Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:00,533 --> 00:00:02,468
[ HISSING ]
2
00:00:04,270 --> 00:00:07,539
Narrator: ROM WHITAKER IS
ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP
3
00:00:07,540 --> 00:00:09,608
REPTILE EXPERTS.
4
00:00:09,609 --> 00:00:11,643
HE HAS TRAVELED THE GLOBE
5
00:00:11,644 --> 00:00:14,446
STUDYING SNAKES, LIZARDS,
AND CROCODILES
6
00:00:14,447 --> 00:00:16,148
FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
7
00:00:16,149 --> 00:00:19,084
AND AFTER ALL THIS TIME,
8
00:00:19,085 --> 00:00:21,687
THERE IS STILL ONE CREATURE
THAT FASCINATES HIM
9
00:00:21,688 --> 00:00:24,323
BEYOND ALL OTHERS.
10
00:00:25,658 --> 00:00:28,761
HE MAY NEVER HAVE SEEN ONE
IN THE FLESH,
11
00:00:28,762 --> 00:00:32,598
BUT IT'S THERE IN
EVERY REPTILE HE STUDIES.
12
00:00:32,599 --> 00:00:36,368
FOR ROM, IT'S THE KING
OF THE REPTILES,
13
00:00:36,369 --> 00:00:38,404
THE ANIMAL THAT SYMBOLIZES
14
00:00:38,405 --> 00:00:41,173
NATURE'S MOST
AMAZING ADAPTATIONS
15
00:00:41,174 --> 00:00:43,442
AND MAGICAL ABILITIES.
16
00:00:43,443 --> 00:00:45,511
IT'S THE DRAGON,
17
00:00:45,512 --> 00:00:49,181
AND I'M ON A QUEST
TO TRACK ONE DOWN.
18
00:01:55,415 --> 00:01:57,783
YOU KNOW,
THIS LITTLE GODZILLA,
19
00:01:57,784 --> 00:02:00,285
I MADE WHEN I WAS
FOUR YEARS OLD.
20
00:02:00,286 --> 00:02:01,787
MY MOTHER SAVED IT
ALL THESE YEARS --
21
00:02:01,788 --> 00:02:03,155
IN FACT, IT'S AN ANTIQUE NOW.
22
00:02:03,156 --> 00:02:05,791
YOU CAN SEE WHAT A STRANGE
LITTLE MIND I HAD IN THOSE DAYS,
23
00:02:05,792 --> 00:02:07,459
AND I HAVEN'T REALLY
CHANGED MUCH,
24
00:02:07,460 --> 00:02:09,428
THE PASSION IS STILL THERE.
25
00:02:10,797 --> 00:02:13,565
Narrator: THIS PASSION HAS LED
ROM WHITAKER
26
00:02:13,566 --> 00:02:15,034
TO A LIFE'S WORK S CONSERVING
27
00:02:15,035 --> 00:02:17,636
AND BREEDING REPTILES --
IN THE WILD,
28
00:02:17,637 --> 00:02:21,640
AND AT ROM'S SNAKE PARK
AND CROCODILE BANK IN INDIA.
29
00:02:21,641 --> 00:02:24,977
AS A HERPETOLOGIST,
30
00:02:24,978 --> 00:02:29,815
THE FANTASTIC DRAGONS
OF HIS CHILDHOOD DREAMS
31
00:02:29,816 --> 00:02:31,316
HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY
REAL CREATURES.
32
00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,256
BUT THE MORE HE HAS LEARNED
ABOUT REPTILES,
33
00:02:37,257 --> 00:02:39,925
THE MORE ROM IS CONVINCED
THAT REALITY
34
00:02:39,926 --> 00:02:42,861
IS ALWAYS STRANGER THAN FICTION.
35
00:02:42,862 --> 00:02:45,564
Whitaker: YOU KNOW,
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
36
00:02:45,565 --> 00:02:47,966
ALL MY LIFE -- WELL, SOMETHING
SIMILAR TO THIS,
37
00:02:47,967 --> 00:02:50,769
PLAYING AROUND WITH SNAKES,
PLAYING AROUND WITH LIZARDS,
38
00:02:50,770 --> 00:02:51,737
PLAYING AROUND WITH
39
00:02:51,738 --> 00:02:54,073
CEROCODILES LIKE THIS.
40
00:02:54,074 --> 00:02:56,775
BUT DRAGONS -- WELL, EVERYONE
KNOWS ABOUT DRAGONS.
41
00:02:56,776 --> 00:02:57,810
THEY CAN FLY,
42
00:02:57,811 --> 00:02:59,378
THEY SPIT FIRE,
43
00:02:59,379 --> 00:03:01,580
THEY LIVE FOREVER,
44
00:03:01,581 --> 00:03:03,549
THEY GUARD GOLD IN CAVES,
45
00:03:03,550 --> 00:03:05,084
TREASURES,
46
00:03:05,085 --> 00:03:06,585
THEY EAT PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY MAIDENS,
47
00:03:06,586 --> 00:03:09,355
AND THEY ARE OCCASIONALLY
"SLAYED" BY ONE HERO
48
00:03:09,356 --> 00:03:10,856
OR THE OTHER,
49
00:03:10,857 --> 00:03:14,293
AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BELIEVE
IN ALL THEIR ATTRIBUTES,
50
00:03:14,294 --> 00:03:15,794
SUPPOSED ATTRIBUTES,
51
00:03:15,795 --> 00:03:18,897
BUT I THINK I CAN FIND ALL THEIR
QUALITIES FOR REAL
52
00:03:18,898 --> 00:03:20,399
IN MY WORLD.
53
00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,268
MY WORLD OF REPTILES.
54
00:03:25,572 --> 00:03:27,373
Abraham: HEREFORD CATHEDRAL,
55
00:03:27,374 --> 00:03:29,341
DEEP IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE,
56
00:03:29,342 --> 00:03:34,046
MAY SEEM LIKE A STRANGE PLACE
FOR ROM TO START HIS JOURNEY,
57
00:03:34,047 --> 00:03:36,148
BUT HEREFORD HAS AN ANCIENT MAP
58
00:03:36,149 --> 00:03:38,083
THAT'S A DRAGON HUNTER'S DREAM.
59
00:03:42,022 --> 00:03:45,991
THIS IS MAPPA MUNDI,AN INCREDIBLE MEDIEVAL MAP,
60
00:03:45,992 --> 00:03:48,293
PAINTED ON AN ANIMAL SKIN.
61
00:03:48,294 --> 00:03:50,896
YOU KNOW, FOR BEING SO OLD,
IT'S STILL...
62
00:03:50,897 --> 00:03:53,232
A LOT OF FEATURES
ARE VERY FAMILIAR.
63
00:03:53,233 --> 00:03:55,467
THERE'S THE NILE RIVER HERE,
64
00:03:55,468 --> 00:03:57,036
THE GANGES RIVER UP THERE,
65
00:03:57,037 --> 00:03:59,004
JERUSALEM RIGHT IN
THE CENTER HERE.
66
00:03:59,005 --> 00:04:02,675
THE UNITED KINGDOM
IS WAY DOWN HERE.
67
00:04:02,676 --> 00:04:06,578
THE RED SEA AND CEYLON
ARE UP IN THAT CORNER THERE.
68
00:04:06,579 --> 00:04:08,781
SO IT'S A PRETTY FAR OUT MAP.
69
00:04:08,782 --> 00:04:10,249
BUT TO ME,
70
00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:11,884
THE MOST EVOCATIVE PART OF IT
71
00:04:11,885 --> 00:04:13,786
ARE THE CREATURES,
THE ANIMALS.
72
00:04:13,787 --> 00:04:17,289
THERE'S A GRIFFIN,
THERE'S A MINOTAUR,
73
00:04:17,290 --> 00:04:19,291
THERE'S A WINGED SERPENT,
74
00:04:19,292 --> 00:04:24,263
AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE VERY,
VERY DRAGON-LIKE CREATURES.
75
00:04:26,499 --> 00:04:29,635
Abraham: AS A SCIENTIST,
ROM KNOWS FAR MORE
76
00:04:29,636 --> 00:04:31,103
ABOUT REAL REPTILES
77
00:04:31,104 --> 00:04:33,405
THAN THE MAPMAKERS OF YORE
78
00:04:33,406 --> 00:04:35,741
AND THEIR
SUPERSTITIOUS CHRONICLES,
79
00:04:35,742 --> 00:04:38,177
BUT HE STILL BELIEVES THERE ARE
DRAGONS AT LARGE
80
00:04:38,178 --> 00:04:40,045
IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
81
00:04:42,248 --> 00:04:44,983
THE OPENING CHAPTER OF HIS QUEST
82
00:04:44,984 --> 00:04:48,654
IS THE CHRONICLE OF
THE MAN-EATING DRAGON.
83
00:04:51,858 --> 00:04:55,361
PERHAPS THE MOST FAMOUS
DRAGON STORY OF ALL
84
00:04:55,362 --> 00:04:58,931
IS AN ARCHETYPAL MYTH
THAT IS SET IN AFRICA.
85
00:04:58,932 --> 00:05:01,400
ONCE UPON A TIME,
86
00:05:01,401 --> 00:05:03,702
A DRAGON SETTLED IN
BY A LAKE
87
00:05:03,703 --> 00:05:06,405
AND TERRORIZED
ALL WHO LIVED NEARBY.
88
00:05:06,406 --> 00:05:09,608
ONLY LIVE HUMAN OFFERINGS
APPEASED IT.
89
00:05:09,609 --> 00:05:12,177
EVENTUALLY IT WAS THE TURN
OF THE KING'S DAUGHTER.
90
00:05:12,178 --> 00:05:15,814
BUT BEFORE SHE WAS DEVOURED,
A HERO ARRIVED,
91
00:05:15,815 --> 00:05:18,083
DID BATTLE WITH THE BEAST,
92
00:05:18,084 --> 00:05:20,552
AND SLEW IT WITH HIS LANCE.
93
00:05:20,553 --> 00:05:25,024
LIKE ALL ARCHETYPAL MYTHS,
94
00:05:25,025 --> 00:05:28,694
SOME ELEMENT STILL RINGS TRUE
TO MODERN EARS,
95
00:05:28,695 --> 00:05:31,764
PARTICULARLY
TO A HERPETOLOGIST.
96
00:05:31,765 --> 00:05:36,301
SAINT GEORGE,
THE TURKISH-BORN HERO,
97
00:05:36,302 --> 00:05:38,170
WAS BASED ON A REAL
HISTORICAL FIGURE.
98
00:05:38,171 --> 00:05:39,672
AND AS FOR HIS DRAGON,
99
00:05:39,673 --> 00:05:43,342
THERE'S ONE OBVIOUS CONTENDER --
100
00:05:43,343 --> 00:05:45,811
THE NILE CROCODILE.
101
00:05:45,812 --> 00:05:47,446
THIS IS GREAT.
102
00:05:47,447 --> 00:05:49,114
IT RAINED LAST NIGHT,
103
00:05:49,115 --> 00:05:51,884
AND THE WATER'S
POURING DOWN HERE,
104
00:05:51,885 --> 00:05:54,853
AND OBVIOUSLY THE CONCENTRATION
OF BIRDS AND CROCS
105
00:05:54,854 --> 00:05:56,822
IS BECAUSE ALL THE FISH
HAVE BEEN WASHED DOWN.
106
00:05:56,823 --> 00:05:58,724
BUT THE CROCS ARE OUT BASKING
AS WELL,
107
00:05:58,725 --> 00:06:00,092
SO THERE'S SOME FEEDING,
SOME BASKING.
108
00:06:00,093 --> 00:06:01,694
THEY'RE ALL AROUND ME.
109
00:06:01,695 --> 00:06:05,431
THERE IS ONE BASKING WITH
HIS MOUTH OPEN OVER THERE.
110
00:06:05,432 --> 00:06:06,498
CLASSIC.
111
00:06:06,499 --> 00:06:09,168
SOME REALLY BIG ONES.
112
00:06:09,169 --> 00:06:11,970
Abraham: THE BIGGEST NILE CROCS
ARE GIANTS.
113
00:06:11,971 --> 00:06:16,108
THEY CAN GROW TO 20 FEET
AND WEIGH A TON.
114
00:06:16,109 --> 00:06:17,810
AND THEY'RE FAST --
115
00:06:17,811 --> 00:06:19,978
SWIMMING AND EVEN RUNNING
116
00:06:19,979 --> 00:06:23,182
AT SPEEDS OF UP TO
10 MILES AN HOUR.
117
00:06:23,183 --> 00:06:26,352
WITH MORE THAN 60 TEETH,
THEY CAN DEVOUR
118
00:06:26,353 --> 00:06:30,789
HALF THEIR BODY WEIGHT
IN A SINGLE FEEDING.
119
00:06:30,790 --> 00:06:37,196
BUT WHAT MAKES THIS CREATURE
TRULY DRAGON-LIKE...
120
00:06:37,197 --> 00:06:40,899
IS THAT EACH YEAR,
THESE CROCS ARE REPORTED TO KILL
121
00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:42,501
MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE.
122
00:06:49,542 --> 00:06:53,245
THEY ARE WORTHY ADVERSARIES,
INDEED.
123
00:06:53,246 --> 00:06:56,081
BUT ROM IS NOT OUT
TO SLAY DRAGONS,
124
00:06:56,082 --> 00:06:57,683
JUST TO TRACK THEM...
125
00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,454
BACK TO THEIR VERY BEGINNINGS.
126
00:07:08,294 --> 00:07:11,063
THE SECOND CHAPTER
OF ROM'S QUEST
127
00:07:11,064 --> 00:07:14,833
IS TAKING HIM DEEP INTO
THE HEART OF OLD EUROPE,
128
00:07:14,834 --> 00:07:18,170
AND THE CHRONICLE OF
THE DRAGON'S LAIR.
129
00:07:18,171 --> 00:07:21,674
[ BELL RINGING ]
130
00:07:21,675 --> 00:07:24,777
LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA --
131
00:07:24,778 --> 00:07:26,745
A LAND OF LOFTY MOUNTAINS,
132
00:07:26,746 --> 00:07:28,547
DENSE FORESTS,
133
00:07:28,548 --> 00:07:31,483
AND DARK FAIRY TALES.
134
00:07:35,889 --> 00:07:39,291
DRAGONS ARE
DEEPLY INGRAINED HERE.
135
00:07:39,292 --> 00:07:41,660
IN FACT, IT'S THE SYMBOL
OF LJUBLJANA.
136
00:07:41,661 --> 00:07:44,363
THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!
137
00:07:52,639 --> 00:07:54,940
Abraham: ALTHOUGH SLOVENIA'S
CAPITAL MAY BE
138
00:07:54,941 --> 00:07:57,209
CRAWLING WITH DRAGONS,
AS EVERYONE KNOWS,
139
00:07:57,210 --> 00:07:59,044
A DRAGON'S LAIR ITSELF
140
00:07:59,045 --> 00:08:02,948
NEEDS TO BE DEEP WITHIN
THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH.
141
00:08:02,949 --> 00:08:06,385
FORTUNATELY, THIS COUNTRY HAS
SOME OF THE WORLD'S FINEST
142
00:08:06,386 --> 00:08:08,187
DRAGON REAL ESTATE,
143
00:08:08,188 --> 00:08:09,922
HERE IN THE POSTOJNA
CAVE SYSTEM.
144
00:08:14,627 --> 00:08:19,131
THESE CAVES ARE NOT ONLY
NATURAL GOTHIC CATHEDRALS,
145
00:08:19,132 --> 00:08:21,266
THEY ARE KNOWN AS THE BIRTHPLACE
146
00:08:21,267 --> 00:08:22,768
OF SPELEOBIOLOGY --
147
00:08:22,769 --> 00:08:24,837
THE SCIENCE OF CAVE LIFE.
148
00:08:34,314 --> 00:08:37,216
THERE'S A MENAGERIE OF MOST
PECULIAR ANIMALS
149
00:08:37,217 --> 00:08:40,552
LIVING IN THE INKY BLACKNESS.
150
00:08:40,553 --> 00:08:43,622
AND PERHAPS THE MOST BIZARRE
151
00:08:43,623 --> 00:08:47,393
IS WHAT LOCALS IN THE PAST
BELIEVED WAS A BABY DRAGON.
152
00:08:47,394 --> 00:08:49,461
LIKE A MEDIEVAL KNIGHT,
153
00:08:49,462 --> 00:08:53,198
ROM PREPARES TO ENTER
THE DRAGON'S REALM.
154
00:08:59,572 --> 00:09:03,742
THIS IS THE MODERN VERSION
OF DRAGON HUNTER'S ARMOR,
155
00:09:03,743 --> 00:09:05,978
TO PROTECT ME FROM THE COLD.
156
00:09:05,979 --> 00:09:08,547
Abraham:
EVEN THROUGH FULL ARMOR,
157
00:09:08,548 --> 00:09:11,150
THE CHILL OF
A SLOVENIAN CAVE POOL
158
00:09:11,151 --> 00:09:13,085
IS QUICK TO NUMB THE SENSES.
159
00:09:20,527 --> 00:09:23,328
BUT SOON, OUT OF THE GLOOM,
160
00:09:23,329 --> 00:09:25,064
STRANGE VISIONS
161
00:09:25,065 --> 00:09:26,432
BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE.
162
00:09:41,081 --> 00:09:44,516
ROM HAS SPENT A LIFETIME
SCOURING THE PLANET
163
00:09:44,517 --> 00:09:46,952
FOR THE WEIRD AND THE WONDERFUL,
164
00:09:46,953 --> 00:09:49,154
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING EVEN HE
165
00:09:49,155 --> 00:09:51,857
HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
166
00:09:51,858 --> 00:09:55,260
NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY
OF THESE CREATURES EXIST,
167
00:09:55,261 --> 00:09:59,665
BUT THEY ARE ONLY FOUND IN CAVES
IN THIS SMALL CORNER OF EUROPE.
168
00:10:08,074 --> 00:10:10,876
THE "BABY DRAGON"
IN THIS WATERY LAIR
169
00:10:10,877 --> 00:10:13,045
IS IN FACT A BLIND SALAMANDER
170
00:10:13,046 --> 00:10:14,713
KNOWN AS THE PROTEUS,
171
00:10:14,714 --> 00:10:17,082
OR THE OLM.
172
00:10:18,752 --> 00:10:22,287
OKAY, THIS IS IT.
173
00:10:22,288 --> 00:10:23,789
THIS IS THE OLM.
174
00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:26,658
LOOK AT THIS CREATURE.
175
00:10:26,659 --> 00:10:28,127
Abraham: THE OLM LOOKS LIKE
176
00:10:28,128 --> 00:10:30,129
ALMOST NOTHING ELSE
ON THE PLANET.
177
00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:32,398
LIVING IN PERPETUAL DARKNESS,
178
00:10:32,399 --> 00:10:35,501
IT HAS LOST ITS EYES
AND ITS PIGMENT.
179
00:10:35,502 --> 00:10:37,970
AS IT MATURES, IT RETAINS
180
00:10:37,971 --> 00:10:40,839
ITS JUVENILE FORM
INTO ADULTHOOD --
181
00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,476
LIKE AN ENCHANTED FROG,
TRAPPED INSIDE A TADPOLE'S BODY.
182
00:10:44,477 --> 00:10:45,978
IT'S GOT LEGS,
183
00:10:45,979 --> 00:10:47,946
BUT AMAZINGLY ENOUGH,
184
00:10:47,947 --> 00:10:49,815
ONLY TWO TOES ON THE HIND FEET,
185
00:10:49,816 --> 00:10:51,583
THREE TOES ON THE FRONT FEET.
186
00:10:51,584 --> 00:10:53,886
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
THE CREATURE
187
00:10:53,887 --> 00:10:57,189
AND ITS NATURAL HISTORY,
WHAT'S KNOWN ABOUT IT NOW,
188
00:10:57,190 --> 00:11:00,926
IT'S JUST AS FAR OUT AS THE IDEA
OF IT BEING A BABY DRAGON.
189
00:11:00,927 --> 00:11:03,062
THIS IS A CREATURE THAT CAN LIVE
FOR 60 YEARS,
190
00:11:03,063 --> 00:11:05,130
MAYBE EVEN 100 YEARS.
191
00:11:05,131 --> 00:11:08,500
IT'S A CREATURE THAT CAN GO
WITHOUT FOOD FOR 6 TO 10 YEARS,
192
00:11:08,501 --> 00:11:11,003
AND WITH A VERY, VERY LOW
METABOLIC RATE.
193
00:11:11,004 --> 00:11:15,074
Abraham: AND TO THE IMAGINATIVE
MEDIEVAL MIND,
194
00:11:15,075 --> 00:11:16,608
THIS BABY DRAGON
195
00:11:16,609 --> 00:11:18,811
COULD EVEN HAVE WINGS --
196
00:11:18,812 --> 00:11:22,348
OR AT LEAST EXTERNAL GILLS,
BRIGHT RED
197
00:11:22,349 --> 00:11:24,316
WITH OXYGEN-RICH BLOOD.
198
00:11:30,690 --> 00:11:32,825
Whitaker: AS FAR AS
THE TREE OF LIFE IS CONCERNED,
199
00:11:32,826 --> 00:11:35,394
THIS CREATURE IS VERY, VERY MUCH
OUT ON THE EDGE.
200
00:11:35,395 --> 00:11:37,129
HE'S OUT --
WAY OUT ON A LIMB.
201
00:11:37,130 --> 00:11:38,931
Abraham: THE OLM MIGHT NOT BE
202
00:11:38,932 --> 00:11:41,233
THE BIGGEST CREATURE
IN THE WORLD,
203
00:11:41,234 --> 00:11:42,968
AND IT'S NOT EVEN A REPTILE,
204
00:11:42,969 --> 00:11:46,105
BUT "DRAGON" IS A STATE OF MIND.
205
00:11:46,106 --> 00:11:49,942
AND ITS LONG FASTS
PUT ROM IN MIND OF DRAGONS
206
00:11:49,943 --> 00:11:52,978
WAKING FROM EONS OF SLUMBER,
207
00:11:52,979 --> 00:11:54,847
FAMISHED AND DANGEROUS.
208
00:11:54,848 --> 00:11:58,617
BUT HOWEVER DANGEROUS A HUNGRY
DRAGON MIGHT BE,
209
00:11:58,618 --> 00:12:02,321
IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO
THE WRATH OF A DRAGON
210
00:12:02,322 --> 00:12:04,723
WHOSE LAIR HAS BEEN PLUNDERED...
211
00:12:07,394 --> 00:12:10,329
ROM'S QUEST HEADS EAST TO INDIA,
212
00:12:10,330 --> 00:12:13,932
AND THE CHRONICLE OF
THE DRAGON'S HOARD.
213
00:12:18,304 --> 00:12:20,673
AS READERS OF "THE HOBBIT" KNOW,
214
00:12:20,674 --> 00:12:22,875
BILBO BAGGINS' DRAGON, SMAUG,
215
00:12:22,876 --> 00:12:25,210
DOESN'T JUST LIVE IN A CAVE --
216
00:12:25,211 --> 00:12:28,747
HE GUARDS THE CAVE'S
VAST HOARD OF TREASURE.
217
00:12:28,748 --> 00:12:31,250
ROM GREW UP WITH
OLD INDIAN TALES
218
00:12:31,251 --> 00:12:33,385
ABOUT THE LENGTHS TO WHICH
219
00:12:33,386 --> 00:12:36,488
WEALTHY MAHARAJAHS WOULD GO
TO PROTECT THEIR RICHES.
220
00:12:36,489 --> 00:12:40,459
WITH THIEVES
AND VILLAINS EVERYWHERE,
221
00:12:40,460 --> 00:12:44,563
THE PRINCES TURNED TO
DEADLY KINGS FOR HELP.
222
00:12:48,468 --> 00:12:50,402
WITH UNBLINKING EYES,
223
00:12:50,403 --> 00:12:54,340
THE KING COBRA IS AS VIGILANT
AS ANY DRAGON,
224
00:12:54,341 --> 00:12:57,543
CAPABLE OF KILLING A MAN
WITH A SINGLE BITE.
225
00:13:14,127 --> 00:13:16,729
BUT FOR ROM, THIS TREASURE
226
00:13:16,730 --> 00:13:20,065
IS TOO MUCH TO RESIST.
227
00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:23,402
FORGET THE GOLD,
HE'S AFTER THE COBRA.
228
00:13:23,403 --> 00:13:27,439
THIS IS "INDIA" JONES,
NOT "INDIANA."
229
00:13:29,442 --> 00:13:32,478
YET IT'S EASY TO SEE
HOW THIS MIGHTY SERPENT
230
00:13:32,479 --> 00:13:35,180
COULD STRIKE FEAR INTO
A LESSER HEART.
231
00:13:35,181 --> 00:13:37,282
Whitaker:
PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDABLY
232
00:13:37,283 --> 00:13:39,651
VERY, VERY FRIGHTENED
OF VENOMOUS SNAKES.
233
00:13:39,652 --> 00:13:42,321
AND, YOU KNOW,
GETTING BITTEN BY A SNAKE,
234
00:13:42,322 --> 00:13:44,189
AND THEN SEEING SOMEONE DYING,
235
00:13:44,190 --> 00:13:46,125
IT'S LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.
236
00:13:46,126 --> 00:13:48,927
AND JUST CONSIDER THE FACT THAT
A KING COBRA
237
00:13:48,928 --> 00:13:50,496
CAN GROW TO 18 FEET LONG,
238
00:13:50,497 --> 00:13:52,965
PRODUCING 7 MILLILITERS
OF VENOM --
239
00:13:52,966 --> 00:13:55,067
ENOUGH VENOM TO KILL AN ELEPHANT
240
00:13:55,068 --> 00:13:57,703
OR A COUPLE OF DOZEN
PUNY HUMAN BEINGS.
241
00:14:01,141 --> 00:14:02,541
ROM HAS BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH
242
00:14:02,542 --> 00:14:04,743
TO SURVIVE SEVERAL
VENOMOUS SNAKEBITES.
243
00:14:04,744 --> 00:14:06,278
BUT IN THE PROCESS,
244
00:14:06,279 --> 00:14:09,848
HE'S DEVELOPED AN ALLERGY
TO MODERN ANTIVENOM.
245
00:14:09,849 --> 00:14:11,550
A BITE FROM THIS SNAKE
246
00:14:11,551 --> 00:14:13,919
WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY BE FATAL.
247
00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,922
VENOM IS JUST
A STEP AWAY FROM FIRE --
248
00:14:16,923 --> 00:14:20,926
AND LEADS ROM INTO
THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HIS QUEST,
249
00:14:20,927 --> 00:14:24,163
THE CHRONICLE OF
THE FIRE-BREATHING DRAGON.
250
00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:29,768
IF YOU'RE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH
TO BE ON THE RECEIVING END
251
00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:32,571
OF ITS STRIKE,
THIS INDONESIAN SPITTING COBRA
252
00:14:32,572 --> 00:14:34,340
DOES INDEED SPEW FIRE.
253
00:14:34,341 --> 00:14:38,110
IT MAY BE SMALLER
THAN ITS INDIAN COUSIN,
254
00:14:38,111 --> 00:14:42,314
BUT IT MAKES UP FOR IT
WITH SOME SERIOUS ATTITUDE.
255
00:14:42,315 --> 00:14:44,083
NOT CONTENT TO DELIVER
256
00:14:44,084 --> 00:14:46,652
ITS LETHAL VENOM IN A BITE,
257
00:14:46,653 --> 00:14:48,887
IT'S DEVELOPED A TECHNIQUE FOR
SPRAYING IT
258
00:14:48,888 --> 00:14:52,558
DIRECTLY INTO THE EYES OF ANY
POTENTIAL ADVERSARY.
259
00:14:55,428 --> 00:14:57,329
MAN, THIS IS
THE ULTIMATE DEFENSE.
260
00:14:57,330 --> 00:14:59,298
IF I WAS A MONGOOSE,
I'D BE RUNNING
261
00:14:59,299 --> 00:15:00,833
IN THE OTHER DIRECTION
REALLY FAST.
262
00:15:00,834 --> 00:15:02,601
THE SNAKE DOESN'T HAVE TO GET
ANY CLOSER THAN THIS
263
00:15:02,602 --> 00:15:03,869
TO THE MONGOOSE.
264
00:15:03,870 --> 00:15:06,071
HE SPRAYS IT IN THE EYES,
265
00:15:06,072 --> 00:15:07,606
AND IT HURTS LIKE HECK.
266
00:15:07,607 --> 00:15:11,343
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE GETTING SOAP
IN YOUR EYES TIMES TEN.
267
00:15:11,344 --> 00:15:13,979
SO THE MONGOOSE RACES IN
THE OTHER DIRECTION
268
00:15:13,980 --> 00:15:15,314
TO CLEAN HIS EYES OUT.
269
00:15:15,315 --> 00:15:17,916
THE WAY A SPITTING COBRA
CAN DO THIS
270
00:15:17,917 --> 00:15:19,351
IS BY HAVING A VENOM
271
00:15:19,352 --> 00:15:20,953
WHICH IS VERY FLUID --
272
00:15:20,954 --> 00:15:24,723
IT'S NOT AS VISCOUS AS THE VENOM
OF AN ORDINARY COBRA,
273
00:15:24,724 --> 00:15:27,092
SO THAT IT FLOWS THROUGH
THE AIR,
274
00:15:27,093 --> 00:15:28,527
LIKE A SPRAY GUN,
275
00:15:28,528 --> 00:15:32,197
AND THIS PROBABLY MEANS THAT
THE VENOM OF A SPITTING COBRA
276
00:15:32,198 --> 00:15:35,601
ISN'T AS TOXIC AS THE VERY
VISCOUS, CONCENTRATED VENOM
277
00:15:35,602 --> 00:15:36,802
OF ANOTHER COBRA.
278
00:15:36,803 --> 00:15:40,339
BUT I'M NOT GONNA TRY IT OUT,
OF COURSE.
279
00:15:40,340 --> 00:15:42,408
IT'S FOUND ALL THE WAY, WELL,
280
00:15:42,409 --> 00:15:43,776
OVER MUCH OF ASIA,
281
00:15:43,777 --> 00:15:46,679
AND SEVERAL SPECIES
ARE FOUND IN AFRICA.
282
00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,580
IT'S A PRETTY COMMON SNAKE.
283
00:16:05,165 --> 00:16:08,767
IN ROM'S LIFELONG LOVE AFFAIR
WITH SNAKES,
284
00:16:08,768 --> 00:16:10,536
IT'S NOT JUST COBRAS
285
00:16:10,537 --> 00:16:13,372
THAT RESONATE WITH
DRAGON-LIKE QUALITIES.
286
00:16:13,373 --> 00:16:16,041
UNLIKE THE WINGED LIZARDS
OF THE WEST,
287
00:16:16,042 --> 00:16:20,479
EASTERN DRAGONS ARE OFTEN
DEPICTED AS ENORMOUS SERPENTS.
288
00:16:23,249 --> 00:16:26,752
THIS IS THE RETICULATED PYTHON,
289
00:16:26,753 --> 00:16:29,855
THE LONGEST SNAKE ON EARTH.
290
00:16:29,856 --> 00:16:32,825
IF I WAS A DEER
OR A WILD BOAR,
291
00:16:32,826 --> 00:16:36,428
I'D BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE
AT THIS POINT.
292
00:16:36,429 --> 00:16:40,499
THIS IS ONE BIG, BIG SNAKE.
293
00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:43,102
Abraham:
THE ROMAN NATURALIST, PLINY,
294
00:16:43,103 --> 00:16:45,938
DESCRIBES AN INDIAN DRAGON
AS SO ENORMOUS
295
00:16:45,939 --> 00:16:49,141
THAT IT COULD ENVELOPE
AN ELEPHANT IN ITS COILS.
296
00:16:49,142 --> 00:16:51,143
ACCOUNTING FOR
A LITTLE EMBELLISHMENT,
297
00:16:51,144 --> 00:16:55,614
HE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THIS PYTHON.
298
00:16:55,615 --> 00:16:58,751
THIS IS A PYTHON WHICH GROWS TO
CLOSE TO 30 FEET LONG,
299
00:16:58,752 --> 00:17:01,420
AND OUR FEMALE HERE
IS CLOSE TO 20 FEET LONG.
300
00:17:01,421 --> 00:17:03,922
THEY HAVE A FEARSOME REPUTATION.
301
00:17:03,923 --> 00:17:05,457
IN FACT, RETICULATED PYTHONS
302
00:17:05,458 --> 00:17:07,626
HAVE ACTUALLY SWALLOWED
HUMAN BEINGS.
303
00:17:07,627 --> 00:17:09,928
AND THIS ONE COULD CERTAINLY
TAKE ME DOWN,
304
00:17:09,929 --> 00:17:11,497
MAYBE NOT SWALLOW ME,
305
00:17:11,498 --> 00:17:14,133
BUT CERTAINLY COULD SUFFOCATE ME
TO DEATH IF SHE WANTED TO.
306
00:17:14,134 --> 00:17:16,235
SHE IS STRONG,
307
00:17:16,236 --> 00:17:18,103
AND ALSO ONE OF
THE MOST GORGEOUS SNAKES
308
00:17:18,104 --> 00:17:19,571
IN THE WORLD --
LOOK AT THAT.
309
00:17:19,572 --> 00:17:22,741
I MEAN,
SHE IS TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL.
310
00:17:22,742 --> 00:17:27,246
Abraham: REAL AND IMAGINARY
SERPENTS AND DRAGONS
311
00:17:27,247 --> 00:17:29,982
MAY DANCE DEEP WITHIN
THE HUMAN PSYCHE.
312
00:17:29,983 --> 00:17:33,185
THE ALMOST UNIVERSAL
FEAR OF SNAKES
313
00:17:33,186 --> 00:17:35,287
MAY HAVE A HEREDITARY COMPONENT.
314
00:17:37,123 --> 00:17:39,091
AN AVERSION TO SNAKES
315
00:17:39,092 --> 00:17:43,629
WOULD HAVE HELPED OUR
EARLY ANCESTORS STAY ALIVE...
316
00:17:43,630 --> 00:17:47,032
[ SQUAWKING ]
317
00:17:47,033 --> 00:17:48,867
AND OUR MODERN MONKEY COUSINS
318
00:17:48,868 --> 00:17:51,904
ALSO DISPLAY A FEAR OF SNAKES
319
00:17:51,905 --> 00:17:54,206
THAT MAY BE HARD-WIRED.
320
00:18:09,189 --> 00:18:11,857
ROM THINKS AN ATTRACTION TO FEAR
321
00:18:11,858 --> 00:18:15,627
MAY PARTLY EXPLAIN
HIS PASSION FOR SNAKES.
322
00:18:15,628 --> 00:18:18,197
Whitaker: WHEN I WAS
A YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPER,
323
00:18:18,198 --> 00:18:20,799
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
THAT I REALLY RECALL
324
00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,534
VERY, VERY STRONGLY IS GOING TO
325
00:18:22,535 --> 00:18:24,703
THE NEW YORK
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
326
00:18:24,704 --> 00:18:27,172
AND SEEING THOSE GIANT
DINOSAUR SKELETONS.
327
00:18:27,173 --> 00:18:28,974
AND MY FERTILE IMAGINATION WENT,
328
00:18:28,975 --> 00:18:31,977
OH, SOARING INTO SPACE.
329
00:18:31,978 --> 00:18:34,646
AND IT WAS KIND OF LOVE AT
FIRST SIGHT IN A STRANGE WAY.
330
00:18:34,647 --> 00:18:37,483
AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR
ALL THE OTHER KIDS IN THE WORLD,
331
00:18:37,484 --> 00:18:40,352
BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS THIS
UNIVERSAL FASCINATION,
332
00:18:40,353 --> 00:18:43,255
MAYBE FEAR,
BUT CERTAINLY A FASCINATION,
333
00:18:43,256 --> 00:18:46,625
FOR SOMETHING DRAGON-LIKE,
SOME GIANT REPTILE --
334
00:18:46,626 --> 00:18:49,428
BE IT A SNAKE,
OR BE IT A HUGE LIZARD.
335
00:18:49,429 --> 00:18:52,064
THERE'S ONE THING
YOU CAN SAY FOR CERTAIN,
336
00:18:52,065 --> 00:18:55,267
THERE IS NO NEUTRAL ATTITUDE
TOWARD REPTILES.
337
00:18:55,268 --> 00:18:56,702
ANYWHERE YOU GO IN THE WORLD,
338
00:18:56,703 --> 00:18:58,637
PEOPLE ARE EITHER
FASCINATED BY THEM,
339
00:18:58,638 --> 00:19:01,173
OR ABSOLUTELY SCARED
OUT OF THEIR WITS OF REPTILES.
340
00:19:01,174 --> 00:19:02,508
THAT INCLUDES SNAKES,
341
00:19:02,509 --> 00:19:04,410
AND TO SOME DEGREE LIZARDS, TOO,
342
00:19:04,411 --> 00:19:06,612
BECAUSE IN THE PSYCHE,
IN THE MIND,
343
00:19:06,613 --> 00:19:08,480
THE LIZARD COULD BE THAT DRAGON,
344
00:19:08,481 --> 00:19:10,683
COULD BE THAT DRAGON
IN YOUR DREAMS.
345
00:19:17,624 --> 00:19:20,893
Abraham: THERE'S MORE TO DRAGONS
THAN HOARDING GOLD,
346
00:19:20,894 --> 00:19:24,163
DEVOURING MAIDENS,
AND FIGHTING WITH FIRE.
347
00:19:24,164 --> 00:19:26,432
THE SERPENTS AND DRAGONS
OF THE EAST
348
00:19:26,433 --> 00:19:28,033
ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR WISDOM.
349
00:19:28,034 --> 00:19:31,670
EVEN THE DRAGON, SMAUG,
WAS FOND OF A RIDDLE.
350
00:19:31,671 --> 00:19:35,808
ROM BELIEVES HE CAN FIND
A CREATURE OF FLESH AND BLOOD
351
00:19:35,809 --> 00:19:40,079
TO MATCH THE LEGENDARY CUNNING
OF THESE MYTHICAL BEASTS.
352
00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,515
HIS QUEST TAKES HIM TO
SRI LANKA,
353
00:19:43,516 --> 00:19:46,618
FOR THE CHRONICLE
OF THE WISE DRAGON.
354
00:19:55,462 --> 00:20:00,165
INTELLIGENCE AND ADAPTABILITY
ARE TWO KEYS TO SUCCESS --
355
00:20:00,166 --> 00:20:02,368
ESPECIALLY WHERE TERRITORY
HAS BEEN SHARED
356
00:20:02,369 --> 00:20:06,005
FOR CENTURIES
WITH MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE.
357
00:20:06,006 --> 00:20:07,906
HERE IN THE SUBURBS OF
SRI LANKA,
358
00:20:07,907 --> 00:20:12,411
WATER MONITORS HAVE
NOT ONLY SURVIVED IN SOCIETY,
359
00:20:12,412 --> 00:20:14,847
THEY'VE BECOME AN ESSENTIAL
CLEAN-UP CREW.
360
00:20:16,783 --> 00:20:19,385
BY NIGHT, THEY STILL SEEK
THE SAFETY
361
00:20:19,386 --> 00:20:22,054
OF UNDISTURBED MANGROVE SWAMPS.
362
00:20:22,055 --> 00:20:23,856
BUT AS THEY WAKE
WITH THE HEAT OF THE MORNING,
363
00:20:23,857 --> 00:20:26,291
THEY MAKE THE SHORT COMMUTE
ACROSS THE RIVER
364
00:20:26,292 --> 00:20:30,162
TO EARN THEIR KEEP
AT THE FISH DOCKS.
365
00:20:37,871 --> 00:20:39,204
WHERE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
366
00:20:39,205 --> 00:20:41,940
HAS DIMINISHED THEIR USUAL PREY
367
00:20:41,941 --> 00:20:44,043
OF OF SMALL FISH AND MAMMALS,
368
00:20:44,044 --> 00:20:46,578
THE MONITOR HAS BEEN QUICK TO
LEARN THAT HUMAN PRESENCE
369
00:20:46,579 --> 00:20:49,281
ISN'T ALL BAD NEWS.
370
00:20:51,384 --> 00:20:55,220
EACH MORNING,
INSTEAD OF HEADING OUT TO HUNT,
371
00:20:55,221 --> 00:20:58,857
THEY WAIT IN LINE
FOR THEIR DAILY HANDOUT.
372
00:21:12,138 --> 00:21:14,139
Whitaker: WE'VE GOT TEN
373
00:21:14,140 --> 00:21:17,176
LARGE ADULT
WATER MONITOR LIZARDS HERE.
374
00:21:17,177 --> 00:21:19,345
THEY PROBABLY WEIGH
ON THE AVERAGE
375
00:21:19,346 --> 00:21:20,646
ABOUT 50 POUNDS EACH,
376
00:21:20,647 --> 00:21:22,881
SO YOU GOT ABOUT
A QUARTER OF A TON
377
00:21:22,882 --> 00:21:24,350
OF WATER MONITOR LIZARDS
378
00:21:24,351 --> 00:21:25,951
A COUPLE OF YARDS AWAY FROM
379
00:21:25,952 --> 00:21:27,953
THE MAIN HIGHWAY ON
380
00:21:27,954 --> 00:21:31,423
THE WEST COAST
OF SRI LANKA HERE.
381
00:21:31,424 --> 00:21:34,026
I DON'T PARTICULARLY AGREE WITH
THE IDEA OF POLLUTING THE RIVER,
382
00:21:34,027 --> 00:21:35,794
BUT THESE ARE THE SCAVENGERS WHO
CLEAN IT UP.
383
00:21:35,795 --> 00:21:37,496
YOU KNOW, SRI LANKA
IS KIND OF WEIRD
384
00:21:37,497 --> 00:21:39,331
IN THE SENSE THAT THEY DON'T
HAVE ANY VULTURES HERE,
385
00:21:39,332 --> 00:21:40,733
NO VULTURES AT ALL.
386
00:21:40,734 --> 00:21:43,535
SO THESE GUYS PLAY A ROLE --
IN THE RIVER, ANYWAY --
387
00:21:43,536 --> 00:21:44,970
OF CLEANING THE PLACE UP.
388
00:21:44,971 --> 00:21:47,206
Abraham: ADAPTIVE SCAVENGING
BEHAVIOR LIKE THIS
389
00:21:47,207 --> 00:21:50,943
IS MORE OFTEN SEEN IN MAMMALS
THAN IN REPTILES.
390
00:21:50,944 --> 00:21:52,444
BUT FOR ROM,
391
00:21:52,445 --> 00:21:54,646
THIS LIZARD IS SO SMART,
392
00:21:54,647 --> 00:21:58,884
IT ALMOST TRANSCENDS
ITS COLD-BLOODED HERITAGE.
393
00:21:58,885 --> 00:22:01,286
WHENEVER I'VE WATCHED
WATER MONITOR LIZARDS,
394
00:22:01,287 --> 00:22:02,721
TO ME, OF ALL THE REPTILES,
395
00:22:02,722 --> 00:22:04,790
THESE ARE SORT OF
THE MOST MAMMALIAN.
396
00:22:04,791 --> 00:22:08,694
YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF REPTILES
THAT WE CAN REALLY IDENTIFY WITH
397
00:22:08,695 --> 00:22:10,996
BECAUSE THEY HAVE
THAT CURIOSITY.
398
00:22:10,997 --> 00:22:12,765
THERE'S ONE LICKING MY LEG
RIGHT NOW.
399
00:22:12,766 --> 00:22:14,600
THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNISM,
400
00:22:14,601 --> 00:22:17,369
THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE
A REPTILE MONGOOSE,
401
00:22:17,370 --> 00:22:19,471
IF YOU PUT IT THAT WAY,
402
00:22:19,472 --> 00:22:21,340
AND NO OTHER REPTILE
403
00:22:21,341 --> 00:22:24,209
SEEMS TO HAVE THE KIND OF
INTELLIGENCE OR AWARENESS
404
00:22:24,210 --> 00:22:26,478
OR ALERTNESS
THAT THESE REPTILES HAVE.
405
00:22:26,479 --> 00:22:27,980
THIS IS VERY UNLIKE MOST
REPTILES,
406
00:22:27,981 --> 00:22:30,349
WHO ARE MUCH SLOWER,
LAID BACK,
407
00:22:30,350 --> 00:22:33,585
AND SORT OF GLAZY-EYED,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
408
00:22:33,586 --> 00:22:35,988
Abraham: MONITOR LIZARDS
HAVE BEEN REPORTED
409
00:22:35,989 --> 00:22:38,123
TO COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER
IN FORAGING,
410
00:22:38,124 --> 00:22:39,458
BY LURING CROCODILES
411
00:22:39,459 --> 00:22:42,695
AWAY FROM THEIR NESTS
SO THEY CAN STEAL THEIR EGGS.
412
00:22:42,696 --> 00:22:45,698
AND FEEDING STUDIES HAVE SHOWN
THAT ONE SPECIES
413
00:22:45,699 --> 00:22:49,234
IS EVEN ABLE TO DISTINGUISH
NUMBERS UP TO SIX --
414
00:22:49,235 --> 00:22:52,071
IN EFFECT, IT CAN COUNT.
415
00:22:58,411 --> 00:23:01,246
BUT SMARTS ALONE
DON'T MAKE A DRAGON.
416
00:23:01,247 --> 00:23:03,515
YOU NEED A BIT OF FEROCITY, TOO.
417
00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:18,030
WITH A LITTLE IMAGINATION
AND SOME OIL PAINT,
418
00:23:18,031 --> 00:23:20,065
RIGHT HERE IN SRI LANKA
419
00:23:20,066 --> 00:23:23,869
THERE IS ALL THE HORROR
OF A MEDIEVAL DRAGON.
420
00:23:28,174 --> 00:23:30,676
THE WATER MONITOR IS STILL
A PREDATOR AT HEART.
421
00:23:30,677 --> 00:23:35,280
WHERE DRAGONS OF YORE MAY HAVE
DEMANDED FLESHY SACRIFICES,
422
00:23:35,281 --> 00:23:39,618
TODAY'S CLEVER MONITOR IS MORE
PRACTICAL IN ITS EXPECTATIONS.
423
00:23:39,619 --> 00:23:42,321
[ CROWING ]
424
00:23:42,322 --> 00:23:46,325
AND HERE IN SRI LANKA,
425
00:23:46,326 --> 00:23:48,594
INSTEAD OF A FOX
IN YOUR HEN HOUSE,
426
00:23:48,595 --> 00:23:50,029
BEWARE THE GIANT LIZARD.
427
00:23:59,472 --> 00:24:02,107
I'M LITERALLY NOSE TO NOSE
428
00:24:02,108 --> 00:24:07,146
WITH A SEVEN-AND-A-HALF-FOOT
WATER MONITOR LIZARD.
429
00:24:07,147 --> 00:24:08,547
I KNEW ABOUT THIS GUY
430
00:24:08,548 --> 00:24:10,115
BECAUSE HE'S A REGULAR VISITOR
TO THIS YARD.
431
00:24:10,116 --> 00:24:13,452
THEY KEEP CHICKENS HERE,
AND HE KEEPS VISITING
432
00:24:13,453 --> 00:24:15,254
IN THE HOPES OF GETTING ONE.
433
00:24:15,255 --> 00:24:17,790
IN FACT,
HE OCCASIONALLY DOES GET ONE.
434
00:24:17,791 --> 00:24:22,194
HE'S A WELL-KNOWN CITIZEN
IN THIS AREA.
435
00:24:22,195 --> 00:24:24,496
Abraham: WHEN WATER MONITORS
436
00:24:24,497 --> 00:24:27,633
APPROACH THEIR FULL SIZE,
THEY SEEM TO THROW OFF
437
00:24:27,634 --> 00:24:29,802
ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR
REPTILIAN CONSTRAINTS.
438
00:24:29,803 --> 00:24:31,270
A BIG LIZARD LIKE THIS
439
00:24:31,271 --> 00:24:34,907
DOESN'T HAVE TO BASK IN THE SUN
IN THE MORNING TO BE WARM.
440
00:24:34,908 --> 00:24:37,576
WHATEVER HEAT HE GAINED
THE DAY BEFORE,
441
00:24:37,577 --> 00:24:40,179
HE'S READY TO GO
EARLY IN THE MORNING.
442
00:24:40,180 --> 00:24:42,548
A SMALL LIZARD HAS TO BASK FIRST
443
00:24:42,549 --> 00:24:45,351
BEFORE IT CAN REV UP
AND GET GOING.
444
00:24:45,352 --> 00:24:48,754
Abraham: FREE FROM
THE REPTILIAN NEED
445
00:24:48,755 --> 00:24:51,724
FOR CONSTANT THERMOREGULATION,
446
00:24:51,725 --> 00:24:54,293
THE WATER MONITOR BECOMES
A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE PREDATOR,
447
00:24:54,294 --> 00:24:58,831
AND A MORE DANGEROUS SUBJECT
FOR A CLOSE-UP.
448
00:24:58,832 --> 00:25:01,433
I'M KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT
THAT TAIL, THOUGH.
449
00:25:01,434 --> 00:25:04,303
IF HE BENDS IT BACK
THE OTHER WAY, I'M GONE.
450
00:25:04,304 --> 00:25:05,738
[ LAUGHING ]
451
00:25:05,739 --> 00:25:08,374
A SLAP IN THE FACE
WOULDN'T BE GOOD.
452
00:25:12,479 --> 00:25:15,214
Abraham:
WHETHER HUNTING OR FORAGING,
453
00:25:15,215 --> 00:25:17,950
THE WATER MONITOR'S
KEEN INTELLIGENCE
454
00:25:17,951 --> 00:25:21,220
IS MATCHED BY AN EQUALLY SHARP
SENSE OF SMELL.
455
00:25:21,221 --> 00:25:24,023
Whitaker:
EVERYTHING A WATER MONITOR DOES
456
00:25:24,024 --> 00:25:25,891
SEEMS TO BE GUIDED BY SMELL.
457
00:25:25,892 --> 00:25:28,594
WHETHER IT'S FINDING FOOD
OR FINDING A MATE,
458
00:25:28,595 --> 00:25:31,897
THAT FORKED TONGUE WORKS
THE SAME WAY
459
00:25:31,898 --> 00:25:34,366
A SNAKE'S FORKED TONGUE DOES.
460
00:25:34,367 --> 00:25:36,235
THEY HAVE SOMETHING CALLED
JACOBSON'S ORGANS
461
00:25:36,236 --> 00:25:37,503
IN THE ROOF OF THEIR MOUTH,
462
00:25:37,504 --> 00:25:39,371
AND THEY PICK UP PARTICLES
OF SCENT FROM THE AIR
463
00:25:39,372 --> 00:25:41,473
AND FROM WHATEVER
THEY'RE LOOKING AT AND SMELLING,
464
00:25:41,474 --> 00:25:43,542
AND IT DELIVERS IT RIGHT TO
THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH.
465
00:25:43,543 --> 00:25:45,077
THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING NOW.
466
00:25:45,078 --> 00:25:47,112
HE'S SMELLING WHAT I'VE GOT,
BUT HE'S A LITTLE WARY OF ME,
467
00:25:47,113 --> 00:25:50,349
HE'S NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT
MY INTENTIONS HERE.
468
00:25:50,350 --> 00:25:51,917
Abraham: WHEN DEALING WITH
AN ADVERSARY
469
00:25:51,918 --> 00:25:53,419
TOO BIG FOR ITS TEETH,
470
00:25:53,420 --> 00:25:56,021
THE WATER MONITOR EMPLOYS
471
00:25:56,022 --> 00:25:58,824
ITS NEXT MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPON.
472
00:25:58,825 --> 00:26:00,325
AND THAT'S HIS MAIN DEFENSE.
473
00:26:00,326 --> 00:26:02,761
IF HE WANTS TO...
474
00:26:02,762 --> 00:26:05,130
HE CAN GIVE ME A GOOD WHACK
WITH HIS TAIL.
475
00:26:05,131 --> 00:26:07,032
SMARTS.
476
00:26:07,033 --> 00:26:08,801
BETTER KEEP BACK FROM HIM.
477
00:26:08,802 --> 00:26:12,037
HEY!
478
00:26:12,038 --> 00:26:14,273
THIS WHOLE TAIL LASHING
IS JUST SIMPLY HIS WAY
479
00:26:14,274 --> 00:26:15,441
OF TRYING TO SEE ME OFF.
480
00:26:15,442 --> 00:26:16,542
I MEAN, THAT'S HIS --
481
00:26:16,543 --> 00:26:18,444
A REAL, REAL GOOD,
VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE
482
00:26:18,445 --> 00:26:20,713
DEFENSIVE WHIP, AND IT HURTS,
IT REALLY SMARTS.
483
00:26:20,714 --> 00:26:23,148
I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S BEING
SO NASTY TO ME --
484
00:26:23,149 --> 00:26:25,551
HERE I AM FEEDING HIM,
I MEAN, COME ON, GUY.
485
00:26:25,552 --> 00:26:28,887
Abraham: EVERY DRAGON HUNTER
BEARS HIS SCARS...
486
00:26:28,888 --> 00:26:31,090
WHOA!
487
00:26:31,091 --> 00:26:33,525
AND HERE IN SRI LANKA,
488
00:26:33,526 --> 00:26:36,595
ROM'S PICKED UP ANOTHER
TO ADD TO HIS LIST.
489
00:26:36,596 --> 00:26:39,865
DRAGONS ARE COMPLEX BEASTS --
490
00:26:39,866 --> 00:26:42,634
PART MYTH, PART SCIENCE,
491
00:26:42,635 --> 00:26:46,005
PART DINOSAUR FANTASY.
492
00:26:46,006 --> 00:26:47,973
BUT WHATEVER THE INSPIRATION,
493
00:26:47,974 --> 00:26:51,010
ONE THING ALL DRAGONS MUST DO
494
00:26:51,011 --> 00:26:53,078
IS FLY.
495
00:26:53,079 --> 00:26:56,115
ROM IS GOING TO PROVE THAT
ANYTHING FICTION CAN DO,
496
00:26:56,116 --> 00:26:59,084
FACT CAN, TOO.
497
00:26:59,085 --> 00:27:01,653
THIS IS THE CHRONICLE
OF THE FLYING DRAGON.
498
00:27:01,654 --> 00:27:06,759
Whitaker: PROBABLY THE MOST
FAMOUS FLYING REPTILE
499
00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:08,794
THAT EVER EXISTED WAS
THE PTERODACTYL,
500
00:27:08,795 --> 00:27:10,062
YOU KNOW, BACK IN
THE DINOSAUR DAYS,
501
00:27:10,063 --> 00:27:12,564
A MASSIVE, LEATHERY-WINGED
FLYING CREATURE
502
00:27:12,565 --> 00:27:14,700
THAT SORT OF GAVE US ALL
THE CREEPS
503
00:27:14,701 --> 00:27:17,569
WHEN WE WERE LITTLE KIDS.
504
00:27:17,570 --> 00:27:20,205
Abraham: PTERODACTYLS MAY BE
EXTINCT, BUT FOR ROM,
505
00:27:20,206 --> 00:27:22,875
THEIR DRAGON-LIKE RELATIVES
STILL CAST THEIR SHADOW
506
00:27:22,876 --> 00:27:24,376
UPON THE EARTH.
507
00:27:24,377 --> 00:27:26,211
AND HE'S COME TO THE RAINFORESTS
508
00:27:26,212 --> 00:27:30,582
OF INDIA'S WESTERN GHATS
TO CATCH ONE.
509
00:27:30,583 --> 00:27:35,020
IT'S KNOWN TO MODERN SCIENCE AS
DRACO DUSSUMIERI.
510
00:27:51,671 --> 00:27:55,774
Whitaker: YOUR WHOLE PERCEPTION
OF THE RAINFOREST CHANGES
511
00:27:55,775 --> 00:27:58,010
EVERY LEVEL YOU GO UP.
512
00:27:58,011 --> 00:27:59,578
IT'S IN TIERS.
513
00:27:59,579 --> 00:28:02,481
NOW I'M ABOVE THE,
SORT OF THE LOWER STORY,
514
00:28:02,482 --> 00:28:05,284
GETTING UP TOWARD THE CANOPY...
515
00:28:05,285 --> 00:28:09,888
AND THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
516
00:28:09,889 --> 00:28:12,891
SO THIS IS DRAGON COUNTRY --
FLYING DRAGON COUNTRY.
517
00:28:12,892 --> 00:28:14,393
THERE'S A MALE OVER THERE.
518
00:28:14,394 --> 00:28:17,363
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK,
DUE LEFT.
519
00:28:17,364 --> 00:28:19,698
IF I TAKE SOME TIME
AND LOOK AROUND...
520
00:28:19,699 --> 00:28:21,200
THERE'S ANOTHER, IT'S A FEMALE.
521
00:28:21,201 --> 00:28:23,769
SO THEY ARE ALL AT THIS LEVEL.
522
00:28:23,770 --> 00:28:28,273
50, 60, MAYBE EVEN 70 FEET UP
IN THE CANOPY.
523
00:28:28,274 --> 00:28:32,011
ON THE -- OPEN SUNLIGHT IS JUST
HITTING THOSE TREES OVER THERE.
524
00:28:32,012 --> 00:28:33,412
JUST THE RIGHT TIME OF DAY
525
00:28:33,413 --> 00:28:36,181
WHEN THEY'RE HEATING UP --
OH, IT'S BRILLIANT,
526
00:28:36,182 --> 00:28:38,650
TO SEE THEM AT EYE LEVEL
LIKE THIS.
527
00:28:38,651 --> 00:28:40,085
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
528
00:28:40,086 --> 00:28:43,822
Abraham: THERE ARE OVER
20 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF DRACO
529
00:28:43,823 --> 00:28:45,290
FOUND THROUGHOUT TROPICAL ASIA.
530
00:28:45,291 --> 00:28:46,859
THEY SPEND PRACTICALLY THEIR
WHOLE LIVES
531
00:28:46,860 --> 00:28:49,061
HIGH UP IN THE CANOPY.
532
00:28:49,062 --> 00:28:51,397
THERE ARE NO MAIDENS UP HERE --
533
00:28:51,398 --> 00:28:53,432
THEY FEAST ON THE ANTS
534
00:28:53,433 --> 00:28:55,868
THAT SHARE THEIR TREETOP HOME.
535
00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:04,510
WHEN THREATENING RIVALS
OR ATTRACTING A MATE,
536
00:29:04,511 --> 00:29:06,111
THE MALES BLOW THEIR COVER
537
00:29:06,112 --> 00:29:09,415
AND EXTEND THE BRIGHT YELLOW
FLAP ON THEIR NECK
538
00:29:09,416 --> 00:29:11,283
IN A DISPLAY
CALLED "DEWLAPPING."
539
00:29:15,488 --> 00:29:17,723
THE VIEW MAY BE GREAT UP HERE,
540
00:29:17,724 --> 00:29:21,260
BUT ROM'S NATURAL
DRAGON HUNTER'S AGILITY
541
00:29:21,261 --> 00:29:24,997
IS SOMEWHAT HAMPERED
BY ROPES AND HARNESSES.
542
00:29:24,998 --> 00:29:27,399
TO ACTUALLY CATCH
ONE OF THESE DRAGONS,
543
00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:29,601
HE IS GOING TO NEED
A NEW WEAPON --
544
00:29:29,602 --> 00:29:31,804
A LANCE...
545
00:29:31,805 --> 00:29:35,407
WITH SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS.
546
00:29:35,408 --> 00:29:39,611
THE GREEK HISTORIAN, HERODOTUS,
547
00:29:39,612 --> 00:29:41,847
DESCRIBES THRONGS
OF WINGED SERPENTS
548
00:29:41,848 --> 00:29:43,349
GUARDING TREES IN ARABIA.
549
00:29:43,350 --> 00:29:47,419
SCHOLARS HAVE LONG ARGUED OVER
WHAT EXACTLY HE WAS DESCRIBING.
550
00:29:47,420 --> 00:29:50,289
ROM'S GOT HIS OWN THEORY.
551
00:29:50,290 --> 00:29:53,992
THIS PLANTATION IS
THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM ARABIA,
552
00:29:53,993 --> 00:29:55,694
BUT IT IS SWARMING WITH DRACO,
553
00:29:55,695 --> 00:29:58,931
AND THE MALE DOES INDEED
GUARD THE TREES
554
00:29:58,932 --> 00:30:02,001
OF ITS HOME TERRITORY
FROM OTHER ENCROACHING MALES.
555
00:30:02,002 --> 00:30:05,738
BUT WHEN FACED WITH
A DRAGON HUNTER'S LANCE,
556
00:30:05,739 --> 00:30:07,873
ITS MAIN FORM OF DEFENSE
IS EVASION.
557
00:30:12,612 --> 00:30:14,313
IT MAY ONLY BE NINE INCHES LONG
558
00:30:14,314 --> 00:30:16,248
AND LIVE ON A DIET OF ANTS,
559
00:30:16,249 --> 00:30:19,284
BUT WHEN DRACO HAS
NOWHERE LEFT TO RUN,
560
00:30:19,285 --> 00:30:21,120
IT MATCHES ITS MYTHICAL NAMESAKE
561
00:30:21,121 --> 00:30:24,623
AND TAKES TO THE SKY.
562
00:30:34,234 --> 00:30:37,069
THIS SIDE, THIS SIDE,
THIS SIDE.
563
00:30:50,283 --> 00:30:53,085
OKAY, LITTLE GUY.
564
00:30:53,086 --> 00:30:56,588
QUICKLY, QUICKLY,
GENTLY, GENTLY.
565
00:30:56,589 --> 00:30:59,558
OH...OKAY.
566
00:30:59,559 --> 00:31:02,761
AND ROM'S PERSEVERANCE
FINALLY PAYS OFF.
567
00:31:02,762 --> 00:31:05,497
WHAT A BEAUTY!
568
00:31:05,498 --> 00:31:08,701
WHAT AN AMAZING LIZARD.
569
00:31:08,702 --> 00:31:11,003
IT'S A MALE, FOR SURE.
570
00:31:11,004 --> 00:31:13,639
IT'S GOT THIS
HUGE YELLOW DEWLAP.
571
00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:15,841
IT'S REALLY FRAGILE --
LOOK AT THIS,
572
00:31:15,842 --> 00:31:18,477
I AM TRYING TO BE AS GENTLE
AS I CAN WITH IT,
573
00:31:18,478 --> 00:31:20,913
'CAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE
SKIN AND BONES.
574
00:31:20,914 --> 00:31:24,350
AND PROBABLY MOST REMARKABLE
OF ALL,
575
00:31:24,351 --> 00:31:27,353
IF YOU GENTLY STRETCH IT OUT,
576
00:31:27,354 --> 00:31:30,456
THEY'VE GOT THESE AMAZING WINGS.
577
00:31:30,457 --> 00:31:32,057
LOOK AT THAT.
578
00:31:32,058 --> 00:31:33,559
THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW
ONE OF THESE,
579
00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,028
I THOUGHT A BUTTERFLY
WAS FLOATING OVER ME.
580
00:31:36,029 --> 00:31:37,196
LITERALLY.
581
00:31:37,197 --> 00:31:39,064
THEN I SAW IT LAND ON A TREE
AND CATCH AN ANT.
582
00:31:39,065 --> 00:31:41,100
THAT'S NO BUTTERFLY.
583
00:31:41,101 --> 00:31:42,601
THIS IS, TO ME,
584
00:31:42,602 --> 00:31:45,070
ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE
REPTILES ON THE PLANET.
585
00:31:45,071 --> 00:31:46,572
Abraham: AND ROM BELIEVES
586
00:31:46,573 --> 00:31:48,907
DRACO'S AMAZING
DRAGON-LIKE ABILITIES
587
00:31:48,908 --> 00:31:51,510
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN LOST
ON EARLIER VISITORS
588
00:31:51,511 --> 00:31:53,612
TO THESE REGIONS.
589
00:31:53,613 --> 00:31:55,681
BACK IN THE DAYS OF YORE,
YOU KNOW,
590
00:31:55,682 --> 00:31:58,317
EXPLORERS WOULD GO TO
THE DEEPEST, DARKEST PARTS
591
00:31:58,318 --> 00:31:59,451
OF THE EAST INDIES.
592
00:31:59,452 --> 00:32:01,220
THEY'D COME BACK WITH
REAL DRAWINGS
593
00:32:01,221 --> 00:32:02,588
OF THINGS LIKE RHINOCEROSES,
594
00:32:02,589 --> 00:32:04,823
AND THESE ARE THE FIRST TIME
THE CIVILIZED WORLD
595
00:32:04,824 --> 00:32:06,225
HAD SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
596
00:32:06,226 --> 00:32:08,927
BUT THEY'D ALSO COME BACK WITH
AMAZING, FANCIFUL DRAWINGS
597
00:32:08,928 --> 00:32:11,497
OF LIZARDS
LOOKING VERY MUCH LIKE THIS,
598
00:32:11,498 --> 00:32:13,999
ONLY THEY DEPICTED THEM AS
599
00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:16,669
30-FOOT-LONG FLYING DRAGONS.
600
00:32:18,705 --> 00:32:23,175
THEY LOOK VERY, VERY MUCH LIKE
WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.
601
00:32:23,176 --> 00:32:25,010
SO THEY REALLY DID SEE
SOME REAL STUFF,
602
00:32:25,011 --> 00:32:27,012
BUT THEN THEIR MINDS WENT
A LITTLE BIT WILD
603
00:32:27,013 --> 00:32:28,714
AND SORT OF TOOK IT
TO THE EXTREME.
604
00:32:28,715 --> 00:32:31,650
AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY
THEY CALLED IT DRACO.
605
00:32:31,651 --> 00:32:33,352
I'M SURE THAT'S WHY
THEY CALLED IT DRACO.
606
00:32:43,196 --> 00:32:45,397
Abraham: SO FAR, ROM'S JOURNEY
607
00:32:45,398 --> 00:32:48,000
HAS TAKEN IN
MAN-EATING CROCODILES,
608
00:32:48,001 --> 00:32:50,035
CAVE-DWELLING METHUSELAHS,
609
00:32:50,036 --> 00:32:52,638
REPTILES THAT FLY
610
00:32:52,639 --> 00:32:54,873
AND SPITIERY VENOM,
611
00:32:54,874 --> 00:32:58,143
AND FIERCE LIZARDS
AS SMART AS MAMMALS.
612
00:32:58,144 --> 00:33:01,013
NOW HE SEEKS A DRAGON
613
00:33:01,014 --> 00:33:03,816
THAT NEEDS NO EMBELLISHMENT
OR ARTISTIC LICENSE.
614
00:33:10,223 --> 00:33:12,091
THE FINAL CHRONICLE
615
00:33:12,092 --> 00:33:14,893
IS OF THE REAL DRAGON.
616
00:33:17,964 --> 00:33:19,465
BY THE 19th CENTURY,
617
00:33:19,466 --> 00:33:22,201
THE IDEA OF
DRAGONS ROAMING THE EARTH
618
00:33:22,202 --> 00:33:27,606
HAD BEEN DISMISSED AS MEDIEVAL
SUPERSTITION AND FANTASY.
619
00:33:27,607 --> 00:33:29,074
BUT ONLY 80 YEARS AGO,
620
00:33:29,075 --> 00:33:31,977
SCIENTIFIC CERTAINTY WAS THROWN
INTO DISARRAY
621
00:33:31,978 --> 00:33:34,046
WITH RUMORS OF A REMOTE ISLAND
622
00:33:34,047 --> 00:33:37,616
THAT COULD HAVE COME STRAIGHT
FROM THE MAPPA MUNDI.
623
00:33:37,617 --> 00:33:41,320
IT WAS HOME TO A GIANT CREATURE
624
00:33:41,321 --> 00:33:44,556
NEVER SEEN BY THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
625
00:33:44,557 --> 00:33:46,392
IN 1926,
626
00:33:46,393 --> 00:33:48,327
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM
OF NATURAL HISTORY
627
00:33:48,328 --> 00:33:50,362
LAUNCHED AN EXPEDITION
628
00:33:50,363 --> 00:33:54,066
TO CAPTURE A BEAST THAT EVEN
SCIENCE WOULD CALL A DRAGON.
629
00:33:57,570 --> 00:33:59,938
FOR ROM, HIS FIRST VISIT
630
00:33:59,939 --> 00:34:02,074
TO KOMODO IS THE CLIMAX OF HIS
631
00:34:02,075 --> 00:34:05,577
LIFE'S OBSESSION WITH REPTILES.
632
00:34:08,782 --> 00:34:11,216
IN HIS EXCITEMENT,
633
00:34:11,217 --> 00:34:13,118
HE TOO CAN ALMOST SENSE
THE MONSTERS
634
00:34:13,119 --> 00:34:16,255
IN THE LANDSCAPE.
635
00:34:17,657 --> 00:34:20,526
FOR A DRAGON HUNTER
ON A CRUSADE,
636
00:34:20,527 --> 00:34:23,328
THIS IS THE HOLY LAND.
637
00:34:31,137 --> 00:34:33,672
I CAN JUST IMAGINE
HOW IT MUST HAVE FELT
638
00:34:33,673 --> 00:34:35,474
BEING ON THAT FIRST EXPEDITION
639
00:34:35,475 --> 00:34:38,210
FROM THE AMERICAN MUSEUM
OF NATURAL HISTORY,
640
00:34:38,211 --> 00:34:39,611
COMING TO KOMODO,
641
00:34:39,612 --> 00:34:42,648
ALL THESE CRAZY STORIES
ABOUT A GIANT REPTILE
642
00:34:42,649 --> 00:34:45,918
STILL WANDERING AROUND
IN THIS KIND OF LANDSCAPE.
643
00:34:45,919 --> 00:34:49,888
I AM ACTUALLY GETTING
A FEW SHIVERS THINKING ABOUT IT.
644
00:34:49,889 --> 00:34:54,293
BUT THE IDEA OF FINDING
645
00:34:54,294 --> 00:35:00,499
A BIG DINOSAUR-LIKE CREATURE
ALIVE IN THIS DAY AND AGE
646
00:35:00,500 --> 00:35:02,101
AND THEN WHEN THEY GOT HERE,
647
00:35:02,102 --> 00:35:04,370
AND ACTUALLY STARTED
WANDERING AROUND,
648
00:35:04,371 --> 00:35:05,871
AND THEN CAME FACE TO FACE
649
00:35:05,872 --> 00:35:08,407
WITH THE FIRST REALLY BIG
KOMODO DRAGONS...
650
00:35:08,408 --> 00:35:14,113
AH, THAT IS TRUE EXCITEMENT --
I MEAN, OH, MAN!
651
00:35:14,114 --> 00:35:17,750
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT
A PRIMEVAL LANDSCAPE HERE.
652
00:35:17,751 --> 00:35:20,886
IF THERE WAS EVER A PLACE
THAT DESERVES TO HAVE A DRAGON,
653
00:35:20,887 --> 00:35:25,524
THIS IS DEFINITELY IT.
654
00:35:31,364 --> 00:35:33,732
THE NEXT MORNING,
655
00:35:33,733 --> 00:35:35,701
ROM'S CHANCE TO SEE
A LIVING DRAGON
656
00:35:35,702 --> 00:35:37,269
HAS FINALLY ARRIVED.
657
00:35:37,270 --> 00:35:38,737
HIS FIRST FOOTFALL
658
00:35:38,738 --> 00:35:41,306
IS LIKE STEPPING BACK INTO
A JURASSIC PAST.
659
00:35:45,645 --> 00:35:47,079
WALKING THROUGH
660
00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:48,447
THIS KING KONG LANDSCAPE,
661
00:35:48,448 --> 00:35:50,716
HE CAN'T HELP THINKING ABOUT
THE DRAGON'S
662
00:35:50,717 --> 00:35:53,052
FEARSOME AMBUSH ABILITIES,
663
00:35:53,053 --> 00:35:54,920
AND THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN
KILLED AND EATEN
664
00:35:54,921 --> 00:35:57,022
ON THESE VERY ISLANDS.
665
00:36:11,938 --> 00:36:14,206
Whitaker: OH, MAN!
666
00:36:14,207 --> 00:36:18,510
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER
SEEN A WILD KOMODO DRAGON.
667
00:36:18,511 --> 00:36:20,879
[ CHUCKLES ]
668
00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:22,614
YOU KNOW, WE ARE USED TO
669
00:36:22,615 --> 00:36:25,584
ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF
MONITOR LIZARD
670
00:36:25,585 --> 00:36:28,287
I'VE BEEN SEEING
ALL OVER THE PLACE,
671
00:36:28,288 --> 00:36:29,488
AND THERE'S NEVER --
672
00:36:29,489 --> 00:36:31,190
THERE'S JUST NOT ANY OF THEM
673
00:36:31,191 --> 00:36:33,258
AS MASSIVE AS THIS CREATURE IS.
674
00:36:33,259 --> 00:36:36,462
HERE'S A REAL LAND PREDATOR,
YOU KNOW,
675
00:36:36,463 --> 00:36:39,698
STOMPING AROUND LIKE A DINOSAUR,
676
00:36:39,699 --> 00:36:42,134
LEAVING FOOTPRINTS
LIKE A DINOSAUR.
677
00:36:42,135 --> 00:36:45,170
I MEAN, IT'S EVERYTHING
I EVER EXPECTED.
678
00:36:48,842 --> 00:36:52,478
Abraham: REAL DRAGONS
LIVE WITHIN FIXED TERRITORIES,
679
00:36:52,479 --> 00:36:55,347
AND THE POPULATION
WHERE ROM HAS LANDED
680
00:36:55,348 --> 00:36:58,283
SHOW ABSOLUTELY NO FEAR
OF HUMANS.
681
00:36:58,284 --> 00:37:00,152
AND FOR ONCE,
682
00:37:00,153 --> 00:37:02,521
AFTER 50 YEARS AROUND
LARGE REPTILES,
683
00:37:02,522 --> 00:37:04,023
IT'S ROM'S TURN
684
00:37:04,024 --> 00:37:07,593
TO SHOW SOME FEAR.
685
00:37:07,594 --> 00:37:10,329
WHOA!
686
00:37:10,330 --> 00:37:13,365
WHAT IS IT?
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!
687
00:37:13,366 --> 00:37:14,533
WHOA!
688
00:37:14,534 --> 00:37:15,868
WHOA!
689
00:37:18,605 --> 00:37:20,205
NO, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING,
690
00:37:20,206 --> 00:37:21,740
I REALLY DIDN'T,
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MEAT.
691
00:37:21,741 --> 00:37:23,242
NO, I DON'T...
692
00:37:23,243 --> 00:37:25,277
NOTHING...
693
00:37:25,278 --> 00:37:26,712
REALLY!
694
00:37:29,816 --> 00:37:33,318
THERE ARE VERY FEW REPTILES
WHO WILL --
695
00:37:33,319 --> 00:37:35,254
DO THIS!
696
00:37:46,599 --> 00:37:50,469
THEY SAY THAT REPTILES
GET TIRED REAL EASY.
697
00:37:50,470 --> 00:37:54,006
HOW ABOUT HUMANS, MAN?
698
00:37:54,007 --> 00:37:57,676
HE'S TIRING ME OUT.
699
00:37:57,677 --> 00:37:59,645
THIS IS SCARY, YOU KNOW?
700
00:37:59,646 --> 00:38:02,514
THE ONLY TIME I HAVE EVER BEEN
CHASED BY A REPTILE
701
00:38:02,515 --> 00:38:04,616
IS A FEMALE CROCODILE
AT HER NEST,
702
00:38:04,617 --> 00:38:08,420
NOT A FREE-RANGING
BIG, BIG LIZARD LIKE THIS.
703
00:38:08,421 --> 00:38:12,458
AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,
IT'S NOT JUST FOR FUN --
704
00:38:12,459 --> 00:38:14,259
IF HE CATCHES ME, IF I TRIP,
705
00:38:14,260 --> 00:38:15,861
I'M MEAT.
706
00:38:15,862 --> 00:38:18,397
Abraham: ROM'S RIGHT TO BE WARY.
707
00:38:18,398 --> 00:38:20,099
AS RECENTLY AS 2007,
708
00:38:20,100 --> 00:38:23,502
AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY
WAS ATTACKED AND KILLED
709
00:38:23,503 --> 00:38:28,340
BY A KOMODO DRAGON,
NOT FAR FROM THIS VERY SPOT.
710
00:38:28,341 --> 00:38:30,809
YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST LANDED
ON THE BEACH THERE,
711
00:38:30,810 --> 00:38:33,212
I JUST WANDERED AROUND,
ALL BY MYSELF, YOU KNOW?
712
00:38:33,213 --> 00:38:35,581
AND...I WOULDN'T DO THAT NOW.
713
00:38:35,582 --> 00:38:37,516
NO, SIRREE.
714
00:38:42,489 --> 00:38:45,024
Abraham: ON THE FEW ISLANDS
THEY INHABIT,
715
00:38:45,025 --> 00:38:47,259
THESE DRAGONS
ARE THE TOP PREDATOR.
716
00:38:47,260 --> 00:38:50,062
THEY CAN EAT 80% OF
THEIR OWN BODY WEIGHT
717
00:38:50,063 --> 00:38:51,330
IN A SINGLE MEAL,
718
00:38:51,331 --> 00:38:52,998
AND ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE
719
00:38:52,999 --> 00:38:55,701
A SOPHISTICATED
AND SINISTER TECHNIQUE
720
00:38:55,702 --> 00:38:58,037
FOR KILLING LARGE PREY.
721
00:38:58,038 --> 00:39:00,472
THEIR SALIVA IS OFTEN DESCRIBED
722
00:39:00,473 --> 00:39:02,908
AS A FOUL COCKTAIL
OF VIRULENT BACTERIA
723
00:39:02,909 --> 00:39:04,410
THAT WOULD TURN
724
00:39:04,411 --> 00:39:05,844
EVEN THE SMALLEST BITE
725
00:39:05,845 --> 00:39:09,882
INTO A DANGEROUS
FESTERING WOUND.
726
00:39:09,883 --> 00:39:12,351
THIS DEER HAS BEEN BITTEN
BY A DRAGON.
727
00:39:12,352 --> 00:39:14,853
IT'S SIMPLY A MATTER OF TIME
728
00:39:14,854 --> 00:39:17,623
BEFORE IT SUCCUMBS TO
BLOOD POISONING.
729
00:39:17,624 --> 00:39:19,258
AND IT WON'T TAKE LONG
730
00:39:19,259 --> 00:39:21,427
FOR THE KOMODO DRAGON
AND ITS FRIENDS
731
00:39:21,428 --> 00:39:24,196
TO TRACK IT DOWN...
732
00:39:24,197 --> 00:39:25,931
AND THEN DO WHAT THEY DO BEST.
733
00:39:34,007 --> 00:39:35,407
MANY SCIENTISTS
734
00:39:35,408 --> 00:39:38,410
HAVE TRIED TO DISCOVER
WHICH BACTERIUM
735
00:39:38,411 --> 00:39:40,679
MAKES DRAGON DROOL SO TOXIC --
736
00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:43,215
ANOTHER REPTILIAN FIERY BITE.
737
00:39:43,216 --> 00:39:46,051
ROM WANTS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
738
00:39:46,052 --> 00:39:48,153
OF THE STORY, AND TO DO THIS,
739
00:39:48,154 --> 00:39:49,822
HE NEEDS TO CATCH ONE.
740
00:39:54,194 --> 00:39:55,728
[ TRUMPET FANFARE PLAYS ]
741
00:39:55,729 --> 00:39:57,162
THE DRAGON SLAYER OF YORE
742
00:39:57,163 --> 00:39:59,231
WAS THE MOST COURAGEOUS
OF KNIGHTS.
743
00:39:59,232 --> 00:40:01,900
AND WE'VE GOT
THE MODERN DAY EQUIVALENTS.
744
00:40:01,901 --> 00:40:04,570
KOMODO EXPERT JERI IMANSYAH,
745
00:40:04,571 --> 00:40:07,206
HIS COLLEAGUE, DENI PURWANDANA,
746
00:40:07,207 --> 00:40:11,010
AND SOMETIME DRAGON FANATIC,
ROM WHITAKER.
747
00:40:11,011 --> 00:40:13,445
NOW, ENTER THE DRAGON...
748
00:40:19,052 --> 00:40:20,953
IT MAY HAVE BEEN A STRETCH
749
00:40:20,954 --> 00:40:23,555
FROM TINY OLM
AND DIMINUTIVE DRACO
750
00:40:23,556 --> 00:40:26,325
TO "DRAGON,"
BUT HERE ON KOMODO
751
00:40:26,326 --> 00:40:27,993
YOU DON'T NEED YOUR IMAGINATION.
752
00:40:32,766 --> 00:40:34,700
[ MEN SPEAKING IN
INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE ]
753
00:40:40,607 --> 00:40:43,008
THIS MAY SEEM
AN EXTREME FORM OF CAPTURE,
754
00:40:43,009 --> 00:40:44,510
BUT THE KOMODO RESEARCHERS
755
00:40:44,511 --> 00:40:46,812
HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THESE
LIZARDS FOR MANY YEARS,
756
00:40:46,813 --> 00:40:50,449
AND THIS PRACTICE IS HARMLESS
TO THE DRAGON,
757
00:40:50,450 --> 00:40:52,885
IF NOT TO THE RESEARCHER.
758
00:40:52,886 --> 00:40:55,387
OKAY, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
759
00:40:57,257 --> 00:40:58,257
OKAY, GOT IT.
760
00:41:02,662 --> 00:41:05,230
THAT SHOULD BE GOOD, YEAH.
761
00:41:05,231 --> 00:41:06,665
OKAY?
762
00:41:06,666 --> 00:41:08,967
I'VE CAUGHT A LOT OF CROCODILES,
763
00:41:08,968 --> 00:41:12,404
BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW STRONG
THESE GUYS CAN BE,
764
00:41:12,405 --> 00:41:14,173
AND HE DOESN'T
RUN OUT OF STEAM, MAN.
765
00:41:14,174 --> 00:41:17,076
THE CROC WILL SORT OF, YOU KNOW,
766
00:41:17,077 --> 00:41:19,678
IT'LL GET TIRED, YOU KNOW,
IN A FEW MINUTES,
767
00:41:19,679 --> 00:41:22,314
AND THIS GUY, JUST, OH, MAN,
HE'S ENDLESSLY,
768
00:41:22,315 --> 00:41:24,350
ENDLESSLY STRONG.
769
00:41:26,353 --> 00:41:29,755
LOOK AT THESE NAILS, HUH?
770
00:41:29,756 --> 00:41:32,958
IT'S LIKE A BIG EAGLE'S CLAWS
OR SOMETHING.
771
00:41:32,959 --> 00:41:34,860
Abraham: THE SHARP CLAWS
OF OTHER KOMODO ADVERSARIES
772
00:41:34,861 --> 00:41:37,596
HAVE LEFT SCARS ALL OVER
THIS ANIMAL'S
773
00:41:37,597 --> 00:41:39,765
ARMOR-PLATED BACK...
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE CLAWS
774
00:41:39,766 --> 00:41:42,034
YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR.
775
00:41:42,035 --> 00:41:43,602
SIXTY TEETH?
776
00:41:43,603 --> 00:41:45,170
SIXTY TEETH.
777
00:41:45,171 --> 00:41:47,506
SHARP TEETH.
VERY SHARP TEETH.
778
00:41:47,507 --> 00:41:50,175
SOMEONE SAID THEY'RE VERY MUCH
LIKE SHARK TEETH,
779
00:41:50,176 --> 00:41:53,846
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE EDGE,
THE KNIFE EDGE.
780
00:41:53,847 --> 00:41:56,115
OKAY, HE'S GETTING CALMER.
781
00:41:56,116 --> 00:41:58,517
Abraham: CALMER HE MAY BE,
BUT THIS IS STILL
782
00:41:58,518 --> 00:42:01,453
THE LARGEST LIZARD
THAT ROM HAS EVER HANDLED.
783
00:42:01,454 --> 00:42:02,955
MAKE IT STRAIGHT.
784
00:42:02,956 --> 00:42:06,458
EIGHT FEET AND SIX INCHES.
785
00:42:06,459 --> 00:42:08,994
Whitaker:
EIGHT FEET, SIX INCHES?
786
00:42:08,995 --> 00:42:10,763
THE BIGGEST WATER MONITOR
WE EVER MEASURED
787
00:42:10,764 --> 00:42:11,930
WAS A LITTLE OVER SEVEN FEET,
788
00:42:11,931 --> 00:42:13,365
GETTING CLOSE TO EIGHT.
789
00:42:13,366 --> 00:42:16,168
THIS, AT EIGHT-AND-A-HALF FEET,
IS GETTING TO AMONGST
790
00:42:16,169 --> 00:42:18,671
THE LARGEST-SIZED KOMODO DRAGONS
YOU CAN FIND.
791
00:42:18,672 --> 00:42:21,774
THIS IS ONE
VERY, VERY BIG LIZARD.
792
00:42:21,775 --> 00:42:23,242
Abraham: WHEN IT COMES TO BULK,
793
00:42:23,243 --> 00:42:26,011
THE KOMODO IS IN
A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN.
794
00:42:26,012 --> 00:42:29,815
WATER MONITORS CAN WEIGH
UP TO 55 POUNDS.
795
00:42:29,816 --> 00:42:31,684
A 10-FOOT KOMODO
796
00:42:31,685 --> 00:42:36,855
CAN TIP THE SCALES
AT OVER 360 POUNDS.
797
00:42:36,856 --> 00:42:39,692
WITH THIS DRAGON TAMED,
IT'S TIME FOR ROM'S EXPERIMENT.
798
00:42:39,693 --> 00:42:44,630
SO BASICALLY
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO HERE
799
00:42:44,631 --> 00:42:49,134
IS TO TAKE A SAMPLE
OF ITS SALIVA.
800
00:42:49,135 --> 00:42:51,170
OKAY, READY?
801
00:42:55,141 --> 00:42:57,876
YEAH, ALL RIGHT,
OH, THAT'S PERFECT.
802
00:42:57,877 --> 00:42:59,311
OKAY.
803
00:42:59,312 --> 00:43:01,080
IT'S GOING TO BE
VERY INTERESTING
804
00:43:01,081 --> 00:43:03,015
TO SEE WHAT WE CAN
CULTURE WITH THIS.
805
00:43:03,016 --> 00:43:06,051
OKAY, HIS LEGS ARE LOOSE?
806
00:43:06,052 --> 00:43:09,788
OKAY, ON YOUR MARKS,
GET SET...
807
00:43:09,789 --> 00:43:11,256
GO!
808
00:43:14,361 --> 00:43:17,996
Abraham: THE SLOW METABOLISM
OF COLD-BLOODED REPTILES
809
00:43:17,997 --> 00:43:20,432
MEANS THAT MOST TIRE
VERY QUICKLY
810
00:43:20,433 --> 00:43:23,502
AND TAKE A LONG TIME TO RECOVER
AFTER EXERTION.
811
00:43:23,503 --> 00:43:26,772
BUT EVEN AFTER BEING SAT ON
BY ROM,
812
00:43:26,773 --> 00:43:30,609
THISRAGON IS UP AND RUNNING
RIGHT AWAY.
813
00:43:30,610 --> 00:43:33,245
LOOK AT THAT...
HE'S TAKING THE TIDBIT.
814
00:43:33,246 --> 00:43:35,214
YOU KNOW THAT RECOVERY TIME
IS LIKE, WHAT?
815
00:43:35,215 --> 00:43:36,982
30 SECONDS?
816
00:43:36,983 --> 00:43:38,484
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE IT IN MY LIFE.
817
00:43:38,485 --> 00:43:41,620
AbhaELINGS,
818
00:43:41,621 --> 00:43:45,624
OFF HE GOES --
A DRAGON ON THE PROWL.
819
00:43:49,562 --> 00:43:54,199
SALIVA SAMPLES IN HAND,
ROM HEADS FOR THE NEAREST LAB.
820
00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:57,069
IT MIGHT NOT BE
THE MOST CONVENTIONAL,
821
00:43:57,070 --> 00:44:00,272
BUT AT LEAST IT'S SAFE
FROM HUNGRY DRAGONS.
822
00:44:00,273 --> 00:44:02,174
THE NEXT STEP
IN HIS BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY
823
00:44:02,175 --> 00:44:06,478
IS TO OBTAIN A CONTROL SAMPLE
OF SALIVA
824
00:44:06,479 --> 00:44:10,416
TO COMPARE WITH
THE DRAGON SAMPLES.
825
00:44:10,417 --> 00:44:15,621
NOW I'M BASICALLY TAKING A SWAB
OF MY OWN SALIVA,
826
00:44:15,622 --> 00:44:20,292
UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT I JUST DID
827
00:44:20,293 --> 00:44:22,995
WITH THE DRAGONS ON SHORE,
828
00:44:22,996 --> 00:44:26,098
IN ORDER TO SEE IF WE CAN GET
829
00:44:26,099 --> 00:44:29,101
THE KIND OF BACTERIAL GROWTH
830
00:44:29,102 --> 00:44:34,039
FROM BOTH THE HUMAN BEING
AND THE DRAGON.
831
00:44:38,044 --> 00:44:40,012
Abraham: THE DRAGON SALIVA,
832
00:44:40,013 --> 00:44:42,748
AND ROM'S OWN, ARE SMEARED
INTO DIFFERENT
833
00:44:42,749 --> 00:44:45,517
PETRI DISHES
CONTAINING NUTRIENTS
834
00:44:45,518 --> 00:44:46,852
ON WHICH BACTERIA THRIVE.
835
00:44:46,853 --> 00:44:48,921
Whitaker: THIS IS NOT EXACTLY
836
00:44:48,922 --> 00:44:52,091
THE MOST STERILE SITUATION
YOU CAN IMAGINE,
837
00:44:52,092 --> 00:44:53,459
BUT WE'RE DOING
THE BEST WE CAN HERE.
838
00:44:53,460 --> 00:44:56,895
I SHOULD KNOW WHAT I'M DOING
839
00:44:56,896 --> 00:44:59,765
BECAUSE WAY BACK
IN THE VIETNAM WAR DAYS
840
00:44:59,766 --> 00:45:03,135
I WAS TRAINED IN THIS STUFF
AS A LAB TECHNICIAN.
841
00:45:03,136 --> 00:45:04,937
MAN, I TOOK HUNDREDS OF SWABS
842
00:45:04,938 --> 00:45:08,474
AND TOOK LOTS OF BLOOD SAMPLES
FROM THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS.
843
00:45:08,475 --> 00:45:11,176
I ACTUALLY NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE
DOING IT
844
00:45:11,177 --> 00:45:13,612
WITH KOMODO DRAGONS, THOUGH.
845
00:45:13,613 --> 00:45:15,948
THAT SHOULD DO IT.
846
00:45:15,949 --> 00:45:17,983
THEY GOT TO INCUBATE OVERNIGHT.
847
00:45:17,984 --> 00:45:22,021
IN 24 HOURS,
WE SHOULD SEE SOMETHING.
848
00:45:22,022 --> 00:45:25,457
Abraham: ROM'S HOPING
THE SAMPLES WILL BLOSSOM
849
00:45:25,458 --> 00:45:29,061
INTO COLORFUL CULTURES
THAT WILL PROVE DECISIVELY
850
00:45:29,062 --> 00:45:32,698
WHO'S MORE FOUL-MOUTHED,
DRAGON OR DRAGON HUNTER.
851
00:45:37,337 --> 00:45:40,439
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS
AFTER INOCULATION,
852
00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:43,742
ROM'S EXPERIMENT HAS COME UP
WITH SOME GRAPHIC RESULTS.
853
00:45:43,743 --> 00:45:45,377
ONE SPECIES OF BACTERIA
854
00:45:45,378 --> 00:45:48,280
HE'S TRIED TO CULTURE
FROM KOMODO SALIVA
855
00:45:48,281 --> 00:45:50,049
IS PASTEURELLA MULTOCIDA,
856
00:45:50,050 --> 00:45:51,984
A STRAIN THAT CAN KILL A HUMAN
857
00:45:51,985 --> 00:45:54,386
WITHIN DAYS OF ENTERING
THE BLOOD.
858
00:45:54,387 --> 00:45:56,488
AND THIS PLATE LOOKS DEADLY.
859
00:45:56,489 --> 00:45:57,923
LOOK AT THIS GROWTH.
860
00:45:57,924 --> 00:46:00,092
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
861
00:46:00,093 --> 00:46:03,195
IT'S NOT THE MARK OF ZORRO.
862
00:46:03,196 --> 00:46:05,864
THIS IS JUST THE STREAK
THAT I DID,
863
00:46:05,865 --> 00:46:07,499
AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT
864
00:46:07,500 --> 00:46:10,035
PROBABLY SEVERAL SPECIES
OF BACTERIA HERE,
865
00:46:10,036 --> 00:46:12,805
AND ONE OF THEM
COULD VERY WELL BE PASTEURELLA.
866
00:46:12,806 --> 00:46:17,042
AND THIS IS COUNTED AS
THE MOST VIRULENT
867
00:46:17,043 --> 00:46:20,846
OF ALL THE BACTERIA FOUND
IN KOMODO DRAGON SALIVA.
868
00:46:20,847 --> 00:46:24,583
Abraham: BUT THE KOMODO DRAGON
ISN'T THE ONLY CREATURE
869
00:46:24,584 --> 00:46:27,486
OUT THERE WITH
POTENTIALLY DEADLY DROOL.
870
00:46:27,487 --> 00:46:30,356
Whitaker:
LOOKING AT THE MOUTH SWAB
871
00:46:30,357 --> 00:46:31,857
FROM ROM WHITAKER,
872
00:46:31,858 --> 00:46:33,826
ON ANOTHER KIND OF MEDIA,
873
00:46:33,827 --> 00:46:38,263
WE ARE LOOKING AT A GROWTH WHICH
COULD VERY LIKELY BE E. COLI.
874
00:46:38,264 --> 00:46:40,432
NOW, E. COLI IS
A COMMON BACTERIA,
875
00:46:40,433 --> 00:46:42,534
AND THERE ARE
MANY, MANY STRAINS,
876
00:46:42,535 --> 00:46:44,203
SOME OF THEM EXTREMELY VIRULENT,
877
00:46:44,204 --> 00:46:47,272
AND THIS COULD VERY WELL BE
ONE OF THOSE.
878
00:46:47,273 --> 00:46:48,774
AND IN FACT,
879
00:46:48,775 --> 00:46:50,976
IT'S ALREADY BEEN
MORE OR LESS PROVEN
880
00:46:50,977 --> 00:46:54,146
THAT THERE ARE 80 OR MORE
DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BACTERIA
881
00:46:54,147 --> 00:46:56,782
THAT HAVE BEEN ISOLATED
FROM THE HUMAN MOUTH,
882
00:46:56,783 --> 00:46:58,951
AND ONLY 57 FROM
THE DRAGON'S MOUTH.
883
00:47:00,987 --> 00:47:04,056
THERE'S AN OBVIOUS
CONCLUSION HERE.
884
00:47:04,057 --> 00:47:08,260
YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE BITTEN BY
A KOMODO DRAGON.
885
00:47:08,261 --> 00:47:12,731
NOR DO YOU WANT TO BE BITTEN
BY ROM WHITAKER.
886
00:47:16,903 --> 00:47:19,304
Abraham:
ROM'S EXPERIMENT HAS SHOWN
887
00:47:19,305 --> 00:47:21,640
THAT IN THESE
TROPICAL CONDITIONS,
888
00:47:21,641 --> 00:47:24,543
ANY SALIVA IS
A POTENTIALLY LETHAL COCKTAIL.
889
00:47:24,544 --> 00:47:26,478
BUT THIS DOESN'T MAKE
THE KOMODO DRAGON
890
00:47:26,479 --> 00:47:27,980
ANY LESS FORMIDABLE.
891
00:47:27,981 --> 00:47:32,151
I'VE GOT A BRAND-NEW RESPECT
FOR THESE DRAGONS.
892
00:47:32,152 --> 00:47:35,120
I DON'T THINK I REALLY
UNDERSTOOD OR REALIZED
893
00:47:35,121 --> 00:47:36,755
WHAT I WAS GOING TO MEET.
894
00:47:36,756 --> 00:47:39,391
TO BE THERE, TO EXPERIENCE THEM,
895
00:47:39,392 --> 00:47:41,927
IS SOMETHING OUT OF THIS WORLD.
896
00:47:44,931 --> 00:47:46,532
THEY HAVE
DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES,
897
00:47:46,533 --> 00:47:47,700
THAT'S FOR SURE.
898
00:47:47,701 --> 00:47:49,768
THERE ARE SOME FAIRLY CALM ONES,
899
00:47:49,769 --> 00:47:51,637
SOME VERY SERIOUS ONES,
900
00:47:51,638 --> 00:47:53,238
IN FACT, SO SERIOUS
901
00:47:53,239 --> 00:47:55,040
THAT I WAS DEFINITELY
ON THE MENU,
902
00:47:55,041 --> 00:47:56,275
THERE'S NO DOUBT OF THAT.
903
00:47:56,276 --> 00:47:58,177
AND IF WE THOUGHT
904
00:47:58,178 --> 00:48:00,412
WE WERE AT THE TOP
OF THE FOOD CHAIN,
905
00:48:00,413 --> 00:48:02,948
WELL, MEETING UP A WITH
A DRAGON LIKE THAT,
906
00:48:02,949 --> 00:48:04,350
YOU HAVE TO THINK TWICE.
907
00:48:04,351 --> 00:48:09,822
I THINK, BEING A HUMAN,
BEING A MAMMAL,
908
00:48:09,823 --> 00:48:13,892
WE ARE VERY, VERY CONSCIOUS
OF THIS VISCERAL FEAR WE HAVE
909
00:48:13,893 --> 00:48:15,994
OF BEING PREY.
910
00:48:15,995 --> 00:48:17,429
A TIGER, A LEOPARD,
911
00:48:17,430 --> 00:48:20,566
ONE OF THE BIG ANIMALS
WHICH WOULD GRAB US,
912
00:48:20,567 --> 00:48:23,836
TOSS US AROUND LIKE A RAT,
SWALLOW US DOWN...
913
00:48:23,837 --> 00:48:25,604
TAKING IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL,
914
00:48:25,605 --> 00:48:28,140
THERE IS SOMETHING
EVEN MORE PRIMEVAL
915
00:48:28,141 --> 00:48:30,676
ABOUT BEING PREYED UPON
BY A REPTILE,
916
00:48:30,677 --> 00:48:33,278
AND BE IT A GIANT PYTHON,
917
00:48:33,279 --> 00:48:35,080
OR IN THIS CASE,
918
00:48:35,081 --> 00:48:37,149
A GIANT LIZARD ON KOMODO,
919
00:48:37,150 --> 00:48:40,019
THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT MAKES YOU SHIVER
920
00:48:40,020 --> 00:48:41,720
JUST A LITTLE BIT,
921
00:48:41,721 --> 00:48:43,422
EVEN A GUY LIKE ME
922
00:48:43,423 --> 00:48:47,326
WHO'S SUPPOSED TO KNOW REPTILES
REALLY WELL.
923
00:48:47,327 --> 00:48:50,029
Abraham:
DESPITE THE SCIENTIST WITHIN,
924
00:48:50,030 --> 00:48:52,931
ROM'S QUEST FOR DRAGONS
IN THE REAL WORLD
925
00:48:52,932 --> 00:48:54,299
HAS OPENED HIS EYES
926
00:48:54,300 --> 00:48:56,168
TO NEW POSSIBILITIES.
927
00:48:56,169 --> 00:48:59,605
HE'S REALIZED THAT WHATEVER LIES
BEHIND HIS COMPULSION
928
00:48:59,606 --> 00:49:03,375
FOR REPTILES MAY BE THE SAME
THING THAT'S MADE THE DRAGON
929
00:49:03,376 --> 00:49:06,445
SUCH AN ENDURING SYMBOL
ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
930
00:49:06,446 --> 00:49:11,984
AND THE STORY OF THEIR POWERS
IS STILL UNFOLDING.
931
00:49:11,985 --> 00:49:16,655
AS ROM INVESTIGATES A NEST
OF FRESHLY HATCHED DRAGON EGGS,
932
00:49:16,656 --> 00:49:20,459
HE MARVELS AT WHAT SCIENCE
HAS JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED --
933
00:49:20,460 --> 00:49:22,194
THAT DRAGONS HAVE AN ABILITY
934
00:49:22,195 --> 00:49:27,533
THAT IN HUMANS WOULD BE
CONSIDERED MIRACULOUS.
935
00:49:27,534 --> 00:49:31,170
Whitaker: THERE'S A REAL
TRULY MAGICAL QUALITY
936
00:49:31,171 --> 00:49:33,539
ABOUT THE KOMODO DRAGON.
937
00:49:33,540 --> 00:49:36,075
AND THAT IS THAT A FEMALE
938
00:49:36,076 --> 00:49:38,243
CAN LAY VIABLE FERTILE EGGS
939
00:49:38,244 --> 00:49:41,213
WITHOUT HAVING MATED
WITH A MALE.
940
00:49:41,214 --> 00:49:43,782
AND THIS IS A SPECIAL STRATEGY,
941
00:49:43,783 --> 00:49:47,553
A SPECIAL SURVIVAL STRATEGY
FOR THE SPECIES.
942
00:49:47,554 --> 00:49:50,356
KOMODO DRAGONS SWIM
FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND.
943
00:49:50,357 --> 00:49:53,592
AND HERE WE ARE IN A MAZE
OF ALMOST 18,000 ISLANDS
944
00:49:53,593 --> 00:49:55,527
IN THE INDONESIAN ARCHIPELAGO.
945
00:49:55,528 --> 00:49:57,496
AND LET'S SAY
SOMETHING HAPPENED HERE,
946
00:49:57,497 --> 00:49:58,864
LET'S SAY A VOLCANO BLEW UP,
947
00:49:58,865 --> 00:50:00,899
AND, WELL, ONE OF THE FEMALES
MANAGED TO
948
00:50:00,900 --> 00:50:05,037
SWIM OFF TO ANOTHER ISLAND.
949
00:50:05,038 --> 00:50:07,773
Abraham:
NOW THINGS GET INTERESTING.
950
00:50:07,774 --> 00:50:10,843
ALL ALONE ON A NEW ISLAND,
A FEMALE KOMODO
951
00:50:10,844 --> 00:50:13,012
CAN STILL LAY FERTILE EGGS.
952
00:50:13,013 --> 00:50:15,514
NO MATE REQUIRED.
953
00:50:15,515 --> 00:50:17,716
OTHER LIZARD FEMALES
CAN DO THIS,
954
00:50:17,717 --> 00:50:20,853
BUT THEY PRODUCE ONLY
FEMALE YOUNG.
955
00:50:20,854 --> 00:50:22,688
THE KOMODO IS UNIQUE.
956
00:50:22,689 --> 00:50:26,225
SHE CAN GIVE BIRTH
TO HER OWN FUTURE MATES.
957
00:50:26,226 --> 00:50:28,527
Whitaker: ONCE UPON A TIME,
A FEMALE KOMODO DRAGON
958
00:50:28,528 --> 00:50:32,831
WASHED UP ON THIS ISLAND HERE.
959
00:50:32,832 --> 00:50:34,133
NOW, SHE WAS ALONE --
960
00:50:34,134 --> 00:50:36,602
THERE WERE NO OTHER
KOMODO DRAGONS THERE.
961
00:50:36,603 --> 00:50:40,372
BUT SHE LAID A CLUTCH OF EGGS,
962
00:50:40,373 --> 00:50:46,178
AND PRODUCED
FIVE VIABLE OFFSPRING.
963
00:50:46,179 --> 00:50:47,713
AND THEY ARE ALL MALES.
964
00:50:47,714 --> 00:50:49,381
NOT TWINS, NOT CLONES,
965
00:50:49,382 --> 00:50:51,316
GENETICALLY DISTINCT MALES
966
00:50:51,317 --> 00:50:54,386
WHICH COULD, WHEN THEY MATURED,
967
00:50:54,387 --> 00:50:57,122
MATE WITH THIS SAME FEMALE,
968
00:50:57,123 --> 00:50:59,525
AND SHE'D PRODUCE
MORE OFFSPRING.
969
00:50:59,526 --> 00:51:03,562
IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE IT WAS
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION,
970
00:51:03,563 --> 00:51:07,132
SHE WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE
MALES AND FEMALES.
971
00:51:07,133 --> 00:51:11,303
Abraham: ALTHOUGH SHE IS AN EVE
WITHOUT AN ADAM,
972
00:51:11,304 --> 00:51:16,442
A NEW POPULATION SPRINGS UP,
COMPLETE WITH MALES AND FEMALES.
973
00:51:16,443 --> 00:51:18,510
OVER TIME,
974
00:51:18,511 --> 00:51:21,347
CHANCES ARE
THAT A TRAVELING MALE
975
00:51:21,348 --> 00:51:22,981
MAY FIND THE ISLAND
976
00:51:22,982 --> 00:51:24,950
AND BRING NEW GENES
INTO THE MIX.
977
00:51:24,951 --> 00:51:27,720
THE DRAGONS HAVE CONQUERED
A NEW LAND.
978
00:51:34,761 --> 00:51:38,163
FOR ROM WHITAKER,
SCIENTIST AND STORY LOVER,
979
00:51:38,164 --> 00:51:41,800
THE ABILITIES OF REPTILES
CONTINUE TO ASTONISH,
980
00:51:41,801 --> 00:51:44,570
AND THE DRAGONS
OF MYTH AND LEGEND
981
00:51:44,571 --> 00:51:46,238
ARE ALIVE AND WELL --
982
00:51:46,239 --> 00:51:57,483
AND ALL AROUND US
IN THE REAL WORLD.
983
00:52:01,154 --> 00:52:03,622
FOR $19.99PLUS SHIPPING.
984
00:52:03,623 --> 00:52:09,628
TO ORDER,CALL 1-800-336-1917.
985
00:52:27,647 --> 00:52:29,214
NEXT TIME ON "NATURE,"
986
00:52:29,215 --> 00:52:32,117
THE POLAR BEAR --BUILT TO SURVIVE THE ARCTIC;
987
00:52:32,118 --> 00:52:34,053
PRESSING NORTH,THE GRIZZLY.
988
00:52:34,054 --> 00:52:37,122
ONCE, THESE BEARSWOULD RARELY MEET,
989
00:52:37,123 --> 00:52:39,224
BUT THE ARCTIC IS MELTING.
990
00:52:39,225 --> 00:52:40,959
WILL THE GRIZZLYCLAIM THE ARCTIC,
991
00:52:40,960 --> 00:52:43,462
OR WILL THE POLAR BEARHANG ON?
992
00:52:50,837 --> 00:52:51,904
TO LEARN MORE
993
00:52:51,905 --> 00:52:53,105
ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN
994
00:52:53,106 --> 00:52:54,473
ON THIS "NATURE" PROGRAM,
995
00:52:54,474 --> 00:53:05,284
VISIT PBS.ORG.
90702
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.