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 THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

GET READY TO SEE THE FASTEST, STRONGEST, AND CRAFTIEST

CARNIVORES AROUND HERE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE ON A MISSION TO SEE WHAT SKILLS AND TRAITS IT TAKES

TO MAKE THE PERFECT PREDATORS.

THIS PRIMATE ISN'T PICKY WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING SOME

HIGH-PROTEIN PREY.

AND THERE'S NO BUGGING THIS NIMBLE NIBBLER AFTER A GOOD

HUNT.

PLUS, CLASS IS IN SESSION FOR THESE COLORFUL WILDCAT CUBS.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE VENTURING INTO THE LION'S DEN TO SEE HOW LIFE

BEGINS FOR JUNGLE ROYALTY.

ALL OF THIS COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

ACROSS THE WORLD, WHETHER A WOLF IN NORTH AMERICA OR A LION

IN THE SAVANNAH, EARTH'S PREDATORS HAVE A PRETTY DEADLY

REPUTATION, THOUGH IT'S NO SURPRISE WHY.

THEIR ENTIRE EXISTENCE RELIES ON THE ABILITY TO HUNT AND PREY ON

OTHER ANIMALS, YET THIS NECESSARY ROUGHNESS OFTEN MAKES

US FORGET THAT THERE ARE THREATS AND DANGERS FOR EVEN THE MOST

COLOSSAL OF CARNIVORES.

PROTECTION, SHELTER, AND DEFENSIVE TACTICS MUST BE PART

OF THEIR REPERTOIRE, BECAUSE IN THE WILD, EVEN PREDATORS HAVE

PREDATORS.

PREDATORS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, BUT FOR THE LEOPARD, IT'S

COLOR THAT TRULY CATCHES THE EYE.

THE SPOTTED PATTERN IS A FORM OF CAMOUFLAGE, HELPING THEM HIDE

AMONGST THE FLORA AS THEY STALK THEIR PREY.

HOWEVER, EVEN PREDATORS CAN BE THE ONES WHO ARE HUNTED.

LEOPARD CUBS CAN FALL PREY TO HYENAS AND EVEN LIONS.

SO BEING ABLE TO BLEND IN IS A KEY ASPECT TO THEIR SURVIVAL,

BOTH IN HUNTING AND HIDING.

FOR HYENA CUBS, THE DANGER IS A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME.

OCCASIONALLY, THE ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE BETWEEN

SIBLINGS CAN GO TOO FAR.

LUCKILY, MOM IS RIGHT THERE TO SETTLE THE ARGUMENT.

HOWEVER, AMONG THESE IMPRESSIVE YOUNG PREDATORS, IT'S THE LION

CUBS THAT HAVE THE TOUGHEST HILL TO CLIMB.

THE WEAKEST OF THE LITTER HAVE TROUBLE FINDING FOOD, SO HUNGER

IS ALWAYS A RISK.

OTHERS DON'T GET ALONG WITH THE PRIDE'S DOMINANT MALE, WHICH

MAKES FOR A TESTY RELATIONSHIP; HOWEVER, LION CUBS SHOW A GREAT

DEAL OF RESILIENCE, SURVIVING THROUGH CHANGES IN CLIMATE,

RESOURCES, AND THREATS FROM FELLOW ANIMALS, AND DOING ALL OF

THIS TOGETHER.

THESE SIX CUBS ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME LITTER; HOWEVER, MOM

CAN ONLY FEED FOUR AT A TIME, SO PATIENCE AND ORGANIZATION IS A

LESSON LEARNED EARLY IN THIS FAMILY.

EACH MUST WAIT THEIR TURN, WHICH THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD AT.

LION MOTHERS GIVE BIRTH AFTER AROUND 110 DAYS OF PREGNANCY.

EACH CUB WEIGHS A MINUTE THREE POUNDS AT BIRTH, BUT WILL GROW

TO MORE THAN 100 TIMES THAT WEIGHT AS ADULTS.

THESE FRISKY FELINES ENJOY THEIR YOUTH, USING THEIR LITTERMATES

AS THE PERFECT TRAINING PARTNERS TO LEARN THE WAYS OF THE WILD.

UNDER THEIR MOTHER'S WATCHFUL GAZE, THEY'LL LEARN AND DEVELOP,

ABLE TO START JOINING THE HUNT AT ABOUT A YEAR OLD.

BUT FOR NOW, AT ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD, ANY PASSING PREY

FALLS UNDER THE LOOK-DON'T-TOUCH CATEGORY.

WARTHOGS LIKE THESE ARE A PARTICULAR FAVORITE OF LIONS, SO

MOM AND DAD MUST TAKE EXTRA CAUTION WITH THEIR OWN LITTLE

ONES RUNNING AROUND.

LUCKILY, THESE PINT-SIZED PIGS ARE FAST AND NIMBLE, GIVING THEM

AN EDGE.

WHILE AS ADULTS THEY ARE EXPERT FORAGERS, BABY WARTHOGS STILL

RELY ON THEIR MOTHER FOR MILK.

MOMS CAN HAVE UP TO EIGHT KIDS IN A SINGLE LITTER.

TALK ABOUT A FULL-TIME JOB.

BUT IN THIS FORAGING FAMILY, IT'S ONLY FOUR, THE PERFECT

NUMBER TO MAKE SURE ENOUGH LOVE, CARE, AND OF COURSE, MILK, GOES

AROUND.

AT FIVE MONTHS, THEY ARE ABLE TO FEED THEMSELVES ON A DIET OF

MOSTLY GRASSES, ROOTS, BERRIES, AND OTHER PLANTS.

HOWEVER, THEY'VE ALSO BEEN KNOWN TO SCAVENGE MEAT WHEN IT'S

AVAILABLE, ALWAYS THE OPPORTUNISTS.

BUT FOR NOW, SOME NICE SHRUBS MAKE A DELICIOUS LUNCHTIME

BUFFET.

COMING UP, THESE PREDATOR PRIMATES LOVE TO MONKEY AROUND.

AND A SQUIRREL-SIZED HUNTER SHOWS US THEIR SKILLS.

PLUS, SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT WHAT PUTS THESE COOL CATS IN A LEAGUE

OF THEIR OWN.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: A NEW MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM HAS JUST ARRIVED.

JUST A WEEK AGO, THIS MAMA BABOON GAVE BIRTH TO HER TROOP'S

LATEST ADDITION.

WEIGHING IN AT ONLY A FEW OUNCES WITH BIG EARS AND A BLACK COAT,

THIS LITTLE ONE HAS NO INTENTION OF LEAVING MOM JUST YET, AND FOR

GOOD REASON.

FROM THE MOMENT IT WAS BORN, THIS YOUNG PRIMATE HAS BEEN THE

CENTER OF ATTENTION.

BABOONS LOVE BABIES.

WHO CAN BLAME THEM?

IN THEIR FIRST FEW DAYS, THESE MINI-MONKEYS CAN'T YET WALK.

THEY STILL HAVE TROUBLE WITH COORDINATION, TRYING TO GET

COMFORTABLE WITH SUCH LONG LIMBS.

LUCKILY, MOM HAS HER BABY COVERED.

SOON ENOUGH, THE BABY WILL BE STRIDING ALONG STEP-FOR-STEP

WITH THE TROOP, BUT FOR NOW, A FREE RIDE IS THE PREFERRED

METHOD.

YOUNG BABOONS INSTINCTIVELY KNOW TO HANG TIGHT TO THEIR MOM'S

COAT TO MAKE FOR A SAFE AND SECURE RIDE.

THEY USE THEIR HANDS, FEET, AND EVEN THEIR MOUTHS TO HOLD ON.

TALK ABOUT A FIRM GRIP.

IT'S QUITE THE EFFICIENT SYSTEM.

MOM CAN KEEP AN EYE ON HER BABY, PROTECT, AND FEED IT WITHOUT

HAVING TO STOP HER OWN HUNT FOR FOOD.

THIS ARRANGEMENT DOESN'T HAMPER THE MOTHER'S MOVEMENTS AT ALL.

IN FACT, SHE CAN RUN AT FULL SPEED WITH HER LITTLE ONE IN

TOW.

NOW, THAT'S AN IMPRESSIVE CONNECTION.

UNSURPRISINGLY, THESE BABY BABOONS GO EVERYWHERE WITH THEIR

HERD.

IT'S EARLY TRAINING FOR THE LIFE THAT LIES AHEAD OF THEM.

HERE'S AN UNEXPECTED LESSON.

A SPIDER'S NEST IS A GREAT SOURCE OF PROTEIN IF YOU CAN

STOMACH IT.

AT THIS AGE, MILK IS STILL THIS YOUNG BABOON'S ONLY FOOD, SO

MAKING SURE THEY GET ENOUGH IS MOM'S TOP PRIORITY.

IT TAKES ABOUT A YEAR TO WEAN THE YOUNG COMPLETELY, AND OFTEN

TIMES OLDER KIDS WILL WANT TO JOIN IN ON THE MILK ACTION.

IT CAN BE STIFF COMPETITION.

BABOONS GROW UP IN A COMPLEX SOCIETY BASED ON A VERY STRICT

HIERARCHY.

AND AT ABOUT THREE MONTHS WHEN THIS BABY STARTS TO PLAY AND

TUSSLE WITH THE OTHERS, THEY QUICKLY LEARN THEIR PLACE IN THE

GROUP.

[MONKEYS SCREECHING]

THE LARGER ONE HERE IS AT LEAST SIX MONTHS OLD.

THE GIVEAWAY IS ITS LIGHTER COLORING, WHICH ONLY BEGINS TO

CHANGE AFTER A BABY TURNS THREE MONTHS OLD.

THEY STILL LOVE TO CATCH RIDES WITH MOM, BUT THEY'VE CHANGED

TRANSPORTATION TACTICS, PREFERRING TO RIDE PIGGYBACK

THAN ON THE BELLY.

THIS SHIFT IN POSITION COMES WITH ITS SHARE OF BENEFITS.

NOW THE BABY CAN SLEEP AFTER A LONG DAY OF LEARNING AND GROWING

AMONG THIS COMMUNITY OF INCREDIBLE CREATURES.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL MEET SOME ULTRA-PROTECTIVE PREDATOR

PARENTS.

AND LATER, AN AFRICAN HUNTER WHO CAN BE AS LAZY AS THEY ARE

LETHAL.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EARTH'S MOST PROFICIENT

PREDATORS, IT'S EASY TO THINK BIG, BIG TEETH, BIG CLAWS, BIG

APPETITES, BUT NOT EVERY HUNTER RELIES ON SUPERIOR SIZE.

THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF SMALL CREATURES WITH TALENTS AND

TRICKS THAT MAKE THEM JUST AS DANGEROUS AS ANY HULKING BEAST.

IN FACT, FOR SOME, BEING SMALL IS ONE OF THEIR BEST ATTRIBUTES,

ABLE TO NIMBLY STALK AND POUNCE, REACHING PLACES NO LARGER

HUNTERS CAN GO.

THESE PINT-SIZED PREDATORS PROVE YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE BIGGEST

TO BE THE BEST.

HIDING AMONGST THE VEGETATION, THESE DWARF MONGOOSES ARE ON

HIGH-ALERT.

BUT IT'S NOT THE WARTHOG THAT HAS THEM SPOOKED.

IT'S THEIR CARGO.

EVEN FOR SKILLED HUNTERS LIKE THESE, WHEN THEIR BABIES ARE

TRAVELING ALONGSIDE THEM, EVERY MOVE MUST BE MADE WITH CAUTION.

AT ONLY EIGHT INCHES LONG, WEIGHING IN AT AROUND 14 OUNCES,

THE DWARF MONGOOSE IS A SURPRISING ADDITION TO EARTH'S

ELITE HUNTERS.

THEIR YOUNG ARE THE SPITTING IMAGE OF THEM, MERELY A MINI

VERSION.

PARENTING FOR THESE UNIQUE MAMMALS IS A TEAM JOB.

THE DOMINANT MALE OF THE GROUP OR ANOTHER FEMALE WILL

CONSISTENTLY HELP OUT AS A TRUSTWORTHY BABYSITTER.

IT'S A SERIOUS JOB.

NOT ONLY DO THEY KEEP THE BABIES SAFE, THEY ALSO ACT AS TEACHER,

SHOWING THEM HOW TO HUNT AND EAT.

THIS MILLIPEDE IS A DELECTABLE EXAMPLE.

AT JUST FOUR MONTHS OLD, THIS LITTLE ONE WILL BE ABLE TO HUNT

FOR HIMSELF.

WHILE THE SMALLEST OF AFRICA'S CARNIVORES MAY GROW UP FAST, THE

SAME CAN'T BE SAID FOR AFRICA'S LARGEST.

LIONS, ON THE OTHER HAND, DO NOT BECOME INDEPENDENT UNTIL ABOUT

12 TO 18 MONTHS OLD.

FOR MALES, WHEN THEY LEAVE HOME, THEY OFTEN DO IT WITH A BROTHER.

THIS INCREASES THEIR CHANCES OF GAINING CONTROL OF A PRIDE ONE

DAY.

BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE IN THEIR PRIME AT TWO TO

THREE YEARS OLD.

FOR NOW, THEY'RE PERFECTLY HAPPY TO JUST ENJOY EACH OTHER'S

COMPANY.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL BROTHERLY LOVE.

WHETHER RIVALS OR FAMILY, FIGHTING IS ALWAYS FOR THE SAME

OLD REASONS.

AND THESE CHEETAHS ARE NO DIFFERENT.

[CHEETAHS SCREECHING]

WHETHER TO WIN THE AFFECTIONS OF A MATE OR TO DEFEND

TERRITORY, EVEN IN THE WILD, SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE.

UP NEXT, CATCH UP WITH SOME CURIOUS KITTENS THAT ARE

ANYTHING BUT CUDDLY WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: ACROSS THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, ONE FELINE STANDS OUT

FROM THE REST WITH ITS UNDENIABLY UNIQUE COAT,

THE LEOPARD.

HOWEVER, WHILE THEY MAY BE THE MOST COMMON WILD CAT IN AFRICA,

YOU'D BE HARD-PRESSED TO SPOT THEM.

LEOPARDS PREFER A SOLITARY LIFESTYLE AND ARE EXPERTS AT

STAYING INCOGNITO.

AND IF THEY HAVE ONE WEAKNESS, IT'S THIS...

THEIR YOUNG.

ADOLESCENT LEOPARDS ARE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE.

THEY SPEND THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THEIR LIFE IN A CAREFULLY

CHOSEN HAVEN UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION FROM THEIR MOTHER.

LIONS AND HYENAS POSE A CONSTANT THREAT, SO AVOIDING ATTENTION IS

CRUCIAL TO THEIR SURVIVAL, EVEN AS FORMIDABLE PREDATORS

THEMSELVES.

AND WHEN THE TIME COMES TO RUN AND HIDE, LEOPARDS ARE MASTERS

OF THE DISAPPEARING ACT.

FOR WARTHOGS, ON THE OTHER HAND, HIDING ISN'T THEIR FORTE, SO

THEY KEEP EXTREMELY MOBILE.

WHEN IT'S TIME TO MOVE OUT, INSTINCTIVELY, YOUNG WARTHOGS

WILL FOLLOW THEIR MOTHER CLOSELY IN TIGHT FORMATION.

THIS REGIMENTED GAME OF FOLLOW-THE-LEADER MAKES SURE NO

PIGLET IS LEFT BEHIND.

SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH ONE ANOTHER, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT A

TUSSLE BREAKS OUT EVERY NOW AND THEN.

HOWEVER, THIS PLAYFIGHTING IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER EARLY

EDUCATION TO ENSURE THEY CAN LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES AS ADULTS.

WE'VE FOUND THE LEOPARD CUBS AGAIN, AND THEY'RE GETTING AN

EDUCATION OF THEIR OWN.

THEIR MOTHER WATCHES OVER THEM FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR TO ENSURE

THEY DEVELOP THE TOOLS AND TRAITS TO SURVIVE.

SHE'LL MAKE SURE THEY CAN HUNT AND FEED THEMSELVES BEFORE

LEAVING THEM.

ONE REASON THIS SPECIES THRIVES IS THE WIDE VARIETY OF FOOD THEY

EAT, BUT FOR NOW, THIS CUB STILL PREFERS ITS MOTHERS MILK.

BUT A PRACTICE HUNT IS NEVER A BAD IDEA.

SURPRISE!

LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE ELSE HAD A HUNT OF THEIR OWN IN MIND.

WHILE MOM EATS, IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO PLAY...

...GETTING THEMSELVES READY FOR A LIFE OF HUNTING, BREEDING, AND

THRIVING ON THEIR OWN IN THE WILD.

EARTH'S PREDATORS ARE AN IMPRESSIVE REMINDER OF WHAT IT

TAKES TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD.

THEY MUST DEVELOP THE STRENGTH AND SKILLS TO CATCH THEIR PREY

IN COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENTS, ADAPT TO CHANGING CLIMATES AND

RESOURCES, AND WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND

SUCCESS OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ALONG ON TODAY'S JOURNEY.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR THE NEXT ONE RIGHT HERE ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]