Original subtitles

.

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 ABOUT TO

JOIN THE HUNT ALONGSIDE OUR PLANET'S MOST PROLIFIC

PREDATORS.

WELCOME TO "EARTH ODYSSEY."

TODAY WE'RE BRAVING THE WILD TO SEE THE LARGEST,

STRONGEST AND FASTEST HUNTERS IN THE ANIMAL

KINGDOM.

SOARING OVERHEAD, ONE OF THE EARTH'S BIGGEST BIRDS OF

PREY IS LOOKING FOR A MEAL.

AND SOME NILE RIVER NATIVES SHOW OFF THEIR NASTY

ATTITUDES.

PLUS, MEET THE PRIDE OF THIS FIERCE FELINE FAMILY.

BUT FIRST, WE HEAD TO THE HIGH GRASS WHERE IT'S CHOW

TIME FOR A CUTE COMPANY OF CANINES.

THIS AND SO MUCH MORE COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN THE WILD, SPOTTING A PREDATOR ISN'T TOO HARD TO DO.

SHARP TEETH, STRONG JAWS, AND NOT EXACTLY THE

FRIENDLIEST ATTITUDE TOWARDS THEIR PREY ANIMAL NEIGHBORS.

BUT WHAT REALLY DEFINES A PREDATOR IS OPPORTUNITY.

RARELY IS A MEAL EASY TO FIND OR CATCH, SO EARTH'S

HUNTERS HAVE TO USE THEIR CUNNING AND STRATEGIC ACTION

TO CREATE THAT ONE OPPORTUNITY THAT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN FILLING THEIR BELLIES OR GOING HOME HUNGRY.

FOR OUR PLANET'S PREDATORS, HUNTING CAN SEEM LIKE A

FULL-TIME JOB.

IT'S DIFFICULT ENOUGH CATCHING PREY FOR

THEMSELVES, BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR SUCCESS

SKYROCKETS WHEN THERE ARE MORE MOUTHS TO FEED.

THESE YOUNG JACKALS ARE EAGERLY AWAITING THEIR

PARENTS RETURN BECAUSE IT MEANS FOOD.

MOM IS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE AND HER LITTER OF PUPS WASTE

NO TIME IN SEEING WHAT'S ON THE MENU.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WITH THEIR BELLIES FULL AND ENERGY UP, THESE

ROWDY ADOLESCENTS CAN GET BACK TO ONE OF THEIR

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES - PLAY.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: GAMES OF CHASE, WRESTLING

AND A CHEEKY CHOMP OR TWO IS ALL PART OF THEIR TRAINING

FOR WHEN THEY HAVE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.

LUCKILY, AS ADULTS, THEY WON'T BE COMPLETELY ALONE.

JACKALS HUNT IN PAIRS OR SMALL GROUPS, SO BONDING

WITH LITTERMATES CAN BE CRUCIAL TO THEIR FUTURE

SUCCESS.

AFTER THEIR THOROUGH TRAINING SESSION, A LITTLE

REST IS IN ORDER.

THEY ARE HAPPY TO RELAX WHILE SOME NOSEY NEIGHBORS

MAKE THEIR WAY PAST.

ELEPHANTS ARE A LITTLE OUT OF THEIR LEAGUE WHEN IT

COMES TO PREY.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A SITUATION WHERE THE JACKALS'

EYES ARE FAR BIGGER THAN THEIR STOMACHS.

ONE ANIMAL WITH NO LIMIT TO THEIR APPETITE IS THE HYENA.

THIS MOTHER IS DESPERATE TO FIND SOME PREY WITH HER

HUNGRY CUBS WAITING AT HOME.

THIS HERD OF WILDEBEEST COULD BE THE PERFECT

OPPORTUNITY.

IT WON'T BE EASY BUT SHE'S GOT TO TRY.

HER HUNTING PROCESS IS SIMPLE, BUT USUALLY

EFFECTIVE.

PHASE 1: DISRUPT AND DIVIDE THE HERD.

[MUSIC - SOUNDS OF WILDEBEESTS]

DYLAN: PHASE 2: ISOLATE A TARGET AND STAY ON ITS TAIL.

PHASE 3: CUT THEM OFF AND TAKE THE PREY BY SURPRISE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES - SOUNDS OF WILDEBEESTS]

DYLAN: FINAL PHASE: KEEP UP THE PACE AND RUN FASTER.

OR SLOW DOWN AND ADMIT DEFEAT.

ALL THE HYENA CAN DO NOW IS SLINK AWAY, EXHAUSTED, AND

NOW HUNGRIER THAN EVER.

A COUPLE WARTHOGS HAVE POPPED UP TO SEE THE SOURCE

OF THE COMMOTION.

LOOKS LIKE NO ONE WANTS TO BE ON THE HYENA'S MENU TODAY.

UP NEXT, A BIRD THAT'S A JACK OF ALL CARNIVOROUS

TRADES.

LATER, WE'LL MEET A RIVER REPTILE THAT CAN FIND A MEAL

IN A SNAP.

AND THESE BIG CAT CUBS ARE IN SAFE HANDS, OR SHOULD WE

SAY PAWS.

ALL THIS WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE FROM ABOVE, THIS IS ONE OF THE

WORLD'S LARGEST BIRDS OF PREY; THE VULTURE.

KNOWN PROBABLY MORE FOR THEIR SCAVENGING THAN THEIR

HUNTING, THESE CARNIVOROUS BIRDS ARE MASTERS OF MAKING

THE MOST OF THEIR RESOURCES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: GATHERING TWIGS AND GRASSES, THIS VULTURE COUPLE IS

PREPARING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A SINGLE SON OR DAUGHTER.

AFTER EACH MATING SEASON, THE FEMALE WILL USUALLY LAY

A SINGLE EGG.

SO, EXTREME CARE MUST BE TAKEN WITH THEIR COMING

HATCHLING.

ONE DAY, THESE PARENTS WILL TEACH THEIR CHILD HOW TO

CLEAR THE ENVIRONMENT OF ALL CARRION.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: FOR NOW, CONSTRUCTION TAKES PRECEDENCE

OVER CONSUMPTION.

WHEN THE TIME TO HUNT COMES, VULTURES RELY ON THEIR

EXTREMELY ACUTE EYESIGHT TO FIND THEIR NEXT MEAL.

ABLE TO SPOT PREY OR CARRION FROM UP TO 4 MILES AWAY,

THEIR NEXT MEAL SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE IN SIGHT.

THOUGH THE GROUND MAY APPEAR TO BE MOVING, THIS IS NO

EARTHQUAKE.

IN FACT, IT'S A POPULAR FOOD SOURCE FOR SOME OF AFRICA'S

AVIAN HUNTERS; FLIES.

JUST UNDERGROUND, ONE OF NATURE'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY

MIRACLES IS HAPPENING; METAMORPHOSIS.

THE OUTER ENVELOPE OF THESE YOUNG LARVAE IS GROWING

RIGID TO FORM A COCOON.

AS IT HARDENS AND DARKENS, THE LARVA INSIDE TRANSFORMS

INTO A FLY OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 10 DAYS.

WHEN READY, THE NEW FLY MUST USE ALL ITS STRENGTH AND

MUSCLES TO ESCAPE ITS SHELL-LIKE COCOON.

BUT DANGER AWAITS THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE SURFACE.

AS IF SENSING A COMING FEAST, SOME OPPORTUNISTIC

AVIANS GATHER AROUND.

AT THIS STAGE, THE YOUNG FLIES CAN'T YET STRETCH

THEIR WINGS.

THEY MUST FIRST LEARN TO MOVE THEIR LEGS AND BEND

THEIR JOINTS BECAUSE THE REAL WORK IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

JUST AS THIS FLY SEES SUNLIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME,

A FLASH OF BLUE STRIKES.

QUICK WORK FOR THIS SUPERB STARLING.

ANOTHER FLY TRIES ITS LUCK.

THE ONLY WAY TO ELUDE THE BEVY OF BIRD BEAKS WAITING

IS TO HIDE AMONG THE TWIGS AND LEAVES.

DINNER GUESTS SWARM ALL AROUND.

A GLOSSY STARLING HAS JOINED ITS SUPERB COUSIN.

A RED-BILLED HORNBILL HAS THE SAME IDEA, FOLLOWED BY

THE YELLOW-NECKED SPURFOWL.

AND THE AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL.

IT SEEMS EVERYONE IS SWOOPING IN TO ENJOY THIS

BUG BUFFET.

IT DOESN'T COME OFTEN, BUT WHEN HUNTING IS EASY, THESE

BIRDS TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE.

WHEN WE COME BACK, CHECK OUT THIS PREHISTORIC PREDATOR

ADAPTED TO MODERN TIMES.

AND EVEN IN THE WILD, CHEW TOYS ARE A FELINE FAVORITE.

THIS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LEARNING THE WAYS OF THE WILD IS AN EDUCATION PASSED

DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS OF EVERY ANIMAL.

OVER HUNDREDS, EVEN THOUSANDS OF YEARS, EACH

SPECIES HAS DEVELOPED HIGHLY-SPECIALIZED SKILLS

AND TRAITS TO EFFECTIVELY ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

BUT ALONG THE RIVERBANKS OF AFRICA, THERE'S ONE

RAZOR-SHARP REPTILE WHOSE STATUS AS AN ELITE APEX

PREDATOR HAS BEEN MORE THAN 90 MILLION YEARS IN THE MAKING.

BEING ONE OF THE EARTH'S OLDEST AND MOST LETHAL

HUNTERS DOESN'T MEAN THE NILE CROCODILE IS FEARED BY

ALL.

THIS RIVER IS HOME TO AN ODDLY-PEACEFUL PAIR OF

SPECIES; THE CROC, OF COURSE, AND HIPPOS.

THE HIPPOS GRAZE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, EACH DEVOURING UP

TO 200 POUNDS OF GRASS.

BUT THE DAY IS SPENT SOAKING IN THE WATER, COOLING THEIR

THIN SKIN THAT IS PRONE TO DEHYDRATION.

CROCODILES, ON THE OTHER HAND, PREFER THE OPPOSITE;

RESTING ON THE SANDY BANKS TO SOAK UP THE SUN'S RAYS.

BUT WHEN HUNGER STRIKES, IT'S INTO THE WATER THEY GO.

CROCODILES ARE BUILT FOR PURPOSE WITH A LOOK AS

UNIQUE AS IT IS LETHAL.

THEIR POWERFUL BODIES CAN REACH NEARLY 15 FEET AND

WEIGH ALMOST 1,000 POUNDS.

THEIR EYES AND NOSTRILS ARE ON THE TOP OF THEIR HEADS SO

THEY CAN ALMOST COMPLETELY SUBMERGE THEMSELVES WHILE

STALKING PREY.

A CROCODILE SKIN IS HORNED, SET ON TOUGH BONE PLATES,

GIVING THEM THEIR DINOSAUR-ESQUE OUTWARD

APPEARANCE.

BUT PERHAPS THEIR MOST DANGEROUS TRAIT IS THEIR

BRAIN BECAUSE IT SIGNALS JUST TWO PRIORITIES; WARMING

ITS BLOOD IN THE SUN AND TO EAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S A SIMPLE TO-DO LIST, BUT A WARNING FOR ANY ANIMAL

IN THEIR WAY TO WATCH OUT.

WHEN IT'S TOO HOT OUT, CROCODILES KEEP THEIR MOUTHS

OPEN TO COOL THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE WORLD'S BIGGEST REPTILE, THE NILE CROCODILE,

IS A TRUE PICTURE OF POWER AND BEAUTY IN THE AFRICAN WILD.

NOT FAR FROM THE RIVER, A PURRING PREDATOR LURKS AMONG

THE TREES.

A LEOPARD, WITH ITS MAGNIFICENT COAT AND NATURAL

ELEGANCE, IS ONE OF THE WILD'S MOST REVERED HUNTERS.

THESE ICONIC BIG CATS ARE DEFINED BY THEIR GRACE AND

AGILITY.

THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID FOR ANOTHER AFRICAN HUNTER;

PAINTED DOGS.

THEY ROAM IN PACKS.

LIKE BARBARIANS OF THE WILD, THEY SPREAD FEAR AMONG

ANIMALS WHEREVER THEY GO.

THE REAL STRENGTH OF THESE WILD DOGS IS THE PACK.

WHILE EACH OF THESE CARNIVOROUS CANINES WEIGH

ABOUT 70 POUNDS, THEIR HUNTING SKILL AS AN

INDIVIDUAL FALLS SHORT.

BUT AS A GROUP, THEY ARE SOLID, ORGANIZED AND IN

TOTAL COOPERATION WITH ONE ANOTHER.

THE CLAN IS MADE UP OF ABOUT A DOZEN MEMBERS CENTERED

AROUND A DOMINANT MALE AND FEMALE.

LIFE IS ABOUT COLLABORATION FOR THESE PRECOCIOUS

PREDATORS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TIME TO PLAY.

COMING UP, CAN YOU SAY LETHAL LITTER OF LITTLE

LIONS 5 TIMES FAST?

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHILE HERD MENTALITY MAY BE CONSIDERED A PREY

ANIMAL MINDSET, THERE ARE A WIDE ARRAY OF PREDATORS WHO

SEE THE BENEFIT IN STICKING TOGETHER.

THE LION, FOR EXAMPLE.

THE ONLY AFRICAN BIG CAT THAT LIVES IN A SOCIETY OF

SORTS.

EACH GROUP IS ORGANIZED AROUND THE FEMALES.

THEY CONSIST OF SISTERS, MOTHERS, COUSINS, AUNTS AND

OF COURSE THE CUBS.

BOTH MALE AND FEMALE LION CUBS ARE WELCOME MEMBERS OF

THE PRIDE.

BUT IT WON'T LAST FOREVER.

WHILE THE FEMALES WILL STAY WITH THE FAMILY FOR LIFE,

THE MALES WILL LEAVE AT AROUND 2 YEARS OLD TO MAKE

THEIR OWN WAY IN THE WILD.

BUT UNTIL THEN, THE ENTIRE LITTER LOVES TO PLAY,

WRESTLE AND CHASE FROM DAWN UNTIL DUSK.

A GOOD CHEW TOY NEVER GOES UNAPPRECIATED.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LIONS STAY PRETTY SOCIAL AMONG THEIR FAMILY GROUPS.

CHEETAHS, HOWEVER, DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

THESE FELINES ARE SOLITARY BY NATURE.

GROUPS LIKE THIS ONE ARE A RARE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

THESE PACKS ARE NEARLY ALWAYS MADE UP OF

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BROTHERS, SO WHY GO AGAINST

THEIR NORMALLY INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE?

WELL, THERE ARE TWO REASONS.

HUNTING BIGGER PREY IS A DEFINITE BENEFIT.

BUT THE REAL REASON IS TERRITORY.

THE MORE MEMBERS THERE ARE IN THIS BIG CAT COALITION,

THE LONGER THEIR DOMINANCE OVER A TERRITORY WILL LAST.

THE YOUNG CHEETAHS SPEND A LOT OF TIME PLAYING.

BUT THIS IS NO FRIVOLOUS FUN; IT'S A WAY OF TRYING

OUT THE SKILLS AND REFLEXES ESSENTIAL FOR HUNTING.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THOUGH THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T ENJOY THEMSELVES.

WE FOUND THE HYENA MOTHER AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME SHE'S

NOT ON THE HUNT FOR FOOD.

IN FACT, IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

WITH A FULL BELLY, SHE CAN FINALLY GO BACK TO HER CUBS

WHO HAVE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR DAYS.

THE HOMECOMING RECEPTION IS WARM AND LOVING.

HYENA MOTHERS CAN GET ENOUGH ENERGY FROM A SINGLE MEAL TO

PRODUCE MORE THAN 2 GALLONS OF MILK FOR HER YOUNG.

HER MILK IS RICHER IN PROTEIN THAN ANY OTHER

TERRESTRIAL CARNIVORE, SO NOT A DROP GOES TO WASTE.

THIS WILL GIVE THE HYENA CUBS THE NUTRIENTS THEY NEED

TO GROW, EVENTUALLY BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST SKILLED AND

SUCCESSFUL HUNTERS IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF LEARNING TO DO.

LUCKILY, MOM IS THERE TO HELP CARRY THE LOAD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS THE SUN SETS ON ANOTHER DAY,

THE WORLD'S PREDATORS NEED TO REST AND RECHARGE.

IT TAKES STRENGTH, SKILL AND MOST OF ALL, RESILIENCE, TO

OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES OF PREDATOR LIFE.

BUT THESE ENDURING ANIMALS SHOW US THEY'LL ALWAYS BE UP

FOR THE CHALLENGE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH US TO SEE HOW PREDATORS PURSUE

THEIR PREY AROUND THE WORLD.

WHILE EACH SPECIES PLAYS TO THEIR OWN STRENGTH, BE IT

SPEED, SURPRISE OR STAMINA, ALL SHOW US THE

DETERMINATION AND GRIT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT IN AN

UNFORGIVING WILD.

EACH OF EARTH'S HUNGRY HUNTERS INSPIRE BOTH AWE AND FEAR

WITH THEIR LETHAL LEASE ON LIFE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]