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".

TODAY, WE'LL JOURNEY ACROSS THE GLOBE TO LOOK BACK AT THE

PREMIERE PRIMATES ON THE PLANET.

WE'LL HEAD HIGH UP IN THE CANOPY TO HANG WITH THESE EASTERN ASIAN

MACAQUES.

PLUS, THIS MONKEY KNOWS HOW TO GET THROUGH THE HARSHEST OF

WINTERS.

AND LATER, THESE LANKY LANGURS LOVE TO KEEP THE PREDATORS AWAY.

BUT FIRST, WE'LL HEAD TO MADAGASCAR TO HANG WITH THE

LEGENDARY LOCAL LEMURS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THROUGH THE "APE-VINE" THAT

PRIMATES ARE THE CLOSEST ANIMALS TO HUMANS.

OPPOSABLE THUMBS, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, AND EVEN EMPATHY

ALL DEFINE THEIR HUMAN-LIKE CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPRESSIVE

INTELLIGENCE.

TODAY, WE'RE OFF TO HANG AROUND WITH SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE

PRIMATES ON THE PLANET, STARTING WITH SOME LONG, LOVABLE, AND

LOUD MADAGASCAR LEMURS.

MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO, HUNDREDS OF CAST AWAY CREATURES

CRASH-LANDED ON MADAGASCAR'S RUGGED SHORES.

ISOLATED FROM THE MAINLAND, EVOLUTION WENT INTO OVERDRIVE.

BIZARRE LIFE FORMS THRIVED THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND'S VARIED

LANDS...

...FUELING SUPERNATURAL LEGENDS AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO EVENTUALLY

SET FOOT ON MADAGASCAR'S MAGICAL AND MYSTICAL SANDS.

IN THE RAINFOREST REGION OF ANDASIBE, EACH MORNING BEGINS

WITH A HAUNTING SOUND.

[HOWLING]

[HOWLING CONTINUES]

THE INDRI'S TERRITORIAL CALL CAN BE HEARD MORE THAN

HALF-A-MILE AWAY.

[INDRIS HOWLING]

[HOWLING CONTINUES]

AT MORE THAN TWO FEET TALL, IT'S THE LARGEST LIVING LEMUR.

[INDRIS HOWLING]

[HOWLING CONTINUES]

EARLY BIOLOGISTS ASSOCIATED THIS CRY WITH THAT OF ROMAN

MYTHOLOGY LEMURS, OR SPIRITS OF THE DEAD.

THIS GAVE RISE TO THE NAMING OF ALL MADAGASCAR'S UNIQUE

PRIMATES.

INDRIS ARE THE ONLY LEMURS WHICH THROUGH EVOLUTION HAVE LOST

VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEIR TAIL.

HOWEVER, THE ASSOCIATION WITH THEIR APE COUSINS ENDS HERE.

LEMURS ARE A MUCH MORE PRIMITIVE PRIMATE THAT ALSO SURVIVED

OUTSIDE OF MADAGASCAR.

BUT WHEN MONKEYS EVENTUALLY TOOK HOLD ON THE MAINLAND, THE LEMURS

WERE WIPED OUT.

THE JOZANI FOREST LIES AT THE HEART OF PEMBA ISLAND, ONE OF

THE BIGGEST ISLANDS OF ZANZIBAR.

ALONGSIDE THE VAST ARRAY OF BIRDS, INSECTS, AND REPTILES,

IT'S HOME TO TWO SPECIES OF PRIMATE.

SYKES' MONKEYS EAT VIRTUALLY ANYTHING...

...LEAVES, RIPE FRUITS AND FLOWERS, INSECTS, AND EVEN SMALL

VERTEBRATES.

HOWEVER, NOT EVERY PREY MAKES AN EASY PICKING.

ZANZIBAR'S GIANT CARPENTER ANTS ALSO HAVE A GIANT BITE.

AT JUST UNDER ONE INCH IN LENGTH, THEY PUT UP A STRONG

DEFENSIVE FIGHT.

THIS MONKEY SOON REALIZES IT'S BITTEN OFF MORE THAN IT CAN

CHEW.

THE OTHER PRIMATES HERE, MORE RED COLOBUS MONKEYS, ARE STRICT

VEGETARIANS.

IT'S IDENTICAL TO THE SPECIES FOUND ON PEMBA ISLAND, EXCEPT

THIS PARTICULAR POPULATION HAS COME UP WITH A UNIQUE SOLUTION

TO THEIR ONGOING DIGESTION PROBLEM.

INSTEAD OF SITTING AROUND FEELING BLOATED AFTER A BELLY

FULL OF LEAVES, THESE MONKEYS ARE ON A MISSION.

THEY SINGLE OUT THEIR TARGET AND WAIT FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT TO

STRIKE.

WITHOUT WARNING, THEY LAUNCH THEIR ATTACK.

[MAN SHOUTING]

IT'S A CONSTANT BATTLE FOR THE ISLAND'S CHARCOAL SELLERS.

HERE IN JOZANI, RED COLOBUS MONKEYS HAVE LONG WORKED OUT

THAT EATING CHARCOAL AIDS THE DIGESTION OF EXOTIC LEAVES.

THIS LEARNED BEHAVIOR PASSED DOWN FROM MOTHER TO YOUNG IS

UNIQUE TO UNGUJA'S TROOPS.

COMING UP, FIND OUT HOW THIS TROOP OF LANGURS USES THESE DEER

TO HELP SPOT DANGER.

AND LATER, WE'LL DISCOVER WHY THESE MONKEYS' NOSES NEVER RUN,

EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE THEY RAN AWAY.

PLUS, THESE PRIMATES ARE ALL SHOOK UP.

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME TO SOUTH ASIA, WHERE DEEP IN THE HEART OF

NORTHERN INDIA LIES RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK.

THESE VAST TREE-CLAD GORGES ARE THE LARGEST UNTOUCHED FORESTS OF

THEIR KIND.

BUT TODAY, THIS SEEMINGLY TRANQUIL VALLEY RINGS OUT WITH

THE SOUND OF ALARM CALLS.

A TROOP OF HANUMAN LANGURS HAS SPOTTED AN INDIAN ROCK PYTHON

MOVING INTO THEIR DOMAIN.

[MONKEYS GRUNTING]

BUT INSTEAD OF RUNNING FOR THE TREES, THESE MONKEYS ARE MOVING

CLOSER.

EVEN THE SMALLEST LANGURS CLOSE IN, KEEPING A KEEN EYE ON THE

PYTHON AS IT MOVES AMONGST THE LEAVES.

THANKS TO THE LANGURS' NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SYSTEM, THIS

SNAKES MOVES OFF IN SEARCH OF AN EASIER TARGET.

AND THE TROOP CAN RETURN TO MUCH MORE RELAXING ACTIVITIES.

THESE MONKEYS LIVE IN LARGE TROOPS OF UP TO A HUNDRED

INDIVIDUALS.

IN THIS FAMILY, STICKING TOGETHER MAKES LIFE SAFER FOR

EVERYONE.

AS THE BIGGEST DANGERS LIE ON THE FOREST FLOOR, LIFE IN THE

TREES GIVES THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE YOUNGER LANGURS IS A FULL-TIME JOB, BUT

FORTUNATELY, WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING THE TROOP, THE

LANGURS HAVE AN ALLY...

...SPOTTED DEER.

IN THE JUNGLE, MOST ANIMALS TRY TO FIND THEIR OWN TERRITORY, BUT

THE DEER AND LANGURS OFTEN LIVE SIDE-BY-SIDE.

FROM THEIR DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINTS, THE TWO SPECIES ACTUALLY

GIVE EACH OTHER A BETTER CHANCE OF SPOTTING ANY APPROACHING

DANGER.

THESE WOODS MIGHT LOOK LIKE PARADISE, BUT EVEN IN THE MIDDAY

SUN, THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR EYES OPEN...

...ALTHOUGH SOME TAKE THIS DUTY MORE SERIOUSLY THAN OTHERS.

COMING UP, THESE PRIMARILY PEACEFUL PRIMATES WILL PROTECT

THEIR TERRITORY AT ALL COSTS.

PLUS, WE'LL SEE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE IN THE JUNGLE FOR

THESE MACAQUES.

.

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

DYLAN: MONKEYS CAN BE FOUND ALL AROUND THE WORLD, BUT THE

MAJORITY ARE NATIVE TO SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, AND ASIA.

TROPICAL AREAS WITH VAST FORESTS ARE THE TYPICAL TERRESTRIAL HOME

FOR PRIMATES, BUT SOME LIKE TO SUB THE WARMTH FOR THE BITTER

COLD, LIKE THE SNUB-NOSED MONKEYS WE'RE ABOUT TO MEET.

AT THE HIGH ALTITUDES OF SOUTHERN CHINA, SNOW BLANKETS

THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS ALL YEAR AROUND.

BUT THIS REMOTE, UNWELCOMING TERRAIN IS HOME TO MANY SPECIES

THAT HAVE ADAPTED TO ITS CLIMATE, INCLUDING A TRULY

BIZARRE GROUP OF PRIMATES.

THIS SPECIES OF SNUB-NOSED MONKEY MAKES THEIR HOME UP TO

TWO MILES ABOVE SEA LEVEL,

THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE OF ANY PRIMATE.

AND UP HERE, SNOW CLOAKS THE FORESTS FOR MONTHS.

AND IT'S THOUGHT THAT THIS MONKEY'S SNUB-NOSE MAY HAVE

EVOLVED TO AVOID THE OTHERWISE INEVITABLE FROSTBITE IN SUCH

HARSH CONDITIONS.

THEIR FUR, THANKFULLY, LOCKS IN BODY HEAT.

SO, WHILE OTHER MAMMALS MUST RETREAT TO THE WARMER VALLEYS,

THESE SNUB-NOSED MONKEYS HAVE THE PICK OF THE CROP.

ALTHOUGH THERE'S NO FRUIT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, LICHENS AND

TREES PROVIDE NOURISHMENT.

IT SEEMS EVEN THIS BARK IS WORTH A BITE.

SO, HERE IN THE BRANCHES, FOOD IS EVERYWHERE.

DESPITE THE ABUNDANCE OF FOOD, CONFLICTS BETWEEN GROUPS IS

COMMON,

AND TERRITORY MUST BE DEFENDED.

[MONKEY SHRIEKING]

LIVING IN GROUPS OF 60 MONKEYS, THEY MUST WORK TOGETHER TO

PROTECT THEIR YOUNG, AND THE ADULTS REMAIN ON HIGH ALERT FOR

ANY SIGN OF DANGER...

...LIKE A RIVAL ENTERING THEIR TERRITORY.

AS THIS INTRUDER APPROACHES, DEFENDING THE TERRITORY WILL

FALL TO THIS LARGE MALE.

[MONKEYS SHRIEKING]

AS THE BATTLE BEGINS, OTHER GROUP MEMBERS GATHER TOGETHER

AND CALL AT THE INVADER.

AND THANKS TO THEIR HUGE CANINE TEETH, FIGHTS LIKE THESE CAN BE

ROUGH.

THE CHALLENGER IS SPIRITED AND POWERFUL.

[MONKEY GROANING]

BUT EVENTUALLY, THE PACK'S BIGGEST MALE ASSERTS HIS

DOMINANCE, AND THE CHALLENGER IS FORCED TO FLEE.

THEY ARE HIGHLY AGILE, TRAVELING AT SPEED THROUGH THE TREES AND

OFTEN LANDING ON TWO FEET.

NOTORIOUS FOR THIS HUMAN-LIKE WALKING AND THEIR STRANGE CALLS,

IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY THESE MONKEYS MAY HAVE INSPIRED THE

LEGEND OF THE YETI.

AT NIGHT, AS TEMPERATURES PLUNGE, THE WHOLE TROOP MUST

ONCE AGAIN WORK TOGETHER.

SLEEPING IN CLUSTERS LIKE THIS WILL BE ESSENTIAL IF THEY ARE TO

SURVIVE THE WINTER IN THIS FROZEN CORNER OF THE FAR EAST.

COMING UP, THESE PERCEPTIVE PRIMATES HAVE PERFECTED LIFE IN

THE WILD.

.

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

DYLAN: THE MYSTERIOUS LAND THAT MARKS ASIA'S EASTERN BORDER WITH

THE MIGHTY PACIFIC OCEAN STRETCHES ALMOST 5,000 MILES

FROM SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.

THESE DIVERSE HABITATS COVERING ALMOST TEN MILLION SQUARE MILES

ARE KNOWN AS THE FAR EAST.

FROM TAIWAN'S DENSELY FORESTED MOUNTAINS...

...TO THE SEA ICE NORTH OF JAPAN,

THE FAR EAST IS A PLACE OF TRULY EPIC NATURAL BEAUTY.

AND THIS SURPRISINGLY DIVERSE HABITAT IS HOME TO MANY OF THE

WEIRDEST AND MOST MYSTERIOUS ANIMALS ON EARTH.

THIS JUNGLE IS HOME TO A SPECIES OF PRIMATE THAT HAS ADAPTED TO

MANY OF TAIWAN'S DIFFERENT TERRAINS.

THEY'RE KNOWN AS FORMOSAN ROCK MACAQUES, BUT ARE COMMONLY FOUND

IN THE TREES...

...WHERE MOST OF THEIR TIME IS SPENT SEARCHING FOR FOOD.

THEY WILL EAT ALMOST ANYTHING, A MIX OF LEAVES,

GRASSES...

...AND FRUITS.

HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, THESE MACAQUES ARE ALWAYS THINKING UP

NEW WAYS TO MAKE FORAGING EASIER...

...LIKE SHAKING THE FRUIT ONTO THE FOREST FLOOR.

THESE INGENIOUS MACAQUES HAVE ALSO LEARNED TO FISH FOR

CATERPILLARS, HOISTING THEM UP BY THEIR SILKS.

BUT SOMETIMES ONLY A CERTAIN LEAF WILL DO.

WITH SO MUCH FOOD, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR THIS TROOP TO

SPEND BUILDING THEIR STRONG SOCIAL BONDS.

GROOMING MAINTAINS THE HIERARCHY

AND REQUIRES CONCENTRATION AND

ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

A KEEN EYE WILL BE REWARDED WITH A TASTY TREAT, AND SOME BECOME

OBSESSIVE,

ALTHOUGH NOT EVERYONE'S FLEAS ARE CONSIDERED

A DELICACY.

BUT THEY MUST ALWAYS REMAIN VIGILANT.

THE YOUNGEST MACAQUES ARE CONSTANTLY UNDER THREAT FROM

AERIAL PREDATORS, SUCH AS HAWKS...

[HAWK SHRIEKING]

...BUT MOSTLY FROM LONE MALES WANDERING INTO THEIR TERRITORY

LOOKING FOR TROUBLE.

ALTHOUGH THESE MACAQUES HAVE A STRONG FEMALE HIERARCHY,

IT'S THE MALES THAT MUST DEFEND THE PACK AGAINST INTRUDERS.

LUCKILY, THIS TIME, IT'S A FALSE ALARM.

PRIMATES HAVE BEEN WALKING, RUNNING,

AND SWINGING AROUND EARTH FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.

CONSIDERED THE SMARTEST ORDER IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, THEIR

ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE,

EMPATHIZE,

AND TO LOVE MAKES THEM STAND ABOVE THE REST.

THE BOND THAT THESE ANIMALS HAVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR

COMMUNITY IS TRULY SOMETHING SPECIAL TO WITNESS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AS WE GOT TO HANG OUT WITH SOME

PERKY, PROSPEROUS PRIMATES.

LIFE IN THE WILD ISN'T ALWAYS EASY, AND SURVIVING TAKES

INGENUITY, STRENGTH, AND ADAPTABILITY.

BUT FOR SPECIES LIKE THESE, EVEN IN THE WILD THERE'S ALWAYS A

LITTLE TIME TO MONKEY AROUND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]