Original subtitles

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ANNOUNCER: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL YOU KNOW YOU'RE

WATCHING TELEVISION THAT'S EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HEY THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER,

AND THIS IS “EARTH ODYSSEY.”

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, WE EXPLORE THE LUSH TROPICAL LANDSCAPE OF

VIETNAM.

[MONKEYS HOWLING]

DYLAN: WE'LL MEET A VERY VOCAL GROUP OF GIBBONS AND

FIND OUT WHAT MAKES THEM SING.

PLUS, WE'LL VENTURE INTO THE JUNGLES TO SEE A

RECENTLY DISCOVERED GROUP OF LANGURS LONG THOUGHT

EXTINCT, AND LATER, WE'LL GET A GLIMPSE OF ONE OF

THE RAREST AND MOST COLORFUL PRIMATES IN THE

ENTIRE WORLD.

[MUSIC]

WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF FROG NOISES,

THEY THINK OF THE SOUND RIBBIT.

WHILE THIS IS TRUE FOR MANY FROG SPECIES,

POISON DART FROGS LIKE THE ONES FOUND HERE AT

RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM OF MYRTLE BEACH HAVE A

DISTINCT RODENT-LIKE CHIRP THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE

RIBBIT AT ALL.

IN FACT, MANY ANIMALS DON'T SOUND THE WAY WE

PERCEIVE THEY SHOULD.

TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HAUNTING CALL OF THE

YELLOW-CHEEKED GIBBON.

ITS HIGH-PITCHED VOICE WOULD MAKE AN OPERA SINGER

JEALOUS.

LET'S JOURNEY TO VIETNAM AND TAKE A LISTEN.

SITUATED ON THE EASTERNMOST RIM OF THE

INDOCHINA PENINSULA, VIETNAM IS ONE OF THE MOST

BIODIVERSE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.

APPROXIMATELY TEN PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL

SPECIES LIVE IN THIS REGION.

VIETNAM'S VAST RAINFORESTS ARE HOME TO AN INCREDIBLE

ARRAY OF ANIMALS, BUT 50 YEARS AGO,

ONE-FIFTH OF THESE JUNGLES WERE DESTROYED DURING THE

VIETNAM WAR, HAVING A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON THE

WILDLIFE POPULATION.

BUT WHEN THE WAR ENDED, MOTHER NATURE RECLAIMED

THE LANDSCAPE.

TODAY, THE FORESTS ARE ONCE AGAIN TEEMING WITH

BAMBOO, AN ESSENTIAL FOOD SOURCE FOR MANY OF THE

COUNTRY'S ANIMAL SPECIES.

THE LOWLAND TROPICAL FORESTS OF CAT TIEN

NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM ECHO WITH SOME OF

THE MOST HAUNTING SOUNDS HEARD ANYWHERE IN THE

WORLD.

AND IF YOU LOOK HIGH UP IN THE CANOPY,

YOU'LL FIND THE SOURCE OF THESE ODD MELODIES.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL PRIMATES IN THE

WORLD, A CREATURE WHO DEPENDS ON A DIET OF

BAMBOO.

[MONKEYS HOWLING]

YELLOW-CHEEKED GIBBONS MARK THEIR TERRITORY USING

LOUD NOISES INSTEAD OF SCENT OR SCRATCHINGS.

EACH MORNING, ADULTS USE HIGH-PITCHED CALLS TO WARN

NEIGHBORING GROUPS TO KEEP THEIR DISTANCE.

THESE PRIMITIVE VOCALS CAN BE HEARD FROM OVER A MILE

AWAY.

GIBBONS USE THE SAME VOCAL TECHNIQUES THAT TAKE

PROFESSIONAL OPERA SINGERS YEARS TO MASTER.

BY SINGING IN SOPRANO, THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT MUCH

MORE POWER BEHIND THEIR CALLS.

BY DAWN, THE CHORUS IS OVER.

NOW THIS FEMALE AND HER TWO YOUNGSTERS CAN RELAX,

THOUGH RESTING IS THE LAST THING JUVENILE GIBBONS

WANT TO DO.

YELLOW-CHEEKED GIBBONS ARE BORN WITH BLONDE FUR,

BUT AT AROUND TWO YEARS OLD,

IT CHANGES TO BLACK, AND WHILE MALES RETAIN THIS

DARK COLOR FOR LIFE, FEMALES RETURN TO BLONDE

ONCE FULLY MATURE.

40 PERCENT OF THE CAT TIEN REGION IS BAMBOO FOREST.

COMBINED WITH TOWERING TREES,

IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE FOR ENERGETIC YOUNGSTERS TO

SHOW OFF.

GIBBONS ARE THE BEST BRACHIATORS,

OR SWINGERS, ON THE PLANET.

THEY CAN REACH SPEEDS UP TO 35 MILES AN HOUR

SWINGING 50 FEET FROM BRANCH TO BRANCH.

AFTER PLAYTIME, THIS YOUNG PRIMATE DECIDES IT'S TIME

TO REST.

HANGING FROM ONE ARM IS A COMMON WAY FOR GIBBONS TO

RELAX.

LONG FINGERS AND POWERFUL LIMBS ENABLE THEM TO HOLD

ON FOR OVER AN HOUR WITHOUT LETTING GO.

WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, BAMBOO SHOOTS ARE A

PARTICULAR FAVORITE.

ALTHOUGH LEAVES, FRUITS, AND SEEDS MAKE UP MOST OF

THEIR DIET, THEY ALSO INDULGE IN INSECTS AND THE

OCCASIONAL BIRD'S EGG.

HAVING THUMB-LIKE OPPOSABLE TOES ALLOWS

THEIR FEET TO GRASP LIKE A SECOND PAIR OF HANDS;

HOWEVER, THIS YOUNG GIBBON IS STILL GETTING USED TO

THE SLIPPERY SURFACE OF BAMBOO CANES.

YELLOW-CHEEKED GIBBONS SPEND MOST OF THEIR LIVES

IN THE UPPER CANOPY OF THE TREES,

RARELY VENTURING DOWN TO THE FOREST FLOOR,

AND FOR GOOD REASON.

THE GROUND LEVEL IS THE REALM OF PREDATORS,

AND THIS YOUNG PRIMATE HAS SOME POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS

COMPANY.

COMING UP, WITH SHARPENED CLAWS AND THE ABILITY TO

CLIMB, WILL THIS BLACK BEAR PROVE TO BE TOO GREAT

A FOE FOR THE MUCH SMALLER GIBBON?

FIND OUT WHEN WE RETURN.

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

ANNOUNCER: THIS EPISODE OF “EARTH ODYSSEY WITH DYLAN

DREYER” IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY RIPLEY'S AQUARIUMS.

DYLAN: GIBBONS SPEND THEIR DAYS IN THE RELATIVE

SAFETY OF THE TREES, AND IT'S NOT HARD TO

UNDERSTAND WHY.

THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM ARE ALSO HOME TO A MUCH LARGER

AND MORE POWERFUL CREATURE,

THE ASIATIC BLACK BEAR.

THIS YOUNGSTER HAS VENTURED A LITTLE TOO

CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND HAS BEEN SPOTTED BY THE

MUCH LARGER BLACK BEAR.

THIS SPECIES CAN WEIGH UP TO 450 POUNDS.

THE PRIMATE'S MOTHER SUDDENLY RECOGNIZES THE

DANGER.

SHE RUSHES TO THE SCENE AND GUIDES HER YOUNGSTER

BACK TO THE SAFETY OF THE TREETOPS.

ALTHOUGH ASIATIC BEARS ARE EXCELLENT CLIMBERS,

THEY ARE NO MATCH FOR THE JUNGLE'S BEST GYMNASTS.

ASIATIC BLACK BEARS ARE SIMILAR IN SIZE TO THEIR

AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS; HOWEVER,

THEY DIFFER BY HAVING CREAM COLORED CRESCENTS

AROUND THEIR CHEST.

THEY ALSO HAVE LONG, THICK FUR AROUND THEIR FACE AND

NECK THAT CAN GROW UP TO SIX INCHES LONG.

DESPITE BEING ARMED WITH INCH-LONG CURVED CLAWS AND

FLESH-TEARING TEETH, THIS PREDATOR IS MAINLY

VEGETARIAN.

GRASS, BERRIES, AND ROOTS MAKE UP A MAJORITY OF ITS

DIET; HOWEVER, INSECTS AND BEE HONEY MAKE FOR A TASTY

SNACK IN BETWEEN MEALS.

THEIR NOSE CAN DETECT THE SMELL OF HONEY FROM A

DISTANCE OF MORE THAN THREE MILES AWAY,

BUT IF THEY CAN'T GET TO THE TASTY NECTAR,

A TREE ANT WILL ALSO SATISFY THEIR MIDDAY

HUNGER.

MOSQUITO-LIKE INSECTS KNOWN AS MIDGES ARE A

CONSTANT SOURCE OF IRRITATION IN VIETNAM'S

HUMID JUNGLES.

SO, AFTER WASHING DOWN HIS MEAL WITH A SMEAR OF

STICKY TREE SAP, THIS MALE DECIDES IT'S TIME TO COOL

DOWN AND INDULGE IN SOME TEMPORARY BUG RELIEF.

ASIATIC BLACK BEARS LEAD A MAINLY SOLITARY LIFE AND

USUALLY ROAM TERRITORIES COVERING AROUND 25 SQUARE

MILES.

IN ORDER TO ATTRACT FEMALES AND TO WARN OTHER

MALES NOT TO INVADE THEIR TURF,

THIS MALE BEGINS TO SCENT MARK SURROUNDING TREES.

IT'S ALSO A GREAT WAY TO RELIEVE AN ITCHY BACK.

BUT THIS MALE'S DAILY RITUAL IS SUDDENLY CUT

SHORT.

ANOTHER MALE HAS VENTURED TOO CLOSE FOR COMPANY.

[BEARS GROWLING]

THE UNWELCOME VISITOR SOON GETS THE MESSAGE.

THIS IS ONE OPPONENT NOT TO BE MESSED WITH.

TO ESCAPE DANGER, BLACK BEARS EITHER RUN AWAY OR

HEAD UP INTO THE TREES.

THIS GUY HAS CHOSEN THE LATTER.

HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO SIT IT OUT.

IT COULD BE HOURS BEFORE HE FEELS SAFE TO COME

DOWN.

SO, WHAT BETTER EXCUSE TO TAKE A MID-MORNING NAP?

COMING UP, WHAT'S GREY AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?

THIS ODD-LOOKING PRIMATE, AND YOU WON'T BELIEVE

THEIR INCREDIBLE AERIAL SKILLS

WHEN “EARTH ODYSSEY” RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO “EARTH ODYSSEY.”

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

BEHIND ME, YOU CAN SEE A VAST ARRAY OF FISH WHOSE

BRIGHT COLORS SERVE AS CAMOUFLAGE TO BLEND INTO

THE CORAL REEFS WHERE THEY RESIDE.

VIVID COLORING LIKE THIS IS USUALLY UNCOMMON AMONG

MAMMALS, BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET SOME VIETNAMESE

PRIMATES WHO ARE A VIBRANT EXCEPTION.

THE SON TRA PRIMARY FOREST ON THE DA NANG PENINSULA

IS ONE OF THE LAST HAVENS FOR ONE OF THE MOST

BEAUTIFUL MONKEYS IN THE WORLD,

THE RED-SHANKED DOUC,

NAMED BECAUSE OF THEIR

SCARLET-COLORED LOWER LEGS.

RELYING MAINLY ON LEAVES AND FRUIT,

THE RED-SHANKED DOUC ALSO HAS A MULTI-CHAMBERED

STOMACH THAT CAN BREAK DOWN THE TOUGH PLANT

CELLULOSE IN ITS DIET.

GASSY DIGESTIVE BIPRODUCTS GIVE THEM A CONSTANTLY

BLOATED POTBELLIED LOOK.

STANDING ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF FEET TALL,

THE RED-SHANKED DOUC IS A RELATIVELY LARGE MONKEY.

THEIR TAILS ARE AS LONG AS THEIR BODIES,

WHICH GIVES THEM EXCELLENT BALANCE WHEN LEAPING

THROUGH THE CANOPY.

THEY ALMOST ALWAYS TAKE OFF AND LAND FEET FIRST.

THE DOUC IS A HIGHLY SOCIAL MONKEY,

USUALLY LIVING IN GROUPS OF UP TO 15 MEMBERS.

UNLIKE OTHER PRIMATES, THERE IS VERY LITTLE COLOR

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES.

THIS PARTICULAR POPULATION WAS ABLE TO THRIVE BECAUSE

THIS FOREST HAD BEEN A NO-ENTRY ZONE FOR THE

PUBLIC SINCE 1975.

AROUND TWO HUNDRED INDIVIDUAL LANGURS HAVE

NOW BEEN RECORDED LIVING ON THIS ISOLATED

PENINSULA.

THEY REPRESENT OVER 60 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S

POPULATION.

WITH THE JUNGLES MAKING AN IMPRESSIVE COMEBACK,

THEY CAN REST ASSURED THAT THEIR NUMBERS WILL

CONTINUE TO GROW.

WHEN “EARTH ODYSSEY” RETURNS,

WE'LL MEET A SPECIES OF CAVE-DWELLING LANGURS LONG

BELIEVED TO BE EXTINCT.

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

DYLAN: VIETNAM'S LABYRINTH OF CAVES PROVIDE A

PERMANENT SHELTER FOR ONE OF THE MOST UNCOMMON

PRIMATES IN THE WORLD.

HA LONG BAY IN NORTHERN VIETNAM CONSISTS OF MORE

THAN 1,600 LIMESTONE ISLANDS AND ISLETS.

IT'S ALSO HOME TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CAVES.

THESE LIMESTONE CAVERNS PROVIDE REFUGE TO SOME OF

THE RAREST SPECIES OF LANGURS.

THESE LANGURS WERE FIRST DISCOVERED IN THE 1960'S,

BUT THEY ALMOST COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED FOLLOWING THE

VIETNAM WAR AND WERE ASSUMED TO BE EXTINCT.

BUT 30 YEARS LATER, A SMALL POPULATION WAS

DISCOVERED LIVING IN THE CAVES OF THESE LIMESTONE

FORESTS.

THERE ARE BELIEVED TO BE AROUND A THOUSAND LIVING

IN THE WILD TODAY.

LANGURS RARELY COME TO THE GROUND,

SPENDING MOST OF THEIR DAY FEEDING IN THE TREES.

LIKE OTHER LEAF-EATING MONKEYS,

THEY LACK CHEEK POUCHES.

INSTEAD, THEY RELY ON A COMPLEX MULTI-CHAMBERED

STOMACH.

THIS REQUIRES THEM TO EAT ON A SEEMINGLY CONTINUOUS

BASIS.

MUNCHING ON SUCCULENT LEAVES ALSO REDUCES THE

NEED TO DRINK WATER.

THE ADULTS IN THIS GROUP TAKE A BREAK FROM FEEDING

TO INDULGE IN A LITTLE MUTUAL GROOMING.

THIS RITUAL NOT ONLY REINFORCES SOCIAL BONDS,

IT'S ALSO THE PERFECT WAY TO RELAX.

BUT THESE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP HAVEN'T QUITE

GRASPED LANGUR SOCIAL ETIQUETTE.

THE ONLY WAY THESE YOUNGSTERS KNOW HOW TO

UNWIND IS WITH A GAME OF MONKEY TAG.

AS THEIR DAY COMES TO A CLOSE,

THE LANGURS RETURN TO THE SAFETY OF THEIR LIMESTONE

CAVERNS.

THE CAVES AND CREVASSES PROVIDE SHELTER FROM THE

TROPICAL ELEMENTS, AND AS THE SEASONS CHANGE,

THEY REMAIN AT A CONSTANT COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE.

WHILE THE POPULATION OF HATINH LANGURS IS VERY

SMALL, THERE'S AN EVEN MORE SPARSE POPULATION OF

LANGURS LIVING IN THIS REGION.

DELACOUR'S LANGURS HAD BEEN PRESUMED EXTINCT FOR

NEARLY 60 YEARS, BEFORE THE VIETNAM WAR HAD EVEN

STARTED.

REMARKABLY, THEY HAVE SURVIVED,

ALSO UTILIZING THESE LIMESTONE CAVES LIKE THEIR

CLIFF-DWELLING COUSIN.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT ONLY TWO HUNDRED OR SO OF THESE

LANGURS EXIST IN THE WILD, MAKING THEM ONE OF THE

RAREST PRIMATES ON THE PLANET.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THIS EXCITING EXPEDITION

THROUGH THE RAINFORESTS OF VIETNAM,

A PLACE WHERE BOTH PLANTS AND ANIMALS HAVE MADE AN

INCREDIBLE RESURGENCE, PROVING ONCE AGAIN THE

TRUE RESILIENCE OF THE NATURAL WORLD.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER “EARTH ODYSSEY.”

[MUSIC]