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 AN

INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE HEADED SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR TO SEE WHAT SUMMER LOOKS

LIKE IN THE SAVANNAH.

FOR THIS HERON, SUMMER MEANS A RIVERSIDE BUFFET, AND IT'S

CERTAINLY SINGING SEASON FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL BEVY OF BIRDS.

LOST IN THE LOW BRUSH, THIS INFANT GETS A HELPING HAND, OR

HOOF, FROM THE HERD.

BUT FIRST, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS AS THE DAY IS WINDING DOWN, BUT THE

ANIMAL ENERGY IS ON ITS WAY UP.

THIS AND SO MUCH MORE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, DECEMBER IS A TIME OF COLD

WEATHER, WARM FIRES, AND HUNKERING DOWN FOR THE WINTER.

BUT FOR THE 32 PERCENT OF EARTH'S LANDMASS THAT LIES SOUTH

OF THE EQUATOR, SUMMER IS IN FULL SWING.

WILD FLORA AND FAUNA ARE IN FULL BLOOM, AND FOR SOME ANIMALS,

IT'S ABOUT BEATING THE HEAT.

THE DAY OFTEN BEGINS WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN.

WHEN THE SUN BEGINS TO SET, IT SEEMS ALL OF THE WILD SHARES AN

EVENING ROUTINE.

ANIMAL FAMILIES HAVE ALL GOT TOGETHER, AND A WILDLIFE

PROCESSION BEGINS.

BUT THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE UNITED AND SUPPORTIVE, LIKE THE

ELEPHANTS, WHERE EVERYONE LOOKS OUT FOR THE SMALLEST

IN THE GROUP...

...AND OTHERS, LIKE THE IMPALAS, GAZELLES THAT ARE QUITE

INDIFFERENT TO EACH OTHER, ONLY TRAVELING TOGETHER

OUT OF INSTINCT.

AS NIGHT APPROACHES, THE HYENAS LEAVE THEIR YOUNG

TO GO OFF HUNTING.

IMPALAS MUST BE DOUBLY ALERT, ESPECIALLY AS THE VEGETATION IS

DENSE AND CAN EASILY HIDE A HYENA AMBUSH.

BUT HYENAS AREN'T THE ONLY THREAT.

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN AN ATTACK CAN ALSO COME FROM A LEOPARD OR

A LION, SO BEING VIGILANT IS A MUST.

A NEW DAY HAS BEGUN WITH RAIN DOMINATING THE SKIES.

IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, DECEMBER MARKS THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER.

THE DAYS ARE HOT, AND THE AIR IS SATURATED WITH HUMIDITY.

BUT THIS WATERLOGGED WEATHER DOESN'T UPSET THE SPIRIT OR

ACTIVITIES OF ANYONE.

IN FACT, IT'S CAUSE FOR A BIT OF FROLICKING FUN FOR MANY, BUT THE

RAIN CAN STOP AS QUICKLY AS IT BEGINS.

AND FOR THE IMPALAS WHO STOPPED THEIR GRAZING IN THE DOWNPOUR,

THEY CAN NOW RESUME THEIR FEEDING.

NOT FAR AWAY, A LEOPARD IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE

ON THE IMPALA.

FOR THE MOMENT, HE HAS NOT YET MADE THE DECISION TO STRIKE OR

SIMPLY CARRY ON HIS CATNAP.

FOR NOW, FINDING A MORE COMFORTABLE PLACE TO PERCH IS A

MORE PRESSING MATTER FOR THIS EYE-CATCHING CAT.

WHEN WE COME BACK, THIS HUNGRY HUNTER HAS A TASTE FOR DANGER.

AND LATER, WE'LL LISTEN IN ON THE SAVANNAH'S

BIGGEST SINGING COMPETITION.

PLUS, A YOUNG IMPALA SEPARATED FROM THE HERD IS HOMEWARD BOUND.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: A FULL NIGHT OF HEAVY RAINFALL HAS CAUSED THESE

RIVERBANKS TO OVERFLOW.

BUT THIS FLOOD OFFERS A FEAST OF OPPORTUNITIES TO AFRICA'S

EXPERT FISHERMEN...

...LIKE THIS WOOLLY-NECKED STORK LOOKING TO FIND A FROG

TO TUCK INTO.

AS FOR THE MARABOU, HE'S ALREADY FOUND A LARGE ONE.

AFTER HEAVY RAINS, FROGS ARE NOT REALLY IN A PARTY MOOD.

PREDATORS ARE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE, AND EVEN THE

HAMERKOP WREAKS HAVOC IN THEIR RANKS WITH

ITS TASTE FOR TADPOLES.

WORKING ITS WAY DOWN THE RIVERBANKS, A GREY HERON IS

WAITING TO AMBUSH ITS PREY, AND IT'S MAKING

CATCH AFTER CATCH.

THEY HAVE HARDLY SWALLOWED ONE FROG BEFORE TAKING A FEW STEPS

FARTHER ALONG TO CATCH ANOTHER.

THE SAVANNAH UNFURLS ITS BEAUTIFUL GREEN COAT IN ALL ITS

SPLENDOR AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.

FOOD IS PLENTIFUL ON DAYS LIKE THIS, EVEN IF THE FULL BELLY OF

SOME IS AT THE COST OF ITS PREY.

THESE SWALLOWS, STUFFED WITH THE BOUNTY OF INSECTS AVAILABLE, ARE

RED-BREASTED SWALLOWS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 100 SPECIES OF SWALLOWS, BUT THE RED BELLY, AT

ABOUT EIGHT INCHES LONG, ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST.

WHILE THE BATTLE BETWEEN PREY AND PREDATOR MAY DOMINATE THE

LANDSCAPE, INSECTS QUIETLY DECORATE THE TALL GRASSES,

FLOWERS, LEAVES, AND THE BRANCHES.

THESE TINY BEINGS DEFEND THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THEY CAN,

SOMETIMES ADOPTING RATHER UNIQUE STRATEGIES.

THESE CATERPILLARS HAVE SPINES AND VIVID COLORS TO DISSUADE

THEIR AGGRESSORS.

ANOTHER USES A MASKING TECHNIQUE, TAKING ON THE RATHER

UNPLEASANT APPEARANCE OF BIRD DROPPINGS SO AS NOT

TO ATTRACT ATTENTION.

STRANGE, BUT EFFECTIVE, IT WORKS PERFECTLY ON THIS BURCHELL'S

CUCKOO, WHO GOES OFF TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

IN THE IMPALA HERD, THE YOUNG ARE SLOWLY WAKING UP.

AND LIKE ALL BABIES, THEIR FIRST THOUGHT ON WAKING IS TO FIND

THEIR MOTHERS FOR A BIT OF MORNING MILK.

BUT THIS ONE QUICKLY REALIZES THAT HE ONLY HAS HIS LITTLE

FRIENDS AROUND HIM AND ONE OR TWO FEMALE CARERS ON GUARD DUTY.

HIS MOTHER IS NO DOUBT JUST A LITTLE WAYS AWAY, BUT HE DOESN'T

KNOW WHERE.

[IMPALA GRUNTING]

IT'S SURPRISING THAT SHE APPEARS SO UNCONCERNED WITH SUCH

A SMALL BABY.

IN ANY CASE, SHE'S IN NO HURRY TO FEED HIM...

...SO HE TRIES HIS LUCK WITH ONE OF THE OTHER DUTY FEMALES.

BUT IT'S A FRUITLESS ENDEAVOR.

HE'S NOT HER BABY, SO HE CAN'T SUCKLE.

[IMPALA GRUNTING]

IN THE WILD, SOMETIMES EVEN THE YOUNGEST HAVE TO LEARN SOME

TOUGH LOVE.

[IMPALA GRUNTING]

COMING UP, A COLORFUL CHOIR OF CHARACTERS GETS IN TUNE WITH

THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

AND THIS YOUNG BUCK IS TRYING OUT SOME INDEPENDENT LIVING.

THIS AND MORE WHEN WE COME BACK ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: IN PLACES LIKE THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH, WE OFTEN THINK

OF THE INCREDIBLE BEAUTY WE CAN SEE; HOWEVER, SOMETIMES IT'S THE

SOUNDS OF THE WILD THAT TRULY CAPTURE ATTENTION, LIKE THE

ELEPHANT'S TRUMPETING CALL THAT CAN BE HEARD A MILE AWAY OR THE

LAUGH OF A PACK OF HYENAS THAT CAN ECLIPSE EVEN A LION'S ROAR.

BUT THE MOST IMPRESSIVE AND DIVERSE SOUND IN THE SAVANNAH IS

A SONG BEING SUNG BY THOUSANDS ALL AT ONCE.

THE CONSISTENT MELODY OF THE SAVANNAH IS A DIVERSE, BUT

SINGULAR TUNE...

...BIRDSONG.

FIRST, A VERY DISTINCTIVE ONE IN TWO CLEAR BEATS, THE

BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

EVEN THIS YOUNG IMPALA IS IMPRESSED.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

AND THEN THERE'S THE SONG OF THE FRANCOLIN, WHICH IS MORE

LIKE A SHOUT THAN A SONG.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

AS THERE ARE NEARLY 300 SPECIES OF BIRDS IN THE SAVANNAH AND

THEY OFTEN SING AT THE SAME TIME, IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION

THAT EVERYONE IS SINGING THEIR OWN VERSE AS PART OF A

CAPTIVATING CHOIR.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

THE TRUTH IS FAR MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

IT'S MATING SEASON.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

AND ALL THESE BIRDS ARE LOOKING FOR A PARTNER.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

FOR WOODLAND KINGFISHERS, WHEN THE PAIR HAVE GOT TOGETHER, IT'S

IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL THE MALE FROM THE FEMALE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S EASIER WITH THE LESSER MASKED WEAVER

WHEN THEY FIND A MATE.

THE MALE IS DISTINGUISHED BY ITS CHARACTERISTIC BLACK MASK.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

FOR THE WEAVERS, THIS TIME OF YEAR IS ALL ABOUT

PREPARING FOR NEWBORNS.

THE MALES GATHER IN DOZENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS, IN THE SAME TREE

TO BUILD THEIR NESTS DESPITE THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THEM.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

BECAUSE WITH THESE BIRDS, THE FEMALE DOESN'T CHOOSE A PARTNER.

SHE CHOOSES A NEST, AND IT'S THE BUILDER OF THE BEST NEST WHO

WINS THE FEMALE'S AFFECTION.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

YOU CAN SEE WHY THE MALES CHOOSE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IT PROVIDES THE BIRDS WITH PRECIOUS RAW MATERIAL, LONG

STEMS OF GREEN GRASS WHOSE FLEXIBILITY IS

JUST RIGHT FOR WEAVING.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

THEIR EXPERT TECHNIQUE NEVER CHANGES AND BEGINS WITH THE

CHOICE OF A BRANCH ALWAYS POINTING TOWARDS THE GROUND.

THE BIRD CLEARS AWAY THE LEAVES AND STARTS ON

THE BUILDING OF A COOP,

WHOSE LOWER PART WILL SERVE AS A PERCH

THROUGHOUT THE WORKS.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

THOSE BIRDS WHO FINISHED BUILDING PLACE THEMSELVES AT THE

ENTRANCE OF THE NEST AND START TO BEAT THEIR WINGS FURIOUSLY.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

THIS IS A SIGNAL TO FEMALES THAT THERE'S A HOME TO VISIT AND

AN AVAILABLE PARTNER.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

DECEMBER IN THE SAVANNAH MEANS AN ENVIRONMENT FULL OF ANIMALS

WHO ARE WELCOMING IN THE NEWEST GENERATION.

AND THAT KEEPS THEM BUSY.

BABOON PARENTS ARE BY NATURE ATTENTIVE AND VIGILANT.

THE YOUNG ARE A LITTLE MORE CHAOTIC, EXPLORING THEIR NEW

WORLD WITH ENERGETIC CURIOSITY.

THE PUPS OF THIS SPOTTED HYENA DON'T GO FAR FROM THE BURROW.

THEY CAN PLAY OUTSIDE, BUT ONLY IF THEIR MOTHER IS THERE.

THE MOTHER IS FAIRLY TOLERANT OF HER TWO UNRULY CHILDREN, WHO

SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME ROUGHHOUSING.

THESE TWO ARE BROTHER AND SISTER.

WHEN THE YOUNG ARE NOT FIGHTING, THEY'RE TRAINING,

EXERCISING THEIR JAWS.

BY BITING ON WOOD FROM THEIR VERY FIRST DAYS, THEIR JAWS WILL

DEVELOP PHENOMENAL STRENGTH.

WHEN THEY'RE ADULTS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BREAK ANY BONES.

IT IS THOUGHT THAT THIS IS WHY THE HYENAS HAVE SUCH A LONG

LACTATION PERIOD, TO GIVE THE PUPS TIME TO DEVELOP THEIR

NEXT-LEVEL GNAWING.

ONE THING IS CLEAR; THESE YOUNG ONES DON'T MIND AND WILL

CONTINUE TO SNUGGLE UP AND ENJOY THEIR MOTHER'S MILK FOR A YEAR

UNTIL THEY'RE READY FOR A MORE WILD FARE.

COMING UP NEXT, AN INFANT IMPALA IS ON THE HUNT FOR ITS HERD WHEN

"EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: AS THE NEW YEAR APPROACHES, A CELEBRATORY FEAST

IS ALWAYS WELCOME.

THE MENU MAY NOT LOOK TOO APPETIZING, BUT THE ATMOSPHERE

IS CERTAINLY LIVELY.

WHILE THE DUNG BEETLES ARE BUSY AT THE BUFFET, A BLISTER BEETLE

IS QUIETLY DEVOURING FLOWER PETALS A LITTLE WAYS AWAY.

THIS LARGE, BRIGHTLY COLORED BEETLE HAS NOTHING TO FEAR FROM

BIRDS OR OTHER POSSIBLE PREDATORS.

IF ATTACKED, IT RELEASES A POISON FROM ITS JOINTS WHICH IS

STRONG ENOUGH TO DETER EVEN THE MOST DETERMINED PREDATOR.

THE RELEASED DOSE IS SO INTENSE, THAT IT LEAVES ASSAILANTS WITH

NO CHANCE.

IN ANY CASE, THIS GO-AWAY BIRD IS NOT TEMPTED, STICKING TO A

FRUIT-ONLY DIET.

AS IT HAS TO DRINK FREQUENTLY, THE GO-AWAY BIRD SPENDS ITS DAYS

BY THE WATER ALONG WITH THE FISH-EATING BIRDS, AS WELL AS A

FEW THAT PREFER ALTERNATIVE EATS.

CONTRARY TO ITS NAME, THE WOODLAND KINGFISHER IS AN

INSECTIVORE, A KINGFISHER THAT DOESN'T FISH.

IF YOU SEE IT DIVING INTO THE WATER, IT'S JUST TAKING A QUICK

DIP TO CLEAN ITSELF.

THIS LEOPARD IS KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR A POTENTIAL MEAL.

HE THINKS ABOUT COMING DOWN FROM HIS PERCH, BUT FINALLY DECIDES

TO STAY IN HIS TREE AND RELAX.

AFTER ALL, IT'S DECEMBER, AND THE HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME FOR A

LITTLE R-AND-R.

IN SEARCH OF ITS MOTHER, THIS YOUNG IMPALA HAS MOVED AWAY FROM

THE GROUP.

WITH NO MILK ON TAP, IT IS ALREADY QUITE INTERESTED IN THE

TASTE OF THE LEAVES AND GRASSES THAT WILL BE THEIR

DIET AS AN ADULT.

BUT FORAGING FOR THEMSELVES COMES AT FOUR-AND-A-HALF MONTHS.

SO, WITHOUT MILK FROM ITS MOTHER, THIS LITTLE IMPALA

WON'T SURVIVE.

LUCKILY, THE HERD ISN'T FAR AWAY, AND AMONG ALL THOSE

FEMALES, THERE IS BOUND TO BE ITS MOTHER AWAITING ITS RETURN

TO THE GROUP.

TIME TO GO BACK AND JOIN THE OTHERS.

THE LITTLE IMPALA CAN'T GET DISCOURAGED, BECAUSE SOMEWHERE

AMONG THE THRONG OF THESE INCREDIBLE ANIMALS,

ITS MOTHER AWAITS.

BEFORE LONG, THEY ARE REUNITED, AND THE BABY CAN FEAST ON THE

MILK THAT IT'S BEEN CRAVING.

LIFE IN THE SAVANNAH IS NO EASY FEAT, BUT WITH THE HELP OF THE

HERD AND MOTHER'S BEST BREW, THIS LITTLE IMPALA WILL GROW

STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE ITS OWN WAY IN THE WILD.

A LITTLE EXCITEMENT PULSES THROUGH THE HERD AS THE ALPHA

MALE SPRINTS AROUND, CHASING OFF A RIVAL.

FOR EVERY YOUNG IMPALA BACHELOR, THEY'LL HAVE TO GROW A BIT

STRONGER BEFORE THEY CAN CHALLENGE FOR CONTROL

OF THE HERD.

BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN, LIKE THE OTHER ANIMALS OF THE

SAVANNAH, THESE IMPALA ARE ALL PART OF THE INCREDIBLE

COLLECTION OF CREATURES THAT MAKE THIS REGION ONE OF A KIND.

THANKS FOR JOINING US AS WE JOURNEYED SOUTH TO SEE THE

ANIMALS WHO THRIVE IN THE SUMMER SUN.

LIFE BELOW THE EQUATOR MAY SEEM UPSIDE-DOWN, BUT FOR THESE

INCREDIBLE CREATURES, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THEIR MATE,

FILL THEIR BELLIES, AND LEARN THE WAYS OF THE WILD.

I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE ON

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]