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 EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

AND WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE A TREK INTO THE WILD ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY."

TODAY, WE'RE GETTING AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT NATURE'S OLDEST

ADVERSARIES.

LIKE HERE AT THE WATER'S EDGE WHERE DANGER IS JUST UNDER THE

SURFACE.

WE'LL MEET AN AGILE ANTELOPE TRAINED IN STAYING OFF THE MENU.

PLUS, WE'LL SEE HOW HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT IS A DECENT DEFENSE

FOR THESE BRAVE BEASTS.

BUT WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY IN THE AFRICAN SAVANNA WHERE AN

ANIMAL'S SENSES HAVE TO BE ON HIGH ALERT.

WE'VE GOT A WILD ADVENTURE AHEAD, SO JOIN US ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR BOTH PREDATOR AND PREY, THE GOAL EACH DAY IS THE

SAME; SURVIVAL.

THE PREDATORS TRY THEIR BEST TO CATCH A DECENT MEAL, WHILE PREY

TRY TO AVOID BEING ON THE MENU.

THIS BATTLE OF WITS, TALENTS AND SENSES IS WON BY THE SMALLEST

MARGINS.

AND AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT, IT HAS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF

INCREDIBLE SKILLS AND INGENIOUS TECHNIQUES FOR WINNING THE DAY.

ACROSS THE WORLD, FEW PREDATOR/PREY RELATIONSHIPS ARE

MORE PRONOUNCED THAN THE ANTELOPES OF AFRICA AND THEIR

FEROCIOUS FOES.

WHETHER BIG CATS, HYENAS OR EVEN CROCODILES, ANTELOPES ARE ON

EVERYONE'S MENU.

BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF FAIR COMPETITION, NATURE HAS GIVEN

THE ANTELOPE AND ITS PREDATORS ROUGHLY THE SAME WEAPONS.

ALL THEIR SENSES ARE WELL-DEVELOPED, BUT THERE IS ONE

BIG DIFFERENCE.

WITH ANTELOPES LIKE THIS NYALA, THEIR SENSES ARE CONSTANTLY ON

HIGH ALERT.

AN ENEMY COULD BURST UPON IT AT ANY MOMENT WITH JUST ONE IDEA IN

ITS HEAD - FOOD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR HER, THERE'S ONLY ONE POSSIBLE STRATEGY - NEVER GET

CAUGHT UNAWARES.

ALL HER SENSES ARE AWAKENED.

SHE USES HER EYES, HER NOSTRILS AND HER LARGE EARS WHICH PICK UP

ALL THE NEWS FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA, WORRYING OR

OTHERWISE.

DESPITE THEIR FINE EARS AND A HIGHLY-DEVELOPED SENSE OF SMELL,

WILD DOGS RELY MAINLY ON THEIR EYES WHEN THEY ARE HUNTING.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: OR TO BE MORE PRECISE, THEY ONLY HUNT WHAT THEY CAN

SEE.

AND IN THE FACE OF THIS PREDATOR, MOST GAZELLES LIKE

THIS DUIKER HAVE AN INSTINCTIVE TENDENCY TO RUN AWAY.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: AND YET, THE BEST CHANCE OF ESCAPING IS TO KEEP

ABSOLUTELY STILL AND NOT BE SPOTTED.

WHEN THERE'S A PACK OF WILD DOGS GOING PAST, THIS DEMANDS PLENTY

OF COMPOSURE AND COURAGE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: AS THE PACK IS PROWLING A FEW FEET AWAY, THIS STEENBOK HAS

ROLLED ITSELF INTO A BALL.

IT LOOKS LIKE A CLOT OF EARTH, AND THAT'S WHAT SAVED ITS LIFE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK, THE GREAT PREDATORS

MAKE LITTLE USE OF THEIR SENSE OF SMELL WHEN HUNTING.

IT'S A QUESTION OF EFFICIENCY.

THERE ARE TOO MANY SMELLS LEFT BY A GREAT NUMBER OF ANIMALS.

TO FOLLOW ONE TRAIL CLOSELY WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF TIME.

AND YET, FOR BOTH CANINES AND CATS, THE SENSE OF SMELL IS

HIGHLY DEVELOPED.

INSTEAD OF BEING A HUNTING TOOL, IT'S INSTEAD USED FOR

COMMUNICATION; AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

NOW THAT'S ONE WAY TO FOLLOW YOUR NOSE.

COMING UP, A PROLIFIC PREDATOR WITH A PREHISTORIC LINEAGE.

WE'LL MEE THE SAVANNA'S MOST CONSUMMATE SURVIVORS.

AND LATER, WE'LL SEE WHAT IT MEANS TO SHOW STRENGTH

IN NUMBERS.

WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR EARTH'S GREATEST PREDATORS, THE ELEMENT OF

SURPRISE IS OFTEN THE BIGGEST KEY TO SUCCESS.

THIS EGYPTIAN GOOSE IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO EAT NEAR THE

WATER'S EDGE AND IS IN FOR QUITE A FRIGHT.

[GOOSE SQUAWKS]

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ON A LITTLE ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER, THE GOLIATH

HERON DOES A LITTLE GROOMING WHILE WAITING FOR THE WATER TO

CLEAR.

THIS BIRD IS 5 FEET LONG, MAKING IT THE LARGEST HERON IN THE

WORLD.

ITS LONG, STREAMLINED BEAK ALLOWS IT TO SPEAR ITS PREY,

WHICH CAN BE UP TO AN ENTIRE FOOT LONG.

AN IMPRESSIVE MEASURE FOR THIS CHAMPION OF THE HERONS.

IN THE COMPETITION TO CATCH BIG FISH, THERE ARE 2 HEAVYWEIGHT

CONTESTANTS; THE AFRICAN FISH EAGLE...

...AND THE OSPREY.

AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER NEXT TO EACH OTHER ON THE

SAME TREE SITS TWO OF THESE VERY PREDATORS WITH THE CATCH.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: ON THE LOWER BRANCH, THE LARGE BIRD OF PREY WITH BROWN

FEATHERS IS THE SAME SPECIES AS THE ONE SITTING ON THE UPPER

BRANCH.

THEY'RE BOTH FISH EAGLES.

ON TOP, THE ADULT WITH ITS CHARACTERISTIC WHITE HEAD.

ON THE BOTTOM, A YOUNG ANIMAL.

IF THE SIZE OF HIS CATCH IS ANYTHING TO GO BY, HE'S ALREADY

AN EXCELLENT FISHERMAN.

IN THE FISHING DIVISION THERE ARE AS MANY CHAMPIONS AS THERE

ARE CATEGORIES AND AS MANY CATEGORIES AS THERE ARE FISHING

TECHNIQUES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE RIVER HAS CLEARED AGAIN AND THAT MAKES THE GREAT

EGRET'S FISHING A LITTLE EASIER.

UNDER THE VERY EYES OF A SMALL HERON, AN ENORMOUS NILE

CROCODILE APPEARS.

ITS SIZE, ITS POWER, ITS PREDATORY CAPACITY, ITS STAMINA

AND ITS LONGEVITY WIN ALL THE PRIZES IN THE REPTILE CATEGORY.

AMONG THE MAMMALS, THE HIPPOPOTAMUS TAKES THE LEAD IN

HOLDING ITS BREATH.

ITS RECORD IS 6 MINUTES.

BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT REMAINS ONLY 2 MINUTES

UNDERWATER.

ITS SLOWER METABOLISM ALLOWS IT TO REDUCE FOOD REQUIREMENTS

CONSIDERABLY.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE HIPPOPOTAMUS LIVES ON 3 TIMES LESS FOOD THAN OTHER

ANIMALS OF THE SAME SIZE.

AN IMPRESSIVE FEAT FOR SUCH A MASSIVE MAMMAL.

AFTER THE BREAK, THESE ATHLETIC ANTELOPES EMBODY THE TERM

"SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST."

AND TO MAKE IT IN THIS FAMILY, EVERY MEMBER OF THE HERD HAS TO

FALL IN LINE.

THERE'S THIS AND MORE NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AFRICA'S LANDSCAPE IS HOME TO A BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE

ARRAY OF WILDLIFE.

YET AMONG THE MORE THAN ONE MILLION SPECIES NATIVE TO THIS

INCREDIBLE CONTINENT, THERE ARE THOSE THAT STAND OUT.

AFRICA IS THE HOME OF CHAMPIONS AND RECORD HOLDERS; THE TALLEST,

THE HEAVIEST, THE FASTEST, AND PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT TITLE

OF ALL, THE GREATEST SURVIVOR.

AMONG THE GREAT ANTELOPE FAMILY THERE ARE MANY FAMOUS FACES.

THE KUDU HAS THE LARGEST HORNS AND HE CAN JUMP THE HIGHEST.

THE WILDEBEEST HAS THE BEST ENDURANCE IN RUNNING.

AND THE STEENBOK IS QUICKEST OUT OF THE STARTING BLOCKS.

BUT THERE IS ONLY REALLY ONE CRUCIAL CRITERION TO BEING

CROWNED AS THE BEST IN SHOW - THE SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES.

WHATEVER THE CONDITIONS AND IN SPITE OF THE NUMBER OF

PREDATORS, THE IMPALA IS UNBEATABLE.

IT ADAPTS TO THE AVAILABLE VEGETATION.

DEPENDING ON THE SEASON AND THE PLACE, IT CAN GRAZE ON GRASSES

ON THE GROUND AND LEAVES FROM ABOVE.

IT CAN LIVE EQUALLY WELL IN SPARSE FORESTS OR IN OPEN AREAS.

IT'S A VERY RESILIENT ANTELOPE, BUT IT HAS A LOT OF PREDATORS.

ALL THE BIG CARNIVORES ARE INTERESTED IN THE ADULTS.

AS FOR THE YOUNG, THEY'RE AN EASY CATCH FOR LARGE BIRDS OF

PREY AND EVEN FOR BABOONS.

IT'S EVEN SAID THAT THE IMPALA IS THE FAST FOOD OF THE SAVANNA.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVERY DAY A LEOPARD CAN CAPTURE SEVERAL YOUNG IMPALAS

THAT IT STALKS FROM THE TREES.

NO HARM IS DONE TO THE SPECIES, THOUGH.

WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN A MILLION, THE IMPALA IS THE MOST

PREVALENT ANTELOPE IN AFRICA.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE PREY AND THE PREDATOR HAVE SOME COMMON TRAITS,

HOWEVER.

THE LEOPARD IS ALSO A CHAMPION OF ADAPTATION.

IT LIVES IN ALMOST ALL THE HABITATS AND ITS DIET RANGES

FROM GAZELLE TO MONKEY TO BIRD, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

DESPITE ITS QUALITIES, THE LEOPARD IS NEXT TO LAST IN THE

HIERARCHY OF BIG PREDATORS.

WITH ALMOST 500 POUNDS OF MUSCLE, MEASURING 4 FEET FROM

SHOULDERS TO RUMP, THE LION IS THE UNCONTESTED CHAMPION OF THE

LARGE CARNIVORES.

IT CAN OVERCOME A BUFFALO OR A GIRAFFE THAT WEIGHS 4 TIMES

MORE.

BUT IT WILL RARELY RUN BEHIND A GIRAFFE BECAUSE THE GIRAFFE IS A

STRONGER RUNNER.

THE LION AND THE GIRAFFE HAVE THE SAME TOP SPEED AT ABOUT 35

MILES PER HOUR.

BUT THE LION COULD ONLY KEEP IT UP FOR A FEW HUNDRED YARDS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS FOR THE PREY, IT HAS QUITE A CHOICE.

A ZEBRA, A GAZELLE OR WARTHOG.

LIONS ARE NOT AT ALL FUSSY.

IT HUNTS WHATEVER IS AVAILABLE AND ACCORDING TO A SIMPLE RULE,

GO FOR THE EASIEST.

SPEND THE LEAST ENERGY POSSIBLE.

BUT THE REAL HUNTER MAY NOT BE WHO YOU THINK.

THE KING OF THE SAVANNA IS UNQUESTIONABLY A LAZY KING AND

LEAVES MOST OF THE HUNTING TO THE FEMALES.

A LION SLEEPS OR DOZES AROUND 20 HOURS A DAY.

HE'S CERTAINLY THE CHAMPION IN THE DOZING CATEGORY TOO, AND THE

WHOLE CROWD IS FOLLOWING HIS LEAD.

WHEN WE COME BACK, ALL IT TAKES TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE IN THIS

HERD IS A LITTLE GAME OF FOLLOW THE LEADER.

NEXT ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: CLAIMING, HOLDING AND DEFENDING TERRITORY IS PART OF

THE DAILY ROUTINE FOR BOTH PREDATOR AND PREY.

WILDEBEESTS ARE NO EXCEPTION.

THEY HAVE SCENT GLANDS ON THEIR FOREHEAD SO THEY CAN MARK

TERRITORY AS THEY GRAZE.

TALK ABOUT EFFICIENT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS HERBIVORES MOVE, THEY OFTEN DO SO IN A LINE, ONE AFTER

ANOTHER.

BUT WHY?

WHY NOT A TIGHTLY-PACKED GROUP OR A RANDOM ASSORTMENT?

TURNS OUT, THERE ARE SOME VERY GOOD REASONS FOR THIS REGIMENTED

ROUTE.

THE LINE IS LED BY A MATURE MEMBER OF THE HERD SHOWING THE

REST THE WAY.

AS THE LINE MOVES, THE GRASS IS FLATTENED, MAKING PROGRESS

EASIER.

BUT THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR THIS METHOD OF MOVEMENT IS TO

THWART PREDATORS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: WALKING THIS WAY, THE GROUP IS MORE DISCREET, KEEPING

THE SOUNDS OF THEIR TRAVEL DOWN AND REDUCING THE RISK OF

ATTRACTING UNWANTED ATTENTION.

ALL MANNER OF PREY ANIMALS HAVE DEVELOPED SOME HIGHLY EFFECTIVE

WAYS OF KEEPING HUNTERS AT BAY.

IT ALL BEGINS WITH THEIR SHARP SENSES, ALWAYS BEING ON ALERT.

THEN THERE'S COOPERATION.

ALL IT TAKES IS ONE ANIMAL TO RAISE THE ALARM BELLS FOR ALL TO

GET THE MESSAGE.

BECAUSE IN THE WILD, THE BIGGEST DANGER IS SURPRISE.

SOME ANIMALS WILL EVEN LET A PREDATOR GET UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE

SO THEY CAN KEEP WATCH BEFORE MAKING THEIR ESCAPE.

IT'S TENSE, BUT EFFECTIVE.

LIONS USUALLY WON'T CHASE PREY THAT'S RUNNING AWAY, SO A

HEADSTART IS ALL PREY ANIMALS NEED TO DISCOURAGE A FOE.

TAKE THIS WATERBUCK, A LARGE MEMBER OF THE ANTELOPE FAMILY

THAT CAN WEIGH MORE THAN 400 POUNDS.

THEY ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO DEHYDRATION, SO CAN'T LIVE TOO

FAR FROM A GOOD WATER SOURCE.

HENCE, THE NAME.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: AS IT DRINKS SO MUCH WATER, IT NEEDS VEGETATION RICH

IN PROTEIN TO FEED ON.

SO, THEIR HABITAT HAS TO BE PRETTY SPECIFIC.

ONCE THEY'VE FOUND THE IDEAL SPOT, THE KEY IS MAKING SURE IT

STAYS THEIRS.

WATERBUCKS CAN'T STOP OTHER SPECIES FROM USING THEIR STRETCH

OF RIVER, BUT THEY CAN LIMIT ACCESS AMONG THEIR OWN HERD SO

ONLY A FEW MAY USE IT AT A TIME.

IT'S ALL ABOUT SOCIAL ORGANIZATION, SO THERE'S NO

SURPRISE THAT THE WATERBUCK IS EXTREMELY TERRITORIAL AND ANY

CHALLENGERS ARE TAKEN HEAD-ON.

THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH US TO SEE HOW PREDATORS PURSUE THEIR

PREY AROUND THE WORLD.

WHILE EACH SPECIES PLAY TO THEIR OWN STRENGTHS, 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]