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.

WE'RE OFF TO ENCOUNTER EARTH'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS RIGHT

HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

COMING UP, A YOUNG FOX SETS OUT ON A SOLO ADVENTURE, BUT HIS

BROTHER IS ITCHING FOR A FIGHT.

AND FLAMBOYANT VISITORS FLY IN BY THE THOUSANDS TO THIS

INCREDIBLE SPANISH LAGOON.

PLUS, SLIP-SLIDING AWAY UNDER THE DESERT SANDS, WE UNEARTH A

CLEVER SURVIVAL TACTIC.

AND THIS FIELD OF FLOWERS HIDES A CUNNING TRAP.

A WARM WEATHER WILDLIFE ADVENTURE IS JUST AHEAD ON EARTH

ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

ON SPAIN'S SOUTHERN COAST, RUGGED MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE

SHELTERS ANIMALS IN ALL STAGES OF LIFE.

WHILE SOME STAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES FOREVER, OTHERS HAVE TO

STRIKE OUT ON THEIR OWN.

FOR A YOUNG MALE FOX, LEAVING HOME AND LEARNING TO LIVE SOLO

IS AN INESCAPABLE RITE OF PASSAGE.

IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR MALAGA, SPAIN, REMARKABLE LIMESTONE

STACKS MAKE AN OTHERWORLDLY LANDSCAPE.

ONCE A SHALLOW SEA, WATER AND WIND HELPED CARVE THIS NOW DRY

LANDSCAPE.

[MAJESTIC MUSIC]

HERE, A YOUNG PREDATOR IS TAKING HIS FIRST STEPS TOWARDS

ADULTHOOD.

AFTER A YEAR WITH HIS FAMILY, THEY'VE ESSENTIALLY KICKED HIM

OUT.

BUT FOR NOW, THIS RED FOX ISN'T ENTIRELY ALONE.

HIS BROTHER HAS FOLLOWED HIM.

FOX SIBLINGS MAY STICK TOGETHER AFTER LEAVING THE DEN, BUT THEIR

BROTHERLY LOVE IS ONLY TEMPORARY.

THEIR SPECIES IS SOLITARY BY NATURE.

HE WON'T STAY WITH HIS BROTHER FOR LONG.

[FOXES SCREECHING]

[FOXES YELPING]

THEIR FIGHTS FOR DOMINANCE WILL ONLY INTENSIFY.

GOING IT ALONE IS A FACT OF LIFE FOR A FOX.

AT THIS AGE, HE'S FAR FROM BEING A PROFICIENT HUNTER.

BUGS TURN OUT TO BE A RELIABLE FOOD SOURCE.

INSECTS MAKE UP AT LEAST ONE FIFTH OF A FOX'S DIET.

SO IT MAKES SENSE NOT TO BE A FUSSY EATER.

STORING EXTRA FOOD IS ALSO A SMART MOVE.

HE CAN RELY ON A BURIED HOARD IF TIMES GET TOUGH.

FOXES IN GENERAL ARE CAGEY ABOUT FOOD.

SECRETIVE EATERS, THEY TURN THEIR BACKS ON EACH OTHER WHEN

EATING TO REDUCE AGGRESSION.

BACK HOME, HIS MOM IS ALREADY EXPECTING ANOTHER LITTER,

SO SHE NEEDS A BIGGER MEAL.

THE MAJORITY OF HER DIET IS SMALL MAMMALS.

TO FIND THEM, SHE HAS TWO HIGHLY TUNED TOOLS...

...HER EARS.

THEY MOVE INDEPENDENTLY, FUNNELING SOUND.

[RODENT SQUEAKING]

SHE'S A LOW FREQUENCY SPECIALIST, CAPABLE OF HEARING A

RODENT DIGGING 100 FEET AWAY.

LIKE TWO RADAR DISHES, HER EARS PINPOINT HER TARGET.

[SQUEAKING CONTINUES]

SHE'S FORCED THE RAT INTO A THICKET.

FOR THE RAT, A BREAK FOR FREEDOM IS THE ONLY CHANCE.

BUT THE RAT SLIPS AWAY.

AT FOUR YEARS OLD, THE VIXEN IS AT THE PEAK OF HER LIFE'S

JOURNEY WHILE HER SON'S PATH IS JUST BEGINNING.

NOW THAT HE'S ON HIS OWN, HE'LL NEED ALL HIS CLEVERNESS TO MAKE

IT IN HIS MOUNTAIN HOME.

COMING UP, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THESE BIRDS STAND NEARLY FIVE

FEET TALL AND THEY CAN DO IT ON ONE FOOT.

AND THIS ANIMAL HAS FOUND AN ELEGANT SOLUTION TO STIFLING

HEAT.

PLUS, HOW DECEPTION CAN BE PRETTY AND DEADLY.

MORE MEDITERRANEAN MARVELS 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: THIS SALTWATER LAGOON IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL

PLACES IN ANDALUSIA.

AND IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE HOTTEST.

THE WATER REACHES 86 DEGREES IN SUMMER.

IT'S A PARADISE FOR FLAMINGOS.

THIS IS THE BIRD THAT LENT ITS SPANISH NAME, FLAMENCO, TO THE

REGION'S STYLE OF SONG AND DANCE.

[FLAMINGOS VOCALIZING]

IT TAPS ITS FEET WHEN IT EATS, DANCES WHEN IT COURTS A MATE,

AND WHEN IT WALKS, ITS ELEGANCE IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, PURE

FLAMENCO.

IN SUMMER, WHEN THE WATER LEVEL IS HIGH ENOUGH, THE LAGOON HOSTS

NEARLY ALL OF THE FLAMINGOS IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FLAMINGO PARENTS HERE, TAKING CARE OF

SOME 10,000 CHICKS.

THE HATCHLINGS ARE COVERED IN SOFT GRAY COLOR DOWN AND CAN'T

FLY.

VARIOUS ADULTS TAKE TURNS WATCHING OVER NURSERIES OF

CHICKS.

HERE, EVERYONE'S OFFSPRING ARE CARED FOR TOGETHER.

THAT ALLOWS HUNGRY MOMS AND DADS TO HEAD OFF TO EAT.

THIS FEEDING TIME IS VITAL.

A FLAMINGO'S DIET CONSISTS MAINLY OF SMALL CRUSTACEANS.

AND IN ORDER TO GET ENOUGH, THE BIRDS MUST SPEND MOST OF THEIR

DAY FILTERING WATER WITH THEIR BEAKS.

THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR THEIR SOLE

OFFSPRING IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE FLAMINGO DAYCARE.

WHEN MOM OR DAD RETURNS WITH THEIR CRAW FULL, THEY GIVE THEIR

YOUNG A SPECIAL MUSH, WHICH WILL HELP THEM GROW QUICKLY.

IT TAKES A FULL TWO YEARS BEFORE THE GRAY, IMMATURE PLUMAGE GIVES

WAY TO THE WHITE AND ROSE-COLORED HUES.

YOUNG FLAMINGOS HAVE TO EAT ENOUGH SMALL CRUSTACEANS

THEMSELVES TO TAKE ON A MORE FIERY COLOR.

IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY THESE ELEGANT, COLORFUL, AND VERY

SOCIAL BIRDS HAVE INSPIRED MUSIC, ART AND LITERATURE.

[RELAXING MUSIC]

AND IT MAKES SENSE THAT A GROUP OF FLAMINGOS IS CALLED A

FLAMBOYANCE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

IT'S AN UNFORGETTABLE SIGHT ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST.

COMING UP, WE MEET A TRUE ORIGINAL IN THE SANDS OF EGYPT.

AND WILL THIS CREATURE'S BIG JUMP BE ENOUGH TO KEEP IT OUT OF

TROUBLE?

PLUS, A FANTASTIC UNDERSEA WORLD COMES TO LIFE.

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: 22 COUNTRIES BORDER THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, INCLUDING

EGYPT.

THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE HERE COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT FROM

THOSE FOUND ON SHORES FARTHER NORTH.

THEY ARE DESERT ADAPTED, LIVING IN A SEA OF SAND.

ONE BRIGHTLY COLORED CREATURE HAS AN UNUSUAL WAY OF NAVIGATING

THIS MERCILESS TERRAIN.

ON ITS SOUTHEASTERN SHORE, THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA MEETS THE

GREAT CONTINENT OF AFRICA IN EGYPT.

ALTHOUGH IT BORDERS TWO SEAS, MUCH OF EGYPT IS HOT AND DRY.

HERE, TEMPERATURES CAN MAX OUT AT MORE THAN 120 DEGREES

FAHRENHEIT.

MORE THAN 95% OF THE COUNTRY IS COVERED IN DESERT.

AND FOR MOST WILDLIFE, THE HEAT OF THE SAHARA IS HARD TO

SURVIVE.

THERE'S NO WATER TO TAKE A DIP, BUT THIS SURVIVOR DOESN'T NEED A

DROP TO SWIM.

TUCKING HER LIMBS IN, SHE'S A SAND SWIMMER.

[MUSIC]

THE SANDFISH SKINK HAS FOUND AN ELEGANT SOLUTION TO STIFLING

HEAT.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

SHE HAS AN INGENIOUS WAY OF AVOIDING THE BAKING SURFACE WITH

A TROWEL-SHAPED SNOUT AND FLAT BODY.

THE SKINK IS PERFECTLY STREAMLINED TO CUT THROUGH THE

SAND.

LIKE A SUBMARINE, SHE CAN STAY SUBMERGED.

ALL THE BETTER TO FIND THE CRICKETS AND MEALWORMS SHE EATS.

SKINKS EVOLVE TO ONLY NEED A LOW INTAKE OF OXYGEN.

ANY SAND SHE ACCIDENTALLY INHALES IS LET OUT WITH A GOOD

SNEEZE.

BEAUTIFUL, SENSITIVE, AND YET VERY STRONG.

SHE'S A TRUE SAHARAN SURVIVOR.

COMING UP, A PATIENT PREDATOR IS WAITING IN THIS CHEERFUL LOOKING

FLOWER.

AND CAN YOU TELL WHICH LIVING THING IS FLORA AND WHICH IS

FAUNA?

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: SPRING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BEGINS A FESTIVAL

OF COLOR.

[BIRDS SINGING]

WILDFLOWERS CREATE A UNIQUE BREEDING GROUND ON A MICRO

SCALE.

[CURIOUS MUSIC]

THIS OTHERWORLDLY LOOKING BLOB IS A MASS OF 200 EGGS.

AS THE TEMPERATURES RISE, THEY'LL HATCH.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

THIS EUROPEAN MANTIS WILL BE A DEADLY PREDATOR, BUT NOT YET.

THIS MALE NYMPH, A TENTH OF THE SIZE OF AN ADULT, IS JUST OVER A

THIRD OF AN INCH LONG.

HE HAS TO HEAD OFF ON HIS OWN.

IF NYMPHS STAY TOGETHER, THEY TURN CANNIBALISTIC.

HIS SPECIES HAS EVOLVED AN EXTREMELY ACCURATE FORM OF

TRANSPORT.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

A TENTH OF A SECOND IS ALL HE NEEDS, FROM TARGETING TO

LANDING.

HE'LL BE A CARNIVORE WHEN HE'S OLDER, BUT RIGHT NOW, POLLEN

WILL HAVE TO DO.

IT'S A PLENTIFUL FOOD SOURCE, BUT THE NYMPH IS AT THE BOTTOM

OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

HE NEEDS TO WATCH WHERE HE TREADS.

[TENSE MUSIC]

THE MANTIS NYMPH HAS WANDERED INTO THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S A TRAP.

FROM MAY TO OCTOBER, THE WATER TEMPERATURE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

WILL SIGNIFICANTLY RISE DUE TO THE PREDOMINANT WINDS FROM NORTH

AFRICA.

THE RESULT IS AN EXPLOSION OF LIFE UNDER THE SURFACE.

LARGE SCHOOLS OF FISH SWIM CLOSE TO THE SHORE, TAKING ADVANTAGE

OF THE NUTRIENT-RICH CURRENTS.

THE EXUBERANT COLORS RESEMBLE THE TROPICAL SEAS FROM OTHER

LATITUDES.

BUT THE LIFE FORM THAT BRINGS THE MOST COLOR TO THESE WATERS

IS DEFINITELY THE GORGONIAN, A SOFT CORAL.

[MAJESTIC MUSIC]

LIKE SMALL CITIES, THEY FORM THE BASE FOR A WHOLE COMMUNITY.

THESE WONDERFUL LIVING STRUCTURES OFFER A REFUGE FOR

MANY SPECIES OF ANIMALS.

THIS TYPE OF CORAL IS FORMED BY COLONIES OF TINY POLYPS THAT

FILTER THE WATER IN SEARCH OF PLANKTON AND SMALL ORGANIC

PARTICLES.

CORAL ARE ANIMALS, NOT PLANTS.

THEIR GROWTH RATE IS VERY SLOW, WHICH MAKES THEM VULNERABLE.

IN EUROPE, THE LARGEST CONCENTRATIONS ARE FOUND

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

THE COLONIES BENEFIT FROM A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH

CERTAIN TYPES OF ALGAE.

THE ALGAE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CORAL'S BRIGHT AND INTENSE

COLORS.

THESE INCREDIBLE CREATURES CLING ONTO THE STEEP WALLS OF

MOUNTAINS AND CANYONS, CREATING A DAZZLING AND DREAMY UNDERWATER

LANDSCAPE.

THE LIFE-GIVING MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND THE LANDS THAT SURROUND

IT HOST THOUSANDS OF SPECIES, MANY FOUND NOWHERE ELSE.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

I HOPE YOU'LL COME ALONG SOON ON OUR NEXT WILDLIFE ADVENTURE HERE

ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]