Original subtitles

.

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 AND WE'RE OFF ON AN

ANIMAL ADVENTURE TO THE WILD HEART OF PORTUGAL.

THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

COMING UP, THESE DARING MOUNTAIN KIDS MAKE A RISKY CROSSING LOOK

EASY.

AND DON'T MIND THE WATER, WE GO SWIMMING WITH OTTERS.

PLUS, HOW TO STAND OUT IN A CROWD OF THOUSANDS.

AND THESE FOREST FUR BALLS EXCEL WHEN THEY'RE AIRBORNE.

EARTH ODYSSEY BEGINS NOW.

[MUSIC]

LOCATED ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF EUROPE, PORTUGAL IS FAMOUS FOR

ITS BREATHTAKING MARINE LIFE, ITS LONG HISTORY OF SAILING, AND

AN EPICALLY HIGH SURF.

BUT AWAY FROM THE COAST, ANOTHER UNIVERSE EXISTS.

WE BEGIN IN A MAGNIFICENT NATIONAL PARK, WHERE EACH

WINTER, A HIGH-ALTITUDE BATTLE OF THE BOLD BEGINS.

IN THESE MOUNTAIN PEAKS, ONE ANIMAL HAS MASTERED THE ASCENT:

THE IBERIAN IBEX.

SKILLED MOUNTAINEERS, THESE WILD GOATS WERE BORN FOR THIS

ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S LATE AUTUMN AND THE HUNGRY DAYS OF WINTER ARE APPROACHING.

THE HERD IS RESTLESS.

THIS IS THE ONLY TIME OF YEAR THE DOES AND THEIR KIDS WILL

MINGLE WITH THE BUCKS, WHO USUALLY LIVE ALONE OR IN

BACHELOR HERDS.

IMPRESSING A MATE NOW MEANS KIDS CAN BE BORN IN THE GREENER DAYS

OF SPRING.

ALL THE MALES PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DOES' SCENT

SIGNALS, OR PHEROMONES.

IN THE IBEX WORLD, AGE, FITNESS, AND BODY SIZE MATTER.

OLDER, STRONGER BUCKS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

LARGE, CURVED HORNS ARE AN IMPORTANT STATUS SYMBOL AND A

TOOL FOR FENDING OFF YOUNG RIVALS.

THE FIRST RAINS WILL ARRIVE SOON.

AT THIS ALTITUDE, THAT CAN MEAN SNOW.

EVEN WITH A DENSE WINTER COAT, IBEX WILL SOMETIMES TAKE SHELTER

IN CAVES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS.

BUT THIS LIGHT SNOWSTORM DOESN'T DETER THE BUCKS FOR LONG.

THE DOES DO THEIR BEST TO KEEP THEIR KIDS OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

THE CHASE DRIVES THE GROUP INTO A SMALL CREEK.

SLIPPERY ROCKS AND RUSHING WATER ARE A DANGEROUS CHALLENGE FOR

INEXPERIENCED KIDS.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

AFTER THE FIRST ONE SHOWS THE WAY, THE REST OF THE KIDS

FOLLOW.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

A SMALL CREEK LIKE THIS IS BY NO MEANS AN OBSTACLE FOR THE

BUCKS.

THEY FOLLOW THE DOES UPHILL.

BUT THAT'S WHERE THE REAL COMPETITION FOR "KING OF THE

HILL" IS WAITING.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

TENSION RISES AND TWO OF THE BULLS BEGIN TO FIGHT.

THE KEY WEAPONS ARE THEIR THREE-FOOT LONG CURVED HORNS.

MALE IBEX SKULLS ARE SPECIALLY REINFORCED AND THEY CAN TAKE THE

HIT.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

IT'S SOON CLEAR WHO WINS.

THE LOSER WILL HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK UNTIL NEXT YEAR

FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE HERD.

COMING UP, THESE UNDERWATER ACROBATS ARE ON A MISSION TO GO

FISHING.

AND A CRUSTACEAN INVASION TAKES OVER THE BEACH.

JUST WHAT ARE THEY AFTER?

PLUS, HOW TO MAKE THE SWEETEST, SOFTEST NEST IN THE FOREST,

WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY COMES 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: THESE MOUNTAINS ARE THE BIRTHPLACE OF SOME OF THE

BIGGEST RIVERS IN THE COUNTRY.

NOURISHED BY A NEAR CONSTANT SOURCE OF WATER, THE RIVER

BEGINS ITS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY HERE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 6,000

FEET.

IT STARTS SLOWLY AS A SMALL STREAM, BUT GRAVITY TAKES OVER

ON THE WAY DOWN.

[WATER RUSHING]

IN THE UPPER REACHES, MOUNTAIN STREAMS ARE FULL OF STRENGTH.

ALL OF THIS WATER JOINS TO FORM RIVERS, BUILDING IN POWER TO

CREATE RAPIDS.

THE WATERS ARE RICH IN OXYGEN AND THE IDEAL PLACE FOR INSECTS

TO REPRODUCE.

IN SPRING, THEY FILL THE AIR WITH THEIR PRESENCE.

THIS ATTRACTS SPECIALIZED HUNTERS.

BEFORE THE INSECTS GET THEIR WINGS, THEY MUST COMPLETE THEIR

METAMORPHOSIS UNDERWATER.

FOR SOME, THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

A DIPPER.

THEY ARE CUNNING HUNTERS.

NOTHING ESCAPES THEIR EYES.

DIPPERS ARE PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO THESE TURBULENT WATERS WHERE

THEY ACTIVELY SEARCH FOR FOOD.

THEIR STREAMLINED BODY MAKE THEM EXCELLENT DIVERS.

THEY FEED MOSTLY ON INSECTS, LARVAE AND SMALL FISH.

THIS AQUATIC, ROCKY WORLD IS THE DIPPER'S DOMAIN.

EVERY SPRING, THEY NEST IN NEARBY WATERFALLS, IN PLACES

INACCESSIBLE TO MOST ANIMALS.

[CURIOUS MUSIC, WATER RUSHING]

HIDDEN IN THE HOLE, THE CHICKS ARE STILL TOO SMALL TO LEAVE THE

NEST.

HERE, THEY ARE MORE PROTECTED FROM PREDATORS THAT ARE ALWAYS

LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

THE DIPPER MUST CONTINUE ITS SEARCH FOR FOOD TO BE SUCCESSFUL

IN RAISING ITS OFFSPRING.

THESE ROUGH WATERS ARE POPULATED BY MANY SPECIES OF FISH...

...INCLUDING TROUT.

THEY JOIN HERE TO FEED AND REPRODUCE.

THE SHALLOW, COLD WATERS ARE IDEAL FOR THE FIRST YEARS OF

THEIR OFFSPRING BEFORE THEY START THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS THE

SEA.

BUT THEIR PRESENCE ALSO ATTRACTS OTHER SPECIES.

FOR THE OTTER, THIS CAN BE A FEAST.

BUT FIRST IT HAS TO CATCH THE FISH, WHICH MAY NOT BE EASY.

OTTERS ARE AMAZING ACROBATS.

THEY SEEM TO GLIDE EFFORTLESSLY UNDERWATER.

THEY CAN ONLY STAY SUBMERGED FOR AS MUCH AS EIGHT MINUTES, SO

THEY HAVE TO COME UP TO BREATHE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

FOR THE FISH, IT MIGHT BE A CHANCE TO ESCAPE,

BUT LIFE HERE CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANT.

COMING UP, ON THIS BEACH, THEY'RE DOING THE WAVE.

FIND OUT WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

AND THESE DAREDEVILS CAN'T REALLY FLY, BUT DON'T TELL THEM

THAT.

A FOREST LEAP OF FAITH 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 SOUTHERN PORTUGAL, THE OCEAN GIVES WAY TO AN ENORMOUS

SALTWATER LAGOON.

THE ANIMALS HERE CHANGE AS THE TIDE SWEEPS IN AND OUT.

ONE SMALL CRAB WITH A BIG PERSONALITY AND AN EVEN BIGGER

CLAW DOMINATES THE MUDFLATS.

MEET THE APTLY NAMED FIDDLER CRAB.

THE RUSHING RIVERS FLOWING FROM PORTUGAL'S MOUNTAINS EVENTUALLY

MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE SEA.

HERE, THE OCEAN TIDES SURGING IN TO MEET THE RIVER'S MOUTH FORM A

VAST, CONSTANTLY CHANGING LANDSCAPE.

THE INNER WATERS OF THIS ESTUARY ARE PROTECTED FROM THE OCEAN BY

A SERIES OF BARRIER ISLANDS.

THEY FORM AN INTRICATE NETWORK OF WATER CHANNELS AND SWAMPS

FILLED WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE.

THIS UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM IS A PROTECTED AREA AND IS ONE OF THE

MOST BEAUTIFUL PORTUGUESE NATURAL PARKS.

THE RHYTHM OF THE TIDES DETERMINES THE HABITS OF ALL THE

ANIMALS THAT LIVE HERE.

LAND TURNS TO WATER, AND WATER TURNS TO LAND.

TWICE A DAY, EVERY DAY, A SILENT INVASION BEGINS.

FIDDLER CRABS.

WHEN THE WATERLINE RECEDES, THE CRABS RUSH TO OCCUPY THE EXPOSED

MUD.

[MUSIC]

IT'S A RACE TO THE BEST FEEDING GROUNDS.

DURING THE EMPTY TIDE, THEY FEED ON THE DEBRIS THAT LIES IN THESE

SEDIMENTS.

[QUIRKY MUSIC]

YOU CAN TELL THIS ONE'S A MALE BECAUSE OF ITS GIANT CLAW.

WHILE THE TIDE IS LOW, EVERYTHING SEEMS CALM, AND

THERE'S SPACE AND FOOD FOR EVERYONE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

BUT IN SPRING, MATING SEASON ARRIVES, AND THE COMPETITION

BEGINS.

FINALLY, THE MALE'S GIANT CLAWS WILL BE PUT TO USE FOR WAVING TO

THE FEMALE CRABS.

WHEN WAVING IS NOT ENOUGH, FIGHTING CAN ALSO BE CALLED FOR.

AND THE TENSION IS ABOUT TO RISE A LOT HIGHER.

AS THE TIDE FILLS IN, THERE WILL BE INCREASINGLY LESS SPACE.

AND THE BATTLES INTENSIFY.

[INTENSE MUSIC]

MALES WILL FIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR BURROWS OR TO CONQUER A

NEW ONE.

WITHOUT A BURROW, THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED IN GETTING A FEMALE

COMPANION.

IN THIS SMALL WORLD, SIZE DOES MATTER.

COMING UP, A SUPER CUTE SPECIES THOUGHT TO BE EXTINCT IS

REDISCOVERED IN PORTUGAL'S WOODS.

THAT AND MORE STILL AHEAD ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

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]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

DYLAN: SUNRISE IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF PORTUGAL REVEALS A

HIDDEN LANDSCAPE.

AT THIS ALTITUDE, PINE, CHESTNUT AND OAK FORESTS SHELTER A

VULNERABLE POPULATION.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

THEY WERE THOUGHT TO BE EXTINCT IN PORTUGAL FOR CENTURIES UNTIL

REDISCOVERED IN THE 1980'S.

[BIRD SINGING]

THE EURASIAN RED SQUIRREL IS RECLAIMING ITS FOREST HOME.

THIS FURRY INHABITANT PREFERS DENSE FOREST CANOPY, WHERE IT'S

EASY TO JUMP FROM TREE TO TREE.

THESE NATURALLY ACROBATIC RODENTS JUMP, CLIMB, AND EVEN

SWIM WITH ASTONISHING SKILL.

THIS ONE HAS FOUND SOMETHING.

SHE'S ENJOYING THE NEW GREEN SPROUTS THAT COME WITH SPRING.

BUT WITH THIS SEASON COMES ALSO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TASK.

[PLAYFUL MUSIC]

THE SQUIRREL HAS TO FIND A GOOD BURROW, IDEALLY HIGH ON A TREE,

TO RAISE ITS OFFSPRING.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

THEN THE HUNT IS ON FOR THE COZIEST BEDDING.

THE SQUIRREL IS GATHERING MOSS.

IT'S A GOOD MATERIAL TO HELP MAKE HER BABY'S NEST WARM AND

COMFORTABLE.

A BLUE TIT SCAVENGING NEARBY HAS CAUGHT HER ATTENTION.

AFTER ASSESSING ANY POSSIBLE DANGER, THE SQUIRREL CARRIES ON,

GETTING READY TO WELCOME THE NEXT GENERATION.

THANKFULLY THE FOREST HAS PLENTY OF RICHES TO OFFER THIS

FASCINATING SPECIES.

SPRING IN THE MOUNTAINS IS A WONDERFUL TIME FOR INSECTS AND

PLANTS.

[SOFT MUSIC]

THE SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN THEM IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY IN

NATURE.

IT'S AN INTERDEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP.

THE PLANT OFFERS FOOD TO THE INSECT, WHICH IN TURN HELPS THE

PLANT TO REPRODUCE ITSELF THROUGH POLLINATION.

WITH PLENTY OF FOOD, INSECTS GATHER IN NUMBERS, WHICH WILL

ALSO BENEFIT OTHER SPECIES, LIKE THE BIRDS THAT DEPEND ON THEM.

[MUSIC CONTINUES, BIRDS SINGING]

[BIRD VOCALIZING]

IT'S AN ELEGANT EXAMPLE OF NATURE'S FOOD CHAIN IN ACTION.

AFTER CENTURIES OF HABITAT LOSS, EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING

PORTUGAL, ARE EMBRACING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]