Original subtitles

.

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".

TODAY, WE BRANCH OUT TO SPEND TIME WITH THE ANIMALS THAT SPEND

THEIR LIVES IN TREES.

LIKE THIS COLORFUL BIRD THAT HAS TO USE ITS HEAD TO FIND ITS NEXT

MEAL.

AND LATER, WE'LL HEAD TO ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE PLACES ON EARTH,

TO DISCOVER A MAMMAL THAT'S IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN.

PLUS, WE HEAD TO THE PHILIPPINES TO DISCOVER ONE MONKEY WHO HAS

CRACKED THE CODE ON HOW TO FIND A GOOD MEAL IN THE MANGROVES.

BUT FIRST, WE SET OFF TO INDIA, WHERE THE GOLDEN LANGUR LIVES

FULLY OFF THE SPOILS FOUND IN THE RICH CANOPIES.

ALL THIS AND MORE TODAY ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THE FIRST TREE ON EARTH BEGAN

GROWING AROUND 400 MILLION YEARS AGO.

WHILE THAT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME TO US, IT'S ONLY A SMALL

FRACTION OF THE FOUR POINT FIVE BILLION YEARS OUR PLANET HAS

BEEN AROUND.

THAT MEANS TREES ARE RELATIVELY NEW ON THE SCENE.

WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE, CONSIDERING THE VITAL ROLE THEY

PLAY.

BREATHING LIFE INTO THE AIR AND PROVIDING A HOME FOR THOUSANDS

OF ANIMAL SPECIES, LIKE THE LANKY LANGURS YOU'RE ABOUT TO

MEET.

IN THE FORESTS OF NORTHEAST INDIA, ONE RARE SPECIES OF

PRIMATE SPENDS ITS ENTIRE LIFE IN THE CANOPY.

FEEDING, BITING, AND MATING,

ALL HIGH ABOVE THE GROUND.

THE GOLDEN LANGUR.

THESE TREE-DWELLERS LIVE IN TIGHTLY KNIT SOCIAL GROUPS.

THEIR BREEDING SEASON RUNS YEAR-ROUND.

BUT FEMALES GIVE BIRTH TO JUST A SINGLE BABY.

CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR STATUS AS ONE OF INDIA'S MOST ENDANGERED

MAMMALS.

THESE LANGURS SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIFE IN THE TREES AND WILL

RARELY SET FOOT ON THE GROUND.

ALL THE FOOD THEY NEED CAN BE FOUND IN THE CANOPY, WITH MATURE

LEAVES AND FRESH BUDS MAKING UP THE MAJORITY OF THEIR DIET.

AND MOST OF THEIR WATER COMES FROM DEW AND RAIN-SOAKED LEAVES.

HOWEVER, DESPITE THE ABUNDANCE OF SNACKS, COMPETITION OVER

FEEDING IS RIPE.

MINOR DISAGREEMENTS CAN SOON GET OUT OF HAND.

BUT GOLDEN LANGURS USUALLY OPT FOR FLIGHT, NOT FIGHT.

AND SIMPLY LEAP AWAY.

LARGE HIND LIMBS PROVIDE POWERFUL PROPULSION, WHILST

LONG, PADDED FINGERS ALLOW FOR EFFECTIVE HOOKING AND GRABBING.

LANGURS ARE ONE OF THE FEW PRIMATES TO HAVE ALL BUT LOST

THEIR THUMBS.

AN EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION TO HELP WHILE SWINGING THROUGH THE

TREES.

THEY ALSO HAVE A LONG TAIL, WHICH ENHANCES BALANCE AND MAKES

ESCAPING A QUARREL A FAR EASIER TASK.

BUT WHEN THE FIGHTING COMES TO AN END, THEY HAVE A VERY GENTLE

WAY OF MAKING UP.

GROOMING IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PASTIMES AND IT ISN'T

ALWAYS DONE ALONE.

LANGURS TURN THIS INTO A SOCIAL AFFAIR.

THEY OFTEN RUMMAGE THROUGH EACH OTHER'S FUR TO ENFORCE SOCIAL

BONDS AND RELIEVE STRESS.

COMING UP, WE HEAD TO THE REMOTE MANGROVE FOREST OF THE

PHILIPPINES TO TAKE A CRACK AT CRAB PICKING WITH ONE OF THE

FINEST AND SMARTEST HUNTERS ON THE ISLAND.

THEN, WE HIKE OVER TO THE FOOTHILLS OF THE HIMALAYAS TO

DISCOVER ONE OF THE RAREST MAMMALS ON THE PLANET.

PLUS, WE'LL SWOOP OVER TO THE PANTANAL WITH A PARROT THAT'S

BEAK IS IN PEAK PERFORMANCE.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ONE PRIMATE ON THIS REMOTE ASIAN ARCHIPELAGO HAS HAD

TO EVOLVE SOME CLEVER TRICKS TO SURVIVE IN A VERY DIFFERENT KIND

OF FOREST.

THESE MANGROVES LINING THE PHILIPPINE COAST.

GROWING IN ONE OF THE MOST UNFORGIVING ENVIRONMENTS ON

EARTH.

THIS UNIQUE GROUP OF TREES AND SHRUBS IS A TRUE SURVIVOR.

WITH THEIR ROOTS SUBMERGED IN SALTWATER, THEY KEEP ONE FOOT ON

LAND AND ANOTHER IN THE SEA.

WHILE THE SALINITY HERE WOULD BE ENOUGH TO KILL MOST PLANTS,

MANGROVES THRIVE IN THIS POORLY AERATED SOIL.

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS HELP THEM SURVIVE.

RATHER THAN BREATHING THROUGH THE SOIL, MANGROVE ROOTS RISE

ABOVE THE GROUND, TAKING OXYGEN DIRECTLY FROM THE AIR.

THIS VAST NETWORK OF AERIAL ROOTS ALSO PROVIDES STRUCTURAL

SUPPORT.

OVER TIME, THEY TRAP SEDIMENT AS IT FLOWS OUT TO SEA.

CREATING NEW LAND AND STABILIZING THE SHORELINE.

THESE DENSE FORESTS ACT AS STORM BREAKS, DISSIPATING WAVE ENERGY.

AND PROVIDING A SAFE HAVEN FOR YOUNG FISH AND CRUSTACEANS.

FOR THE MOST PART, THE MANGROVE INHABITANTS LIVE HAPPILY

ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER.

BUT THERE'S ONE SPECIES THAT HAS LEARNED TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS

STRANGE ENVIRONMENT.

PHILIPPINE LONG-TAILED MACAQUES RULE THE MANGROVES.

THIS TROOP HAS MORE THAN 60 INDIVIDUALS.

EACH MONKEY SPORTS AN EXTRAORDINARILY LENGTHY TAIL.

LONGER THAN THEY ARE TALL.

THESE PRIMATES HAVE HAD TO ADAPT TO SURVIVE IN THIS UNUSUAL

SEMI-SUBMERGED FOREST.

RATHER THAN STAYING HIGH IN THE CANOPY AS THEY MIGHT ELSEWHERE,

THEY FEED ON FALLEN FRUITS BURIED IN THE MUD.

TAKING CARE TO AVOID THE JAGGED MANGROVE ROOTS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT AT LOW TIDE, THEIR APPETITES CHANGE.

AND THEY BECOME CRAB EATERS.

SIFTING THROUGH THE MUD, THIS ADULT SEEKS OUT HER PREY.

SHE KNOWS FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THIS MEAL CAN FIGHT BACK.

BUT IT'S WORTH THE RISK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS YOUNGSTER DECIDES IT'S HIS TURN.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT HE'S GOT TO WORK ON HIS CONFIDENCE.

AND RIGHTLY SO, IT'S A TRICKY SKILL TO MASTER.

FOR NOW, A SEED WILL HAVE TO SUFFICE.

THESE RESOURCEFUL PRIMATES HAVE FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THE MOST OF

WHAT THIS UNIQUE FOREST HAS TO OFFER.

AND ONCE HIS CRAB HUNTING TECHNIQUE IS MASTERED, THERE'S

PLENTY HERE IN THE MANGROVES FOR THIS YOUNG MACAQUE TO FEED ON.

COMING UP, WE HEAD TO THE HIMALAYAS WHERE THIS RED PANDA

IS A BIT MORE ACTIVE THAN ITS BAMBOO-EATING NAMESAKE.

PLUS, FIND OUT HOW THIS MACAW ENLISTS THE HELP OF CATTLE TO

PREP ITS NEXT MEAL.

ALL OF THIS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THERE ARE MORE THAN 60,000 SPECIES OF TREES ON EARTH

AND MOST OF THEM PROVIDE HIGHRISE HOMES FOR ANIMALS OF

ALL KINDS.

THESE TREETOPS TENANTS HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE THE

RESOURCES OF EACH TREE'S UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM TO SURVIVE.

EVEN IN PLACES SO REMOTE IT SEEMS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR

WILDLIFE TO BRANCH OUT.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE FOOTHILLS OF THE HIMALAYAS ARE ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE

REGIONS ON EARTH.

SO, IT'S THE PERFECT HOME FOR ONE THE WORLD'S MOST SECRETIVE

ANIMALS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE RED PANDA.

NO BIGGER THAN A DOMESTIC CAT, THIS MALE LEADS A SOLITARY LIFE.

HE SPENDS THE MAJORITY OF HIS DAY FEEDING.

BUT LIKE THEIR GIANT BLACK AND WHITE NAMESAKES, RED PANDAS ARE

UNABLE TO DIGEST THE CELLULOSE FOUND IN MOST PLANTS.

SO, THEIR DIET IS ALMOST ENTIRELY MADE UP OF BAMBOO.

THESE FORESTS, WITH THEIR UNDERSTORIES THICK WITH BAMBOO,

ARE THE ONLY PLACE ON EARTH WHERE HE CAN SURVIVE.

HOWEVER, HE CAN DIGEST JUST 24 PERCENT OF WHAT HE CONSUMES.

SO, HE MUST SPEND UP TO 13 HOURS A DAY EATING, TO ENSURE HE GETS

ENOUGH NUTRIENTS.

ONCE HE'S HAD HIS FILL, IT'S BACK TO THE CANOPY FOR SOME

IMPORTANT PAMPERING.

WITH FUR COVERING HIS ENTIRE BODY, THIS CAT-LIKE CLEANING IS

ONE ACTIVITY THAT CANNOT BE RUSHED.

WHEN HE'S NOT EATING OR GROOMING, THERE'S ONLY ONE THING

THAT CAN ENTICE HIM DOWN FROM HIS PERCH.

THE PROMISE OF A POTENTIAL MATE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TIME FOR A SPOT OF SEDUCTION.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HE LAYS A TRAIL OF SCENT, HOPING TO ENTICE A

PARTNER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT DESPITE HIS PERSISTENCE, HIS EFFORTS ARE

FUTILE.

HE'S MISSED HIS CHANCE.

FEMALE RED PANDAS ARE ONLY FERTILE FOR ONE 24 HOUR WINDOW

PER YEAR.

AND THAT'S USUALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF SPRING.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HE'LL JUST HAVE TO HOPE HIS VISITOR PASSES BY A LITTLE

EARLIER NEXT YEAR.

IN THE MEANTIME, HE'S GOT SOME IMPORTANT BAMBOO EATING TO CATCH

UP ON.

COMING UP, WE'LL DISCOVER WHAT THE LARGEST PARROT IN THE WORLD

GOES NUTS OVER WHEN WE RETURN ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN LATIN AMERICA, LIVES AN ANIMAL THAT RELIES ON

INTELLIGENCE TO ACCESS THE RICHEST PICKINGS AROUND.

THE WETLANDS OF THE PANTANAL ARE HOME TO MANY SURPRISING

CREATURES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: INCLUDING THE LARGEST PARROT IN THE WORLD.

THE HYACINTH MACAW.

THREE QUARTERS OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION LIVE IN THIS AREA.

THEY THRIVE HERE DUE TO ONE PLENTIFUL FOOD SOURCE.

PALM NUTS.

THIS LARGE BIRD FEEDS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THESE NUTS.

TO GET TO THE RICHES INSIDE THESE TOUGH OUTER SHELLS, THEY

FIRST NEED A HELPING HAND FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE.

CATTLE.

PASSING COWS PARTIALLY DIGEST FALLEN NUTS, REMOVING THE HUSKS.

THE BIRDS THEN CLAIM THEIR PRIZE AND CRACK OPEN THE SHELL.

TOUGH WORK EVEN AFTER THEY'VE BEEN DE-HUSKED.

BUT THIS PARROT IS BUILT FOR THE CHALLENGE.

A THIRD OF ITS MUSCLES ARE CONCENTRATED IN ITS HEAD, SO IT

CAN POWER ITS MONSTROUS MANDIBLES TO BREAK OPEN THE NUT.

ONCE BRUTE FORCE HAS CRACKED THE SHELL, THIS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT

PARROT USES ITS POWERFUL TONGUE TO DIG OUT THE PRECIOUS KERNELS

INSIDE.

IT TAKES A LITTLE PATIENCE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT EVENTUALLY, IT SUCCEEDS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THANKS TO THEIR INTELLIGENCE AND DETERMINATION,

THE PARROTS MAKE THE MOST OF THE PANTANAL'S PALM NUTS.

TO THRIVE IN OUR PLANET'S FORESTS AND JUNGLES, ANIMALS

HAVE ADAPTED TO A LIFE IN THE TREES.

USING INCREDIBLE AGILITY.

AMAZING SENSES.

AND SOME VERY CLEVER THINKING.

THESE SPECIES HAVE OVERCOME THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF THEIR

ENVIRONMENT.

IN THIS SECRET WORLD, THE RAREST,

STRANGEST,

AND THE MOST UNEXPECTED CREATURES MAKE THEIR HOME.

CREATING A HABITAT THAT SUPPORTS MORE LIFE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE ON

EARTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING OUR JOURNEY INTO THE FOREST, TO SEE

SOME AMAZING ANIMALS WHO MAKE THE WORLD'S WOODED REGIONS THEIR

HOME.

WHETHER THEY CAMP OUT ON THE CANOPY OR GRIND IT OUT ON THE

GROUND FLOOR, THESE ANIMALS ARE RESOURCEFUL AND VERSATILE, USING

OUR PLANET'S TREES TO THRIVE IN THE WILD.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]