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.

WE'RE OFF TO MEET THE EXTRAORDINARY WILDLIFE OF THE

MIDDLE EAST.

THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

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

IN THE CASPIAN SEA.

FIND OUT WHAT KEEPS THEM SAFE.

AND WOLVES, WILDCATS, AND A BREATHLESS CHASE FOR SNOW WHITE

PREY.

PLUS, WHEN IT'S HARVEST TIME, IT TAKES A TINY TEAM LIKE NO OTHER.

AND WE VISIT THE LOWEST POINT ON EARTH WITH A DEEP CONNECTION TO

THE DESERT.

A WORLD OF NATURAL WONDERS BEGINS NOW ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

THE LARGEST INLAND SEA IN THE WORLD LIES AT THE CROSSROADS

OF EUROPE AND ASIA.

HERE, GEOLOGICAL CHANGES ISOLATED THE OCEAN SPECIES,

INCLUDING ONE OF THE SMALLEST AND ARGUABLY THE CUTEST SEALS

AROUND.

WHEN IT'S TIME TO NURTURE THEIR PUPS, CASPIAN SEALS LIKE NOTHING

BETTER THAN A GOOD DAY AT THE BEACH.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

ALONG THE SHORES OF THE CASPIAN SEA, A MAZE OF CHANNELS AND

LAGOONS EXTENDS FOR MILES BEFORE GIVING WAY TO DEEPER WATERS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

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.

[SOFT MUSIC]

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

HAVE BECOME UNLIKELY APEX PREDATORS.

WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF SHARKS, ORCAS, OR OTHER THREATS IN THE

ENCLOSED SEA, THEY CAN RELAX, SAFE AND UNCHALLENGED, AT THE

TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN IS STOPPING SEABIRDS FROM STEALING

THEIR FISH.

[BIRDS SQUAWKING AND HONKING]

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.

HERRINGS PROVIDE VITAL PROTEIN, BUT COMPETITION IS FIERCE.

[PLAYFUL MUSIC]

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

RAGING TUG-OF-WAR OVER DINNER.

ITS NEIGHBOR DWARFS THE CHICK.

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.

COMING UP, IT'S A HARE-RAISING DECISION.

STAY PERFECTLY STILL OR RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

WE CATCH A TUMBLE-DOWN CHASE.

AND SOMETIMES IT REALLY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE TO BRING HOME

DINNER.

PLUS, WHAT SURVIVES IN A DESERT SEA?

A MESMERIZING LOOK AT A SECRET WATER WORLD 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: 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.

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.

THIS FEMALE IS ON THE PROWL.

HER LARGE, ROUND, PADDED PAWS ACT LIKE SNOWSHOES.

HER TOES ARE SPREAD OUT TO DISTRIBUTE HER WEIGHT.

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

TREACHEROUS SNOW FIELDS.

[LYNX GROWLING, GENTLE MUSIC]

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.

[WOLF HOWLING]

WHILE THE LYNX IS A SOLITARY HUNTER, GRAY WOLVES ARE HIGHLY

SOCIAL PACK ANIMALS.

[WOLVES GROWLING]

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.

SHE HAS HER MIND SET ON ANOTHER PRIZE.

[TENSE MUSIC]

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.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

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

HOUR.

BUT ACROSS THIS RUGGED HILLSIDE, THE HARE 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.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

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, TINY TEAMWORK WITHOUT MAKING A SOUND.

HOW AN ANT'S ANTENNAE MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

AND WE TAKE AN UNDERSEA PLUNGE AT THE EDGE OF THE DESERT.

COME ALONG FOR AN AQUATIC TREASURE HUNT 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: AT FIRST GLANCE, THE GREAT DESERTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST

CAN SEEM EMPTY UNTIL YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

LIFE FLOURISHES OUT OF RANGE OF THE SUN'S FULL HEAT, AND THAT

MAKES SOME RESILIENT SPECIES VERY CHOOSY ABOUT HOW AND WHERE

THEY SPEND THEIR DESERT DAYS.

LOCATED ALONG THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY THAT BEGINS 3,700 MILES

AWAY IN EASTERN AFRICA, THE DANA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

IS SHAPED BY LIMESTONE, SANDSTONE, AND GRANITE.

IT'S HOME TO JORDAN'S MOST DIVERSE SPECIES AND HABITATS.

[BIRDS TWEETING, SOFT MUSIC]

AS THE SUN RISES, SO DOES THE TEMPERATURE.

AND THE EFFICIENT FARMERS OF DANA AREN'T WASTING ANY TIME.

HARVESTER ANTS FORAGE BEFORE IT GETS TOO HOT.

CLIMBING BLADES OF GRASS THE EQUIVALENT SIZE OF AN 18-STORY

BUILDING, THEY PAINSTAKINGLY CUT AND REMOVE INDIVIDUAL SEEDS.

MEANWHILE, OTHER FORAGERS MARCH THEM HOME.

THERE'S NO ONE LEADER, BUT THERE IS A METHOD TO THEIR MADNESS.

[CURIOUS MUSIC]

EACH TIME THEY MEET A FELLOW COLONY ANT, THEY COMMUNICATE

THROUGH SMELL, TOUCHING THEIR ANTENNAE.

PATROLLER ANTS DECIDE THE DIRECTION OF FORAGING FOR THE

DAY.

CHEMICAL MARKERS LEFT ALONG THE TRAIL RECRUIT MORE FORAGERS AND

BUILD THE ARMY.

THEY CONSTANTLY WEIGH THE EFFICIENCY OF THEIR SPEED OVER

WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING HOME.

TOO HEAVY, AND IT'S NOT WORTH MOVING.

THESE ANTS WON'T EAT WHAT THEY COLLECT, THOUGH, AND ARE WORKING

TO FEED THE YOUNG LARVAE BACK AT THEIR BASE.

WHILE THE HIGHWAY OF ANTS PLOWS THROUGH THE GRASSLAND, OTHERS

ARE BACK AT THE COLONY'S ENTRANCE AND CONCENTRATE ON

CLEANING.

PILING UP HUSKS OF THE STRIPPED SEEDS IN A MIDDEN, THEY MAINTAIN

EXCELLENT ANT HYGIENE.

NO ONE ANT HAS A SET TASK, SO THEY CAN QUICKLY REACT TO

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES.

[QUIRKY MUSIC]

POOR, UNWELCOME GUESTS.

THE TORTOISE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 220 MILLION YEARS.

MADE OF KERATIN, THE SAME SUBSTANCE FOUND IN FINGERNAILS,

HIS SHELL PROVIDES AN IMPENETRABLE ARMOR SHOULD HE

WANDER TO THE WRONG PLACE.

THE ANTS SWARM OVER HIM, REACTING TO THE INVASION.

BUT OBLIVIOUS TO THE MAYHEM AND UNINTERESTED IN LUNCH, THE

TORTOISE CONTINUES HIS SLOW AND STEADY MARCH.

UP NEXT, A SURPRISING OASIS IN THE SANDS.

CAN ANYTHING SURVIVE IN THESE DESERT WATERS?

WE'LL DO A DEEP DIVE 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]

THE SUN'S POWER DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THE FLORA AND THE FAUNA,

IT SHAPES ENVIRONMENTS.

THE DEAD SEA IS THE LOWEST POINT ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET.

FOR CENTURIES, IT HAS BEEN FED BY THE JORDAN RIVER, BUT IT'S

DISAPPEARING.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

EVAPORATION CONCENTRATES SALT INTO WHAT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE

GREATEST MINERAL RESERVOIRS KNOWN TO MAN.

BUT WITH NO RIVERS THAT FLOW FROM IT, THE SUN ALONE IS

ESTIMATED TO REDUCE IT BY SIX FEET EACH YEAR.

AS A RESULT, THE DEAD SEA IS ONE OF THE SALTIEST IN THE WORLD.

MORE THAN 43 BILLION TONS OF SALT ARE THOUGHT TO BE IN THE

DEAD SEA.

PENINSULAS OF CAST SALT HAVE BEEN CREATED.

LINES OF THIS FALSE LAND DEPICT THE DROP IN WATER LEVEL, WHILE

DEPOSITS HAVE SHAPED ORNATE CASTS.

BUT IT ALSO HIDES A HIDDEN WORLD.

THE LAKE'S SALTINESS MEANS THAT LARGER ORGANISMS, SUCH AS FISH

AND FROGS, CAN'T SURVIVE IN THE DEAD SEA.

BUT RECENT DIVING EXPEDITIONS HAVE REVEALED SEVERAL CRATERS.

LYING AT A DEPTH OF 100 FEET, THEY WERE COVERED IN A FILM OF

NEW BACTERIAL AND MICROBIAL FUNGI SPECIES.

PROOF THAT EVEN IN ONE OF JORDAN'S MOST EXTREME HABITATS,

WHERE THE SUN REACHES, LIFE EXISTS.

THE SUN HAS FAR-REACHING POWERS, BUT ITS PENETRATING

RAYS ALSO HAVE MANY BENEFITS FOR JORDAN'S WILDLIFE.

[DRAMTIC MUSIC]

THAT'S ALSO TRUE WHERE JORDAN'S SOUTHERN COAST MEETS THE RED

SEA.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

CORAL NEEDS SUNLIGHT TO SURVIVE AS THEY GROW.

THEY'RE FED BY THE ALGAE THAT LIVE INSIDE THEM.

THE ALGAE PRODUCES OXYGEN FOR THE CORAL AND PROVIDES FOOD,

HELPING THEM GROW FASTER.

CORAL ARE ACTUALLY ANIMALS, NOT PLANTS.

CORAL POLYPS PULSE WATER THROUGH THE COLONY, WHICH INCREASES

OXYGEN LEVELS.

AS NEW WATER IS PULLED IN, IT IMPROVES THE ALGAE

PHOTOSYNTHESIS RATES BY UP TO 10 TIMES.

[SOFT MUSIC]

IN TURN, THIS ECOSYSTEM PROVIDES FOOD FOR LARGER MARINE LIFE,

LIKE THE HAWKSBILL TURTLE.

TURTLES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THIS ECOSYSTEM'S HEALTH.

USING THEIR SHARP HAWK-LIKE BEAKS TO PENETRATE THE SPONGE'S

OUTER ARMOR, THE TURTLES EXPOSE THE SOFT INTERNAL PARTS TO OTHER

SPONGE-EATING ANIMALS.

THE SEA TURTLE'S PECULIAR DIET ALSO HELPS KEEP SPONGE

POPULATIONS IN CHECK, FREEING UP SPACE ON REEFS FOR OTHER

ORGANISMS TO SETTLE AND GROW.

IT'S A PERFECTLY BALANCED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUN, SEA,

PLANTS, AND AMAZING ANIMALS.

FROM THE SNOWY CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS TO THE JORDANIAN

DESERT, THE MIDDLE EAST IS HOME TO A FASCINATING VARIETY OF

ANIMALS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

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

EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]