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, EVERYBODY, I'M DYLAN DREYER AND THIS IS "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

COMING UP, WE JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD TO DISCOVER THE MOST

INGENIOUS CREATURES OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

FROM OLD TRICKS PASSED DOWN FOR GENERATIONS, TO NEW ADAPTATIONS,

THESE ANIMALS HAVE FOUND THE SMARTEST WAYS TO SURVIVE IN THE

WILD, LIKE THIS FROG THAT KNOWS WHERE TO NEST, EVEN WHEN THE

POOL IS A TAD TOO LOW FOR ITS TADPOLE.

AND IN AFRICA, THIS MOTHER ELEPHANT'S INCREDIBLE MEMORY

HELPS GUIDE HER TROOP TO WHERE THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER.

PLUS, THIS SEABIRD'S NAVIGATIONAL SKILLS AREN'T TOO

SHABBY, EITHER, BUT ITS BRILLIANCE LIES IN HOW IT KNOWS

WHERE TO LAY ITS EGGS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH, AN ANIMAL'S DESIRE TO

SURVIVE IN THE WILD IS HARDWIRED INTO THEIR DNA.

BUT SURVIVAL IS A TALL TASK, EVEN FOR THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE

FOOD CHAIN.

SO, MANY CREATURES, LIKE THOSE YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET, HAVE FOUND

INGENIOUS SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO ADAPT TO THE HARSHEST

ENVIRONMENTS.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE EDGE OF THE SAHARA DESERT, SENEGAL IS A SURPRISINGLY HARSH

TERRAIN FOR A TROOP OF CHIMPANZEES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS.

AND SLOWLY LEARNED WAYS TO ADAPT TO THIS OFTEN-HOSTILE

ENVIRONMENT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL DRY SEASONS IN

YEARS.

FOUR MONTHS WITH NO RAIN HAVE LEFT THEM WITH ALMOST NOTHING TO

EAT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SEEDPODS ENCASED IN INEDIBLE FIBERS ARE ALL THAT'S

LEFT.

CHEWING ON A TOUGH BEAN POD MIGHT SUPPRESS HUNGER FOR A

WHILE BUT IT ISN'T ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE MANY HUNGRY MOUTHS

TO FEED.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY FOOD THAT'S SCARCE, THERE'S BEEN NO WATER IN

THEIR TERRITORY FOR WEEKS.

THE CHIMPS WILL DIE IF THEY CAN'T FIND A DRINKING SOURCE.

LUCKILY, THE OLDER MEMBERS OF THE TROOP HAVE LIVED THROUGH

DROUGHTS LIKE THIS BEFORE.

IN MORE THAN 120 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT HEAT, THE OLDEST

MEMBER LEADS THE OTHERS ON A GRUELING TEN MILE TREK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT WHEN THEY REACH THE RIVER, THERE'S NOTHING LEFT ON

THE CHANNEL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE WISE OLD MALE IS UNDETERRED.

HE PICKS HIS SPOT AND STARTS TO DIG.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE OTHERS WATCH ON.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WATER SLOWLY COLLECTS IN THE HOLE AND IS FILTERED AS IT

SEEPS THROUGH THE GRAVEL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S INGENIOUS AND A MOMENT TO SAVOR.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ALL ALONG THE RIVERBED, OTHERS FOLLOW THE LEADER'S

EXAMPLE AND DIG THEIR OWN DRINKING WELLS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL IN TIMES OF DROUGHT, THESE

CHIMPS USE THE INTELLIGENCE OF THEIR ELDERS TO FIND SOLUTIONS

TO THEIR WATER PROBLEMS.

COMING UP, WHAT INCREDIBLE SKILL PUTS THIS PERCEPTIVE PACHYDERM

AT THE FRONT OF HER CLASS?

AND LATER, WHEN LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT PLACE TO LAY HER EGGS,

THIS FROG WON'T BE BAMBOOZLED.

PLUS, WHERE WILL THIS MOTHER STORK DELIVER HER BABY?

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN NATURE, SOMETIMES BRAINS TRIUMPH OVER BRAWN.

AND IN THE FORESTS OF SOUTH ASIA, A SPECIES RENOWNED FOR ITS

SUPERIOR MENTAL ABILITIES WORSHIP THE CLEVEREST IN THE

CLAN.

THE ARID PLAINS OF SRI LANKA ARE HOME TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST

POPULATIONS OF WILD ELEPHANTS ON EARTH.

IT'S THE DRY SEASON.

FOOD AND WATER ARE INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO COME BY.

THIS FAMILY IS LED BY A MATRIARCH WHO'S THE OLDEST AND

WISEST ELEPHANT.

AND LUCKILY, SHE KNOWS WHAT TO DO IN THESE HARD TIMES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: MAKING THIS DRIED OUT GRASS FIT TO EAT REQUIRES A

SPECIAL TECHNIQUE.

SHE STARTS BY KICKING THE GRASS.

TWISTING IT FROM THE GROUND, SHE FINALLY SHAKES IT TO REMOVE ANY

SOIL.

THESE MEAGER PICKINGS WILL KEEP THE HERD GOING.

BUT TO SURVIVE THE HARSHER TIMES AHEAD, THE MATRIARCH MUST USE

HER SUPERIOR NAVIGATION SKILLS TO LEAD THEM TO RICHER FEEDING

GROUNDS.

EVERY DRY SEASON, HERDS RETRACE THEIR OWN ANCESTRAL PATHWAYS,

TOWARDS A VAST LAKE KNOWN AS THE MINNERIYA TANK.

SOME ELEPHANTS TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES.

AT THE PEAK OF THE SEASON, AS MANY AS 300 GATHER ON THE

SHORES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS THE WATER RECEDES, IT REVEALS FERTILE GROUND, WHERE

FRESH GRASS CAN GROW.

MINNERIYA ALSO PROVIDES MUCH-NEEDED WATER, AN ESSENTIAL

FOR ALL ANIMALS.

THESE ELEPHANTS NOT ONLY NEED IT BUT ENJOY IT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS GROUP LOVES TO BATHE AND SOCIALIZE AT THE

WATERHOLE.

THEIR TRUNKS CAN CARRY UP TO TWO AND A HALF GALLONS OF WATER,

WHICH IS USEFUL FOR SHOWERING.

A DIP IN THE LAKE QUENCHES THIRST AND ALSO BRINGS COOLING

RELIEF FROM THE HEAT.

WITHOUT WATER, THE YOUNG IN PARTICULAR ARE PRONE TO

OVERHEATING AND DEHYDRATION.

SRI LANKAN ELEPHANTS HAVE SMALLER EARS THAN THEIR AFRICAN

COUSINS, SO TEMPERATURE REGULATION CAN BE A PROBLEM.

THIS LAKE WILL PROVIDE ALL THE ELEPHANT'S NEEDS FOR THE REST OF

THE DRY SEASON.

BUT WITHOUT THE MATRIARCH'S INCREDIBLE MEMORY AND KNOWLEDGE,

THE HERD MIGHT NOT HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY TO THE WATER.

IT'S HER MENTAL ABILITY THAT EARNS HER A PLACE AT THE TOP OF

THE FAMILY TREE.

AND IT WILL BE VITAL FOR THEIR SURVIVAL FOR YEARS TO COME.

COMING UP, THIS FROG SPECIES KNOWS THE SECRET TO FINDING

WATER WHERE THERE IS NONE.

AND LATER, THESE INGENIOUS BIRDS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO BUILD A NEST

WITH A VIEW.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHEN YOU THINK OF THE SMARTEST CREATURES IN THE ANIMAL

KINGDOM, AMPHIBIANS DON'T USUALLY TOP THE LIST, BUT YOU'RE

ABOUT TO MEET ONE TYPE OF FROG IN MADAGASCAR WITH A SPECIAL

TALENT FOR SURVIVING AND THRIVING.

ITS ABILITY TO MODIFY ITS BEHAVIOR IN THE QUEST TO

PERPETUATE THE SPECIES IS NOTHING SHORT OF BRILLIANT.

AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE WHY.

TAKE A LOOK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS FEMALE GOLDEN BAMBOO FROG IS LOOKING FOR

SOMEWHERE WET TO LAY HER EGG.

HOWEVER, WATER CAN BE HARD TO FIND, AS THE SANDY SOIL DRAINS

SO QUICKLY.

LUCKILY, SHE HAS A SECRET TECHNIQUE.

STORM DAMAGE BAMBOO STALKS PROVIDE THE PERFECT SOLUTION.

DURING BREEDING SEASON, THESE RAIN FILLED RESERVOIRS ARE

MEETING PLACES FOR THESE UNIQUE FROGS.

AND THIS MALE IS LOOKING FOR A MATE.

TO ATTRACT A FEMALE, HE'LL NEED A WATER-FILLED STEM.

MALES FIERCELY COMPETE FOR THESE PRECIOUS HAY BEDS.

AND THIS FROG HAS ALREADY LAID CLAIM TO HIS BAMBOO LOVE NEST.

HE STARTS CALLING.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A FEMALE ARRIVES, HOPING TO DEPOSIT HER SPAWN.

BUT SOON DISCOVERS SHE'S BEEN BEATEN TO IT.

THE TINY POOL ALREADY HAS A TADPOLE LIVING THERE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SHE NEEDS TO FIND AN EMPTY POOL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

LUCKILY, THIS MALE AND HIS BIRTHING POOL ARE STILL ON THE

MARKET AND SHE CAN SAFELY LAY HER SINGLE FERTILIZED EGG.

FOOD IS OF SHORT SUPPLY HERE, BUT THIS FROG HAS ANOTHER NIFTY

TECHNIQUE.

SHE LAYS AN INFERTILE EGG ON WHICH HER TADPOLE WILL FEED.

SHE WILL RETURN REPEATEDLY TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF HER

YOUNG.

THE CLEVER CHOICE OF NEST SITE ENSURES THE FROG'S OFFSPRING

WILL HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

COMING UP, TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S

ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT BIRD SPECIES ON THE PLANET.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE BREEDING SEASON FOR ONE

HEARTY BIRD ON THESE EXPOSED ROCKS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

BUT LUCKILY, SHE IS PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO THIS HARSH

ENVIRONMENT.

THE WHITE STORK.

THIS COASTLINE IS HOME TO THE ONLY COLONY OF CLIFF-NESTING

WHITE STORKS IN THE WORLD.

MOST MIGRATE TO AFRICA TO SPEND THE WINTER MONTHS IN WARMER

CLIMATES.

HOWEVER, THIS COLONY HAS SETTLED ON THE IBERIAN PENINSULA, THANKS

TO ITS ISOLATED CLIFFS.

THE SAME NEST SITES ARE USED YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THE STRUCTURES MIGHT LOOK FRAGILE, BUT AT SIX FEET WIDE,

TEN FEET DEEP, AND WEIGHING 1,100 POUNDS, THEY ARE STURDY

ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THEIR EXTREME LOCATION.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS MOTHER IS REBUILDING A NEST FOR HER

UPCOMING ARRIVALS.

TWIGS TO STRENGTHEN THE WALLS AND FOLIAGE TO PROVIDE SOME

MUCH-NEEDED SOFT FURNISHINGS.

HOWEVER, OTHER STORKS AREN'T QUITE AS PROACTIVE AT REPAIRING

THEIR NESTS.

SOME TURN TO THIEVERY.

IT'S A RISKY MOVE AND THIS CULPRIT HAS BEEN CAUGHT.

THE ORIGINAL RESIDENT FIERCELY DEFENDS HER NEST.

STORKS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BREAK OPPONENT'S WINGS DURING FIGHTS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SOON, THE DISPUTE IS SETTLED AND PEACE RESUMES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE FEMALE SETTLES INTO HER NEST AND UP TO SIX EGGS ARE

LAID OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK.

FOR THEIR FIRST THREE WEEKS, THE YOUNG CAN'T REGULATE THEIR OWN

BODY TEMPERATURE, SO ONE PARENT SHELTERS THE BROOD WHILE THEIR

PARTNER FORAGES FOR INSECTS AND REPTILES.

THE MALE RETURNS FROM A LONG DAY HUNTING, REGURGITATING THE

PARTIALLY DIGESTED FOOD FOR HIS OFFSPRING FROM A STORAGE

COMPARTMENT IN HIS THROAT.

THE CHICKS CAN CONSUME UP TO 60 PERCENT OF THEIR OWN BODY WEIGHT

EACH DAY.

DESPITE THIS, ONLY HALF ARE LIKELY TO SURVIVE, SINCE

YOUNGER, WEAKER CHICKS STRUGGLE TO COMPETE FOR FOOD.

BUT STARVATION IS NOT THE ONLY THREAT IN THIS REMOTE

NEIGHBORHOOD.

PREDATORS ARE LURKING.

GULLS SOAR ABOVE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THEY'RE KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR OWN CHICKS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE

THEIR EYES ON THE NEWLY HATCHED STORKS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY DIVE BOMB THE STORKS, CAUSING PANIC IN THE

NEST.

THEIR MOTHER STANDS GUARD, HER BEAK AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVENTUALLY, THE GULL RETREATS, LEAVING THE STORK

FAMILY SAFE FOR NOW.

BATTERED BY ATLANTIC WAVES AND CONSTANT WINDS, CHOOSING TO LIVE

ON THIS COASTLINE BRINGS ITS CHALLENGES.

BUT THE STORKS BENEFIT FROM MILDER TEMPERATURES AND AN

ABUNDANCE OF FOOD.

AND THEY NOW THRIVE HERE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BY WORKING TOGETHER TO PROTECT THEIR YOUNG, THOUSANDS

OF GREETING PAIRS OF STORKS HAVE TURNED THIS HOSTILE LOCATION

INTO THEIR WINTER HOME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING OUR QUEST TO FIND THE MOST INGENIOUS

ANIMALS OF THE WILD.

WHAT THESE CREATURES SOMETIME LACK IN BRAWN, THEY MAKE UP FOR

IN BRAINS, AND THEY ALL GO TO THE HEAD OF NATURE'S CLASS.

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

ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]