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: WELCOME EVERYONE.

I'M DYLAN DREYER AND WE'RE GOING GREEN TO SEE THE ANIMALS WHO

LOVE LIFE IN THE FORESTS, GRASSES AND JUNGLES.

THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY."

TODAY, IT'S OFF TO THE FORESTS AND WOODLANDS SO WE CAN FIND

SOME OF THE COOLEST CREATURES THAT MAKE THEIR HOME AMONG THE

TREES.

LIKE THIS TINY TREE-HUGGER THAT'S A LITTLE BIT JUMPY.

THESE CANOPY CRUISERS ARE TRYING TO RELAX 60 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

AND LATER, WE'LL MEET A FISHING EXPERT THAT DOESN'T MIND GETTING

ITS FEET WET.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE SLOWING THINGS DOWN TO CATCH UP WITH THIS

SLUGGISH SPECIMEN ON THE FOREST FLOOR.

THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DISCOVER RIGHT HERE ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THERE ARE FEW MORE MAGICAL AND LUSH LANDSCAPES THAN

THOSE OF EARTH'S FORESTS.

FROM TROPICAL JUNGLES TO ALPINE WOODLANDS, OUR FORESTS BRING

WITH THEM AN ABUNDANCE OF RESOURCES, COLOR AND

BIODIVERSITY.

ANIMALS HERE HAVE LEARNED TO THRIVE AT EVERY LEVEL WHETHER IN

THE CANOPY OR ON THE FOREST FLOOR.

THESE WOODED PLAYGROUNDS CREATE A BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY OF UNIQUE

HABITATS WHERE LIFE CAN FLOURISH.

IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LIES AN ISLAND OF MAJESTIC NATURAL

BEAUTY.

VANCOUVER ISLAND.

THIS LUSH LOCALE IS SEPARATED FROM THE MAINLAND ONLY BY NARROW

STRAITS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WITH NUMEROUS RIVERS ON A RUGGED TERRAIN, IT'S COVERED BY

DENSE AND SOMETIMES EVEN IMPENETRABLE FORESTS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE WEST COAST OF THE ISLAND RECEIVES UP TO 200 DAYS

OF RAIN EVERY YEAR.

THIS WET WEATHER CREATES THE CONDITIONS FOR A TEMPERATE

RAINFOREST IN ONE OF THE WETTEST, NON-TROPICAL ZONES IN

THE WORLD.

YET ONLY A FEW SPECIES OF TREES CAN SURVIVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

WESTERN HEMLOCK, PACIFIC RED CEDAR AND DOUGLAS FIR ARE THE

MOST COMMON AND WIDESPREAD.

IN THE UNDERGROWTH, EVEN THE SMALLEST SURFACES ARE COVERED BY

MOSSES AND LICHENS.

RECORD LEVELS OF HUMIDITY ALLOW PLANT LIFE TO FLOURISH IN THIS

AREA.

BUT PLANTS AREN'T THE ONLY ORGANISMS THAT THRIVE IN THESE

CONDITIONS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS IS THE HOME OF CANADA'S LARGEST LAND MOLLUSK;

MORE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE BANANA SLUG.

ABLE TO GROW UP TO 10 INCHES LONG, THIS EYE-CATCHING

INVERTEBRATE IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS A DECOMPOSER.

IT FEEDS ON THE AMPLE AMOUNTS OF DECAYING MATTER ON THE FOREST

FLOOR.

BUT ITS FAVORITE FOOD IS MUSHROOMS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: FOR FEEDING, BANANA SLUGS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A RIBBON OF

TINY HARD TEETH CALLED A RADULAR.

IT ALLOWS THEM TO CUT AND SCRAPE EVEN THE LARGEST PIECES OF FOOD,

SO THEIR EYES ARE RARELY BIGGER THAN THEIR STOMACHS.

SLUGS ACTUALLY COME FROM A MARINE ORIGIN, OR FROM THE

OCEAN.

OVER TIME, THEY ADAPTED TO DRY LAND, DEVELOPING ONE LUNG, A

MUSCULAR FOOT, AND OF COURSE THEIR CALLING CARD - MUCUS, OR

SLIME.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS FLUID OVER THEIR ENTIRE BODY ALLOWS THEM TO MOVE

WITH RELATIVE EASE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE GLIDING ON AIR AS THEY MOVE ACROSS THE

FLOOR, TREES OR ANY OTHER OBSTACLE IN THEIR WAY.

CLEARLY, THE TEMPERATE RAINFORESTS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND

ARE THE PERFECT PLACE TO FLOURISH FOR THIS SLIPPERY

CUSTOMER.

UP NEXT, WE'LL MEET AN EXPERT IN AMPHIBIAN CAMOUFLAGE.

AND THIS TREETOP TROOP IS SPENDING THE NIGHT ON A BED OF

BRANCHES.

PLUS, THERE'S A FEAST OF FISH IN THIS FOREST FOR ALL TO ENJOY.

THIS AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST REMARKABLE GRASSLANDS RESIDES IN

THE HEART OF AFRICA - THE SAVANNA.

AT SUNRISE, THIS WILD KINGDOM BEGINS TO STIR.

THE WET SEASON HAS ARRIVED AND BRINGS WITH IT A TON OF BOUNTY

AND REVIVAL IN THE WILD.

ONE OF THE MOST TELLING SIGNS ARE THESE LUSH ACACIAS GROWING

AND GLOWING IN FULL FORCE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AROUND THE SAVANNA, THERE ARE MANY LITTLE CLUES THAT

SUGGEST THIS SEASON IS INDEED A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: HANGING FROM PARASITIC CREEPERS TANGLED UP IN THE

FOLIAGE, THESE FRUITS ARE NOT MERELY FOR DECORATION.

[MUSIC AND FOREST SOUNDS]

DYLAN: EVERYWHERE ARE SIGNS THAT THE WET SEASON HAS BROUGHT LUSH

BLOOMS.

THESE ARE THE FLOWERS OF A MIMOSA.

THE MIMOSA CINEREA.

THEY FLOWER AT PRECISELY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

AND THEY MAKE SUCH A GOOD DISPLAY THAT THE SHRUB IS

SOMETIMES CALLED THE KALAHARI CHRISTMAS TREE.

BUT THERE'S ONE THING MORE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PICTURE

AND CREATE THE ILLUSION.

IT ONLY LASTS A FEW DAYS AND ALWAYS AT THIS EXACT TIME OF THE

YEAR.

HERE AND THERE AS YOU APPROACH THE AREA WHERE THE TERRAPIN

LIVES.

YOU CAN SEE A FEW PATCHES OF WHAT SURPRISINGLY LOOKS LIKE

SNOW.

IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY AT THIS ODD, FOAM-LIKE SUBSTANCE THAT IS

ATTACHED TO THE TRUNKS, THE GRASSES AND THE BRANCHES, YOU'LL

NOTICE THAT IN EVERY CASE, IT IS ABOVE WATER.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: WE OWE THESE UNUSUAL PATCHES TO AN ANIMAL WHICH, LIKE

THE PYTHON, CAN DISAPPEAR INTO THE BACKGROUND AND WHICH IS ALSO

A COLD-BLOODED ANIMAL.

THIS IS THE GRAY TREEFROG.

IN NORMAL TIMES, IT'S HARD TO SEE AGAINST THE BRANCHES.

IN THE PERIOD OF REPRODUCTION, IT SHOWS ITSELF SPECTACULARLY.

THANKS TO THESE ADHESIVE DISCS, THE TREEFROG HANGS ON VERY

TIGHTLY IN A VERTICAL POSITION.

THE MALES, ALWAYS SMALLER THAN THE FEMALE, HANG ONTO HER BACK;

OFTEN SEVERAL AT A TIME.

WHAT THEY ARE CREATING IS A NEST, THOUGH IT MAY LOOK MORE

LIKE THEY ARE WHIPPING EGG WHITES.

THE MORE THEY BEAT, THE MORE THE FOAM RISES.

IT WILL HARDEN IN CONTACT WITH THE AIR AND THE FEMALE WILL LAY

HER EGSS IN IT.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE TADPOLES WILL BE BORN INSIDE THIS FOAM NEST AND THEN

FALL INTO THE WATER BELOW TO CONTINUE THEIR TRANSFORMATION.

THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS FOR THE TADPOLES TO FULLY

MATURE INTO THEIR TREE-DWELLING ADULT COUNTERPARTS.

IN THE SAVANNA, THERE IS ONE ASPECT OF THIS TIME OF YEAR THAT

APPEALS UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

IT'S THE SAME EVERY YEAR AND YET, EVERY YEAR THE ANIMALS

WELCOME IT WITH THE SAME JOY.

THIS IS IT - LOTS AND LOTS OF GREEN GRASS.

THE ADULTS LOVE IT AS MUCH AS THE YOUNG.

FOR THE RED-BILLED BUFFALO WEAVER, THIS TALL GRASS HIDES

WITHIN IT A MORE APPEALING FEAST - YUM.

THE VIBRANT GREENS AND BEVY OF ACTIVITY THAT THE WET SEASON

BRINGS TO THE GRASSLANDS IS A TRULY REMARKABLE SIGHT TO SEE.

COMING UP, FOR THESE PRIMATES, NOTHING BEATS A GOOD TREEHOUSE.

AND SALMON SEASON IS THIS FOREST-DWELLER'S FAVORITE

TIME OF YEAR.

NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY MAY NOT HAVE 4 WALLS AND A ROOF, BUT TREES CAN

CERTAINLY ACT AS A WELCOME HOME AND REFUGE FOR MANY ANIMALS IN

THE WILD.

THESE ARBOREAL HAVENS CAN PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM

PREDATORS AS WELL AS THE ELEMENTS WHILST ALSO BEING A

RICH SOURCE OF FOOD AND NUTRIENTS.

LIFE AMONG THE TREES MAY NOT BE FOR EVERYONE.

BUT FOR A CERTAIN GROUP OF BABOONS, IT'S THE PERFECT

PRIMATE PARADISE.

A FRUIT TREE ALONG THE RIVERBANK MEANS A CHANCE FOR THIS BABOON

TROOP TO RELAX AND ENJOY A FEAST.

THIS MOTHER HAS TAKEN HER BABY RIGHT TO THE TOP WHERE SHE CAN

FEED IN SAFETY.

BEING SO HIGH OFF THE GROUND DOESN'T PHASE THEM.

THE BABIES HAVE TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN THEIR MOTHER'S GRIP.

THIS IS A REAL PARADISE FOR BABOONS.

WITH ENORMOUS HORIZONTAL BRANCHES THAT ARE WELL-SPACED,

EASY TO CLIMB AND OFTEN FULL OF FOOD, FEW SPOTS IN THE SAVANNA

ARE BETTER FOR THIS TROOP.

TREES PROVIDE A HAVEN UNLIKE ANY OTHER FOR THESE MONKEYS, GIVING

THEM SAFETY AND SUSTENANCE.

THOUGH NOT EVERY TREE PROVIDES THE SAME RESOURCES, THEY ALL

CONNECT AS A SORT OF HEADQUARTERS FOR THE TROOP.

[MUSIC AND FOREST SOUNDS]

DYLAN: AND THAT MEANS THE AREA IS ALWAYS HIGHLY SOCIAL.

AS THE SUN BEGINS TO LOWER, THE TROOP GATHERS TOGETHER ENSURING

EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IS ACCOUNTED FOR.

SOON, THEY'LL MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE TREE WHERE THEY'LL SLEEP.

BUT BEFORE HEADING OFF TO BED, THE LAST HOURS OF DAYLIGHT ARE A

GOOD TIME TO RELAX BY THE RIVER NEAR THEIR HOME TREE.

IT IS CALM; EACH MEMBER OF THE TROOP IN THEIR OWN BUBBLE AS THE

DAY'S ENERGY WINDS DOWN.

THOUGH THEY MAY TAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT

THE DAY, THESE MONKEYS ARE NEVER FAR FROM THE TROOP.

THEIR SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND BOND IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANY SHELTER

OR PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTE.

SO, EVEN WHILE THEY'RE ALONE, THE REST OF THE FAMILY IS NEVER

OUT OF SIGHT.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: FINALLY, A FEMALE GIVES THE SIGNAL IT'S TIME TO SLEEP.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, AND ALL THE BABOONS ARE SETTLED INTO THEIR

COMMUNAL TREE.

EACH TRIES TO FIND THE BEST SPOT TO BED DOWN.

BUT THE TASK ISN'T ALWAYS EASY.

BABOONS USE TREES IN PART FOR THEIR PROTECTION FROM ANY

PREDATORS OR UNWANTED GUESTS.

SO, THEY HAVE TO FIND A PLACE THAT'S WELL AND TRULY HARD TO

REACH.

A HIGH AND MORE SECURE POSITION MEANS THE BRANCHES ARE MORE

SUPPLE AND YOU HAVE TO HOLD ON TIGHTLY.

THAT GOES DOUBLE FOR THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE TROOP.

WITH MOM SITTING NEAR THE TOP, HE HAS TO HANG ON TIGHT BECAUSE

HIS MOTHER IS USING BOTH ARMS TO SNEAK IN A LATE-NIGHT SNACK.

WHEN WE COME BACK, THIS FOREST RIVER COMES COMPLETE WITH ALL

THE BEAR NECESSITIES.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AWE-INSPIRING.

DIVERSE.

AND EXTRAORDINARY.

THESE WOODED TERRAINS MAKE UP AN INCREDIBLE REGION KNOWN AS

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

COVERING MORE THAN 360,000 SQUARE MILES, THIS LAND IS AS

UNIQUE AS IT IS UNEXPECTED.

AT THE EDGE OF THE FOREST, THIS SPOTTED LAKE IS A CURIOUS

EXAMPLE.

IT'S THE RESULT OF HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF VARIOUS

MINERALS LEFT IN POOLS WHEN THE HEAT OF SUMMER EVAPORATES THE

LAKE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS LAKE IS SEEN AS A SACRED PLACE FOR THE INDIGENOUS

PEOPLE OF THE REGION WHO REGARD IT AS HAVING HEALING POWERS.

YET, NO MATTER WHAT ONE BELIEVES, THIS REMARKABLE PLACE

HAS AN UNDENIABLE SENSE OF MAGIC TO IT.

AND THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE NEARBY HAVE A SIMILAR SENSE OF MAJESTY

ABOUT THEM.

IT'S SALMON SEASON AND THE RIVERS RUNNING THROUGH THE

FORESTS ARE FILLED WITH POTENTIAL MEALS.

THIS BUFFET BRINGS OUT A MYRIAD OF OPPORTUNISTIC PESCATARIANS.

HOWEVER, THERE'S ONE THAT TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE AMONG THESE

RIVERBANKS.

THE BLACK BEAR.

THESE BEARS ARE VERY COMMON ON THE ISLAND.

WHILE THEY SHARE THEIR TERRITORY WITH OTHER BEARS ON THE

MAINLAND, HERE THEY ARE MASTERS OF THEIR DOMAIN.

WHICH MEANS GRABBING A MEAL IS USUALLY A PEACEFUL ENDEAVOR.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ALTHOUGH THEY ARE MOSTLY VEGETARIAN, THIS AMPLE SUPPLY OF

FISH CAN'T BE IGNORED.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T BE PICKY.

BLACK BEARS WILL CHOOSE ONLY THE GAMIEST FARE.

BUT BLACK BEARS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES OUT FOR A FREE MEAL.

THIS BALD EAGLE LOOKS ON GREEDILY; EAGER FOR THEIR OWN

FISHY FEAST.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A BIT OF PRIVACY, THE BLACK BEAR

LEAVES THE RIVER WITH ITS CATCH.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: EATING AMONG THE TREES SPREADS MINERALS FROM THE

LEFTOVERS ALONG THE FOREST FLOOR, ENRICHING THE SOIL.

HERE, EVERYONE MUST CHIP IN TO KEEP THEIR HABITAT HEALTHY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ALONG ON OUR FORAY INTO THE FORESTS AND

WOODLANDS.

THESE LUSH AND UNIQUE LANDSCAPES PROVIDE A WEALTH OF HABITATS

THAT SUPPORT ALL MANNER OF LIFE.

HUNDREDS OF FEET UP A SEQUOIA OR UNDER THE FALLEN FOLIAGE, THESE

TREESCAPES BREATHE LIFE INTO THE ANIMAL KINGDOM AND PROVIDE A

COLLECTION OF WILD WONDERS THAT YOU NEVER WANT TO MISS.

WE HOPE YOU'LL COME ALONG ON OUR NEXT ADVENTURE HERE ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]