE OTHER MALE BY THE NECK AND

WRESTLE HIM DOWN.

AT THIS AGE, THERE'S NOT MUCH TECHNIQUE.

BUT GRADUALLY, THE SPARRING BECOMES MORE FIERCE AS TIME

PASSES.

[GRUNTING, MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS MOB'S ALPHA IS IN HIS PRIME, RIPPLING WITH

HARDENED MUSCLES FROM YEARS OF SPARRING.

THE CHALLENGER IS UNDETERRED.

WITHOUT COMMITTING TO A FIGHT, HE HAS NO CHANCE OF MATING.

THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

LEANING BACK ON HIS TAIL, THE CHALLENGER LANDS A BLOW.

HIS THICKENED BELLY HIDE HELPS REPEL SHARP CLAWS.

INJURIES IN MOCK OR REAL BATTLES CAN BE SERIOUS.

THE ALPHA MALE'S EXPERIENCE PROVIDES THE WINNING EDGE.

THE CHALLENGER RETREATS TO HIS CORNER OF THE RING WHERE HE'LL

GAIN ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO TO TRY ANOTHER DAY.

WE HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED WATCHING HOW AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS USE

COURAGE, CAMOUFLAGE, AND EVEN CUDDLES TO WIN THE DAY.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]