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, AND WE'RE OFF TO

ENCOUNTER EARTH'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS RIGHT HERE

ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE MEETING ANIMALS UP CLOSE TO SEE THE SUPER SENSES

THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO SURVIVAL, LIKE THIS FEATHERED FORAGER WHO

ALWAYS KEEPS ITS EYES ON THE PRIZE.

AND THE TINIEST TOT OF THE TROOP IS TUNED IN TO THE SOUNDS OF THE

WILD.

PLUS, WE'LL MEET A BIRD WITH A BILL YOU CAN BARELY MISS.

BUT FIRST, EVEN THE BABIES OF THIS SPECIES LOVE TO SHOW OFF

THEIR BIG PERSONALITY.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

AS WE STUDY ANIMALS IN THE WILD, ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT

OBSERVATIONS IS THEIR SUPER SENSE.

PREY AND PREDATOR ALIKE HAVE ASTOUNDING CAPABILITIES WHEN IT

COMES TO SIGHT, SMELL, HEARING, AND BEYOND.

THESE SUPER SENSES CAN BE SEEN ON FULL DISPLAY IN ALMOST EVERY

HABITAT ON EARTH.

EAGLES AND HAWKS ARE ABLE TO SPOT A MEAL MORE THAN A MILE

AWAY WITH THEIR SHARP EYES.

POLAR BEARS CAN SMELL THROUGH THICK SNOW FOR A CATCH.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HEARING, ONE OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS

IS ALSO THE BIGGEST.

TAKE A LOOK.

MOVING THROUGH THE MARSHY GRASSES, A THUNDERING PARADE CAN

BE HEARD AND FELT AS EASILY AS IT CAN BE SEEN.

THESE ARE AFRICAN ELEPHANTS, THE LARGEST LAND ANIMAL ON THE

PLANET.

THOUGH THEIR SUPER SIZE IS ICONIC, IT'S THEIR HEARING THAT

IS THEIR BEST ATTRIBUTE.

THANKS TO THEIR ENORMOUS EAR FLAPS, THEY PICK UP EVERY SOUND

WITH EXTREME PRECISION.

THEIR HEARING IS SO EFFECTIVE, THEY CAN PICK UP SOUNDS AT ONLY

FIVE HERTZ.

THE AVERAGE HUMAN CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING BELOW 20.

BUT THEIR EARS AREN'T THEIR ONLY SOUND TOOLS.

ELEPHANTS CAN ALSO HEAR IN A STRANGE WAY, THROUGH THEIR FEET.

THEY CAN PICK UP ACOUSTIC SOUNDWAVES ON THE GROUND'S

SURFACE FROM UP TO A MILE AWAY.

IT SEEMS EARTH'S BIGGEST ANIMALS DEVELOP THE MOST PECULIAR

SENSORY TRAITS.

IT WOULD BE EASY TO ASSUME THAT ELEPHANTS HAVE GREAT VISION

BECAUSE THEY TOWER OVER ALMOST EVERYTHING.

HOWEVER, SIGHT IS A SENSE ELEPHANTS STRUGGLE WITH.

WHILE WE MAY FIND IT EASY TO SPOT THEM AMONG THESE TALL

GRASSES, ELEPHANTS RELY MORE ON THEIR TRUMPETING SOUNDS, HUGE

EARS, AND TRUNKS TO FIND ONE ANOTHER.

BUT EVEN THAT CAN PROVE DIFFICULT SOMETIMES.

THIS MOTHER HAS LOST HER CALF.

SHE SEARCHES THE TALL GRASSES BY THE RIVER FOR ANY SIGNS.

SHE CROSSES INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE WATER FOR A BETTER VIEW, BUT

STILL NOTHING.

THIS TERRAPIN MAY HAVE A CLUE.

FOUND IT.

THE BABY ELEPHANT IS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM ITS

MOTHER.

EVEN IF THE REEDS WEREN'T THERE, THEY'RE TOO FAR AWAY FOR EITHER

TO SEE EACH OTHER, SO IT'S UP TO THE LITTLE ONE TO MAKE ITS WAY

OUT OF THE RIVER AND BACK TO MORE FAMILIAR TERRITORY.

BUT THAT TASK IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE FOR THIS MINI-GIANT.

THE SWIMMING IS TIRING, AND NOT FAR AWAY LIES ANOTHER POTENTIAL

PROBLEM.

A HERD OF HIPPOS HAS CLAIMED A PART OF THE RIVER, AND THEY

DON'T LIKE INTRUDERS.

BUT THIS LITTLE ELEPHANT IS DETERMINED AND WON'T BE

INTIMIDATED BY THIS AQUATIC ARMY.

IN FACT, HE TAKES THEM HEAD, OR SHALL WE SAY, TRUNK, ON.

PHEW, SAFELY THROUGH.

THE MASSIVE MALE HIPPO COULD HAVE EASILY MADE THE SITUATION

MORE DANGEROUS.

HOWEVER, IN THIS INSTANCE, PEACE PREVAILS.

WHILE THE SEARCH FOR MOM CONTINUES, THE HARDEST PART IS

OVER, AND THIS YOUNG CALF CAN SOON REST SAFELY BACK HOME.

COMING UP, WE'LL MEET A BEEFY BIRD ON NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.

AND A TIGHT-KNIT TROOP THAT LOVES A BIT OF ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE.

[MONKEYS SCREECHING]

THEN WE'LL SEE HOW THIS AGILE AVIAN IS DIVING INTO LUNCH BEAK

FIRST WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: AFRICA IS HOME TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST ANIMALS,

AND THE BIRDS HERE CARRY ON THAT TRADITION.

THIS IS AN OSTRICH, THE LARGEST BIRD ON EARTH.

YET EVEN WITH THAT IMPRESSIVE TITLE, THEY'RE STILL ALWAYS ON

THE LOOKOUT FOR TERRESTRIAL PREDATORS.

THEIR MAIN FOE, CHEETAHS, WHICH MEANS ANY ESCAPE REQUIRES

SERIOUS SPEED.

BUT OSTRICHES CAN HOLD THEIR OWN IN A RACE.

THEIR LONG LEGS ARE CAPPED OFF WITH TWO MASSIVE TOES.

THE LONGEST HAS A CLAW ON THE END, WHICH THE OSTRICH USES TO

DIG WHILE FORAGING OR TO DEFEND ITSELF.

AND IT'S A FORMIDABLE WEAPON.

WHILE THEY MAY BE FAST, THE REAL DANGER IS BEING CAUGHT

OFF-GUARD, AND THAT'S WHERE A COUPLE SUPER SENSES COME INTO

PLAY.

OSTRICHES SEE AND HEAR EXTREMELY WELL.

THEY HEAR THROUGH TWO EAR-LIKE ORIFICES THAT POINT BACKWARDS,

ATTUNED TO THE SOUNDS AROUND THEM.

THEY ALSO HAVE EXCEPTIONAL EYESIGHT, ABLE TO SPOT MOVEMENTS

UP TO A MILE-AND-A-HALF AWAY.

THEIR HEIGHT MAKES AN OSTRICH'S EYESIGHT EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE,

SURVEYING THE LAND FROM UP TO NINE FEET OFF THE GROUND

AT FULL STRETCH.

AND WE HUMANS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE TAKEN NOTICE OF

THE OSTRICH'S TALENTS.

ZEBRAS WILL OFTEN STAND BY OSTRICHES FOR SAFETY, KNOWING

THEIR FEATHERED FRIENDS WILL SENSE DANGER FAR QUICKER THAN

THEY WOULD.

HOWEVER, ZEBRAS THEMSELVES HAVE EXCELLENT VISION, BETTER THAN

MOST OTHER MAMMALS IN THE REGION, APART FROM THE GIRAFFE.

BUT ITS EYES ARE ON THE SIDE, LIMITING THEIR FIELD OF VISION

AND REQUIRING THEM TO CONSTANTLY TURN THEIR HEADS.

WHEN AN OSTRICH ISN'T AROUND, THEY RESORT TO A FAR SIMPLER

DEFENSE TACTIC, STICKING TOGETHER.

BUT FOR NOW, THEY CAN RELY ON THEIR BIG BIRD BODYGUARD.

FOR MOST BIRDS, THEIR EYES ARE PROPORTIONATELY MUCH LARGER THAN

OTHER CLASSES OF ANIMALS.

THIS IS TRUE FOR LARGER BIRDS, LIKE THE KORI BUSTARD...

...AND SMALLER ONES, LIKE THIS BULBUL.

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE RED-BILLED QUELEA...

[BIRD CHIRPING]

...AND THE WEAVERS, GIVING US AN IDEA OF HOW IMPORTANT SIGHT

IS TO THE SUCCESS OF ALMOST EVERY BIRD SPECIES.

WHEN WE COME BACK, LOOKS LIKE THIS BABOON HAS PICKED UP A TAIL

ON HIS MORNING STROLL.

AND ONE EXOTIC BIRD KNOWN FOR ITS COLORFUL WAY OF CATCHING

FISH.

THIS AND MORE NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: MANY ANIMALS IN THE WILD RELY HEAVILY ON A SINGLE SENSE

TO GIVE THEM THEIR BEST CHANCE AT SURVIVAL; HOWEVER, FOR

OTHERS, SUCCESS IN THE WILD IS ABOUT THEIR FULL COMPLEMENT OF

SENSES WORKING TOGETHER, USING THE FULL PACKAGE IN ORDER TO

DEFEND THEMSELVES, FIND FOOD, AND SENSE DANGER.

AND THERE ARE FEW BETTER EXAMPLES THAN OUR CLOSEST ANIMAL

ACQUAINTANCES, PRIMATES.

OFTEN TIMES YOU ONLY HAVE TO OBSERVE ANIMALS FOR A FEW

MOMENTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW EFFECTIVELY THEY USE THEIR

SIGHT, SMELL, AND HEARING.

BIG EARS, LIKE ON THIS YOUNG BABOON, USUALLY MEAN ONE

THING...

...IMPRESSIVE HEARING.

HOWEVER, THERE'S A BIT MORE TO BABOON EARS THAN MEETS THE EYE.

THEIR SIZE IS EXTREMELY PROMINENT ON THIS YOUNG MALE;

HOWEVER, AS HE GROWS, HIS EARS DO NOT KEEP UP.

WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS, THEIR EARS BECOME LESS IMPOSING,

REVEALING THAT HEARING IS NOT THEIR TRUE SUPER SENSE.

INSTEAD, IT'S THEIR EYESIGHT.

THEIR EYES ARE NOT PARTICULARLY BIG, BUT THEY'RE PLACED AT THE

FRONT OF THE HEAD, WHICH GIVES THEM VERY GOOD BINOCULAR VISION.

THESE MONKEYS CAN SEE A LONG WAY, ABLE TO DETECT A MOTIONLESS

PREDATOR MORE THAN 1,500 FEET AWAY; HOWEVER, BABOONS SPEND

MOST OF THEIR LIFE ON THE GROUND, WHERE THEIR EYESIGHT IS

ACTIVE ALL THE TIME.

WHETHER SEARCHING FOR FOOD OR ENSURING THEIR SAFETY, A BABOON

ALWAYS HAS THEIR HEAD ON A SWIVEL.

BUT SIGHT ISN'T THEIR ONLY TALENT.

THE SIZE OF THEIR MUZZLE SUGGESTS THAT THEY HAVE A KEEN

SENSE OF SMELL.

ITS MOST OBVIOUS USE, FINDING AND SELECTING WHAT'S ON THE

DINNER MENU.

BEING AN OMNIVORE, THE CHOICE IS PLENTIFUL.

BABOONS ARE HIGHLY SOCIAL AND ACTIVE, WHICH BRINGS EVERY ONE

OF THEIR SENSES INTO PLAY.

[MONKEYS SCREECHING]

THEY'VE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE FIERCE ALTERCATIONS AMONG THE

TROOP; HOWEVER, TODAY IS CLEARLY MORE ABOUT SOME GOOD

OLD-FASHIONED FUN.

[MONKEYS SCREECHING]

BABOONS ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THEY MOVE AS A GROUP IN A VERY

DISORGANIZED MANNER.

THERE CAN BE WIDE GAPS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND LAST OF THE GROUP

SOMETIMES UP TO 500 FEET.

TALK ABOUT STANDOFFISH.

THEY RELY ON THEIR EYESIGHT TO KEEP WITHIN A MANAGEABLE

DISTANCE OF EACH OTHER, BUT THEY HAVE AN EXTRA PHYSICAL TRAIT TO

HELP.

AS MONKEYS WALK, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEIR TAIL STICKS UP FOR A

SHORT LENGTH AND THEN BENDS.

THIS CHARACTERISTIC SHAPE FOUND IN BOTH MALES AND FEMALES

BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED AS THEY GET OLDER.

THIS ANATOMICAL ADAPTATION IS THE PERFECT START TO ANY GAME OF

FOLLOW THE LEADER.

UP NEXT, WE'LL MEET THE BRIGHTEST BEAK IN THE BUSINESS

WHEN IT COMES TO SNAPPING UP A MEAL.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY" AFTER THIS.

.

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

DYLAN: THE WIDE ARRAY OF PLUMAGE AND COLORS WE SEE IN

BIRDS IS NOT ONLY CAPTIVATING TO US, BUT A CRUCIAL SIGHT FOR SORE

EYES AMONG BIRDS THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO FIND A

MATE.

THEIR BEAUTIFUL PLUMAGE IS TO ATTRACT AND IMPRESS, AND IT

CERTAINLY ACCOMPLISHES THAT GOAL.

WHEREAS SOME ANIMALS, LIKE GAZELLES, SEEM TO BE THOUSANDS

OF VERSIONS OF THE SAME SHADE AND PATTERN, BIRDS PARADE AROUND

WITH AN AMAZING PALETTE OF COLORS.

AND FOR MANY, THEIR SONG MATCHES THEIR UNIQUE LOOK.

WHILE HUNDREDS OF BIRD CALLS MAY BE HEARD ACROSS THE WILD, EACH

BIRD IS ONLY INTERESTED IN THAT OF THEIR OWN SPECIES, A CALLING

CARD, IF YOU WILL.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

[SQUAWKING CONTINUES]

PLACING HIMSELF OUT IN THE OPEN, THIS WOODLAND KINGFISHER

LISTENS CLOSELY TO THE SONG OF A RIVAL LOOKING TO MOVE IN ON HIS

TERRITORY.

BUT THERE WILL BE NO EVICTION TODAY.

THIS HADADA IBIS IS ON THE HUNT FOR FOOD.

UNLIKE MOST AVIANS, THIS BIRD DOESN'T DEPEND ON ITS SIGHT.

INSTEAD, IT'S ALL ABOUT SMELL.

ITS LONG BEAK IS EQUIPPED WITH SPECIAL SENSORS THAT DETECT

ODORS AND TELL IT JUST THE RIGHT PLACE TO DIG FOR A DELICIOUS

MORSEL.

FOR THE YELLOW-BILLED STORK, THE BEAK CALLS ON ANOTHER SENSE,

TOUCH.

NOT ONLY IS IT A TOOL THAT THIS BIRD CAN USE WITH EXTREME

PRECISION, BUT IT'S EQUIPPED WITH TACTILE SENSORS.

WHEN THE STORK FISHES, ITS BEAK IS TRIGGERED BY REFLEX WHEN IT

FEELS A FISH.

SEEING THESE BIRDS GROOM, YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE'S AN

ENORMOUS CONNECTION BETWEEN SIGHT AND TOUCH.

IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF COORDINATION AND EXPERTISE WHEN

IT COMES TO USING THEIR OWN SUPER SENSES.

AS THE SUN SETS, THIS FRANCOLIN PERCHES ON A BRANCH TO BE SEEN

AND HEARD ACROSS THE SAVANNAH.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

FOR EVERY ANIMAL IN THE WILD YOUNG AND OLD, EACH DAY IS A NEW

OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HOW THEY'VE MASTERED THEIR SENSES.

FOR EVERY ANIMAL ON THE PLANET FROM AN ANT TO AN ELEPHANT AND

EVEN US HUMANS, SENSES ARE WHAT DEFINE OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND

THE WORLD AROUND US.

THEY SEND VITAL INFORMATION TO THE BRAIN SO WE CAN MAKE

DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT'S NEEDED IN

ANY GIVEN SITUATION.

WHILE EACH ORGANISM MAY RELY MORE HEAVILY ON ONE SENSE OR

ANOTHER, IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY ARE ALL CRUCIAL ASPECTS OF OUR

SURVIVAL, AND THAT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE.

WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]