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 THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

IT'S TIME FOR A WILDLIFE ADVENTURE TO THE MAGNIFICENT

CASPIAN SEA.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, WOLVES, WILDCATS,

AND A BREATHLESS CHASE FOR SNOW WHITE PREY.

AND THIS BIRD DESIGNS A HANGING NURSERY THAT'S FILLED WITH

SECRETS.

PLUS, A RARE AND HIGHLY PRIZED PREHISTORIC FISH.

AND WE GET CLOSE TO THE ONLY MARINE MAMMAL IN THIS VAST

INLAND SEA.

INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE STORIES ARE JUST AHEAD ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE CASPIAN SEA LIES AT THE CROSSROADS OF EUROPE AND

ASIA, A REGION RICH WITH WILDLIFE.

THAT INCLUDES TWO APEX PREDATORS KNOWN TO PROWL THE SAME

TERRITORY.

IN OUR FIRST STORY, A WILD CAT AND A WILD WOLF BOTH SET OUT TO

FEED THEIR YOUNG, BUT IN FIERCELY DIFFERENT WAYS.

BIGGER THAN ALL OF AMERICA'S GREAT LAKES COMBINED, THE

CASPIAN SEA COVERS MORE THAN 142,000 SQUARE MILES.

IT'S THE LARGEST LANDLOCKED BODY OF WATER ON THE PLANET.

ON THE SEA'S WESTERN EDGE, THE COLOSSAL PEAKS AT FIRST SEEM

UNINHABITED.

BUT THEY PROVIDE A REFUGE FOR A SECRETIVE GROUP OF MAMMALS THAT

HAVE ADAPTED TO ENDURE THE LONG FROZEN WINTERS.

HERE, A RARE AND ELUSIVE PREDATOR HAS MADE A SURPRISING

COMEBACK.

THE EURASIAN LYNX SHIES AWAY FROM THE OPEN AREAS IN FAVOR OF

DENSE TREE COVER.

WITH JUST 700 INDIVIDUALS IN THE 1950S, THE LYNX POPULATION HAS

GROWN TENFOLD OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS.

THE FORESTS ARE AN IDEAL HOME FOR THIS USUALLY SOLITARY

PREDATOR.

THIS FEMALE IS ON THE PROWL.

HER LARGE, ROUND, PADDED PAWS ACT LIKE SNOW SHOES.

HER TOES ARE SPREAD OUT TO DISTRIBUTE HER WEIGHT.

WITH HER SHORT, POWERFUL LEGS, SHE TRAVELS WITH EASE ACROSS THE

TREACHEROUS SNOW FIELDS.

HER FOUR KITTENS WERE BORN IN MAY AND WON'T SURVIVE THEIR

FIRST WINTER WITHOUT HER, SO SHE'LL RAISE THEM UNTIL THEY'RE

10 MONTHS OLD.

THEN THEY'LL BECOME INDEPENDENT AND STRIKE OUT ON THEIR OWN.

IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER, FOOD IS SCARCE,

AND THE CUBS' APPETITES ARE GROWING AS FAST AS THEY ARE.

THERE'S TIME TO PLAY NOW, BUT IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THEY'RE

HUNGRY AGAIN.

THEIR MOTHER WORKS TIRELESSLY TO FIND FOOD.

WITHOUT LEAVES ON THE TREES OR VEGETATION FOR COVER, STAYING

HIDDEN WHILE HUNTING WILL REQUIRE ALL HER SKILL AND

CUNNING.

ESPECIALLY WITH OTHER PREDATORS ON THE PROWL.

[HOWLING]

DYLAN: WHILE THE LYNX IS A SOLITARY HUNTER, GRAY WOLVES ARE

HIGHLY SOCIAL PACK ANIMALS.

[GROWLING]

DYLAN: WOLVES HAVE AN AGGRESSIVELY REGIMENTED

HIERARCHY, NUMBERING ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 36 INDIVIDUALS.

WOLF PACK SIZE DEPENDS ON THEIR HABITAT AND THE AVAILABILITY OF

PREY.

GRAY WOLVES HAVE A DENSE UNDER-FUR LAYER, WHICH PROVIDES

GOOD INSULATION AGAINST THE COLD, SO THEY'RE AS WELL

EQUIPPED FOR WINTER AS THE LYNX.

THESE TWO PREDATORS BOTH OCCUPY TERRITORIES AROUND THE CASPIAN

SEA.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEIR TERRITORIES OVERLAP?

WOLVES ARE THE PRIMARY PREDATOR OF THE LYNX, BUT THESE TWO TOP

HUNTERS TEND TO PREFER DIFFERENT KINDS OF PREY.

WITH HUNGRY KITTENS TO FEED, THE LYNX LIES IN WAIT UNSEEN AND

UNHEARD WHILE THE WOLVES FIGHT OVER THEIR PREY.

THE WOLVES HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR FROM THEIR FELINE SPY.

SHE HAS HER MIND SET ON ANOTHER PRIZE.

[GROWLING IN THE DISTANCE]

DYLAN: A WHITE WINTER COAT IS THE PERFECT CAMOUFLAGE FOR A

MOUNTAIN HARE, WHO'S BETRAYED ONLY BY THE BLACK TIPS OF ITS

EARS.

ON THE MOVE, HE'S EASY TO SPOT.

BUT WHEN LYING PERFECTLY STILL, CONCEALED IN THE SNOW,

BLINK AND YOU'D MISS HIM.

MAINTAINING THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IS CRUCIAL FOR A LYNX.

SHE'S NOT AS FAST AS SOME OF HER FELINE RELATIVES.

LYNX PREFER TO STALK THEIR PREY RATHER THAN WASTE ENERGY ON LONG

CHASES.

ON THE FLATS, THE LYNX COULD HIT A TOP SPEED OF 50 MILES PER

HOUR.

BUT ACROSS THIS RUGGED HILLSIDE, THE HAIR COULD EASILY OUTRUN

HER.

THE LYNX RELIES ON A COMBINATION OF RAZOR-SHARP EYESIGHT AND

SUPERB HEARING, PICKING UP SOUND VIBRATIONS WITH THE HELP OF THE

TUFTS ON HER EARS.

TIMING IS CRUCIAL.

SHE'S ABLE TO SPOT THE LYNX ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL.

[SUSPENSFUL MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE HARE ESCAPES BY A WHISKER.

IT'S A MISS FOR THE LYNX, BUT IT LIKELY WON'T BE THE LAST TIME

THESE TWO ANIMALS MEET IN THE CASPIAN FOREST.

COMING UP, GOING ROUND AND ROUND TO BUILD A NEST IN THE TREES

BECAUSE SOMETHING IS LURKING DOWN BELOW.

AND A 15-FOOT-LONG FISH THAT FLOURISHED WITH THE DINOSAURS

WILL MEET A TRUE JURASSIC SURVIVOR.

PLUS, LIFE'S A BEACH WHEN YOUR BIGGEST COMPETITION ISN'T REALLY

SUCH A THREAT.

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 APRIL AND THE LONG CASPIAN WINTER HAS RUN ITS

COURSE.

THE ANNUAL FLOODING OF THE WETLANDS CREATES A SECLUDED

HAVEN FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF WILDLIFE.

AND THE REEDS GROWING ON ITS BANKS PROVIDE PERFECT NESTING

GROUNDS FOR SPRING VISITORS,

LIKE PENDULINE TITS.

THESE TINY, UNASSUMING-LOOKING BIRDS ARE MASTERS OF DECEPTION.

ONE SKILLFUL ARCHITECT IS BUILDING A HANGING SANCTUARY AT

THE WATER'S EDGE.

WOVEN FROM SPIDERWEBS, ANIMAL HAIR AND SOFT PLANT MATTER, HIS

NURSERY WILL TAKE AROUND THREE WEEKS TO COMPLETE.

A RING OF TWISTED FIBERS FORMS THE FOUNDATION AND BEARS THE

WEIGHT OF THE HANGING NEST.

HALFWAY THROUGH, IT LOOKS LIKE A HANGING BASKET.

TEN DAYS LATER, HIS NEST IS COMPLETE AND SURPRISINGLY

SECURE, SUSPENDED OVER THE WATER FROM A SINGLE TWIG.

A FEMALE DECIDES HE'S A GOOD BET BASED ON HIS BUILDING SKILLS.

SOON SHE'S INSIDE AND BEGINS AN ELABORATE DECEPTION.

SHE CREATES A HIDDEN CRADLE IN THE LINING OF THE NEST AND

CONCEALS HER EGGS ONE BY ONE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE MOTHER BIRD LEADS THE MALE TO BELIEVE SHE HAS YET TO

LAY, SO HE WON'T ABANDON THE NEST TOO SOON.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: LATER, SHE'LL UNCOVER THE EGGS AND FLEE THE NEST, LEAVING

HIM TO FULFILL HIS PARENTAL DUTIES ALONE.

THAT FREES HER TO LAY A SECOND CLUTCH OF EGGS IN ANOTHER NEST.

THESE UNUSUAL NESTS HANG 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND TO HELP DETER

PREDATORS BELOW.

BUT THIS NEST HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF A PROWLER,

THE JUNGLE CAT.

WITH TUFTED EARS AND A SHORT TAIL, THIS WILDCAT IS SLIGHTLY

SMALLER THAN THE LYNX.

IT'S MOST CLOSELY RELATED TO THE HOUSE CAT.

TANTALIZINGLY CLOSE, THE HANGING BUFFET IS JUST OUT OF REACH.

DESPITE THEIR NAME, JUNGLE CATS DON'T USUALLY LIVE IN JUNGLES.

THEY'RE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND PREFER

GRASSLANDS AND THE DENSE COVER OF REEDS NEAR THE WATER'S EDGE.

RODENTS ARE THEIR USUAL PREY, BUT THIS HUNTER HAS HIS EYES ON

A DIFFERENT QUARRY, A GROUND NESTING BIRD.

THE CAT WAITS.

BUT TODAY, LUCK AND A QUICK RESPONSE KEEP THE QUAIL OUT OF

HARM'S WAY.

COMING UP, AN UNDERWATER CREATURE WHO'S WEATHERED 200

MILLION YEARS OF CHANGE.

AND THIS SUPER CUTE SURVIVOR IS AN APEX PREDATOR IN THESE PARTS.

MORE TALES FROM THE CASPIAN SEA 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: THE CASPIAN SEA WAS CUT OFF OCEANS MILLIONS OF YEARS

AGO, YET ANCIENT SEA CREATURES STILL SURVIVE HERE TODAY.

WE CAUGHT A SPECIAL LOOK AT THESE RARE WONDERS.

THE INLAND CASPIAN SEA WAS ONCE CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE

WORLD'S OCEANS.

FIVE AND A HALF MILLION YEARS AGO, THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS ROSE

UP, OCEAN LEVELS FELL, AND THE SEA BECAME LANDLOCKED.

SOME OF THE SPECIES HERE CUT OFF FROM ROVING OCEAN PREDATORS HAVE

SURVIVED UNCHANGED AND UNDISTURBED FOR MILLIONS OF

YEARS.

ONE OF THE MOST PRIZED IS THE STURGEON.

THERE ARE SIX KNOWN SPECIES OF THE STURGEON FAMILY IN THE

CASPIAN, INCLUDING THE BEST KNOWN RUSSIAN AND BELUGA.

STURGEON ARE THE ONLY SURVIVORS OF AN ANCIENT GROUP OF FISH

WHOSE ANCESTORS LIVED IN THE JURASSIC ERA.

THEY'VE CHANGED LITTLE SINCE THE TIME OF THE DINOSAURS, EARNING

THEM THE TITLE "LIVING FOSSILS."

NOWADAYS, MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S STOCKS OF

CAVIAR-RICH STURGEON ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CASPIAN.

USING WHISKER-LIKE BARBELLS TO DETECT CRUSTACEANS, THE FISH

EXTENDS ITS SIPHON-LIKE MOUTH TO VACUUM FOOD FROM THE BOTTOM OF

THE SEA.

STURGEON CAN GROW UP TO 15 FEET AND SWALLOW OTHER FISH WHOLE.

BUT THESE GENTLE GIANTS ALSO FEED ON THE BILLIONS OF PLANKTON

FOUND ON THE SEABED.

IT'S A FERTILE BUT VOLATILE SETTING FOR THIS REMARKABLE AND

INCREASINGLY RARE ANCIENT SPECIES.

COMING UP, ONE OF THE SMALLEST SEALS ON EARTH IS TRULY TOP DOG

IN THE CASPIAN SEA.

FIND OUT WHAT KEEPS THEM SAFE 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: ALONG THE SHORES OF THE CASPIAN SEA, A MAZE OF CHANNELS

AND LAGOONS EXTENDS FOR MILES BEFORE GIVING WAY TO DEEPER

WATERS.

SMALL MARINE FISH LIKE HERRING DOMINATE THE CENTRAL AND

SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THIS INLAND SEA, WHICH IS ONLY ONE-THIRD AS

SALTY AS THE OPEN OCEAN.

MILLIONS OF SMALL FISH ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF THE CASPIAN

SEA'S TOP PREDATOR.

SEALS HAVE BEEN HAULING OUT ON SANDBANKS IN THE CASPIAN FOR

MORE THAN A MILLION YEARS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY'RE THE ONLY MARINE MAMMALS LIVING HERE, SO CASPIAN

SEALS HAVE BECOME UNLIKELY APEX PREDATORS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF SHARKS, ORCAS, OR OTHER THREATS

IN THE ENCLOSED SEA, THEY CAN AND RELAX, SAFE AND

UNCHALLENGED, AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN IS STOPPING SEABIRDS FROM STEALING

THEIR FISH.

[BIRDS HONKING]

DYLAN: THEY SHARE THESE SPOTS WITH TERNS, WHO FLOCK IN THE

THOUSANDS TO REMOTE ISLANDS IN THE CASPIAN TO BREED.

THE STAGE IS SET FOR A FEEDING FRENZY.

HERONS PROVIDE VITAL PROTEIN, BUT COMPETITION IS FIERCE.

DESPITE BEING TOO BIG FOR ONE CHICK TO EAT, THERE'S STILL A

RAGING TUG-OF-WAR OVER DINNER.

ITS NEIGHBOR DWARFS THE CHIP.

CASPIAN SEALS ARE ONE OF THE SMALLEST SEAL SPECIES IN THE

WORLD, AT AROUND THREE FEET LONG.

AND EXCEPT FOR AN OCCASIONAL PLAY FIGHT AND COMPETITION FOR

FISH, THE SEALS GET ALONG WITH THE ISLAND'S SEABIRDS.

IT'S A SEA ISLAND STORY OF LIVE AND LET LIVE.

THE FUTURE OF THE CASPIAN SEA'S 850 MARINE SPECIES, MANY

FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH, DEPENDS ON OUR COOPERATION.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]