Original subtitles

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NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI, I'M DYLAN DREYER AND WE ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON

ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE VISIT SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME PLACES ON EARTH.

IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CHINA, THESE SNUB-NOSED

MONKEYS ARE WALKING ON THE EDGE.

THEN, WE'LL HEAD TO THE SAHARA DESERT WHERE THIS SAND FISH

FEELS AT HOME MILES AWAY FROM THE OCEAN.

THEN, WE HEAD TO THE POLAR OPPOSITE CLIMATE WHERE WE

DISCOVER THE WORLD'S LARGEST SPECIES OF BEAR.

PLUS, WE HEAD TO JAPAN WHERE THIS FREEZING VALLEY IS HOME TO

THESE NATIVE MACAQUES AND WHERE LIFE IS ALWAYS EXTREME.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FROM PHYSICAL TO BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS, ANIMALS

IN THE WILD HAVE FOUND WAYS TO EXCEL IN THE MOST EXTREME

ENVIRONMENTS.

THE ROCKHOPPER PENGUINS HERE AT THE DETROIT ZOO CAN DIVE MORE

THAN 300 FEET TO PURSUE THEIR PREY.

ONE OF THE MANY SKILLS THEY'VE LEARNED TO NAVIGATE THE WATERS

OF THEIR ARCTIC HOME.

AND WHILE SOME ANIMALS DIVE, OTHERS CLIMB, LIKE THE DARING

MONKEYS YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET.

IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CHINA, AT TWO AND A HALF MILES

ABOVE SEA LEVEL, WINTER CERTAINLY IS EXTREME.

THE TREES IN THESE MYSTERIOUS HIGH-ALTITUDE FORESTS HAVE

SOMEHOW FOUND A WAY TO SURVIVE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT BLANKETED IN SNOW FOR MONTHS ON END, AND WITH

AVERAGE WINTER TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW FREEZING, FEW ANIMALS CAN

WITHSTAND THE CONDITIONS AT THIS HEIGHT.

YET, THESE MOUNTAINS ARE INFAMOUS FOR STRANGE YETI-LIKE

CREATURES, BELIEVED TO ROAM THESE FROZEN FORESTS.

BUT THIS IS NO MYTH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SOMEHOW CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING THESE PUNISHING

CONDITIONS, SNUB-NOSED MONKEYS LIVE AT THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE OF

ANY PRIMATE ON EARTH.

THESE STRANGE MONKEYS LIVE IN COLONIES OF AROUND 60.

ISOLATED ON MOUNTAINTOPS, THEY'VE EVOLVED TRICKS TO COPE

WITH THE EXTREME CONDITIONS.

TO AVOID FROSTBITE, THEY HAVE NO NASAL BONES.

AND THE UPTURNED NOSTRILS MEAN THEY HAVE LESS FLESH EXPOSED TO

THE BITTER COLD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEIR THICK, SHAGGY FUR IS ALSO PERFECTLY DESIGNED TO

KEEP IN BODY HEAT.

NO FRUIT OR LEAVES GROW IN THIS HARSH ENVIRONMENT, SO THESE

MONKEYS HAVE TO SETTLE FOR PINE NEEDLES AND TREE BARK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LUCKILY, THERE'S PLENTY TO GO AROUND.

WITH FEW ANIMALS ABLE TO SURVIVE IN THIS BRUTAL CONDITIONS, THESE

MONKEYS ARE LEFT IN ALMOST TOTAL PEACE.

BUT SOMETIMES, AN OUTSIDER WILL TRY AND INVADE A RIVAL COLONY'S

TERRITORY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: CAUSING TENSION TO RISE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHEN A RIVAL MALE TRIES HIS LUCK, IT'S THE ALPHA'S JOB

TO DEFEND THE COLONY.

A BATTLE ERUPTS AND THE REST OF THE GROUP SHOUTS THEIR SUPPORT.

SNUB-NOSED MONKEYS HAVE HUGE CANINE TEETH THAT MAKE ANY

CONFLICT A DANGEROUS AFFAIR.

THE CHALLENGER PUTS UP A SPIRITED DISPLAY.

BUT THE PACK'S ALPHA MALE ASSERTS HIS STRENGTH.

AND THE INVADER IS FORCED TO RETREAT BACK TO HIS OWN COLONY

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ALL THE DANGER IS GONE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS NIGHT STARTS TO FALL, THE TEMPERATURES PLUNGE EVEN

LOWER.

AND THEIR SHAGGY IS NOT ENOUGH TO FULLY INSULATE THEMSELVES

AGAINST THE COLD.

TO SURVIVE HERE, THE MONKEYS MUST HUDDLE TOGETHER IN THE

TREES AS A UNIT.

USING THEIR COMBINED BODY HEAT TO FIGHT THE MOUNTAIN'S

POTENTIALLY DEADLY COLD.

COMING UP, THESE JAPANESE MACAQUES HAVE A SPECIAL

ADAPTATION THAT GIVES THEM A HAND WHEN SEARCHING FOR A FROZEN

DINNER.

AND LATER, WE HEAD TO THE EXTREME ENDS OF THE EARTH WHERE

THE TEMPERATURE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BARE.

BUT FIRST, WE HEAD TO THE DESERT WHERE ONE CREATURE LOOKS LIKE A

FISH OUT OF WATER.

ALL THIS AND MORE COMING UP NEXT.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE SAHARA DESERT IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A SUBTROPICAL

DESERT.

SURPRISINGLY, NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES CAN DROP BELOW

FREEZING, BUT IN THE DAY, THINGS WARM UP RAPIDLY.

VERY RAPIDLY.

JUST A FEW HOURS AFTER SUNRISE AND IT'S ALREADY A SCORCHING 95

DEGREES.

THE INTENSE HEAT AND CONSTANT SANDSTORMS MAKE THIS A

TREACHEROUS PLACE TO LIVE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT FOR ANIMALS ADAPTED TO THESE EXTREME CONDITIONS,

THIS HEAT IS A VITAL SOURCE OF ENERGY.

THIS SANDFISH IS COLD-BLOODED AND NEEDS THE SUN TO RECHARGE

AFTER A COLD NIGHT.

THE SANDFISH'S SMOOTH BODY AND SHORT, STURDY LEGS ARE IDEAL FOR

MOVING ACROSS THE DESERT TERRAIN.

HIS EARS AND NOSTRILS ARE ALSO SMALL ENOUGH TO STOP SAND FROM

GETTING INTO HIS NOSE AND LUNGS.

THE SANDFISH IS PERFECTLY DESIGNED FOR THIS EXTREME

ENVIRONMENT.

BUT SO IS ITS DEADLY ENEMY.

THE HORNED VIPER IS A FEARSOME PREDATOR WITH A TASTE FOR

SANDFISH.

MOST ANIMALS STRUGGLE TO MOVE ACROSS THE SANDY DUNES.

BUT THE HORNED VIPER HAS DEVELOPED THE PERFECT TECHNIQUE

TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE BURNING SAND AT HIGH SPEED.

TO AVOID SINKING, IT GRIPS WITH TWO POINTS OF ITS LONG BODY,

REPEATEDLY THROWING THE REST OF ITSELF SIDEWAYS.

PRODUCING THE SMOOTH MOVEMENT THAT GIVES THE SNAKE ITS

NICKNAME: THE SIDEWINDER.

THIS TECHNIQUE ALSO PREVENTS IT FROM OVERHEATING, KEEPING AS

MUCH OF ITS BODY OFF THE SEARING GROUND AS POSSIBLE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, HE SMELLS PREY.

THE SANDFISH APPEARS UNABLE TO MOVE.

HE IS STILL WARMING UP HIS BODY AS HIS NEMESIS NEARS.

THE SANDFISH KNOWS HE HAS NO CHANCE OF OUTRUNNING THE VIPER.

THE SNAKE TAKES HIS TIME AS HE PREPARES TO STRIKE.

THE OUTCOME APPEARS INEVITABLE, BUT THE SANDFISH HAS A SECRET

WEAPON FOR SURVIVING IN THE DESERT.

DISAPPEARING INTO THE SAND, THE LIZARD ESCAPES THE VIPER'S

DEADLY FANGS.

IT'S THIS INCREDIBLE TRICK THAT GIVES THE SANDFISH ITS NAME.

LITERALLY SWIMMING THROUGH THE SAND TO SAFETY.

HIS STREAMLINED BODY AND SMOOTH SKIN MEANS HE CAN TRAVEL WITH

GREAT SPEED UNDER THE DESERT, AWAY FROM HIS ENEMIES.

LEAVING THE VIPER TO CONTINUE HIS SEARCH FOR BREAKFAST.

COMING UP, WHAT SPECIAL ADAPTATION IS KEEPING THESE

JAPANESE MACAQUE'S BELLIES FULL?

BUT FIRST, WE HEAD TO ONE OF THE COLDEST REGIONS WITH THE LARGEST

LAND CARNIVORE ON EARTH.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHEN LIVING AT THE EXTREME PARTS OF THE EARTH,

ANIMALS MUST BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL.

POLAR BEARS LIVE MUCH OF THEIR LIVES ON THE SHEETS OF ICE THAT

COVER THE ARCTIC, AND THIS SLIPPERY SURFACE CAN BE

TREACHEROUS.

THAT'S WHY THEY'VE DEVELOPED HUGE FOOT-LONG PAWS BUILT FOR

ROAMING THE FROZEN TUNDRA.

AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY WAYS POLAR BEARS SURVIVE IN THE

WILD AND THRIVE AT EXTREMES.

SVALBARD, A LAND OF FROZEN ICE AND TUNDRA.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HOME TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST LAND PREDATOR.

MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF THOUSAND POLAR BEARS SOMEHOW

MANAGE TO SURVIVE IN THIS FROZEN WILDERNESS.

ON ITS HINDLEGS, THIS ADULT POLAR BEAR IS ALMOST TEN FEET

TALL AND WEIGHS MORE THAN 1,300 POUNDS.

FOUR INCHES OF FAT AND HOLLOW FUR INSULATE THE BEAR AGAINST

THE ARCTIC CLIMATE.

AS HE ROAMS THE SEA ICE SEARCHING FOR SEALS.

HE HAS A POWERFUL SENSE OF SMELL, DETECTING PREY FROM 18

MILES AWAY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A RINGED SEAL AND HER PUP ARE RELAXING BY A BREATHING

HOLE.

SEAL PUPS NEED TO SPEND THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THEIR LIVES

ON DRY LAND, UNTIL THEIR FUR IS FULLY WATERPROOF.

THIS GIVES THE POLAR BEAR HIS OPPORTUNITY.

THE RINGED SEAL'S VISION IS POOR AND REMAINS UNAWARE OF THE

APPROACHING DANGER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS TIME, THE POLAR BEAR MISSES OUT.

ONLY ONE IN 50 HUNTS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT IT'S JUST ENOUGH TO SURVIVE.

FEW ANIMALS ARE BETTER DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND EXTREME

TEMPERATURES THAN THE MASSIVE POLAR BEAR.

COMING UP, THEIR FINGERS MUST BE FREEZING BUT IT'S ALL WORTH IT

AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THESE JAPANESE MACAQUES.

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NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: JIGOKUDANI IS A MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN JAPAN.

THE NAME MEANS HELL'S VALLEY.

TEMPERATURES HERE OFTEN DROP BELOW 14 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

WITH A THICK BLANKET OF SNOW COVERING THE GROUND FOR FOUR

MONTHS OF THE YEAR, FEW ANIMALS CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THESE

CONDITIONS.

BUT THIS EXTRAORDINARY PRIMATE IS ONE EXCEPTION.

THE JAPANESE MACAQUE.

AROUND 200 MACAQUES INHABIT THIS BLEAK LANDSCAPE ALL YEAR-ROUND.

AND IN WINTER, THEY ARE FORCED TO FORAGE FOR FOOD UNDERNEATH

THE SNOW.

LIVING OFF ROOTS OR EVEN SOIL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FORTUNATELY, A MACAQUE'S FINGERS ARE NEARLY AS DEXTEROUS

AS A HUMAN'S, GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO DIG DOWN DEEP INTO

THE SNOW.

BUT THEIR FUR ONLY OFFERS THEM LIMITED PROTECTION FROM THE

BLIZZARDS AND ICY WINDS.

LIFE IS HARD FOR THE MONKEYS HERE IN JIGOKUDANI.

BUT THESE LUCKY CREATURES HAVE MANAGED TO FIND A WAY TO GET OUT

OF THE COLD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: JIGOKUDANI IS A VOLCANIC HOTSPOT AND WATER BOILS UP FROM

DEEP IN THE EARTH'S CRUST, CREATING NATURAL HOT SPRINGS.

THE WATER IN THIS NATURAL HOT TUB REACHES 104 DEGREES,

PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED RESPITE FROM THE WINTER CHILL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE POOLS ARE USED REGULARLY BY THE MONKEYS WHO

GATHER HERE, TO RELAX AFTER AN EXHAUSTING DAY FORAGING.

THEY SPEND MUCH OF THEIR TIME GROOMING EACH OTHER.

BUT NOT ALL MONKEYS ARE ALLOWED IN.

MACAQUES HAVE AN INTENSELY HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE.

THEY LIVE IN GROUPS RULED BY A DOMINANT FEMALE AND MALE.

THE ALPHA MALE WON'T LET JUST ANYONE INTO HIS THERMAL

PARADISE.

ENTRY IS FOR APPROVED MEMBERS ONLY.

HE FAVORS HIGH-RANKING FEMALES AND THE YOUNG.

THE REST ARE LOCKED OUT IN THE COLD.

ONE UNVETTED MONKEY TRIES A SPOT OF BATHING.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HE'S TAUGHT A BRUTAL LESSON IN HOT TUB ETIQUETTE.

WITH THE INTRUDER GONE, THE MACAQUES GET BACK TO RELAXING BY

THE POOL.

REGIONS WITH ACTIVE VOLCANOES USUALLY MAKE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE FOR

MOST ANIMALS.

YET, WITHOUT THE VOLCANIC WATERS OF JIGOKUDANI, THESE MONKEYS

COULD NOT SURVIVE THIS HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR QUEST TO DISCOVER LIFE ON THE

EDGE, IN THE MOST EXTREME PLACES ON EARTH.

WHILE OTHERS MIGHT NOT DARE TO VENTURE INTO THESE

UNCOMPROMISING LOCALES, THE ANIMALS WHO LIVE HERE HAVE

ADAPTED TO MAKE THEM HOME FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]