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 THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER AND WE'RE OFF TO

ENCOUNTER EARTH'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS RIGHT HERE

ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, WE'LL JOIN SOME WILD ANIMALS ON THE PROWL,

LIKE THIS MOTHER LEOPARD WITH TWO HUNGRY MOUTHS TO FEED.

AND THEN A YOUNG STALLION TRIES HIS LUCK ON THE OPEN PLAINS.

[DONKEY BRAYING]

DYLAN: PLUS, THESE FLAMINGOS ARE TOO MUCH TO RESIST FOR THIS

UNLIKELY HUNTER.

AND LATER, A SPECTACULAR POLAR PLUNGE IN THE ANTARCTIC,

NATURE'S WILDEST TEST OF SURVIVAL JUST AHEAD ON EARTH

ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ALTHOUGH THEY'RE UNDENIABLY BEAUTIFUL, THE

LEOPARDS OF THE AFRICAN SAVANNA DON'T HAVE IT EASY.

LIKE OTHER PREDATORS, THEY FACE COMPETITION FROM BIGGER

CARNIVORES.

IN OUR FIRST STORY, WE FOLLOW A MOTHER LEOPARD WITH GROWING CUBS

AS SHE SETS OUT ON THE PROWL.

OF ALL THE BIG CATS IN AFRICA, THE LEOPARD IS THE SMALLEST,

WHICH CAN PUT HER AT A DISTINCT DISADVANTAGE.

LEOPARDS COMPETE DIRECTLY WITH THE BIGGER FELINES, LIKE THE

FORMIDABLE LIONS OF THE SAVANNAH.

WHILE A LEOPARD MIGHT WEIGH 80 TO 200 POUNDS, A LION CAN WEIGH

IN AT 500 POUNDS.

AND LIONS WON'T HESITATE TO ATTACK A LEOPARD IN A FIGHT OVER

PREY OR TO PROTECT THEIR CUBS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THE LEOPARD IS A MASTER OF STEALTH.

THIS MOTHER IS SHY, ELUSIVE, AND SECRETIVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN HER

CUBS ARE INVOLVED.

FOR THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF LIFE, THEY'VE SPENT THEIR TIME HIDDEN

AWAY IN A DEN.

BUT NOW THEY'VE BEGUN EXPLORING.

THE GROWING CUBS FACE THE SAME DANGERS AS THEIR MOTHER, BUT

THEY DON'T HAVE THE SIZE OR THE STRENGTH TO DEFEND THEMSELVES

YET.

ON AVERAGE, ONLY ONE IN THREE OF HER CUBS WILL MAKE IT TO

ADULTHOOD.

AND ONE CARELESS DECISION CAN PUT THEM IN DANGER.

THE CUBS WILL STAY WITH THEIR MOM FOR TWO YEARS, BUT THE

BIGGER THEY GET, THE MORE FOOD SHE NEEDS TO EAT AND BRING HOME.

THAT MEANS TAKING RISKS LIKE HUNTING IN THE DAYTIME.

NORMALLY NOCTURNAL, LEOPARDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE SPOTTED BY

RIVAL PREDATORS IN DAYLIGHT.

THIS FIELD IS TOO OPEN AND THE ANTELOPES ARE TOO FAST FOR A

BRAZEN ATTACK.

BUT SHE HAS A PLAN.

USING THE COVER OF A DRY RIVERBED, SHE MAKES HER WAY INTO

THE CENTER OF THE HERD.

SHE NEEDS TO GET CLOSE, AROUND FIVE YARDS FROM HER TARGET.

SHE SPRINGS.

BUT IT'S TOO LATE.

THE ANTELOPE HAVE SEEN HER.

SO SHE'LL HEAD HOME.

ALTHOUGH RELATIVELY SMALL, THE LEOPARD IS THE MOST WIDESPREAD

OF ALL THE BIG CATS LIVING IN HABITATS ACROSS AFRICA AND ASIA.

IN NORTHWESTERN INDIA, THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE SITS ON THE EDGE

OF A GREAT DESERT.

LESS THAN EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN FALL HERE IN A WHOLE YEAR.

AND TEMPERATURES EASILY TOP 100 DEGREES.

BUT HERE, THE LEOPARD IS AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

THIS MALE IS A VERSATILE LONE HUNTER, ADAPTED TO LIVING IN

THESE ARID CONDITIONS.

SLIGHTLY SMALLER, BUT MORE MUSCULAR THAN HIS AFRICAN

COUSINS, HE CAN GO 10 DAYS WITHOUT A DROP OF WATER.

BUT TODAY, HE NEEDS TO BE FULLY HYDRATED.

HE LAST ATE SEVEN DAYS AGO, SO A HUNT IS OVERDUE.

HIS ROSETTE CAMOUFLAGE IS JUST AS EFFECTIVE HERE IN THE DRY

BRUSH AS IT IS IN THE JUNGLE.

BUT HE'LL STILL ONLY HIT HIS MARK 20% OF THE TIME.

HE SETS HIS SIGHT ON THE NILGAI, THE LARGEST ANTELOPE IN ASIA.

BUT NILGAI CAN BE THREE TIMES HEAVIER THAN HIM.

HE WAITS.

HIS SENSES ARE ON ALERT.

BUT SOMEONE ELSE IS WATCHING.

IT COULD BE A RIVAL MALE.

BUT IT'S NOT A RIVAL.

IT'S HIS MATE.

WITH ONLY SMALL NUMBERS OF INDIAN LEOPARDS LEFT IN THE

REGION, IT'S RARE TO CATCH THEIR SOCIAL SIDE.

THIS PAIR WILL SPEND JUST FOUR DAYS TOGETHER.

WITH LUCK, IN A FEW MONTHS, THEIR SPECIES' STORY OF SURVIVAL

WILL BEGIN AGAIN WITH A BRAND NEW LITTER OF CUBS.

COMING UP, THEY'RE WILD AND FREE ON THE PLAINS, BUT THERE'S A

STEEP PRICE FOR ADMISSION TO THIS HERD.

AND IT TAKES A RUNNING START TO REACH A SAFETY IN THE SKY.

CAN THESE BEAUTIFUL BIRDS MAKE IT IN TIME?

PLUS, THESE LITTLE ONES ARE READY TO TAKE THEIR FIRST SEA

CRUISE.

BUT SOMETHING IS WAITING.

FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT 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 NATURE'S WILD HABITATS, IT'S NOT JUST

CARNIVORES WHO ARE ON THE PROWL.

GRAZING ANIMALS HAVE THEIR OWN DETERMINED PURSUITS.

ONCE WIDESPREAD ON THE CONTINENT, THE INDIAN WILD

DONKEY IS MOSTLY LIMITED TO A REMOTE SALT FLAT.

IT'S A SANCTUARY ONCE COVERED BY THE ARABIAN SEA.

FOR NINE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, THERE'S NO RAINFALL.

SO THESE WILD DONKEYS HAVE EVOLVED TO SURVIVE ON A DIET OF

GRASSES AND THE TOUGHEST PLANTS.

THIS YOUNG MALE, OR JACK, WAS FORCED OUT OF HIS FAMILY HERD

ONCE HE MATURED.

BUT NOW THE COMING RAINY SEASON IS TELLING HIM IT'S TIME TO TRY

HIS LUCK AND JOIN ANOTHER HERD.

HIS NOSE NEVER LIES.

A GROUP OF FEMALES IS NEARBY.

[DONKEY BRAYING]

DYLAN: BUT THEY WON'T STICK AROUND FOR LONG.

THESE INCREDIBLY FAST EQUINES CAN RUN 40 MILES PER HOUR IF

NEEDED.

HE CATCHES UP WITH THE HERD.

BUT HE'S ENTERING ANOTHER STALLION'S TERRITORY.

THE FEMALES TIME MATING WITH THE MONSOON.

THAT WAY THEY CAN GIVE BIRTH A YEAR LATER WHEN FOOD IS ABUNDANT

IN THE SALT FLATS.

THIS IS HIS CHANCE.

BUT THE RESIDENT MALE HAS RETURNED.

THIS HERD ISN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF THEM.

HE'LL HAVE TO COMPETE FOR A FEMALE'S ATTENTION.

FIGHTS CAN BE A BRUTAL AFFAIR.

LUCKILY, THEY'RE BOTH YOUNG AND STRONG.

NO PERMANENT HARM IS DONE.

BUT HE HAS LOST.

AND HE'LL REMAIN A BACHELOR, ROAMING THE SALT FLATS ALONE FOR

ANOTHER YEAR AT LEAST.

COMING UP, HOW DID THESE FLAMINGOS GET SO PINK?

THE ANSWER MIGHT LIE IN A BLUE-GREEN FOOD.

AND FOR THESE LITTLE PENGUINS, IT'S TIME TO BRAVELY TAKE TO THE

SEA.

AN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 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: FOR BOTH PREDATOR AND PREY, THE GOAL EACH DAY IS THE

SAME.

THE PREDATORS TRY THEIR BEST TO CATCH A DECENT MEAL, WHILE PREY

TRY TO AVOID BEING ON THE MENU.

SOMETIMES THE BATTLE IS WON BY THE SMALLEST OF MARGINS.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE RIFT VALLEY IN AFRICA IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT NATURAL

WONDERS.

IT STRETCHES MORE THAN 4,000 MILES IN WESTERN KENYA.

VOLCANIC HOT SPRINGS ON THE SHORELINE OF LAKE BAGORIA CREATE

WATERS RICH WITH ALGAE.

FOR MANY ANIMALS, THE LAKE IS TOXIC AND HYPERSALINE ENOUGH TO

BURN SKIN.

BUT IT'S PARADISE FOR MILLIONS OF LESSER FLAMINGOS.

THESE WADING BIRDS ARE PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO FEED ON THE

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE.

ITS PHOTOSYNTHETIC PROPERTIES HELP TURN THEIR FEATHERS PINK

AND CRIMSON.

THEY CREATE A BREATHTAKING SPECTACLE AS THEY WADE IN THE

SHALLOWS.

THE BIRDS ARE GRACEFUL FLYERS, BUT THEIR LONG LEGS AND NECKS

COME WITH A DISTINCT DISADVANTAGE.

TAKEOFF IS SLOW.

AND THEY REQUIRE A LENGTHY RUN TO GAIN ENOUGH MOMENTUM.

THAT WEAKNESS IS READY TO BE EXPLOITED BY THE MANY PREDATORS

THAT FREQUENT THE SHORELINE.

THE FLAMINGO RUNWAY PROVIDES REGULAR SPORT FOR A HUNGRY

HYENA.

A MARABOU STORK ALSO SEES AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S READY TO SCAVENGE ALMOST ANYTHING.

BUT THE FLAMINGOS ALSO ATTRACT HUNTING INNOVATORS.

A BABOON IS ALSO CHECKING OUT THE SCENE.

THESE OLD WORLD MONKEYS ARE PRIMARILY FRUIT EATERS, BUT

BABOONS ARE FAST LEARNERS.

CHAOS CAN SPELL TROUBLE FOR A STRAY FLAMINGO.

CONSIDERED OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTERS, BABOONS WILL ALSO HUNT

IN A PACK.

TODAY, THE BABOONS JOIN THE LONG LIST OF THREATS THAT THE

SPECTACULAR FLAMINGOS FACE ON THIS UNUSUAL SHORE.

COMING UP, DIVING IN SURE LOOKS EASY, BUT GETTING BACK ON THE

ICE TO SAFETY ISN'T!

A PENGUIN POLAR CHALLENGE 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 ANTARCTICA, WINTER HAS DRAWN TO A CLOSE AND THE SUN

HAS EDGED BACK ABOVE THE HORIZON.

DOZENS OF EMPEROR PENGUIN CHICKS HAVE GROWN FAT AND STRONG, AND

THEIR FEATHERS ARE NOW WATERPROOF.

IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO MARCH TO THE EDGE OF THE SEA ICE FOR

THEIR VERY FIRST SWIM.

COMPARED TO FACING THE ANTARCTIC WINTER HEAD ON, THIS ONE'S A

CINCH.

BUT DOWN BY THE WATER'S EDGE, THERE ARE NEW ENEMIES TO FACE.

FAT LITTLE PENGUINS ARE AN EXCELLENT FUEL SOURCE FOR OTHER

MARINE PREDATORS.

ORCAS CONTROL THE ICE PERIMETER.

AND THERE ARE OTHER LESS VISIBLE THREATS.

LEOPARD SEALS OFTEN COAST BELOW THE SHELF, WAITING FOR PENGUINS

TO DROP IN.

UP TO SEVEN DIFFERENT SPECIES OF PENGUINS HUNT IN ANTARCTIC

WATERS, AND THE LEOPARD SEAL WILL EAT ANY OF THEM.

EVENTUALLY A GROUP TAKES THE PLUNGE.

THEY HEAD OFF AS FAST AS THEY CAN TRAVEL.

PORPOISING IN AND OUT OF THE WATER ALLOWS THEM TO BREATHE

WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN.

BUT WHEN IT'S TIME TO RETURN TO LAND, THE FLOATING SEA ICE

PREVENTS THE RAPID BURST OF SPEED THEY NEED TO LEAVE THE

WATER.

AND A LEOPARD SEAL HAS BEEN WAITING.

IT'S A HIGH STAKES MOMENT FOR THE YOUNG PENGUINS.

FINALLY, THEY'RE SAFE BACK ON THE ICE.

FOR THESE AMAZING BIRDS, IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THEIR

INCREDIBLE LIVES AT SEA.

THE BALANCE OF PREDATORS AND PREY IN A GIVEN HABITAT HELP

PROTECT WILD AREAS AND KEEP ANIMAL POPULATIONS ALIVE AND

WELL.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]