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, PACK YOUR TRUNK BECAUSE WE ARE GOING ON A MONUMENTAL

MAMMAL MISSION.

WATCH AS THIS PRECIOUS PACHYDERM LEARNS THE WAYS OF THE FOREST.

PLUS, WE'LL HEAD TO INDIA TO TRY TO FIND ONE OF THE RAREST

MONKEYS IN THE WORLD.

AND LATER, IT'LL TAKE MORE THAN BEING SLY FOR THIS FOX TO CATCH

ITS NEXT MEAL.

BUT FIRST, THESE MAMMALS' MOTHERS HAVE MASTERED LIVING IN

THE ARID ARABIAN DESERT.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S ESTIMATED THERE ARE MORE THAN 130 BILLION MAMMALS ON

EARTH.

SOME FLY, SOME SWIM, SOME EVEN HAVE BILLS AND LAY EGGS.

BUT ALL OF THEM SHARE A FEW IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS; HAIR,

MILK AND WARM BLOOD.

EVEN IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS WHERE SOME HUNT AND OTHERS ARE

HUNTED, EARTH'S MAMMALS HAVE LEARNED TO ADAPT TO THE WILD,

STAYING OUT OF HARM'S WAY EVEN IN THE HAIRIEST OF SITUATIONS.

WELCOME TO ARABIA WHERE FOLKLORES TALKED OF UNICORNS

ROAMING DESERTS.

THE ARABIAN ORYX NEARLY BECAME AS MYTHICAL AS THESE BEASTS.

ONCE HUNTED TO EXTINCTION IN OMAN, 1982 SAW THEM REINTRODUCED

TO THE WILD.

TAGGING AND MONITORING HAS HELPED NUMBERS RISE.

BUT SURVIVING THE JEDDAH IS STILL TOUGH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TEMPERATURES CAN REACH MORE THAN 120 DEGREES

FAHRENHEIT.

AND SOME YEARS THERE CAN BE NO RAIN.

NATIVE TO THESE DESERTS, THEIR WHITE COATS REFLECT THE

PUNISHING HEAT.

WHILE DARK MARKINGS UNDER THEIR EYES REDUCE THE SUN'S GLARE.

BUT TO FIND WATER, THEY HAVE TO SMELL IT ON THE WIND.

TRAVELING HUGE DISTANCES, THEY CAN GO LONGER THAN CAMELS

WITHOUT DRINKING.

HOWEVER, SOME FEMALES ARE CARRYING YOUNG.

FINDING NUTRIENTS TO SUPPORT ONE IS HARD ENOUGH, LET ALONE TWO.

ARABIAN ORYX KEEP MOVING, BUT THE PREGNANT FEMALE IS NO LONGER

WITH THEM.

HAVING CARRIED HER OFFSPRING FOR 8 HOT MONTHS, SHE HAS LEFT THE

HERD.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR THIS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE CALF IS MINUTES OLD AND WILL RELY ON HER FOR

EVERYTHING.

LICKING HER NEWBORN HELPS BONDING AND GIVES ENCOURAGEMENT.

EXPOSED IN THE DESERT, SHE MUST GET HIM UP AND FEEDING IF HE IS

TO STAND ANY CHANCE.

BUT IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

ORYX CALVES FACE SOME OF THEIR GREATEST TESTS IN THESE FIRST

DAYS OF LIFE.

HE GAINS MUCH NEEDED STRENGTH FROM HIS MOTHER'S MILK.

THIS WILL BE HIS MAIN SOURCE OF NUTRITION FOR THE NEXT 4-1/2

MONTHS AS THEY AND THE HERD CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY.

THEIR FUTURE IS BY NO MEANS SECURE.

BUT ONCE A LEGEND LIKE THE UNICORN, THE ARABIAN ORYX HAS A

FIGHTING CHANCE IN OMAN'S DESERTS.

COMING UP, WE HEAD TO RUSSIA TO SEE THIS MASSIVE MAMMAL ON THE

HUNT.

AND LATER, THIS MONKEY IS AS RARE AS IT IS RESOURCEFUL.

PLUS, MASSIVE MATRIARCHS THAT ARE LARGE AND IN CHARGE.

COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WELCOME TO RUSSIA WHERE SOME OF THE MOST FEARED

PREDATORS CALL HOME.

SO, FOR ANIMALS LIKE THE ARCTIC FOX, THEY MUST ADAPT TO SURVIVE.

USUALLY BRIGHT WHITE, THIS ARCTIC FOX'S FUR CHANGES WITH

THE SEASONS.

HE WAS ONLY BORN IN SPRING, BUT HE HAS ALREADY BEEN KICKED OUT

OF THE DEN AND MUST NOW HUNT FOR HIMSELF.

HIGH UP ON THESE CLIFFS, A HUGE COLONY OF GUILLEMOTS ARE

NESTING.

AND TO A HUNGRY FOX, THE CHALLENGE IS IRRESISTIBLE.

BUT THE ADULT GUILLEMOTS ARE WILLING TO DEFEND THEIR NESTS.

NOT GIVING UP, THE WILEY FOX TRIES TO CLIMB AROUND TO THE

NEST FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE BIRDS' DEFENSIVE SQUAWKS AND POWERFUL

BEAKS PUSH HIM BACK.

FURTHER UP THE CLIFF, HOWEVER, THE FOX FINDS AN ABANDONED NEST.

IN SUMMER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING FOR THE FOXES TO

SCAVENGE HERE ON THE ARCTIC COAST.

BUT ANOTHER OF RUSSIA'S HABITATS PROVIDES A SUMMER FEAST ON AN

ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SCALE.

KAMCHATKA'S LAKE KURIL, AN IMMENSE, ISOLATED WILDERNESS

THAT HAS 29 ACTIVE VOLCANOES.

AND THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF BROWN BEARS ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET.

THIS IS SUMMER AND HUNDREDS OF BEARS HAVE GATHERED NEAR THE

SHORELINE TO RAISE THEIR CUBS.

THIS FEMALE'S THREE CUBS WERE BORN IN THE DEN LAST WINTER,

WEIGHING UNDER A POUND.

BUT THANKS TO HER MILK, THEY ARE GROWING RAPIDLY.

SO, TODAY SHE ONLY ALLOWS THE HUNGRY CUBS A LITTLE BIT OF

MILK.

IF THEY ARE TO GROW STRONG ENOUGH TO SURVIVE THEIR FIRST

WINTER, SHE MUST START TO WEAN THEM ONTO THE SALMON THAT WILL

SOON BE ARRIVING HERE IN THE MILLIONS FOR THEIR ANNUAL

SPAWNING.

THESE WATERS WILL SOON BE CHOKING WITH MILLIONS OF SOCKEYE

SALMON ON A MISSION TO DEPOSIT THEIR EGGS UPSTREAM IN THE

LAKE'S TRIBUTARIES.

THE ARRIVAL OF THE SALMON MARKS THE BEGINNING OF ONE OF NATURE'S

GREATEST FEASTS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE MOTHER CATCHES A FISH FOR EACH OF HER CUBS.

BUT WHILE HUNGRY BEARS CAN CONSUME 40 WHOLE SALMON A DAY,

IT'S FEARED OVER-FISHING AND WARMING SEA TEMPERATURES COULD

POSE A MUCH GREATER THREAT TO SALMON NUMBERS.

IT'S THE BOUNTY OF SALMON THAT ATTRACTS SO MANY BEARS HERE,

ALLOWING THEM TO RAISE THEIR CUBS ON THE BEAUTIFUL BANKS OF

LAKE KURIL.

AFTER THE BREAK, MORE MAMMALS.

WE'LL DISCOVER WHAT'S HIDING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF INDIA.

PLUS, WHAT'S ON THE MIND OF THESE HUNGRY ASIAN ELEPHANTS?

WE'LL FIND OUT WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EACH JOURNEY ON EARTH ODYSSEY TAKES US TO REGIONS OF

THE WORLD THAT ARE HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE ANIMALS ON

THE PLANET.

AND THE WESTERN GHATS MOUNTAIN RANGE IN INDIA IS NO EXCEPTION.

BECAUSE THERE'S ONE PRIMATE HANGING IN ITS TREES THAT YOU'LL

FIND NOWHERE ELSE.

AND WHILE IT MAY NOT BE KING OF THE JUNGLE, THE LION-TAILED

MACAQUE IS CERTAINLY A RING LEADER.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE WESTERN GHATS IN INDIA ARE A VAST, ANCIENT MOUNTAIN RANGE.

THESE FORESTED SLOPES ARE A TRUE WONDER IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

COVERING JUST 6 PERCENT OF INDIA'S TOTAL LAND MASS, THESE

MOUNTAINS ARE HOME TO A THIRD OF ALL THE COUNTRY'S PLANT AND

WILDLIFE SPECIES.

MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST BIODIVERSE PLACES ON EARTH.

AND THE PERFECT HABITAT FOR ONE OF INDIA'S MOST ENDANGERED

CREATURES.

FOUND NOWHERE ELSE, THESE LION-TAILED MACAQUES ARE SOME OF

THE RAREST MONKEYS IN THE WORLD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVEN WITH SUCH A SMALL POPULATION, MACAQUES MUST EARN

THEIR PLACE ON THE SOCIAL LADDER.

GROOMING HELPS STRENGTHEN BONDS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST

THE WHOLE TROOP.

BUT IT'S THE GROUPS LEADERS THAT GET THE MOST ATTENTION.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ESTABLISHING RANK AMONGST THE

YOUNGSTERS, THE BOYS FREQUENTLY ENGAGE IN COMPETITIONS TO SHOW

OFF THEIR STRENGTH.

EACH ATTEMPTING TO HOLD ONTO THE BRANCH FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN.

AS THE SON OF THE DOMINANT FEMALE, THIS LITTLE PRINCE COULD

ONE DAY BECOME THE TROOP LEADER.

BUT IF HE WANTS TO PROVE HIMSELF TO THE BIGGER BOYS, HE'LL HAVE

TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE OTHER TREE.

BUT FIRST, HE'LL NEED TO SNEAK AWAY FROM HIS PROTECTIVE MOTHER.

HAVING FINALLY ESCAPED THE QUEEN'S WATCHFUL EYE, THIS TINY

MONKEY GETS THE CHANCE TO CLIMB UP AND JOIN THE FUN.

FOR THE YOUNG MACAQUE, THIS COULD BE HIS OPPORTUNITY TO

DEMONSTRATE HIS STRENGTH AND CLIMBING SKILLS TO THE BIGGER

MONKEYS.

BUT IT SEEMS THIS GROUP ISN'T READY FOR ANY NEW MEMBERS.

AND THEY SEND HIM BACK DOWN WITH HIS TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS.

FOR LION-TAILED MACAQUES, CLIMBING SKILLS AREN'T JUST FOR

SHOW.

THEY'RE ALSO VITAL FOR SURVIVAL.

FALLING FROM THE TREETOPS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.

BUT WITH PREDATORS LURKING BELOW, LANDING ON THE FOREST

FLOOR COULD BE MUCH MORE DANGEROUS.

UNDERNEATH THE MACAQUE TROOP LIVES ONE OF INDIA'S MOST ICONIC

CREATURES.

REACHING UP TO 20 FEET IN LENGTH, IT IS THE WORLD'S

LONGEST VENOMOUS SNAKE.

THE KING COBRA.

THIS YOUNG MALE IS A DEADLY KILLING MACHINE.

A SINGLE BITE FROM THIS SNAKE COULD TAKE CARE OF A MACAQUE IN

JUST A FEW MINUTES.

IT IS SO POWERFUL IT COULD EVEN TAKE DOWN AN ELEPHANT.

HE'LL HUNT A RANGE OF SPECIES INCLUDING OTHER SNAKES.

AND IMMUNE TO EACH OTHER'S VENOM, KING COBRAS CAN ALSO TURN

AGAINST THEIR OWN KIND.

AND HE'S JUST SLITHERED INTO THE TERRITORY OF AN EVEN BIGGER

MALE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S NOW A STANDOFF.

FILLING HIS LUNGS WITH AIR, THE BIGGER SNAKE FORCES OUT ITS

STRANGE GUTTURAL HISS TO INTIMIDATE THE YOUNGER

TRESPASSER.

DECIDING IT'S BETTER TO BACK OFF, THE SMALLER SNAKE RETREATS

FROM THE CONFRONTATION

AND DISAPPEARS INTO THE TREES.

UP IN THE CANOPY, THE LION-TAILED MACAQUES RELAX ONCE

MORE.

INDIA'S FORESTS ARE HOME TO MILLIONS OF PRIMATES.

BUT THESE ENDANGERED MACAQUES MAY BE FOUND ONLY HERE IN THE

WESTERN GHATS.

COMING UP, THE LARGEST LAND MAMMAL MOMMAS.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WELCOME TO AN ANCIENT, MAGICAL LAND.

A TRUE PARADISE OF UNRIVALED BEAUTY HERE IN SOME OF THE

PLANET'S MOST SPECTACULAR HABITATS.

ICONIC SPECIES CARVE OUT A WILD EXISTENCE.

FROM GENTLE GIANTS

TO FIERCE PREDATORS,

THIS IS A LAND LIKE NO OTHER.

BUT THESE ANIMALS ARE FACING NEW CHALLENGES.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALTERING THEIR HOME,

FORCING WILDLIFE TO STRIVE HARDER THAN EVER

FOR THEIR VERY SURVIVAL

IN THE WILD EDENS OF SOUTH ASIA.

HERE AT THE GRASSLANDS OF ASSAM LIVES ONE OF THE LARGEST MAMMALS

TO WALK THE EARTH,

THE ASIAN ELEPHANT.

THIS FEMALE IS THE MATRIARCH.

LEADING THE HERD IS NO EASY TASK.

IT'S A BIG FAMILY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AND IT'S HER JOB TO GUIDE THEM ALL TO THE BEST

FEEDING SPOTS.

LUCKILY, THERE'S PLENTY OF FOOD HERE IN THE FORESTS OF ASSAM,

WHICH IS A GOOD THING;

ELEPHANTS EAT A LOT.

A FULLY-GROWN ADULT CAN CONSUME MORE THAN 300 POUNDS OF FOOD IN

A SINGLE DAY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THE MATRIARCH GETS PLENTY TO EAT.

SHE NEEDS ALL THE NUTRITION SHE CAN GET.

BECAUSE SHE'S NOT ONLY THE BOSS, SHE'S ALSO A MOTHER.

HER CALF IS JUST A FEW MONTHS OLD.

AND FOR NOW, HE'S COMPLETELY RELIANT ON HIS MOTHER.

AT THIS AGE, HE'LL NEVER BE FAR FROM HER SIDE.

HE'S CONSTANTLY LEARNING NEW LESSONS FROM HIS FAMILY.

TODAY, HE'S TRYING TO GET TO GRIPS WITH HIS TRUNK.

THE ADULTS CAN USE THIS UNIQUE APPENDAGE TO PLUCK EVEN THE

SHORTEST BLADES OF GRASS.

BUT WITH 40,000 MUSCLES IN EACH ELEPHANT'S TRUNK,

IT TAKES A LOT OF PRACTICE.

SOME OF THE FAMILY ARE TRUE MASTERS.

BUT THIS YOUNGSTER STILL NEEDS A LOT MORE PRACTICE.

THE ELEPHANTS' IMMENSE SIZE AND EXTRAORDINARY APPETITE HELP

SHAPE THIS WILD EDEN.

BUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN EXPANSION ARE ALSO ALTERING THIS

HABITAT.

MEANING THE SURVIVAL OF THESE ICONIC ANIMALS IS BECOMING

INCREASINGLY IN JEOPARDY.

THESE GENTLE GIANTS COULD SOON CEASE TO EXIST ALTOGETHER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD IN

SEARCH OF SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE MAMMALS IN THE ANIMAL

KINGDOM.

WHETHER IN THE MOUNTAINS OF INDIA OR JUNGLES OF BORNEO,

THESE FURRY FRIENDS ARE A REMINDER THAT THERE'S ALWAYS

SOMETHING SPECIAL WAITING FOR US TO DISCOVER IN THE WILD.

WE'LL SEE YOU FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]