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'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'LL MEET SOME OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT CREATURES IN

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

WE'LL HEAD TO SOUTH AMERICA WHERE THIS BIRD REALLY USES ITS

HEAD TO FIND A TASTY TREAT.

PLUS, THIS PACK OF WILD DOGS TRIES TO OUTWIT AND OUTRACE

THEIR PREY.

AND LATER, THESE SMART STORKS CHOOSE TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE.

BUT FIRST, THESE SEASONED EXPERTS REALLY KNOW HOW TO

PREPARE A MEAL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TO THRIVE IN NATURE'S EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS, ANIMALS

HAVE TO BE RESOURCEFUL, BRAVE, AND MOST OF ALL, SMART.

THE MARGIN FOR ERROR IS THIN WHEN YOU'RE IN THE THICK OF THE

WILD.

TODAY, WE'RE TREKKING AROUND THE WORLD FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME

OF EARTH'S CLEVEREST CREATURES, STARTING WITH A GROUP OF HUNGRY

MACAQUES, WHO REALLY KNOW HOW TO CLEAN THEIR PLATES.

TAKE A LOOK.

HERE ON THE BEACHES OF KOSHIMA, A GROUP OF JAPANESE MACAQUES

HAVE EVOLVED A CULINARY PREFERENCE FOR WASHING THEIR

FOOD BEFORE EATING.

SCIENTISTS HAVE COME HERE TO MONITOR THIS UNIQUE BEHAVIOR.

LIKE ANY PICNIC ON THE BEACH, THE MACAQUE'S FOOD ALWAYS GETS

COVERED IN SAND.

AND NO ONE LIKES SAND IN THEIR MOUTH.

SO, THE MACAQUES HAVE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.

THEY ALWAYS WASH WHAT THEY EAT.

USING THEIR HIGHLY DEXTEROUS FINGERS, THEY CLEAN AND PEEL

THEIR FOOD.

AND EVEN SEASON THEIR LUNCH, DIPPING IT IN THE SALTY WATER

BETWEEN BITES.

IT'S THE FACT THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS SELF-TAUGHT THAT MAKES IT SO

FASCINATING.

CHOOSING TO WASH THEIR FOOD SEEMS TO DEMONSTRATE A FAR

HIGHER LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE THAN SIMPLY EATING IT AS THEY

FIND IT.

THE YOUNG MACAQUES WITNESS THE ELDER'S EATING HABITS AND CHOOSE

TO FOLLOW SUIT, IN ORDER TO FIT IN.

BY THE TIME THEY'VE MASTERED THE TECHNIQUE, AT AROUND TWO AND A

HALF, THEY'VE DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR THE SALTY SNACKS.

AND SOME SIMPLY CAN'T GET ENOUGH.

SOME RESEARCHERS ARGUE THE FACT THAT ONLY THIS GROUP OF MACAQUES

HAS DEVELOPED AND PASSED DOWN THIS UNIQUE BEHAVIOR SHOWS IT'S

A LEARNED CULTURE AND A SELF-TAUGHT BEHAVIOR INDICATES

AN ANIMAL'S UNDERLYING INTELLIGENCE.

HERE IN AFRICA, THE WEAVER BIRD IS ONE ANIMAL THAT MANY BELIEVE

DEMONSTRATES ADVANCED PROBLEM SOLVING.

THEY BUILD NESTS SO COMPLEX AND INTRICATE, EVEN HUMANS FIND IT

DIFFICULT TO EMULATE.

EACH SPECIES' NESTS ARE UNIQUE.

BUT THEY ALL REQUIRE CAREFUL PLANNING AND DESIGN.

THEY USE A VARIETY OF PLANT MATERIALS TO BUILD WITH.

AND USING ONLY ITS BEAK, THE WEAVER BIRD CAN ACTUALLY TIE

KNOTS.

IT'S THIS SKILL THAT ALLOWS THEM TO CREATE SUCH STRONG AND

ELABORATE CONSTRUCTIONS.

CHOOSING A BRANCH HANGING OVER WATER, THE BIRDS ALSO BUILD A

NARROW TUBE-LIKE ENTRANCE TO DETER PREDATORS.

THE MALES DO ALL THIS AS PART OF THEIR COURTSHIP AND ONLY THE

MOST IMPRESSIVE NESTS WILL ATTRACT A FEMALE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: OFTEN, THEY MUST BE TORN DOWN MANY TIMES UNTIL IT MEETS

HER REQUIREMENTS.

AND IT'S THIS PROCESS WHERE THE WEAVERS DISPLAY THEIR ABILITY TO

LEARN.

THEY ARE NOT BORN WITH AN INNATE ABILITY TO MAKE THE PERFECT

NEST.

INSTEAD, THEY MUST USE THEIR INTELLIGENCE TO ADJUST THEIR

TECHNIQUE AND HONE THEIR SKILLS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ALL SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD THE PERFECT HOME.

COMING UP, THESE WISE WHITE STORKS WINTER AT THE WATER'S

EDGE.

AND LATER, THESE AFRICAN WILD DOGS WORK TOGETHER TO WIN THE

RACE.

PLUS, WE SEARCH HIGH AND LOW FOR THE SMARTEST CREATURES IN SOUTH

AMERICA.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE WHEN WE RETURN TO "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

.

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

DYLAN: THE NEXT STOP ON OUR JOURNEY TO FIND SOME OF THE

WORLD'S MOST INGENIOUS ANIMALS IS THE ROCKY CLIFF OVERLOOKING

THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

LUCKILY, ONE HEARTY BIRD 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.

COMING UP, THESE IMPALA FEAR THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.

PLUS, THE SMART SOUTH AMERICAN SPECIES THAT YOU'LL REALLY DIG.

[MUSIC]

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

DYLAN: IN THE WILD, IT'S A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD, WHERE BOTH

PREDATOR AND PREY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE UPPER HAND, OR

IN THIS CASE, PAW.

ACROSS THE OPEN PLAINS AND SPARSE WOODLANDS OF THE

SUB-SAHARAN REGION, AFRICAN WILD DOGS ARE NO DIFFERENT, USING A

PACK MENTALITY AS THEIR ADVANTAGE WHEN HUNTING.

THIS CANINE CREW RELIES ON EACH MEMBER DOING THEIR PART.

AND YOU'LL BE IN THE DOGHOUSE IF YOU MISS YOUR MARK.

HERE IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA, THESE IMPALA HAVE LEARNED TO

ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR PREDATORS.

BUT OTHER THAN THEIR CONTINUOUS SURVEILLANCE, WITH NO REAL

LANGUAGE, IMPALA ARE UNABLE TO DEVELOP ANY EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES

AGAINST INTELLIGENT PREDATORS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SUCH AS A PACK OF WILD DOGS, ONE OF AFRICA'S MOST

EFFICIENT HUNTERS.

USING COMMUNICATION TO OUTWIT THEIR PREY.

ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF THIS PACK'S HUNTS END IN A MEAL.

THAT'S MORE THAN TWICE THE SUCCESS RATE OF A PRIDE OF

LIONS.

EVER ALERT, ONE OF THE DOGS THINKS IT'S SPOTTED AN

OPPORTUNITY.

HE'S SINGLED OUT A TARGET BUT THE IMPALA HAVE NO IDEA WHICH

ONE OF THEM THE DOGS ARE AFTER.

IN A CAREFULLY REHEARSED MOVE, THE PACK SPREADS OUT,

ANTICIPATING THE IMPALA'S ESCAPE TACTICS.

OVER SHORT DISTANCES, THE IMPALA MAY BE ABLE TO OUTRUN THE DOGS,

BUT THIS IS NO SPRINT.

AS THE LEADING DOGS TIRE, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PACK MOVE

UP TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE IMPALA.

SOON, THE IMPALA'S INFERIOR ENDURANCE BEGINS TO SHOW.

AND THE DOGS WASTE NO TIME IN DISPATCHING THEIR PREY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE DOGS FEAST QUIETLY, HOPING TO AVOID ATTRACTING

SCAVENGERS.

THE ENTIRE CARCASS IS CONSUMED, BEFORE RETREATING BACK

TO THE DEN.

HERE, MEAT IS REGURGITATED FOR THE ALPHA FEMALE, WHO STAYED

BEHIND TO PROTECT HER PUPS, WHO AREN'T YET STRONG ENOUGH TO JOIN

THE HUNT.

ONLY THE ALPHA IS ALLOWED TO MATE, CREATING A STRONG

BLOODLINE AND A POWERFUL FAMILY BOND.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ENDURANCE, TEAMWORK, AND PHYSICAL STRENGTH ARE VITAL TO

THE WILD DOG'S SUCCESS AS HUNTERS.

BUT IT'S THEIR INTELLIGENCE THAT TRULY MAKES THEM ONE OF THE MOST

EFFICIENT PREDATORS ON THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH.

COMING UP, IT'S DINNERTIME IN SOUTH AMERICA AND THESE BIRDS

ARE A LITTLE PECKISH.

WHILE THESE ARMADILLO WILL REALLY TIP THE SCALES.

[MUSIC]

.

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

DYLAN: HIGH UP IN CHILE'S FOREST CANOPY IS A NOISY

NEIGHBOR THAT NO ONE CAN IGNORE.

THIS MAGELLANIC WOODPECKER IS HUNGRY,

BUT HIS PREY IS IN HIDING.

HIS NOISY TABLE MANNERS CAN BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE

FOREST.

AND HE'S NOT THE ONLY WOODPECKER IN THE TREES TODAY.

HE'S JOINED BY A FEMALE.

BOTH ARE LOOKING FOR THE SAME PRIZE.

THE RACE IS ON TO FIND THE JUICY TREAT HIDING UNDERNEATH THE

BARK.

THE WOODPECKER'S TOES FACE BOTH FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS, TO HELP

KEEP A FIRM GRIP.

ADDITIONALLY, STIFFENED TAIL FEATHERS ACT AS A TRIPOD,

PROVIDING PERFECT STABILITY.

THE FEMALE'S PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF AND SHE FINDS

A BEETLE LARVAE.

BASKING IN THE DELIGHT OF VICTORY, SHE DIGESTS HER

WELL-EARNED FEAST.

WHILE THE MALE MAY HAVE LOST THE FIRST FOOD FIGHT, HE DECIDES TO

BATTLE ON IN THE SEARCH FOR LUNCH.

TO SURVIVE SOUTH AMERICA'S WILDERNESS, THE WOODPECKER'S

PERSEVERANCE AND UNIQUE HUNTING SKILLS ARE VITAL.

WHILE ANOTHER SPECIES FOUND IN SOUTH AMERICA HAS DEVELOPED AN

EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE HUNTING TECHNIQUE.

HERE IN PATAGONIA'S WILDERNESS, ONE ANIMAL IS PERFECTLY AND

PECULIARLY ADAPTED TO HARSH DESERT LIFE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE LARGE, HAIRY ARMADILLO.

THIS CREATURE IS COVERED WITH PROTECTIVE BONY PLATES.

ARMADILLOS ARE OMNIVORES AND THOSE THAT LIVE CLOSER TO THE

EQUATOR MAINLY EAT INSECTS AND PLANTS.

BUT HERE, THE ARMADILLO HAS TO FIND A WAY TO COPE WITH A LACK

OF RESOURCES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AND TO OVERCOME THIS SCARCITY, THESE ARMADILLOS HAVE

DEVELOPED AN UNUSUAL TASTE.

FOR MEAT.

HE HAS FOUND AN ABANDONED KILL, A HARE.

WHILE HIS EYESIGHT IS POOR, HIS AMAZING SENSE OF SMELL HAS

TRACKED DOWN THIS NUTRITIOUS, MEATY MEAL.

AS THE TEMPERATURES CLIMB, THE ARMADILLO NEEDS TO RETREAT

UNDERGROUND WHERE HIS MEAL CAN BE SAVED FOR LATER.

LUCKILY, THIS SPECIES IS AN ACCOMPLISHED DIGGER AND ITS

POWERFUL CLAWS MAKE LIGHT WORK OF BURYING.

SPECIAL MEMBRANES IN ITS NOSE ALLOW IT TO EXTRACT OXYGEN FROM

THE SOIL.

QUITE A USEFUL TECHNIQUE FOR AN ANIMAL THAT SPENDS HALF ITS TIME

WITH ITS HEAD IN THE DIRT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING OUR EXCURSION INTO THE WILD TO FIND

SOME OF EARTH'S SMARTEST ANIMALS.

THESE BRILLIANT CREATURES HAVE PERFECTED THEIR SURVIVAL SKILLS,

PASSING THEM DOWN TO ENSURE THEIR SPECIES CAN THRIVE THROUGH

THE GENERATIONS.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE ON THE NEXT

"EARTH ODYSSEY".