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

JOURNEY ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD TO DISCOVER THE

WEIRDEST WONDERS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

IN THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH, THESE BABOONS SURVIVE THE DROUGHT BY

MUNCHING ON A VERY UNUSUAL TREAT.

PLUS, WHAT DOES THIS TALL DRINK OF WATER DO WHEN IT NEEDS A

DRINK OF WATER?

AND LATER, THIS FLOCK OF FEASTING CARNIVORES HAS A UNIQUE

WAY TO SIT BACK AND RELAX.

ALL OF THIS COMING UP ON TODAY'S EPISODE OF "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A VAST ARRAY OF THE STRANGEST BEHAVIORS IN THE WILD

ARE PURELY SEASONAL, A DIRECT REACTION TO A SPECIFIC

TIME OF YEAR.

FOR SOME ANIMALS, THAT MEANS HIBERNATING, WHILE FOR OTHERS IT

CAN MEAN TURNING FROM CARNIVORE TO HERBIVORE OR VICE VERSA.

BUT FOR ONE OF AFRICA'S MIGHTIEST MINI-BEASTS, WHEN THE

TIME OF YEAR IS RIGHT, IT MEANS STARTING A NEW LIFE BY LEAVING A

PIECE OF THEMSELVES BEHIND, LITERALLY.

THESE BABOONS, INQUISITIVE AND OPPORTUNISTS AS USUAL, ARE

TAKING AN INTEREST IN SOME STRANGE ANIMAL-LIKE SHELLS UP

AND DOWN THIS TREE TRUNK.

THESE ARE EXUVIAE, THE SHED SKIN LEFT BEHIND BY INSECTS WHEN THEY

HAVE FINISHED THEIR TRANSFORMATION.

FROM THE SHAPE OF THESE DRIED MEMBRANES, YOU CAN'T EASILY

IDENTIFY WHAT ANIMAL WAS INSIDE: CICADAS,

ALTHOUGH THEY ARE CLEAR AND VIRTUALLY INTACT.

IT ALL BEGAN IN THE SOIL AT THE FOOT OF THE TRUNK.

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF LIFE AS LARVAE, THE PUPAE CAME OUT OF

THE EARTH AND SET OFF TO CONQUER THE TREE.

THE AIM OF THIS LIFE IN THE OPEN AIR IS TO GO THROUGH ONE LAST

METAMORPHOSIS.

IT JUST HAS TO LEAVE ITS SHELL TO CHANGE INTO A CICADA AND

START SINGING.

DURING THE DRY SEASON, DROUGHT HAS MADE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR THE

ANIMALS WHO ARE IN SEARCH OF FOOD AND WATER.

EACH ANIMAL MAKES DO AS BEST IT CAN.

THESE WARTHOGS USE THEIR SNOUT AS A SHOVEL.

THEY DIG IN THE SAND OF THE RIVER AND EVENTUALLY FIND

SOMETHING TO DRINK.

THIS BABOON HAS DECIDED TO EAT AN OLD BIT OF CACTUS.

IT'S TOUGH AND COMPLETELY DRIED OUT, BUT IT'S BETTER THAN

NOTHING.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU CAN GET.

THE DROUGHT LEADS TO MANY OTHER STRANGE BEHAVIORS.

THIS GIRAFFE HASN'T TURNED CARNIVOROUS, YET WE CAN'T IGNORE

THE FACT THAT IT IS ACTUALLY CHEWING ON A BONE.

IT FOUND THE BONE ON THE GROUND, AND IT'S ALL THAT REMAINS OF A

LONG PASSED ANIMAL.

THIS BEHAVIOR IS ONLY TO BE SEEN AT THE HEIGHT OF THE DRY SEASON

WHEN THE GIRAFFE IS SUFFERING FROM LACK OF NUTRITION.

IT CAN NO LONGER FIND THE CALCIUM AND PHOSPHOROUS THAT IT

NEEDS IN THE FOLIAGE THAT IT FEEDS ON.

SO, IT CHEWS ON BONES UNTIL THE NUTRIENTS THEY CONTAIN PASS INTO

THE SALIVA.

THE DANGER IS THAT THE GIRAFFE COULD SWALLOW A LONG BIT OF BONE

THAT COULD INJURE IT.

BUT DEXTEROUS USE OF ITS ALMOST TWO-FOOT-LONG TONGUE MAKES SURE

THAT IT REGURGITATES ANY DANGEROUS BITS IN TIME.

WHEN RESOURCES ARE SCARCE, ODD, BUT EFFECTIVE MEASURES MUST BE

TAKEN.

COMING UP, FOR THIS COLLECTION OF COLORFUL CHARACTERS, SURVIVAL

IS A RACE AGAINST TIME.

THEN, A RIVERBANK REPTILE THAT'S ALWAYS READY TO ROLL.

PLUS, THE SAVANNAH'S MOST ODD AND IMPRESSIVE FLYING FISHERMEN.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: NATURE USUALLY PROVIDES ENOUGH RESOURCES TO RESOLVE, TO

A LESSER OR GREATER EXTENT, MOST NUTRITIONAL ISSUES.

THE REAL PROBLEM IS WATER.

EVEN BIRDS ADAPTED TO THE ARID CONDITIONS, LIKE THE SECRETARY

BIRD, NEED TO DRINK REGULARLY.

WITHOUT LOSING CONCENTRATION BECAUSE OF THE CROWD, THIS GREAT

RAPTOR QUENCHES ITS THIRST WITH ELEGANCE AND IMPECCABLE

TECHNIQUE, BEND AND STRETCH.

ON ONE HAND, THERE ARE LOTS OF BIRDS AROUND THE POND.

ON THE OTHER, THERE ARE LOTS OF FISH TRAPPED IN THE LAKE THAT'S

NOW REDUCED TO THE SIZE OF A LARGE PUDDLE.

THE ONLY REMAINING FISH ARE LARGE ONES, THE OTHERS HAVING

BEEN EATEN BY THE FISHING BIRDS.

THE LAST SURVIVORS OFTEN WEIGH SEVERAL POUNDS, WHICH LEAVES THE

HERON WITH A PROBLEM.

THEIR EYES ARE BIGGER THAN THEIR STOMACHS.

WHEREVER THERE'S A LITTLE WATER LEFT, IT'S SHORT OF OXYGEN OR

IT'S MUDDY OR FULL OF WEEDS.

IT WILL HAVE TO DO UNTIL THERE'S SOME RAIN.

AND THE RAIN COMES SUDDENLY, LIKE A MIRACLE BRINGING

GREENNESS AND LIFE BACK TO THE LAND.

APPEARING AS IF FROM NOWHERE, MILLIPEDES SET OFF TO INVADE THE

WET EARTH.

THE BLACKSMITH PLOVER HAS TO ADAPT TO THE WHIMS OF ITS BROOD.

THIS LITTLE ONE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE SHELTER, BUT THE PLACE IS

ALREADY TAKEN, AND NO ONE IS MOVING OVER TO MAKE ROOM.

FOR THE REJECTED LITTLE PLOVER, THE SOLUTION WILL COME QUITE

SIMPLY WHEN IT STOPS RAINING.

THE WET WEATHER HAS ALSO BROUGHT OUT THE TORTOISES.

THIS ONE IS A LEOPARD TORTOISE, SO CALLED BECAUSE OF THE

MARKINGS ON ITS SHELL.

IT'S A LARGE, HERBIVOROUS TORTOISE.

AT THE ADULT STAGE, IT CAN MEASURE UP TO TWO FEET LONG AND

WEIGH ALMOST 50 POUNDS.

THE YOUNG ARE MUCH SMALLER, SO WE'LL PUT IT DOWN TO THE FOLLY

OF YOUTH AS THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS SUDDENLY SET OFF ON

A SORT OF MAD DASH.

THEY MIGHT BE JUST TWO YOUNG MALES RUSHING IN PURSUIT OF A

FEMALE, BUT WHATEVER THE MOTIVATION, THE RACE IS ON.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ALL WINNING THE RACE FOR SURVIVAL IN

THIS HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN WE RETURN, THIS CROCODILE PREFERS ITS MEALS WITH A TWIST.

AND LATER, A POPULAR BIRD BATH TURNS INTO A FISHING FRENZY,

COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: SURVIVAL IN THE WILD REQUIRES GREAT SKILL,

ADAPTABILITY, AND RESILIENCE.

IN RARE CASES, ANIMALS DEVELOP EXCEEDINGLY STRANGE TRAITS AND

ODD PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS TO MAKE THEM MORE PERFECTLY SUITED

TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

WHILE THESE STRANGE LOOKS MAY BE EYE-CATCHING, EQUALLY AS

INTERESTING ARE THEIR STRANGE BEHAVIORS.

JUST LOOK ALONG THE WATER'S EDGE IN AFRICA, WHERE CROCODILES HAVE

PERFECTED A LOG-ROLLING TECHNIQUE CRUCIAL TO THEIR

SUCCESS.

ON THE SHORES OF THIS AFRICAN WATERING HOLE, A CROCODILE

PATIENTLY SITS AND OBSERVES THE WILDLIFE.

ABSOLUTELY MOTIONLESS, HE IS TOTALLY INSCRUTABLE.

THIS SPOONBILL ISN'T IN MUCH DANGER.

THESE LARGE REPTILES RARELY ATTACK BIRDS.

HOWEVER, THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE LARGER

ANIMALS DRINKING AT THE WATER'S EDGE.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THE CROC CHANGES COURSE AND TRIES TO CATCH A FISH, BUT TO NO

AVAIL.

LUCKILY, HE FEELS SOME VIBRATIONS IN THE WATER AND

HEADS OVER TO SEE WHAT'S CAUSING THEM.

CROCODILES LIKE THESE TWO HERE HAVE NO INCISOR TEETH OR MOLARS,

SO THEY DON'T CHEW THEIR FOOD.

THEY HAVE TO RELY ON A RATHER SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUE.

THEY ROLL OVER AND OVER WITH THEIR PREY FIRMLY GRIPPED IN

THEIR JAWS.

BUT CROCODILES DON'T JUST EAT LARGE PREY.

WHEN THE WATER IS WELL-STOCKED, FISH ARE THE MAIN PART OF THEIR

DIET.

NORMALLY, THESE GREAT REPTILES HAVE A CLEAR PREFERENCE FOR

GENTLY SLOPING RIVERBANKS.

IT'S THE PERFECT TERRAIN FOR RESTING THEIR HEAVY BELLIES AND

SHORT LEGS.

THEY LIKE FLAT BANKS AND SANDY SPITS WHERE THEY CAN LULL UP AND

BASK IN THE SUN.

AND BEST OF ALL IS TO KEEP PART OF THEIR BODY IN THE WATER SO

THEY CAN SLIP EASILY BACK INTO THE RIVER.

BUT THIS ENORMOUS 16-FOOT-LONG CROC HAS DONE JUST THE OPPOSITE.

WHO KNOWS WHY, BUT HE HAS SETTLED DOWN HIGHER UP ON A

ROCKY PART OF THE SHORE.

IT'LL TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT TO GET HIS ENORMOUS BODY BACK DOWN

TO THE RAPIDS.

IN THE SWIRLING CURRENT, IT'S CLEAR THE CROC IS NOT AT HOME IN

TURBULENT WATER.

BUT WITH A LAST PUSH, HE'LL MAKE IT.

COMING UP, WE MEET A SCAVENGING STORK WILLING TO BEND OVER

BACKWARDS FOR AN AFTERNOON NAP.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: THE WATERING HOLES OF AFRICA ARE FILLED WITH ALL SORTS

OF WONDEROUS CREATURES, LIKE THIS BIRD, THE MARABOU.

ALTHOUGH TYPICALLY A SCAVENGER, HE'LL OFTEN EAT ANYTHING HE

FINDS, LIKE POSSIBLY THIS TURTLE.

NOPE.

NO SOONER CAUGHT THAN REJECTED.

PROBABLY A BIT TOO COMPLICATED AS MEALS GO.

THESE BIRDS LOVE TO MAKE THE LEAST EFFORT POSSIBLE AND ARE

ABOVE ALL OPPORTUNISTS.

IF IT MOVES AND IT ISN'T TOO BIG, IT'S A POTENTIAL MEAL.

HOWEVER, THIS TIME, THEY WERE A LITTLE AMBITIOUS.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME THIS MONITOR LIZARD HAS BEEN THREATENED BY

THESE BIRDS.

THE MARABOUS ARE VERY PRESENT IN ALL THAT'S GOING ON IN THE

SAVANNAH.

THEY'RE CONSUMMATE ARTISTS WITH AN INCREDIBLE BEARING AND A

LITTLE BIT OF AN ILL TEMPER.

WHEN THEY'RE PERCHED, YOU'D SWEAR THEY HAD NO HEADS.

THEY CAN ALSO PLAY THE CLOWN OR AN ACROBAT.

THIS MARABOU GETS CAUGHT UP TRYING TO STEAL FROM HIS FELLOW

BIRD.

LUCKILY, HELP IS NEVER FAR AWAY.

TO AVOID THIS SORT OF MISHAP, THE GREAT WADER CAN ABANDON ITS

INTEREST IN FINDING A MEAL ON LAND AND TURN TO ITS OTHER AREA

OF EXPERTISE, FISHING.

A WHOLE COLONY OF MARABOUS HAS MOVED INTO A BRANCH OF THE RIVER

THAT IS DRYING UP.

THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE

OPPORTUNITY.

THERE'S ALSO A HUGE VARIETY OF FISHING BIRDS THERE...

...ESPECIALLY STORKS OF ALL SORTS.

RARELY HAS SUCH A RANGE OF AFRICAN STORKS BEEN OBSERVED IN

A SINGLE SPOT.

APART FROM THE MARABOUS, THERE ARE BLACK STORKS WITH THEIR RED

BEAKS...

...WOOLLY-NECKED STORKS...

...AND YELLOW-BILLED STORKS.

THERE'S ALSO THE OTHER GIANT OF THE FAMILY, THE SADDLE-BILLED

STORK WITH ITS MAGNIFICENT BEAK.

AT APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET TALL, IT'S ALMOST AS BIG AS THE

MARABOU.

DESPITE ITS DULL COLORING, THIS ONE IS ALSO A SADDLE-BILL, BUT A

YOUNG ONE THAT HASN'T YET GOT ITS ADULT BEAK OR BEAUTIFUL

PLUMAGE.

FISHING IS IN FULL SWING.

WHAT'S SURPRISING IS THAT APART FROM THE SOUNDS OF SPLASHING,

THIS SCENE HAPPENS IN COMPLETE SILENCE.

NOT ONE CRY IS HEARD.

IN FACT, ALL STORKS ARE ALMOST MUTE, UNABLE TO EMIT A SOUND

EXCEPT IN THE MATING SEASON WHEN THEY CACKLE A LITTLE.

WHEN THEY'VE EATEN ENOUGH, THESE GREAT BIRDS SIT BY BENDING THEIR

LEGS IN AN ASTONISHING WAY.

THEIR KNEES SEEM TO WORK BACKWARDS.

BUT THIS IS NOT THEIR KNEE JOINT.

IT'S THE ANKLE JOINT.

JUST ANOTHER STRANGE SPECIALTY THAT MAKES THESE BIRDS A UNIQUE

PART OF THE WILD.

WHEN IT COMES TO SURVIVING IN THE WILD, BEING BIZARRE CAN BE

AN ADVANTAGE IN ANY ENVIRONMENT.

THE STRANGEST CREATURES AND STRANGEST HABITS ARE OFTEN THOSE

THAT ARE BEST SUITED TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS, ADAPTING OVER TIME

TO THRIVE UNLIKE ANY OTHER ANIMALS ON THE PLANET.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING OUR ADVENTURE TO SEE THE WEIRD AND

WONDERFUL.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]