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 IT'S TIME FOR A WILD

JOURNEY ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

TODAY, WE'RE ON THE HUNT TO SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ONE OF

EARTH'S MOST PROLIFIC PREDATORS.

YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP UP WITH THESE

FIERCE FELINES.

AND WE'LL SEE WHY FEEDING THIS CANINE CREW IS A FULL-TIME JOB.

LATER, ONE OF AFRICA'S FISHING EXPERTS IS OUT TO STRUT ITS

STUFF.

BUT WE BEGIN OUR JOURNEY AT THE WATER'S EDGE TO MEET AN APEX

PREDATOR WITH A PREHISTORIC STYLE.

THERE'S THIS AND SO MUCH MORE HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

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DYLAN: SURVIVAL IN THE WILD REQUIRES GREAT SKILL,

ADAPTABILITY AND RESILIENCE.

IN RARE CASES, ANIMALS DEVELOP EXCEEDINGLY STRANGE TRAITS AND

ODD PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS TO MAKE THEM MORE PERFECTLY SUITED

TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

WHILE THESE STRANGE LOOKS MAY BE EYE-CATCHING, EQUALLY AS

INTERESTING ARE THEIR STRANGE BEHAVIORS.

JUST LOOK ALONG THE WATER'S EDGE IN AFRICA, WHERE CROCODILES HAVE

PERFECTED A LOG-ROLLING TECHNIQUE CRUCIAL TO THEIR

SUCCESS.

ON THE SHORES OF THIS AFRICAN WATERING HOLE, A CROCODILE

PATIENTLY SITS AND OBSERVES THE WILDLIFE.

ABSOLUTELY MOTIONLESS, HE IS TOTALLY INSCRUTABLE.

THIS SPOONBILL ISN'T IN MUCH DANGER.

THESE LARGE REPTILES RARELY ATTACK BIRDS.

HOWEVER, THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE

LARGER ANIMALS DRINKING AT THE WATER'S EDGE.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THE CROC CHANGES COURSE AND TRIES TO CATCH A FISH.

TO NO AVAIL.

LUCKILY, HE FEELS SOME VIBRATIONS IN THE WATER AND

HEADS OVER TO SEE WHAT'S CAUSING THEM.

CROCODILES, LIKE THESE TWO HERE, HAVE NO INCISOR TEETH OR MOLARS,

SO THEY DON'T CHEW THEIR FOOD.

THEY HAVE TO RELY ON A RATHER SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUE.

THEY ROLL OVER AND OVER WITH THEIR PREY FIRMLY GRIPPED

IN THEIR JAWS.

BUT CROCODILES DON'T JUST EAT LARGE PREY.

WHEN THE WATER IS WELL-STOCKED, FISH ARE THE MAIN PART OF THEIR

DIET.

NORMALLY, THESE GREAT REPTILES HAVE A CLEAR PREFERENCE

FOR GENTLY SLOPING RIVERBANKS.

IT'S THE PERFECT TERRAIN FOR RESTING THEIR HEAVY BELLIES

AND SHORT LEGS.

THEY LIKE FLAT BANKS AND SANDY SPITS WHERE THEY CAN LULL

UP AND BASK IN THE SUN.

AND BEST OF ALL IS TO KEEP PART OF THEIR BODY IN THE

WATER SO THEY CAN SLIP EASILY BACK INTO THE RIVER.

BUT THIS ENORMOUS 16-FOOT-LONG CROC HAS DONE JUST

THE OPPOSITE.

WHO KNOWS WHY, BUT HE HAS SETTLED DOWN HIGHER UP ON A

ROCKY PART OF THE SHORE.

IT'LL TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT TO GET HIS ENORMOUS BODY

BACK DOWN TO THE RAPIDS.

IN THE SWIRLING CURRENT, IT'S CLEAR THE CROC IS NOT AT

HOME IN TURBULENT WATER.

BUT WITH A LAST PUSH, HE'LL MAKE IT.

COMING UP, WHEN IT COMES TO HUNTING SKILLS, THESE CAT

CUBS ARE FAST LEARNERS.

AND SIBLING RIVALRY IS A SURVIVAL SKILL IN THIS FURRY

FAMILY.

PLUS, WHO NEEDS CLAWS OR FANGS WITH A BEAK AS SHARP AS THEIR

SKILLS WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS.

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

DYLAN: HUNTING A PREDATOR DOESN'T MEAN LIFE COMES WITHOUT

DANGER.

YOUNG CHEETAHS CAN BE A TARGET FOR LARGE PREDATORS, SO THE

YOUNG USUALLY STICK CLOSE TO MOM.

SO WHEN SHE'S NOT AROUND, THERE HAS TO BE A GOOD REASON, AND THE

CUBS KNOW IT.

CATS CAN'T HELP THEIR CURIOSITY.

ONE AFTER THE OTHER, THEY INSTINCTIVELY FOLLOW IN THE

DIRECTION TAKEN BY THEIR MOTHER.

BUT THE BUSH IS DENSE AND VISIBILITY VERY RESTRICTED.

WITH NO CLUES AS TO WHICH DIRECTION TO TAKE, THE CHEETAH

CUBS CLING TOGETHER AND ARE RELUCTANT TO RISK GOING ANY

FARTHER.

THE WIND IS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT THE SCENTS IT'S

CARRYING ARE TOO PROFUSE AND MIXED.

FINALLY, IT'S THE ALARM CRY OF THE IMPALA THAT TELLS

THEM WHERE THEIR MOTHER IS.

THE SUDDEN ARRIVAL OF ALL THE CUBS OBLIGES HER TO THROW

HERSELF INTO THE HUNT TOO SOON.

IN THE PANIC FOLLOWING THE ATTACK, THE YOUNG CHEETAHS

ONCE AGAIN FIND THEMSELVES LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES.

THEY'RE ALL THE MORE KEEN ON FINDING THEIR MOTHER BECAUSE

SHE'LL HAVE SOMETHING FOR THEM TO EAT.

THEY'RE IN A MORE OPEN AREA HERE, AND THE YOUNG CATS CAN NOW

RELY MORE ON THEIR EYESIGHT.

BUT STILL, NOT SEEING THEIR MOTHER, THEY CALL OUT.

EACH CHEETAH CUB USES ALL ITS SENSES AND BRINGS ABOUT

A RAPID RESULT.

THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF GOOD NEWS.

THEIR MOTHER IS NEARBY, AND HER HUNT WAS SUCCESSFUL.

WHEN THEY'VE CAPTURED THEIR PREY, CHEETAHS ARE UNDER

CONSTANT THREAT FROM STRONGER ANIMALS.

HYENAS, A LEOPARD, OR LIONS.

SO WHEN THEY FEED, THERE'S ALWAYS A SENTRY.

THE CHEETAH RELIES ESSENTIALLY ON ITS EYESIGHT.

AS WITH ALL FELINES, THEY HAVE BIG EYES PLACED ON THE FRONT OF

THE HEAD, WHICH GIVES THEM THE EXCELLENT BINOCULAR VISION

THAT'S NECESSARY FOR JUDGING DISTANCES.

THEIR FIELD OF VISION IS INCOMPARABLE.

280 DEGREES.

THAT'S 100 DEGREES MORE THAN MAN'S.

BUT THEIR VISUAL ACUITY IN DAYLIGHT IS NO BETTER THAN OURS.

IT'S AT NIGHT THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

THEIR VISION IS THEN SIX TO EIGHT TIMES SUPERIOR TO THAT

OF HUMANS.

THE BIG CATS SEE SO WELL AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEIR VISUAL

SYSTEM ALLOWS THEM TO CAPTURE THE SLIGHTEST LIGHT.

FOR THEM, A NIGHT LIT BY THE FULL MOON IS ALMOST THE SAME

AS BROAD DAYLIGHT TO US.

THE HUMAN EYE IS MADE UP OF RODS, OR LIGHT-SENSITIVE

CELLS, AND CONES THAT RECONSTITUTE COLORS.

BUT A FELINE'S RETINA CONSISTS ALMOST ONLY OF RODS.

CONSEQUENTLY, THE LEOPARD AND THE LION DON'T SEE COLORS, BUT

THEY DO SEE IN THE DARK.

THEY ALSO HAVE, AT THE BACK OF THE EYE, A REFLECTIVE LAYER

CALLED THE CHOROIDAL TAPETUM, WHICH HELPS TO INCREASE THE

AMOUNT OF LIGHT REACHING THE RETINA.

AND THAT MEANS ONE THING.

NIGHT VISION.

WELL, NOT EXACTLY, BUT THEY ARE ABLE TO USE THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT

OF LIGHT TO THEIR BENEFIT.

AND IN THE WILD, EVERY ADVANTAGE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN

SURVIVAL.

WHEN WE COME BACK, A CANINE FAMILY THAT PLAYS

TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER IN THE AFRICAN SAVANNAH.

AND SEE HOW THIS BRAZEN BIRD KEEPS ITS BELLY FULL, NEXT ON

EARTH ODYSSEY.

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

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 CAN 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 WASTES NO

TIME IN SEEING WHAT'S ON THE MENU.

WITH THEIR BELLIES FULL AND ENERGY UP, THESE ROWDY

ADOLESCENTS CAN GET BACK TO ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES,

PLAY.

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 NOSY 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.

THE 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 ONE, DISRUPT AND DIVIDE THE HERD.

PHASE TWO, ISOLATE A TARGET AND STAY ON ITS TAIL.

PHASE THREE, CUT THEM OFF AND TAKE THE PREY BY SURPRISE.

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.

HIDING AMONGST THE VEGETATION, THESE DWARF MONGOOSES ARE ON

HIGH ALERT.

BUT IT'S NOT THE WARTHOG THAT HAS THEM SPOOKED, IT'S THEIR

CARGO.

EVEN FOR SKILLED HUNTERS LIKE THESE, WHEN THEIR BABIES ARE

TRAVELING ALONGSIDE THEM, EVERY MOVE MUST BE MADE WITH CAUTION.

AT ONLY ABOUT 15 INCHES, NOSE TO TAIL, WEIGHING IN AT

AROUND 12 OUNCES, THE DWARF MONGOOSE IS A SURPRISING

ADDITION TO EARTH'S ELITE HUNTERS.

THEIR YOUNG ARE THE SPITTING IMAGE OF THEM, MERELY A

MINI VERSION.

AT JUST FOUR MONTHS OLD, THIS LITTLE ONE WILL BE ABLE TO

HUNT FOR HIMSELF.

WHILE THEY MAY BE ONE OF AFRICA'S SMALLEST CARNIVORES,

THEY'RE CERTAINLY BIG ON LEARNING FAST.

AFTER THE BREAK, WE'LL MEET A PREDATOR THAT'S PERFECTED

THE ART OF THIS STEALTH ATTACK.

THERE'S A LOT MORE EARTH ODYSSEY COMING UP NEXT.

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

DYLAN: WHEN LOOKING AT THE ESSENCE OF THE PREDATOR, WHAT

MAKES THEM SO DANGEROUS AND IMPRESSIVE IS ONE TRAIT, ITS

CAPACITY TO CATCH PREY.

THERE IS HIGH COMPETITION IN THE SAVANNA TO SEE WHICH PREDATOR

HOLDS THE BEST HUNTING RECORD.

BUT THERE IS A STANDOUT, AND HERE HE IS, THE CHEETAH.

WHEN HE COMPETES, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE PLACE,

HE WINS THREE TO SEVEN TIMES OUT OF TEN.

THE LION WINS ONE TIME OUT OF THREE, AND IT'S ONLY ONE

IN 20 FOR THE LEOPARD.

NO TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL CAN OUTRUN THE CHEETAH, BUT HE IS UNABLE TO

SUSTAIN HIS EFFORT FOR LONG.

RUNNING, WHERE LIFE OR DEATH IS OFTEN AT STAKE, IS ALSO A

QUESTION OF ENDURANCE.

THE HYENA STANDS OUT IN TESTS OF STAMINA.

IT CAN RUN NEARLY 30 MILES PER HOUR FOR LONG DISTANCES.

THE HERBIVORES ARE WELL REPRESENTED BY THE WILDEBEEST.

IT'S NOT AS FAST AS A GAZELLE, LIKE THE IMPALA, THAT CAN RUN AT

MORE THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR, BUT IT HAS GREATER ENDURANCE.

THE ONE WHO FALLS IS THE WEAKEST, OR THE ONE WHO GOT OFF

TO A BAD START.

THE STARTING LINE FOR THESE HIGH-RISK COMPETITIONS IS OFTEN

AT THE WATER'S EDGE.

IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SPOT FOR PREY.

THE LIONS MAY TEST THEIR SKILLS HERE WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING

WHETHER IT'S A SIMPLE TRAINING SESSION OR REAL COMPETITION.

INCREDIBLE REFLEXES ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR PREY,

BUT IT'S EQUALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE HUNTERS.

BIRDS ARE THE MOST REMARKABLE IN THIS DOMAIN.

THIS STRIATED HERON APPROACHES ITS PREY WITHOUT EVER TAKING ITS

EYES OFF IT.

TO GIVE ENOUGH SURPRISE TO WORK, THE BIRD'S BEAK MUST MOVE FASTER

THAN THE FISH CAN REACT.

HERONS ARE IMPRESSIVE CHAMPIONS OF PATIENCE AND

STILLNESS.

THE GREY HERON CAN STAY COMPLETELY STILL FOR MANY

MINUTES, WAITING FOR ITS PREY TO COME INTO ITS FIELD OF ATTACK.

THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY, LUCK WASN'T ON THE

HERON'S SIDE.

EARTH'S PREDATORS ARE AN IMPRESSIVE REMINDER OF WHAT IT

TAKES TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD.

THEY MUST DEVELOP THE STRENGTH AND SKILLS TO CATCH THEIR PREY

IN COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENTS, ADAPT TO CHANGING CLIMATES AND

RESOURCES, AND WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND

SUCCESS OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ALONG ON TODAY'S JOURNEY.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR THE NEXT ONE, RIGHT HERE ON EARTH

ODYSSEY.

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