Original subtitles

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI, EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER AND IT'S TIME FOR A WILD

JOURNEY ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE HEAD TO THE LUSH FORESTS OF COSTA RICA TO EXPLORE

A TROPICAL OASIS THAT IS HOME TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST

SPECTACULAR ANIMALS.

WE'LL MEET A COLORFUL QUETZAL CHARACTER THAT HAS BEEN A LOCAL

LEGEND SINCE THE TIME OF THE AZTECS.

AND LATER, WE GET A SPECIAL GLIMPSE INSIDE THE NATURAL

HABITAT OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S RAREST MACAWS.

BUT FIRST, WE VENTURE DEEP INTO THE COSTA RICAN JUNGLE TO VISIT

A PRIMATE COMMUNITY THAT'S A HOWLING SUCCESS.

[MONKEY HOWLING]

DYLAN: THAT AND MUCH MORE TODAY ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LOCATED IN THE HEART OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COSTA RICA HAS

ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR DISPLAYS OF BIODIVERSITY SEEN

ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

ONLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF WEST VIRGINIA, 5 PERCENT OF ALL KNOWN

ANIMAL AND PLANT SPECIES ON EARTH CALL THIS COUNTRY HOME.

IT'S A DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT COVERED IN BEACHES, MOUNTAINS

AND THICK TROPICAL FORESTS LIKE THE ONE WE'RE HEADING TO FIRST.

SO, LET'S SWING INTO ACTION.

THROUGHOUT COSTA RICA AND THE MAJORITY OF CENTRAL AMERICA,

THIS PRIMATE IS THE NOISIEST ANIMAL OF THE REGION.

[MONKEY HOWLING]

DYLAN: IT'S THE HOWLER MONKEY;

OR MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE MANTLED HOWLER MONKEY.

LARGELY DEPENDENT ON THE FOREST ENVIRONMENT, TREES PROVIDE THIS

SPECIES WITH FOOD AND A PLACE TO LIVE.

THIS NEW WORLD PRIMATE MANAGES TO PRODUCE THE LOUDEST SOUNDS IN

THE FOREST.

[MONKEY HOWLING]

DYLAN: THE HOWLER MONKEY GROUP IS MADE UP OF 9 SPECIES.

WHILE THE MANTLED HOWLER IS NOT THE NOISIEST OF THEM, ITS VOCAL

DEMONSTRATIONS CAN STILL BE HEARD FROM MILES AWAY.

CLEARLY, LOUD ENOUGH TO MARK ITS TERRITORY.

IN DOING SO, IT WARNS OTHER GROUPS OF HOWLERS THAT THIS

TRIBE IS OCCUPYING THIS PARTICULAR RESTING OR

FEEDING SITE.

TO PRODUCE SUCH A SOUND, THE MONKEY HAS A PARTICULARLY

EFFECTIVE VOICE BOX.

HUMANS POSSESS SPOKEN LANGUAGE.

THIS IS THANKS TO A CERTAIN SKELETAL ELEMENT; THE HYOID

BONE.

THIS BONE IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT ARTICULATES WITH NO OTHER BONES,

BUT IS ATTACHED TO THE ROOT OF THE TONGUE BY MUSCLES IN THE

JAW.

IN NON-HUMAN PRIMATES, THIS BONE IS NOT POSITIONED IN QUITE THE

SAME MANNER.

AND IN THE HOWLER MONKEY, IT'S 20 TIMES LARGER; AN ENLARGEMENT

WHICH CHARACTERIZES THE SPECIES AND GIVES IT THIS UNIQUE LOOK.

THEIR LARYNX THEN AMPLIFIES ANY SOUNDS THAT ARE PRODUCED.

[MONKEY HOWLING]

DYLAN: THE MONKEY'S CRY IS POWERFUL, BUT ITS STRENGTH IS

GENTLE.

IT RELIES ON DISSUASION; USING ITS VOICE TO ELIMINATE THE NEED

TO ENGAGE IN CONFLICT.

IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO

DISTINGUISH GENDER.

FOR THE HOWLER MONKEY, HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

THIS IS AN ALPHA MALE.

HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE SECURITY AND THE UNITY OF

THE GROUP WHICH IS COMPOSED OF FEMALES, ADOLESCENTS AND A FEW

OTHER MALES.

HIERARCHY DEMANDS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL OBEY AND RESPECT THE

ALPHA'S SOCIAL RANK.

THIS TENDS TO KEEP THE PEACE AMONG THE GROUPS.

THE PRIVILEGE OF THE ALPHA MALE IS PROCREATION.

WHEN COURTING, HE STICKS OUT HIS TONGUE IN A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF

INTENT.

THIS MESSAGE IS RECEIVED BY THIS FEMALE WHO IS

MATURE ENOUGH TO MATE.

THEIR BRIEF ENCOUNTER CARRIES THE PROMISE OF A NEW LIFE.

COMING UP, ONE OF THE RAREST MACAWS IN EXISTENCE GIVES US A

TOUR OF ITS TROPICAL TREETOP HOME.

AND LATER, WE DISCOVER THE RICH AND ROYAL HISTORY OF THE

QUETZAL.

PLUS, HOW THESE BIRDS FIND THEIR FOOTING IN THE DENSE FORESTS OF

COSTA RICA.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WE'RE IN THE NORTHEAST COAST OF COSTA RICA NEAR

NICARAGUA WHERE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC EXOTIC BIRDS

FLIES FREELY.

[MUSIC, BIRDS SQUAWKING]

DYLAN: THE GREAT GREEN MACAW, OR BUFFON'S MACAW.

GIVEN ITS RARITY, OBSERVING THE BUFFON'S MACAW IN ITS NATURAL

ENVIRONMENT IS A PRIVILEGE.

THIS SOCIAL BIRD ONCE FLOURISHED ACROSS CENTRAL AMERICA.

BUT DEFORESTATION CAUSED BY BANANA CULTIVATION HAS

TRAGICALLY REDUCED ITS NUMBERS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN ONE CENTURY, 90 PERCENT OF ITS HABITAT

HAS DISAPPEARED.

NOW THAT GROOMING IS FINISHED, IT'S TIME TO FIND SOME LUNCH.

THE GROUP FLIES STRAIGHT TO ITS FAVORITE PANTRY.

[MUSIC, MACAWS SQUAWKING]

DYLAN: THIS PARROT'S TREE IS A PROPER SYMBOL FOR THE SPECIES.

THE BIRDS USE IT FOR REPRODUCTION AND FEED FROM IT

ABUNDANTLY.

THE ALMENDRO, OR MOUNTAIN ALMOND.

THE FRUIT IS A VERY HARD-SHELLED NUT THAT THE MACAW SKILLFULLY

CRACKS OPEN.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN COSTA RICA, A PROTECTIVE BAN HAS PRESERVED THE

LAST REMAINING FORESTS OF WILD ALMENDRO TREES FROM BEING

DESTROYED.

AND A REFORESTATION CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

THE CAMPAIGN IS NOW BEARING FRUIT FROM THE MOUNTAIN ALMOND

TREES, OF COURSE.

OF THE 350 SPECIES OF PARROTS AND RELATED BIRDS, 100 ARE IN

DANGER OF EXTINCTION INCLUDING THE GREAT GREEN MACAW.

HOPEFULLY MORE COUNTRIES WILL FOLLOW POLICIES LIKE THE ONE

PRACTICED IN COSTA RICA TO HELP PRESERVE SOME OF EARTH'S MOST

REMARKABLE AND BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE LIKE THIS MACAW.

COMING UP, WE GET TO KNOW THE CURIOUS CREATURE THAT IS THE

COSTA RICAN QUETZAL.

PLUS, A TREK INTO THE CLOUD FORESTS OF COSTA RICA WITH

ANIMALS AS UNIQUE AS THEIR HABITAT.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: CLOUD FORESTS ARE A RARE TYPE OF RAINFOREST FOUND IN

TROPICAL AREAS WHERE MIST AND FOG ENGULF FOREST CANOPIES

YEAR-ROUND.

THE PLANTS AND TREES RECEIVE NEAR CONSTANT MOISTURE DIRECTLY

FROM THE CLOUDS, ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE IN AS MUCH WATER AS

POSSIBLE.

THIS HYPERHYDRATION ATTRACTS ALL TYPES OF SPECIES OF ANIMALS

INCLUDING ONE OF THE RAREST BIRDS IN THE WORLD.

IN TERMS OF WORLDWIDE BIODIVERSITY, THE VARIETY OF

SPECIES THAT THE COSTA RICAN CLOUD FOREST SHELTERS IS ONE OF

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AND IN THE HEART OF THESE FORESTS

LIVES A BIRD OF MYTH AND LEGEND;

THE MAGNIFICENT QUETZAL.

THE ANCIENT AZTECS PLACED MORE VALUE ON ITS FEATHERS THAN THEY

DID ON GOLD OR EMERALDS.

ONLY THE GODS AND THE EMPEROR WORE THEM.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE AZTECS DIDN'T KILL THE BIRD; THEY CAUGHT IT ALIVE.

BUT ONLY FOR ITS FEATHERS, THEN THEY WOULD LET IT GO.

AS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM, THE BIRD CANNOT BE KEPT ALIVE IN A CAGE.

THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE KNEW THAT IN RELEASING IT, THE BIRD STOOD

A GOOD CHANCE OF GROWING NEW FEATHERS AT THE NEXT MOLT.

THE ANIMAL, VENERATED AS A GOD, WAS THE FEATHERED SERPENT OR

QUETZALCOATL IN THE NAHUATL LANGUAGE.

KILLING A QUETZAL WAS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.

TODAY, IT IS THE RADIANT QUETZAL OF COSTA RICA

ENDEMIC TO THE REGION.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE BIRD IS CLASSIFIED AS A NEAR THREATENED SPECIES ON

THE RED LIST OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE

CONSERVATION OF NATURE.

THE REMARKABLE TAIL FEATHERS CAN FORM A TRAIN NEARLY 3 FEET LONG.

THESE ONLY OCCUR ON ADULT MALES.

THOSE LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD MUST WAIT.

THE FEMALES ARE MORE DISCREET.

ALTHOUGH THEIR PLUMAGE IS LESS VARIED, IT IS STILL BEAUTIFULLY

IRIDESCENT.

LIKE THE SCALES ON THE WINGS OF A BUTTERFLY, THE FEATHERS OF THE

QUETZAL CHANGE COLOR DEPENDING UPON THE LIGHT AND THE ANGLE

FROM WHICH THEY ARE OBSERVED.

BEING AN UNUSUAL BIRD, IT'S NO SURPRISE THE QUETZAL HAS SOME

UNUSUAL BEHAVIORS.

HERE'S THE PROOF.

THESE BIRDS MIGRATE, BUT VERTICALLY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: NORMALLY LIVING AT AN ALTITUDE OF ALMOST 4,000 FEET,

EVERY YEAR THEY FLY UP TO 1-1/2 MILES TO REPRODUCE IN THE

CLOUD FOREST.

THIS SEASONAL EVENT IS RELATED TO THE FRUITING OF THE SPECIES

THAT IT EATS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 40 TYPES OF FRUITING TREES ON ITS MENU.

AND THE AGUACATEOS, A TYPE OF WILD AVOCADO, IS ONE OF ITS

FAVORITES.

THESE TREES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER UNUSUAL CHARACTERISTIC

OF THIS BIRD; ITS FEEDING HABITS.

THE QUETZAL IS A BIRD THAT ORDINARILY NEVER TOUCHES THE

GROUND.

IN RELATIVE PROPORTION TO ITS MASS, IT HAS THE SMALLEST FEET

OF ANY SPECIES OF BIRD.

THIS PECULIARITY IS SOMEWHAT COMPENSATED FOR BY A 40 PERCENT

INCREASE IN MUSCLES FROM FLYING.

WHEN EATING AVOCADOS, THE QUETZAL USES A VERY ORIGINAL

FEEDING METHOD; IT GRABS ITS FOOD WHILE IN FLIGHT.

AND WITH ITS BEAK WIDE OPEN, IT GRABS THE FRUIT AND RIPS IT FROM

THE TREE.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS EVEN MORE PECULIAR;

NO CHEWING, NO TEARING,

THE SPOILS ARE SWALLOWED WHOLE.

THE AVOCADOS VARY IN SIZE AND THE SHREWD EYE OF THE QUETZAL IS

ATTRACTED TO THE LARGEST FRUITS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ITS MANDIBLES, WHICH FORM THE BEAK, AND ITS

CLAVICLES, CALLED THE FURCULA IN BIRDS, ARE HIGHLY FLEXIBLE.

THIS ALLOWS THE QUETZAL TO SWALLOW PARTICULARLY LARGE

FRUITS.

YET IN SPITE OF ALL ITS EFFORTS, CERTAIN DRUPES ARE JUST TOO

LARGE TO SWALLOW.

EVEN FOR THESE EXPERT EATERS, SOMETIMES THE EYES ARE BIGGER

THAN THE STOMACH.

COMING UP, FIND OUT WHICH ANIMALS HAVE THEIR HEAD IN THE

CLOUDS IN THIS UNIQUE FOREST ENVIRONMENT.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HERE IN COSTA RICA, THIS SPECIES OF WILD AVOCADO IS IN

SEASON AND HAS RECENTLY FRUITED;

GIVING AN ABUNDANCE OF LARGE, FLESHY FRUITS.

A GOOD REASON TO INCITE A LITTLE ENVY.

A TREE-DWELLING SPECIES OF THE GALLIFORMES, OR BIGGER-BODIED,

MOSTLY FLIGHTLESS BIRDS, HAS LOCATED THIS NOURISHING MATTER.

IT'S A BLACK GUAN, ENDEMIC TO COSTA RICA AND PANAMA.

THIS CLIMBING BIRD IS VERY MUCH AT HOME IN THE AGUACATEOS TREES.

ITS FEEDING HABITS ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

IT ASKS NO QUESTIONS, IT JUST CONSUMES.

ITS LARGE SIZE ALLOWS IT TO SWALLOW THE FRUIT WHOLE AND ITS

ANATOMY ALLOWS THE PITS TO BE EVACUATED BY A NATURAL MEANS.

ANOTHER RESIDENT OF THE CLOUD FOREST IS THE EMERALD TOUCANET.

AN OMNIVORE, THESE BIRDS FEED ON ALL SORTS OF SMALL ANIMALS

INCLUDING INSECTS, BUT ALSO ON CHICKS AND EGGS; MUCH TO THE

DISMAY OF THE QUETZALS FOR WHOM THEY ARE FORMIDABLE PREDATORS.

HOWEVER, LIKE THE QUETZALS, THE EMERALD TOUCANET APPRECIATES

LARGE FRUITS.

IT TOO HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL FEEDING METHOD; IT PITS THE

AVOCADO.

AH... IT DROPPED IT.

LUCKILY THERE'S PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

AND THIS TIME THERE'S NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LET'S CHECK IN WITH OUR QUETZAL.

IT'S BEEN 20 MINUTES SINCE IT SWALLOWED ITS AVOCADO.

BY NOW, THE FRUIT IS IN A SPECIAL POUCH - THE

PROVENTRICULUS; AN ORGAN THAT PRE-DIGESTS THE FOOD BEFORE IT

ENTERS THE STOMACH.

CHEMICAL DIGESTION IS AT WORK.

NOW IT'S BEEN 25 MINUTES.

THE FRUIT'S PIT CANNOT BE DISSOLVED AND IT'S TOO LARGE TO

PASS THROUGH THE DIGESTIVE TRACT.

SO, NOW THE BIRD HAS DIGESTED THE PULP AND SKIN;

THE PIT COMES BACK OUT THE WAY IT CAME.

THE QUETZAL IS DOING ITS PART TO REPLENISH THE FOREST; DISPERSING

THE SEEDS OF THE TREES THAT FEED IT.

LIKE A GARDENER, THE QUETZAL REPLANTS THE FOREST.

THE EXACT MOVEMENTS OF THIS BIRD HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEEN

DISCOVERED.

LIKE MANY OF THE PLANET'S RAREST LIVING TREASURES, THE QUETZAL

AND ITS UNIQUELY-EXOTIC ENVIRONMENT REQUIRE CARE AND

PROTECTION TO ENSURE THEIR BRILLIANT ADDITION TO THE WILD

IS NEVER LOST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR ADVENTURE TO COSTA RICA TO SEE

THE BRILLIANT WILDLIFE FLOURISHING THERE.

DESPITE ITS SMALL LAND MASS, COSTA RICA IS AN ENTIRE WORLD OF

ITS OWN AND CONTINUES TO BE AN EDEN FOR SO MANY OF THE EARTH'S

MOST SPECTACULAR FAUNA AND FLORA.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY, BUT I'LL SEE YOU NEXT

TIME ON ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]