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 WE'RE ABOUT TO MEET

THE NEWEST CREATURE KIDS ON THE BLOCK.

WELCOME TO "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE ENTERING NATURE'S NEWBORN NURSERY FOR A LOOK AT

SOME WILD ANIMAL ADOLESCENCE.

THIS YOUNG BUCK IS BRUSHING UP ON ITS SURVIVAL SKILLS.

AND AN EQUATORIAL EQUINE IS EAGER TO EARN THEIR STRIPES.

PLUS, A BABY WITH AFRICA'S BIGGEST PERSONALITY.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE STRETCHING OUR NECKS FOR A GLIMPSE OF THE

WILD'S TALLEST TODDLERS.

GET READY FOR AN UNTAMABLE ADVENTURE HERE ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

IN EARTH'S WILDEST ENVIRONMENTS, A TAPESTRY OF LIFE

UNFOLDS WITH EACH PASSING DAY, AND THERE'S NO SIGNAL OF CHANGE

QUITE LIKE THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW GENERATION.

THESE NEWBORN CREATURES REVIVE THE SPIRIT AND WONDER OF NATURE,

SHOWING THE RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH IT TAKES TO SURVIVE,

THOUGH NOT EVERY NEWCOMER IS A TINY BUNDLE OF JOY.

FOR NATURE'S BIGGEST ANIMALS, THEIR LARGER-THAN-LIFE

REPUTATION STARTS FROM DAY ONE.

THE EXCITEMENT IS PALPABLE IN THIS NATURAL NEIGHBORHOOD AS A

NEW ARRIVAL HAS JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED.

A BABY GIRAFFE.

AS NEWBORNS GO, IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMAGINABLE.

AT BIRTH, THIS LITTLE ONE WAS ALREADY ALMOST SEVEN FEET TALL

AND 150 POUNDS.

ITS ENTRANCE INTO THE WORLD IS RATHER DRAMATIC.

GIRAFFES GIVE BIRTH STANDING UP, SO THE BABY DROPS ALMOST SIX

FEET TO THE GROUND.

LUCKILY, IT'S ON ITS FEET FAST, ABLE TO STAND AFTER JUST A FEW

MINUTES AND ENJOY SOME MILK FROM MOM WITHIN AN HOUR.

A GIRAFFE'S MILK IS VERY NUTRITIOUS, SO FEEDING TIMES CAN

BE SPACED OUT, WHICH ALLOWS MOM A NICE BREAK FROM TIME TO TIME,

AND THE FREEDOM DOESN'T GO UNAPPRECIATED.

MOM WILL TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE BREAK TO GET A DRINK OF HER

OWN.

YET IN THESE EARLY DAYS, MOM HAS ONLY ONE SIMPLE RULE.

NEVER BE MORE THAN 100 FEET AWAY FROM HER BABY.

MOTHERS MOVE AWAY FROM OTHER GIRAFFES WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT TO

GIVE BIRTH, A PECULIAR CHOICE CONSIDERING THIS IS THE MOST

VULNERABLE TIME FOR BOTH MOTHER AND CHILD IN THE WILD.

BUT THEY MANAGE QUITE WELL, ABLE TO OBSERVE THEIR SURROUNDINGS

WITH EXPERT PRECISION THANKS TO THEIR UNMATCHED HEIGHT.

LIONS AND HYENAS ARE A CONSIDERABLE THREAT FOR THE

LITTLE ONE, SO MAINTAINING A WATCHFUL EYE IS CRUCIAL IN THE

FIRST MONTH OF THE YOUNG GIRAFFE'S LIFE.

ONCE THEY'VE REACHED THAT MARK, MOM CAN RELAX HER CONSTANT

WATCHING JUST A LITTLE.

AT THE VERY LEAST, SHE ALLOWS HER YOUNG TO VENTURE FARTHER

AWAY WHILE MOM FORAGES.

THE GIRAFFE CALF TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS, WANDERING

SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS AWAY TO EXPLORE ITS NEW HOME.

IT'S STILL A RISKY SITUATION, SO IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY,

GIRAFFES WILL GET CLOSER TO OTHER FEMALES WHO ALSO HAVE

NEWBORNS.

YOUNG GIRAFFES ARE NEARLY EXACT COPIES OF ADULTS WITH ONLY TWO

DIFFERENCES...

...SIZE, OF COURSE, AND THE RUFFLED TUFT OF HAIR THEY HAVE

AT THE TOP OF THEIR HORNS.

THESE HORNS WERE ALREADY PART OF THE GIRAFFE'S BUILD AT THE

EMBRYO STAGE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNIQUE IN MAMMALS.

BABY GIRAFFES HAVE A NATURAL TENDENCY TO MINGLE WITH KIDS

THEIR OWN AGE, SO A KIND OF NATURAL NURSERY COMES INTO BEING

WHICH ALLOWS MOTHERS A BIT MORE FREEDOM WHILE THE PROTECTION

DUTIES ARE SHARED.

IT'S A TEAM EFFORT AMONG GIRAFFES TO ENSURE THEIR YOUNG

ONES WILL ONE DAY GROW TO BE THE WORLD'S TALLEST MAMMALS.

WHEN WE COME BACK, THIS ANTELOPE ADOLESCENT IS TAKING NO CHANCES

OUT IN THE OPEN.

AND FOR THESE FOALS, THE BEST PROTECTION IS HIDING WITHIN THE

HERD.

LATER, WE'LL MEET A FAMILY THAT LOVES TO TOOT ITS OWN HORN.

THIS AND MORE NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: THIS ADORABLE ANTELOPE HASN'T GOTTEN FAR SINCE BIRTH

AMONG THE BRUSH.

STAYING HIDDEN AWAY IS A GOOD IDEA FOR ONE SO VULNERABLE, BUT

SOMETIMES IT CAN'T HELP COMING OUT FOR A FEW LEAPS AND SEEING

WHAT MOM'S UP TO.

THESE ARE BUSHBUCKS.

THIS MOTHER GAVE BIRTH AFTER A SIX-MONTH GESTATION PERIOD.

LIKE ALL ANIMALS IN THE ANTELOPE FAMILY, THE BABIES START EATING

GRASSES ALMOST STRAIGHTAWAY.

THE BUSHBUCK ANTELOPE LIVES IN THICKETS AND WHERE THERE IS

COVER.

FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S A SOLITARY ANIMAL, EXCEPT FOR ONE

ADORABLE CIRCUMSTANCE, THIS ONE, A MOTHER AND HER CHILD.

BUSHBUCK MOTHERS SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THEIR BABY, WHO IS

THEIR ONLY COMPANY.

THEY STAY TOGETHER UNTIL MOM BRINGS HER NEXT NEWBORN INTO THE

WORLD, BUT FOR NOW, THIS LITTLE ONE IS HER ONLY CONCERN, AND SHE

HAS A VERY SPECIFIC WAY OF PROTECTING HER BABY.

SHE KEEPS IT HIDDEN STRICTLY WITHIN THESE THICKETS.

IF IT STAYS PUT IN HIDING, ITS CHANCES OF SURVIVAL ARE VERY

GOOD.

IT DOESN'T START MAKING ITS WAY OUT INTO THE OPEN UNTIL AROUND

FOUR MONTHS OLD.

WHILE BUSHBUCKS KEEP MOSTLY TO THEMSELVES, IT'S A DIFFERENT

STORY ENTIRELY FOR THIS ANTELOPE BREED.

THE IMPALA.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS IS THE CODE THEY LIVE BY.

IMPALAS ALL GIVE BIRTH AT PRACTICALLY THE SAME TIME, WITH

MOST BABIES ARRIVING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RAINY SEASON.

AFTER THAT, THERE'S A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF NEWBORNS IN OPEN

SPACES.

A FEW YOUNG IMPALAS STAY WITH THEIR MOTHERS, BUT MOST STICK

TOGETHER IN A CRECHE, OR IMPALA NURSERY.

THEY MAKE UP INFORMAL LITTLE GROUPS UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF

AN ADULT FEMALE ON GUARD DUTY.

SHE LOOKS AFTER THE BABIES WHILE THE OTHER MOTHERS GO OFF TO EAT.

IMPALAS HAVE A MORE COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO

MOTHER AND CHILD.

FEMALES WILL ONLY SPEND TIME WITH THEIR YOUNG SO THEY CAN

FEED, BUT BEYOND THAT, THEY RELY ON THE GROUP FOR CHILDCARE AND

PROTECTION.

THE CASUAL CONNECTION WITH MOM MEANS BABY IMPALAS DEVELOP

DEEPER COMPANIONSHIP WITH THEIR PLAYMATES.

[MUSIC]

FOR THEM, THE SAVANNAH IS A GIANT PLAYGROUND WHERE ALL THESE

YOUNG ANIMALS CAN GROW AND LEARN WITH THE HELP OF CLOSE FRIENDS.

WHETHER GROOMING, RESTING, OR PLAYING, THEY CONFIDENTLY DO IT

TOGETHER.

COMING UP, THE COLORFUL SAVANNAH HAS TURNED BLACK AND WHITE.

AND THE SPLASH ZONE IS BIGGER THAN EVER WHEN THESE MAMMALS

MESS AROUND WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR ANY YOUNG ANIMAL IS A SIMPLE

ONE, SURVIVAL, BUT A SIMPLE CHALLENGE DOESN'T MEAN A SIMPLE

SOLUTION.

ANIMALS WORK EXTREMELY HARD TO PROTECT AND NURTURE THEIR YOUNG

TO GIVE THEM THEIR BEST CHANCE AT MAKING IT TO ADULTHOOD, AND

THIS NEVER-ENDING SAFETY MISSION HAS PRODUCED SOME HIGHLY UNIQUE

METHODS FOR PROTECTION.

SOME RELY ON NEIGHBORING SPECIES, WHILE OTHERS UTILIZE AN

OPTICAL ILLUSION.

TAKE A LOOK.

FOR WILDEBEEST, YOUNG LIVES ARE ESPECIALLY PRECIOUS DUE TO THEM

BEING A COMMON TARGET FOR PREDATORS.

THOSE WHO MAKE IT PAST THE FIRST FEW MONTHS ARE NO LONGER BABIES,

BUT BIGTIME TODDLERS.

THEIR HORNS HAVE STARTED TO GROW IN, BUT THEY'RE STILL GETTING

MILK FROM MOM.

FOR GREATER SAFETY, THIS HERD IS BRANCHING OUT ACROSS SPECIES,

JOINING UP WITH A GROUP OF ZEBRAS.

THIS MEANS THERE ARE MORE GUARDS ON THE LOOKOUT AT ALL TIMES.

IT'S A MIXED HERD THAT WILL SOON BE EVEN BIGGER.

THE ZEBRAS ARE HAVING BABIES OF THEIR OWN, AND THIS STALLION IS

COMING OVER TO CHECK ON THE LATEST ADDITION.

MOST ZEBRAS ARE BORN WHEN THE GRASS IS HIGH AND GREEN.

THIS IS GOOD FOR THE MOTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN CARRYING THEIR

BABY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

THE GRASS IS VERY NUTRITIOUS, SO THEY RECOVER FASTER FROM THE

LONG PREGNANCY.

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG AFTER BIRTH FOR THE FOALS TO START

EXPLORING.

THE ARRIVAL OF A WARTHOG PIQUES THIS YOUNG ZEBRA'S CURIOSITY.

IS IT FRIEND OR FOE?

BETTER STICK WITH MOM JUST IN CASE.

WHEN IT COMES TO STRETCHING THEIR LEGS, YOUNG ZEBRAS

PRACTICE BY GALLOPING, BUT THESE LITTLE GAMES ARE JUST EARLY

TRAINING.

THERE'S STILL A WHILE BEFORE THEY BECOME INDEPENDENT.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MARE AND HER FOAL IS A CLOSE-KNIT

ONE.

IF ANY UNEXPECTED VISITOR GETS TOO CLOSE, THEY'RE CHASED OFF

IMMEDIATELY.

ALL BABIES BORN IN THE HERD MUST BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEIR OWN

MOTHER, BUT IN THIS MONOCHROME MAZE, THAT CAN BE TOUGH.

MOST OF THE TIME, THEY RECOGNIZE MOM THROUGH HER SMELL OR THE

SOUND OF HER VOICE.

YOUNG ZEBRAS ALSO RELY ON THEIR EYESIGHT AND CAN ACTUALLY PICK

OUT THE INDIVIDUAL PATTERN OF THEIR MOTHER'S COAT.

EVEN SO, PROTECTION OF THE YOUNG IS A JOB SHARED BY THE ENTIRE

GROUP, AS THEY ALL FOSTER THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF THIS NEW

GENERATION.

AFTER THE BREAK, THE SAVANNAH HAS A SUPERSIZE SQUAT OF

NEWBORNS.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: WHILE SOME ANIMALS CONCEAL THEIR YOUNG AT THE HEART

OF THE HERD, OTHERS CHOOSE A MORE COVERT APPROACH.

THE WATERBUCK, FOR EXAMPLE, AVOIDS CROWDS AND CHOOSES A

PERFECT HIDING PLACE FOR THEIR BABIES.

FIRST, THEY LICK THE LITTLE ONE TO COVER IT WITH THEIR SMELL.

THIS WAY, ONCE THEY'RE HIDDEN, MOM WILL HAVE AN EASIER TIME

FINDING HER BABY AMONG THE REEDS.

SINCE GIVING BIRTH, THIS MOTHER AND BABY HAVE LIVED AWAY FROM

THE GROUP, BUT SEPARATELY.

THEY ONLY SEE EACH OTHER A FEW TIMES A DAY FOR FEEDING.

THE REST OF THE TIME, THE YOUNG STAYS HIDDEN AMONG THE GRASS.

WITH NO PREDATORS IN SIGHT, THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO MOVE TO A

NEW HIDING SPOT.

AS SHE WILL CONTINUE TO DO FOR UP TO A YEAR, MOM LEADS HER BABY

TO THE NEXT SECRET SHELTER.

IMPALAS AREN'T TOO CONCERNED WITH KEEPING CONCEALED.

THEY HAVE TRAINING TO DO.

[IMPALA GRUNTING]

AS ADOLESCENTS, LEARNING FIGHTING SKILLS IS PART OF THE

DAILY ROUTINE.

FOR IMPALAS, THE GROWTH OF HORNS MEANS THE END OF CHILDHOOD.

ONCE THESE HAVE DEVELOPED, THE MALES HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR

FAMILIES WAITING FOR THE DAY WHEN THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO LEAD

A HERD OF THEIR OWN.

WATERBUCKS AREN'T AS STRICT WHEN IT COMES TO SEPARATING THE

SEXES.

THIS GROUP OF YOUNG BUCKS IS MIXED.

MALES AND FEMALES LEFT THEIR BIRTH GROUP AND STUCK TOGETHER

WITH ONE PURPOSE IN MIND, SURVIVAL.

WATERBUCKS FEED ON VEGETATION AT THE RIVER'S EDGE, BUT TOO LARGE

A GROUP WOULD EXHAUST THE FOOD SOURCE, SO THE YOUNG ANIMALS

HAVE LEFT ON THEIR OWN, LOOKING FOR NEW PASTURES.

ELEPHANTS, ON THE OTHER HAND, KEEP THEIR YOUNG CLOSE BY FOR A

MUCH LONGER PERIOD.

AT A LOVING MOTHER'S SIDE, LIVING WITHIN A PROTECTED GROUP,

THESE ARE THE LUCKIEST KIDS IN THE SAVANNAH.

[MUSIC]

THEY WILL STAY WITH THEIR FAMILY FOR FAR LONGER THAN ANY

OTHER ANIMAL, HOLDING ON TO THEIR WILD CHILDHOOD AS LONG AS

THEY CAN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WE SAW HOW LIFE BEGINS IN SOME OF

EARTH'S MOST AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILIES.

THERE ARE NO EASY ROADS TO TAKE ON LIFE'S JOURNEY IN THE WILD;

HOWEVER, DEDICATED AND DILIGENT PARENTS ARE A CONSTANT HELPING

HAND FOR THEIR CREATURE KIDS.

WHETHER WITH FEET, FLIPPERS, OR FEATHERS, EVERY ANIMAL LEARNS TO

THRIVE BY FOLLOWING IN THEIR PARENTS' FOOTSTEPS.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]