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.

GET READY FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE INTO THE WILD

ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

TODAY, WE'RE HEADED TO AFRICA TO SEE WHAT LIFE IS LIKE

FOR THE WILD'S MOST GREGARIOUS ANIMAL GROUPS.

LIKE THIS HEAVYWEIGHT HERD WITH A STRICT SOCIAL STRUCTURE.

AND A NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY THAT'S ALREADY

EARNED ITS STRIPES.

LATER, WE'LL GO FOR A DIP WITH THE WILDEST CAST

OF CHARACTERS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE HEADED TO THE HEART OF THE SAVANNA

WHERE THERE'S ANTELOPES APLENTY.

WE'VE GOT AN ACTION-PACKED ADVENTURE, SO JOIN US HERE

ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR WILD ANIMALS, BEING SOCIAL ISN'T JUST ABOUT

HAVING A GOOD TIME.

IT'S A CRUCIAL SURVIVAL TACTIC THAT OFFERS A WIDE

RANGE OF BENEFITS FOR BOTH YOUNG AND

MORE MATURE CREATURES.

MAINTAINING SOCIAL BONDS MEANS PROTECTION,

SHARING RESOURCES, AND CELEBRATING COMPANIONSHIP.

BUT EVERY ANIMAL SHOWS THEIR AFFECTION DIFFERENTLY.

AND FOR SOME, THE BEST WAY IS TO GET UP CLOSE

AND EXTREMELY PERSONAL.

THE AFRICAN SAVANNA IS A REGION BURSTING WITH LIFE.

SUCH VARIETY IN SIZE, SHAPE, AND COLOR

CAN MAKE STANDING OUT A TOUGH TASK,

ESPECIALLY AMONG FAMILY.

BUT SOME PREFER BLENDING IN WITH THE REST OF THE GROUP.

IN SPECIES LIKE THE WILDEBEEST, BOTH MALES AND FEMALES HAVE

HORNS AND LOOK VERY SIMILAR.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER ANTELOPES WHERE THE DIFFERENTIATION

BETWEEN THE TWO SEXES IS PUSHED TO AN EXTREME.

AS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE NYALAS.

THE MALE, WHICH IS MUCH BIGGER, HAS AN ALMOST PLAIN, DARK COAT,

WHEREAS THE FEMALE'S HAIR IS LIGHTER AND CLEARLY STRIPED.

THE COLOR OF THE COAT AND THE MARKINGS

HAVE PRECISE FUNCTIONS TO MAKE THE ANIMAL

AS INVISIBLE AS POSSIBLE.

ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR THE CAMOUFLAGE CHAMPIONSHIP

IN THE GAZELLE CATEGORY IS THE BUSHBUCK.

AND HERE'S THE FEMALE WITH HER LONG EYELASHES

THAT PROTECT HER EYES FROM THE LEAVES AND BRANCHES

WHEN SHE'S WANDERING IN THE UNDERGROWTH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS ANTELOPE HAS A VERY SUBTLE COAT.

HER FUR OF ALTERNATING DARKISH TONES

IS PUNCTUATED HERE AND THERE BY A FEW WHITE MARKS AND SPOTS

THAT WE CAN ALSO FIND ON THE BODY AND HEAD OF THE MALE.

THIS RATHER UNREMARKABLE COAT HAS A MIRACULOUS EFFECT

IN THE UNDERGROWTH, WHERE THE FUR OF THE BUSHBUCK

MELDS WITH THE LIGHT AND SHADE OF THE FOLIAGE.

WHEN THE WIND IS FAVORABLE FOR THE GAZELLE,

EVEN LIONS AND HYENAS HAVE BEEN SEEN

TO PASS WITHIN 30 FEET OF A MOTIONLESS ANIMAL

WITHOUT NOTICING IT.

THE ABILITY TO ESCAPE FROM PREDATORS

IS ONE OF THE FACTORS NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A HIERARCHY IN

THE GREAT FAMILY OF GAZELLES.

BUT WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO REMEMBER THE SIZE OF THE HORNS.

THE REDUNCA HORNS ARE ABOUT A FOOT LONG, A RESPECTABLE SIZE,

BUT THAT'S NOTHING IN COMPARISON WITH THOSE OF ITS COUSIN,

THE WATERBUCK, WHICH GROW TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT SIZE.

BUT THE RECORD FOR IMPRESSIVE HEADWEAR

GOES TO THIS ANTELOPE, THE GREATER KUDU.

ONLY THE MALES HAVE HORNS.

WHEN YOUNG, THEY'RE SMALL AND STRAIGHT,

BUT THEY GROW INTO SPIRALS.

THEY WILL REACH THEIR MAXIMUM SIZE

WHEN THE ANIMAL IS SIX YEARS OLD AND IS ABLE TO REPRODUCE.

AT THAT POINT, THEY WILL SPIRAL UPWARDS

FOR AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF ABOUT FOUR FEET.

THE RECORD IS JUST UNDER SIX FEET.

AS THEY GROW, THE HORNS GRADUALLY BRING ABOUT

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HIERARCHY AMONG YOUNG RIVAL MALES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE MORE THEY GROW,

THE MORE VULNERABLE THE KUDU BECOMES.

THEIR SIZE AND WEIGHT BECOME A TERRIBLE HANDICAP,

SLOWING DOWN THE MALES IF THEY ARE CHASED BY A PREDATOR.

IN FACT, THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A FEMALE KUDU IS 14 YEARS,

ALMOST DOUBLE THAT OF MALES.

IN THE SAVANNA, THE TITLE OF CHAMPION

IS ALWAYS VERY RELATIVE.

IT'S OFTEN IN RELATION TO THE GROUP.

WHAT IS MOST OFTEN AT STAKE IS ACCESS TO THE FEMALES.

THE IMPALA HAS TO FACE A LOT OF CONFLICTS

FOR A HIERARCHY TO BECOME CLEAR.

THE CANDIDATES FOR THE TITLE OF LEADER OF THE HERD

CONFRONT EACH OTHER IN SINGLE COMBAT.

IT'S A KNOCKOUT COMPETITION.

THEIR IMPRESSIVE HORNS ARE NO MERE ORNAMENTS,

BUT A DECIDING FACTOR IN WHO WILL BE CROWNED CHAMPION

AND RULE THEIR DOMAIN.

WHEN WE COME BACK, EVEN THE MOST STUBBORN SPECIES

WON'T TURN THEIR NOSE UP AT FAMILY.

AND THE BEAUTY OF BLACK AND WHITE

IS ON FULL DISPLAY IN THE HIGH GRASS.

PLUS, WE'LL SEE WHAT'S GOT THIS BEEFY BEAST

READY TO MAKE A SPLASH.

ALL THIS NEXT ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVERY WILD COMMUNITY HAS THOSE THAT PREFER A MORE

SOLITARY LIFESTYLE.

FOR RHINOS, THEY'RE OFTEN SEEN ON THEIR OWN

AND DON'T MIND KEEPING IT THAT WAY.

HOWEVER, SOMETIMES THE URGE TO BE WITH KINDRED SPIRITS

JUST CAN'T BE IGNORED.

FEMALES AND THEIR YOUNG WILL LIVE AS A GROUP CALLED A CRASH.

THOUGH WITH NOSE WEAR LIKE THAT, A CRASH SHOULD BE

AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.

ANOTHER ANIMAL KNOWN FOR ITS HELPFUL HEADWEAR

IS THE ELEPHANT, ONE OF THE WILD'S MOST SOCIAL SPECIES.

THESE CREATURES FORM TIGHT KNIT GROUPS

THAT GENERATE DEEP EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS.

WHETHER BATHING, PLAYING, OR EATING,

ELEPHANTS STICK TOGETHER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S NO SURPRISE THESE MAMMOTH CREATURES

DON'T HAVE MUCH TO FEAR IN THE WAY OF PREDATORS.

THEIR SIZE AND STRENGTH IS EXPONENTIAL

BECAUSE OF THEIR CONSTANT PROXIMITY TO THE GROUP.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: IT'S FAR MORE THAN JUST A HERD OF HERBIVORES,

IT'S A FAMILY.

THEY'RE ALL SENSITIVE, INTELLIGENT,

AND ORGANIZED INDIVIDUALS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVERY DAY, WITHOUT FAIL, THE WHOLE HERD

GATHERS AND HEADS FOR THE WATERING HOLE TO DRINK.

DESPITE ITS HUGE DAILY NEEDS FOR WATER AND FOOD,

THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT HAS MANAGED TO SURVIVE

IMPRESSIVELY IN THE SAVANNA.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: ITS LIFE AND BUILD IS SO FAMILIAR TO US,

WE OFTEN FORGET JUST HOW UNIQUE ELEPHANTS ARE.

IT'S A TRULY MAJESTIC EXAMPLE OF THE BEAUTY IN AFRICA.

THE GREAT HERD IS MADE UP OF SMALL FAMILY GROUPS

OF ABOUT A DOZEN MEMBERS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THEY'VE COME TOGETHER TO BATHE, AND AFTERWARDS, EACH

GROUP WILL GO THEIR OWN WAY.

BUT ALWAYS MAKING SURE NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.

AFTER THE BREAK, THIS STYLISH SPECIES

IS WELCOMING ITS LATEST ADDITION TO THE FAMILY.

AND WE'RE INVITED TO THE WILDEST POOL PARTY IN THE SAVANNA.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

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.

EVERY HERD IN THE WILD IS ALWAYS LOOKING

TO EXPAND ITS NUMBERS, AND NEWBORNS ARE

THE BEST ADDITIONS.

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 PEAKS THIS YOUNG ZEBRA'S CURIOSITY.

IS IT FRIEND OR FOE?

BETTER STICK WITH MOM, JUST IN CASE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: 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.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: 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.

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 BIG-TIME 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.

NOTHING LIKE TEAMWORK TO ENSURE THE WHOLE FAMILY'S SURVIVAL.

COMING UP, IT'S TIME TO SPLISH, SPLASH,

AND JUMP IN THE BATH FOR THESE BUFF BOVINES.

THERE'S MORE EARTH ODYSSEY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BEING SOCIAL IS A TRAIT SHARED BY A VAST ARRAY OF

SPECIES.

AND THERE'S A PLACE IN THE SAVANNA

WHERE IT'S ON FULL DISPLAY, THE WATER HOLE.

THIS PLACE IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, ONE OF THE BEST PRESENTS

THAT AN ELEPHANT CAN ASK FOR.

COOL OFF BY IMMERSING ITSELF COMPLETELY AND USING ITS TRUNK

AS A SNORKEL.

IF ONE OF ITS FRIENDS JOINS IN ON THESE WATER SPORTS.

THE PLEASURE IS COMPLETE.

BETWEEN THESE TWO MALES OF PRETTY MUCH THE SAME SIZE,

THE HIERARCHY HASN'T BEEN CLEARLY ESTABLISHED.

BATH TIME IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A FEW

DEMONSTRATIONS OF STRENGTH AND SHOW A SPIRIT

OF COMPETITION.

NOT FAR AWAY, THESE BUFFALO HAVE NO HESITATION DIVING IN.

ABLE TO WEIGH UP TO 2,000 POUNDS,

NOT MANY WOULD DARE TO MESS WITH THIS HERD

AS THEY ENJOY A MORNING SHOWER.

THE AFRICAN BUFFALO IS THE LARGEST OF THE BOVINE FAMILY.

ITS SOLID AND POWERFUL BUILD MAKES THEM KING OF

THIS VERSATILE GROUP.

THE DIKA, WHO WEIGHS ABOUT A TENTH OF THE BUFFALO,

IS ACTUALLY ITS COUSIN.

AS IS THIS NIMBLE CHARACTER, THE BUSHBUCK.

BUT IT'S THE BUFFALO THAT TRULY IMPRESSES

AS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MAMMALS

ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

ITS SIZE, POPULATION, AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

ARE ALL CLUES OF ITS PROSPERITY.

ONE REASON FOR THIS SUCCESS IS A FLEXIBLE DIET.

THE BUFFALO EATS TALL GRASSES THAT ARE TOO TOUGH

FOR OTHER ANIMALS.

THIS ALLOWS IT TO SATISFY ITS DIETARY NEEDS

WITH RELATIVE EASE.

THE ONLY TRULY STRICT LIVING CONDITION THEY HAVE

IS A NEED FOR FRESH WATER.

THEY CAN NEVER BE TOO FAR FROM A WATER SOURCE

AS THEY NEED TO DRINK ALMOST EIGHT GALLONS A DAY.

TALK ABOUT A THIRST QUENCHER.

UNLIKE THE FEMALES THAT STOP GROWING

WHEN THEY REACH MATURITY, MALES GROW INDEFINITELY,

AND FOR GOOD REASON.

HIERARCHY AMONG THE GROUP IS DECIDED BY SIZE.

THESE CONFRONTATIONS ARE EXHIBITIONS

IN POWER AND BRUTE FORCE.

THIS TIME, THE FIGHT IS JUST A TRAINING SESSION

BETWEEN A FEW MALES LIVING AWAY FROM THE HERD.

BUFFALOS RARELY USE THEIR HORNS, BUT WHEN THEY DO, LOOK OUT.

THIS SPECIES THRIVES THANKS TO THE COHESION IN THE HERD,

CONTINUALLY COMMUNICATING, LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR

WELL-BUILT COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE LIKE SO MANY IN THE SAVANNA,

THESE INCREDIBLE CREATURES KNOW THAT HOME IS WHERE THE HERD IS.

IN EVERY ENVIRONMENT, WATER PLAYS ITS PART

AS ONE OF THE MOST VITAL BUILDING BLOCKS

TO CREATE AND FOSTER LIFE.

SO IT'S LITTLE WONDER WHY WATERING HOLES AND RIVERBANKS

ARE SUCH POPULAR GATHERING PLACES.

THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND COOPERATION AT THESE HOTSPOTS

IS A REMINDER THAT EVEN AMIDST ALL THE DIFFERENCES,

EVERY ANIMAL IS WORKING WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND, SURVIVAL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]