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, AND WE ARE OFF TO

ENCOUNTER EARTH'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS, RIGHT

HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

COMING UP, THESE GIANTS OF INDIA ARE IMPRESSIVELY LIGHT ON THEIR

FEET.

HOW ELEPHANTS NAVIGATE HUMAN TERRITORY.

AND HIGH IN THE HIMALAYAS, IT'S TIME FOR A FACE-OFF.

PLUS, WHO WILL WIN THIS BATTLE OF THE BUCKS?

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TREE CLIMBER WITH A VERY CONFUSING

NAME.

AMAZING INDIAN ANIMALS JUST AHEAD ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ANIMAL MOTHERS HAVE COUNTLES WAYS TO FEED, RAISE,

AND LAUNCH THEIR OFFSPRING, BUT SOME SPEND MORE TIME TENDING TO

THEIR YOUNG THAN OTHERS.

IN OUR FIRST STORY, WE MEET REMARKABLE ELEPHANT MOMS WHO ARE

DEEPLY BONDED TO THEIR CALVES AND ARE STILL THE UNDISPUTED

RULERS OF EVEN THE TOUGHEST TERRAIN.

THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT IS TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE.

NEARLY 8% OF THE WORLD'S SPECIES THRIVE IN THIS COUNTRY'S

DESERTS...

...WETLANDS...

...RAINFORESTS...

...AND MOUNTAINS.

MORE THAN 13,800 PEAKS MAKE UP THE MOUNTAINS HERE,

INCLUDING THOSE IN THE MIGHTY HIMALAYAS.

THE HIMALAYAS ARE ONE OF THE WORLD'S YOUNGEST MOUNTAIN

RANGES, FORMED LESS THAN 50 MILLION YEARS AGO, ALTHOUGH NOT

AS TALL AS THE HIMALAYAS.

THE WESTERN GAP MOUNTAINS ARE A HOTSPOT OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

SPANNING 62,000 SQUARE MILES, THESE MOUNTAINS HAVE PLENTY OF

ROOM FOR AN ANIMAL GIANT, THE INDIAN ELEPHANT.

[ELEPHANT GRUMBLING]

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: 25% OF ALL ASIAN ELEPHANTS LIVE IN THESE FORESTS.

IT'S UP TO 20 DEGREES COOLER HERE IN THESE LOFTY MOUNTAINS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: AND THIS FAMILY IS ON THEIR ANNUAL MIGRATION TO FIND

FOOD.

IT'S A STEEP CLIMB TO A SECRET EDEN PRODUCED BY THE GHATS

INTENSE MONSOON RAINS.

THE MATRIARCH IS EIGHT FEET TALL AND WEIGHS FOUR AND A HALF TONS.

SHE'S SURPRISINGLY SURE-FOOTED ON THE STEEP TERRAIN.

SHE'S MADE THIS JOURNEY DOZENS OF TIMES BEFORE, USING TRAILS

ESTABLISHED BY HER ANCESTORS.

BUT OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES, THE AGE-OLD CORRIDORS HAVE BEGUN

TO DISAPPEAR.

THE FORESTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH TEA PLANTATIONS.

BUT THE MATRIARCH'S DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE MOUNTAINS HELPS

HER TO NAVIGATE THROUGH.

SHE'S FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS TRANSFORMED WORLD.

THE MIGRATING ELEPHANTS GRAZE ON THE WEEDS BETWEEN THE CROPS,

LEAVING THE BITTER TASTING TEA LEAVES BEHIND.

THE MATRIARCH URGES THE CALVES AND THE REST OF THE HERD TO

CONTINUE CLIMBING.

THERE'S A GREATER FEAST WAITING HIGHER UP IN THE MOUNTAIN.

AFTER DAYS OF CLIMBING, THE MATRIARCH AND HER FAMILY CAN

FINALLY SEE THEIR DESTINATION.

A SECRET PASTURE, 5,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

THE MATRIARCH'S WISDOM, PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS, HAS

PAID OFF.

EACH MEMBER OF HER FAMILY HAS A 330 POUND A DAY APPETITE.

AND HERE, THANKS TO THE MONSOON RAINS, THERE'S ENOUGH FOR

EVERYONE.

IT'S AN ELEPHANT SIZED BUFFET WITH AN EPIC VIEW.

ACROSS THE CONTINENT TO THE WEST, IT'S MORE THAN 100 DEGREES

FAHRENHEIT.

BUT ONE SPECIES DOESN'T MIND THE HEAT.

THE BLACK BUCK.

THIS PARCHED LAND IS HIS TERRITORY.

AND THIS TIME OF YEAR, HE'S SURROUNDED BY FEMALES.

HUNDREDS OF THEM.

FOR THE BLACK BUCK, IT'S A SHOWDOWN FOR MATING RIGHTS.

BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGERS EVERYWHERE.

IT'S ANYONE'S FIGHT.

BUT THE DEFENDING BUCK IS AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME.

IT COULD BE HIS LAST SEASON AS THE KING.

HIS PRIME CONDITION ONLY LASTS A FEW YEARS BEFORE HE'LL BE FORCED

OUT AND A NEW LEADER WILL TAKE HIS PLACE.

COMING UP, WE MEET AN ANCIENT COUSIN OF THE HORSE WHO'S RIGHT

AT HOME, 15,000 FEET UP.

PLUS, WHEN THIS GECKO GETS HUNGRY, A RAINFOREST AMBUSH GETS

UNDERWAY.

AND WE SPOT A STYLISH TREE DWELLER WHO REALLY JUST WANTS TO

BE ALONE.

MORE UNUSUAL WILD ENCOUNTERS 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: BEYOND THE HIMALAYAS LIES A COLD, HIGH ALTITUDE DESERT.

THE MOUNTAIN RANGE CREATES A RAIN SHADOW, BLOCKING THE

MONSOON CLOUDS.

CONDITIONS IN THE REMOTE HIGH DESERT ARE COOL AND DRY, AND

VEGETATION IS SPARSE.

BUT SOME SPECIALIZED SPECIES OF GRASS SURVIVE HERE, AND AS LONG

AS GRASS SURVIVES, SO CAN GRAZERS.

LIKE THE KIANG.

AROUND 1,500 OF THESE WILD DONKEYS ROAM HERE.

MEMBERS OF THE HORSE FAMILY, THEY'RE THE GREAT NOMADS OF

INDIA'S HIGHEST PLATEAU.

AT ALMOST 15,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, AN OLDER FEMALE LEADS HER

HERD, TREKKING MILES ACROSS THE PARCHED PLAINS IN SEARCH OF

WATER.

WINTER IS COMING TO AN END, BUT MOST WATER SOURCES IN THE

PLATEAU ARE STILL FROZEN OVER.

THE MATRIARCH GUIDES THE THIRSTY HERD TO A PATCH OF TOUGH NEEDLE

GRASS.

ITS DRY STALKS HOLD LITTLE NUTRITION.

BUT THEY'LL PROVIDE MOISTURE FOR THE KIANGS IF THEY EAT ENOUGH OF

IT.

SPECIALIZED GUT MICROBES ALLOW THEM TO BREAK DOWN THESE FIBROUS

GRASSES.

HUNGER AND THIRST ARE SATISFIED.

THE LEADER FINDS A GOOD SPOT TO HAVE A DUST BATH.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO REMOVE PARASITES.

BUT SHE CAN'T RELAX FOR TOO LONG.

GRASS MAY ATTRACT GRAZERS, BUT GRAZERS OFTEN ATTRACT

CARNIVORES.

A HIMALAYAN WOLF...

...IS THE KIANG'S ONLY KNOWN PREDATOR, AND IT'S HEADING THEIR

WAY.

THE KIANG COULD RUN.

THEY CAN GALLOP MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR.

BUT THIS IS A STAMINA HUNTER.

THE MATRIARCH KNOWS THAT THEIR BEST BET IS TO STAY TOGETHER.

BUT THE WOLF DOESN'T COME FOR THEM.

THERE WILL BE FAR EASIER TARGETS THAN A UNITED HERD.

THESE ANCIENT WILD ANIMALS SURVIVE ANOTHER DAY, TOGETHER.

COMING UP, HOW ONE TINY LIZARD SNEAKS BY AN 18-FOOT

SERPENT.

AND A RAINFOREST RARITY WITH A PASSION FOR BAMBOO.

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: ACCORDING TO NATURALIST CHARLES DARWIN, THE MOST

SUCCESSFUL ANIMALS AREN'T NECESSARILY THE BIGGEST,

STRONGEST, OR EVEN THE SMARTEST.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT CAN ADAPT BEST TO CHANGE.

THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS OR WHEN THE

COMPETITION GETS FIERCE.

TAKE A LOOK.

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 TALK 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, A BEAUTIFUL ENDANGERED ANIMAL WITH A KNACK

FOR TREETOP LIVING, 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.

SHE'S MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE RACCOON.

BUT THE RED PANDA IS SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO MOVING AROUND HER

FOREST ENVIRONMENT.

SEMI-RETRACTABLE CLAWS AND ELONGATED WRIST BONES HELP HER

GRIP SLIPPERY BRANCHES.

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

ANKLES.

BUT SHE DOES HAVE ONE THING IN COMMONS 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.

WE'VE JUST SEEN HOW ANIMALS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES USE THEIR

SENSES AND EXPERIENCES TO CAREFULLY NEGOTIATE CHALLENGES

IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]