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.

CRYSTAL BLUE WATERS.

WHITE SANDY BEACHES.

PALM TREES SWAYING IN THE WIND.

A TRIP TO THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS IS A DREAM

VACATION.

BUT DID YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A WILD SIDE TO THESE

ISLANDS?

A PLACE WHERE VOLCANOES ERUPT,

BABY WHALES ARE BORN, AND GIANT TURTLES LAY THEIR

EGGS.

TODAY, WE GO IN SEARCH OF THE HIDDEN SECRETS OF THE

CARIBBEAN.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: YOUR INSIDE THE DANGEROUS REEF EXHIBIT AT

RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM OF MYRTLE BEACH.

MARINE LIFE IS EVERYWHERE, FROM SERGEANT MAJOR FISH,

TO GIANT SHARKS.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, THERE'S A SHIPWRECK THAT'S

JUST LIKE THE WRECK WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE ON OUR TRIP

TO THE WILD SIDE OF THE CARIBBEAN.

GET READY BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT HOW

THESE SUNKEN SHIPS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE

CORAL REEF'S ECOSYSTEM.

ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE SERGEANT MAJOR FISH.

THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS ARE NESTLED BETWEEN THE NORTH

AND SOUTH AMERICAN CONTINENTS.

ALL TOLD, THERE ARE MORE THAN 7,000 ISLANDS.

SOME ISLANDS ARE AS SMALL AS SAILBOATS.

OTHERS OFFER SANDY BEACHES THAT STRETCH FOR MILES.

LARGE OR SMALL, THEY HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON: THEY

ALL HAD A VIOLENT BEGINNING.

VOLCANOES ROCK THIS AREA WITH LAVA SPEWING FROM

DEEP CREVICES IN THE EARTH,

AND EVEN UNDERWATER.

THE FERTILE VOLCANIC SOIL CREATED LUSH,

TROPICAL FORESTS FULL OF WILDLIFE.

THE ISLAND THAT'S FARTHEST SOUTH IN THE CARIBBEAN IS

CALLED TRINIDAD.

IT'S HERE THAT THE ROUGH ATLANTIC OCEAN COLLIDES

WITH THE CALM CARIBBEAN SEA.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S ALSO THE PERFECT NESTING GROUND FOR

AN ANCIENT OCEAN BOUND TRAVELER.

EVERY SPRING, THE LEATHERBACK TURTLE SWIMS

ASHORE UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT.

THE FEMALE LEATHERBACKS CROSS THOUSANDS OF MILES

IN OPEN OCEAN TO REACH TRINIDAD SHORES.

IT'S TIME TO LAY HER EGGS IN THE SAME SPOT THAT SHE

WAS BORN.

THE LARGEST TURTLES IN THE WORLD,

THESE SEA-FARING REPTILES CAN GROW TO BE ABOUT SIX

FEET.

BUT THEY CAN WEIGH AS MUCH AS A SMALL CAR.

THE TURTLES VOLLEY FOR POSITION.

WITH AS MANY AS 500 TURTLES COMING ASHORE,

IT'S HARD TO CLAIM A SPOT ON THE BEACH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TO GET THE NEST STARTED,

THE FEMALES DIG DEEP INTO THE SAND WITH THEIR GIANT

FLIPPERS.

THIS ONE WILL MAKE THE HOLE LARGE ENOUGH TO FIT

AT LEAST 100 EGGS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TO KEEP THE EGGS SAFE,

SHE MUST BURY THEM UNDER THE SAND.

THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SAND DETERMINES IF SHE'LL

HAVE BOYS OR GIRLS.

IF THE SAND HEATS UP TO MORE THAN 86 DEGREES,

THE BABY TURTLES WILL BE FEMALE.

ANY COOLER AND THEY'LL PROBABLY END UP MALE.

THE WORK IS EXHAUSTING, BUT SHE'S STILL GOT ONE

MORE TRICK UP HER SLEEVE TO KEEP HER EGGS SAFE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A FEW FEET AWAY, THE MOTHER WILL DIG UP THE

SAND AGAIN, CREATING A DECOY,

AND HOPEFULLY THROWING OFF THE SCENT FOR ANY WOULD-BE

EGG ROBBERS.

WITH SO MANY TURTLES TRYING TO REACH A NESTING

SPOT, THERE ARE USUALLY A FEW STRAGGLERS STILL HARD

AT WORK AS DAWN BREAKS.

ONCE THEIR BABIES ARE SAFE UNDER THE SAND,

THESE LEATHERBACK FEMALE TURTLES WILL TURN BACK

TOWARD THE SEA.

NEVER TO RETURN TO THEIR NESTS AGAIN.

TRINIDAD, AS AN ISLAND, IS A PRETTY NEW CREATION.

AFTER THE LAST ICE AGE, 12,000

YEARS AGO, THE WATERS ROSE HIGH ENOUGH TO

SEPARATE THIS STRETCH OF LAND FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

ANIMALS FOUND THEMSELVES STRANDED,

AS WELL.

MEET THE WHITE-THROATED CAPUCHIN MONKEY.

THIS CLEVER CREATURE IS FOUND ON MANY CARIBBEAN

ISLANDS.

HE PREFERS THE DELICIOUS COCOA RIPE PALM TREES.

BUT GETTING THE DELICATE FRUIT REQUIRES AN EXTRA

HAND, OR EVEN A TAIL, IF NEED BE.

IF HE WRAPS HIS TAIL AROUND A BRANCH TO HOLD

STEADY, HE'S FREE TO EAT TO HIS HEART'S CONTENT.

THE DEAD BRANCHES OFFER PLENTY OF INSECTS TO SNACK

ON BETWEEN MEALS, BUT A REAL FAVORITE FOR THESE

MONKEYS: IT'S A TREAT FROM THE SEA.

FIRST, THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN FROM THE

TOPS OF THE PALM TREES.

AT LOW TIDE, JUICY, SWEET, FRESHWATER CONKS APPEAR IN

THE SAND.

THEY LIVE DEEP INSIDE THEIR SHELLS,

BUT THE MONKEYS WILL NOT BE DISCOURAGED.

THEY KNOCK THE LARGE, HARD SHELLS FORCEFULLY AGAINST

THE PALM TREE.

A GOOD WHACK WILL DO THE TRICK,

AND THEN THEY CAN REALLY GET TO THE MEAT OF IT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: TRINIDAD'S MONKEYS ARE LUCKY;

THEY ONLY NEED TO HOP AROUND THE ISLAND TO FIND

ANOTHER MEAL.

FOR BABY LEATHERBACK TURTLES,

THEIR EARTH ODYSSEYS HAVE JUST BEGUN.

THE TURTLE EGGS ON TRINIDAD'S SHORES BEGIN TO

HATCH TWO MONTHS AFTER BEING SAFELY BURIED.

ALL OF THE BABIES EMERGE AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME.

THEIR BEST CHANCE TO REACH THE WATER'S EDGE?

EMBARK ON THE JOURNEY TOGETHER.

IN JUST TEN YEARS, THESE TINY HATCHLINGS WILL

INCREASE THEIR SIZE BY 10,000 TIMES.

BARELY MINUTES OLD, THE BABY TURTLES WILL NAVIGATE

THE ROLLING TIDES OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

THESE MARINE REPTILES WILL STAY DEEP IN THE OCEAN FOR

MOST OF THEIR LIVES.

ONLY THE FEMALES CHOOSE TO RETURN TO TRINIDAD TO LAY

THEIR EGGS.

IT'S BEEN THEIR DESTINY, AS IT WAS THEIR ANCESTORS

BEFORE THEM.

WRITTEN IN THE STARS FOR NEARLY 100 MILLION YEARS.

[TRIUMPHANT MUSIC]

DYLAN: COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY,

WE DIVE DEEP FOR A WHALE OF A GOOD TIME.

THEN, WITH NOTHING TO STOP THEM,

HURRICANES POUND THESE VULNERABLE ISLANDS.

AND LATER, THE PIRATES MAY HAVE VANISHED,

BUT THEY LEFT BEHIND A TREASURE FOR SOME

SEAFARING CARIBBEAN NATIVES.

THAT AND MUCH MORE COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

.

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

NARRATOR: THIS EPISODE OF EARTH ODYSSEY WITH DYLAN

DREYER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY RIPLEY'S AQUARIUMS.

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO EARTH ODYSSEY.

IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA,

THERE IS AN UNDERWATER SHELF MADE ENTIRELY OF

LIMESTONE ROCK.

400 YEARS AGO, A SPANISH GALLEON FILLED WITH SILVER

TREASURE SANK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA HERE.

LEGEND HAS IT, THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED SILVER BANK.

THESE PROTECTED WARM WATERS ARE NOW A NURSERY

FOR ANOTHER OCEAN TREASURE: BABY HUMPBACK

WHALES.

THEY'RE CALLED CALVES.

FROM DECEMBER TO APRIL, THERE ARE NEARLY

3,000 HUMPBACKS THAT VISIT THE SILVER BANK NURSERY.

THE MOTHER HUMPBACK AND HER CALF STAY CLOSE

TOGETHER, CONSTANTLY TOUCHING EACH OTHER AS

THEY SWIM IN THE CLEAR BLUE WATERS.

PHYSICAL CONTACT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BABY AND

ITS MOTHER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR THE FIRST YEAR,

THE TWO WILL STAY TOGETHER.

WHEN SUMMER GETS CLOSER, THE WHALES WILL SWIM

THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.

THEY HEAD NORTH TO THE COLD ATLANTIC OCEAN WATERS

WHERE THERE ARE PLENTY OF FISH.

IT WILL BE TEN YEARS BEFORE THE CALF WILL FULLY

GROW TO ITS ENORMOUS SIZE.

SOME GET AS LARGE AS 52 FEET,

WEIGHING AN UNBELIEVABLE 100,000 POUNDS.

THESE CREATURES ARE LONG GONE BY THE TIME ANOTHER

FORCE OF NATURE ROLLS THROUGH.

THE CLOUDS GATHER AS THE PRESSURE DROPS.

THE WINDS DANGEROUSLY WHIP THE ISLANDS.

THE CARIBBEAN IS IN THE DIRECT PATH OF ONE OF THE

MOST DESTRUCTIVE WEATHER EVENTS IN THE WORLD.

THIS IS HURRICANE ALLEY.

HURRICANES USUALLY START FAR AWAY,

OFF THE COAST OF WEST AFRICA.

AS THEY MARCH ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,

THE STORMS GAIN STRENGTH FROM THE WARM SUMMER

WATER.

IF THE WINDS REACH 74 MILES PER HOUR,

A STORM WILL OFFICIALLY BECOME A HURRICANE.

THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS ARE LIKE SITTING DUCKS FOR

THESE POWERFUL EVENTS.

WINDS CAN TOP 160 MILES PER HOUR.

AT THAT POINT, NOTHING IS SAFE.

WAVES ROLL IN 60 FEET HIGH,

CRUSHING EVERYTHING BELOW.

THE DELICATE CORAL REEFS, WHICH LIVE JUST A FEW FEET

UNDERWATER GET RIPPED OUT AND THROWN AROUND.

THE CORAL LOOKS LIKE A PLANT,

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY BILLIONS OF TINY ANIMALS ORGANIZED

INTO COLONIES CALLED POLYPS.

IN A HURRICANE, THESE CORAL REEFS CAN BE TORN UP

BY THE ANGRY WATER.

LOOSE DEBRIS IS DANGEROUS FOR MARINE LIFE.

THESE LOBSTERS SENSE THE APPROACHING DANGER,

IT'S TIME TO EVACUATE BEFORE THEY GET TRAPPED OR

EVEN CRUSHED BY THE ROCKS.

SINGLE FILE, THE LOBSTERS FLEE THE APPROACHING

STORM.

THE LOBSTERS MIGRATE TO THE SAFETY OF DEEPER

WATERS.

AFTER THE HURRICANE PASSES,

THESE CORAL REEFS GET A SECOND CHANCE.

THESE REEFS GROW QUICKLY, RECOVERY IS UNDERWAY.

NEW LIFE TAKES SHAPE FROM THE REMAINING CORAL.

BUT THE REEFS ARE TREACHEROUS,

AS WELL.

SHIPS CAN RUN AGROUND IF THEY HIT A REEF.

THAT HAPPENED TO THE RHONE STEAMER SHIP 150 YEARS

AGO.

IT SANK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN IN SECONDS.

BUT THEN, SOMETHING INCREDIBLE HAPPENED,

THE CORAL LATCHED ONTO ITS RUSTING HULL,

SLOWLY TAKING OVER THE SHIP AND COLONIZING IT.

MORE THAN A CENTURY LATER, THE RHONE IS A MANMADE

REEF ON THE OCEAN FLOOR, HOME TO THOUSANDS OF

MARINE ANIMALS AND PLANTS.

FISH PARTICULARLY LIKE TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE.

THESE PURPLE SPOTS ARE ACTUALLY FISH EGGS,

THEY BELONG TO THE SERGEANT MAJOR FISH.

THE FEMALE WILL LAY AS MANY AS

200,000 EGGS WHILE THE MALE PATROLS THE AREA.

HE'LL WATCH FOR ANY INTRUDERS UNTIL THE EGGS

HATCH, JUST SIX DAYS LATER.

COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY,

WHAT'S THAT HIDING IN THE DARK?

SUNNY CARIBBEAN DAYS ARE FOR THE BIRDS,

BUT THESE MAMMALS FLY AT NIGHT.

AND THEN, FIND OUT WHAT MAKES THESE TRINIDAD

NATIVES TURN BRIGHT RED.

THAT AND MUCH MORE COMING UP NEXT ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO EARTH ODYSSEY.

AT THIS EXHIBIT, EACH KIND OF CORAL HAS ITS OWN

UNUSUAL NAME.

FROM STAGHORN CORAL, TO RED WORLD CORAL.

AS WE'VE ALREADY LEARNED, THESE CORAL ARE ACTUALLY

BILLIONS OF TINY ANIMALS.

DOWN IN THE CARIBBEAN, THERE'S ANOTHER LARGE REEF

CALLED MOUNT TAMANA, BUT THIS ONE IS NOT

UNDERWATER.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, VOLCANIC ACTIVITY PUSHED

IT INTO THE SHAPE OF A MOUNTAIN.

NOW, IT'S A FOSSILIZED NETWORK OF CAVES,

AND HOME TO ANOTHER LAND-LOVING CREATURE THAT

ONLY FLIES AT NIGHT.

THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR SPECTACULAR

UNDERWATER CORAL REEFS.

BUT THERE IS ONE ISLAND JUST OFF THE COAST OF

SOUTH AMERICA WHERE THERE ARE NO REEFS UNDERWATER.

TRINIDAD.

BUT IF YOU LOOK UP, YOU CAN STILL SEE WHAT WAS

ONCE A CORAL REEF.

IT'S NOW MOUNT TAMANA, AT THE TOP OF TRINIDAD.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, THE REEF WAS PUSHED UP BY

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

THE REEF IS NOW A NETWORK OF CAVES,

THE PERFECT HIDING PLACE FOR A CREATURE OF THE

NIGHT.

IN THESE CAVES, THERE ARE MORE THAN A MILLION BATS.

TRINIDAD HAS MORE TYPES OF BATS THAN ANY OTHER

CARIBBEAN ISLAND.

IN MOUNT TAMANA ALONE, THERE ARE 11 SPECIES.

THEY ALL LIVE IN VERY CLOSE QUARTERS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS THE SUN SETS, THESE BATS START THEIR

DARK JOURNEY OUT OF THE CAVES.

THEY MUST TRAVEL AS FAR AS

1,000 FEET, OVER AN HOUR OF FLYING,

TO ESCAPE THEIR DUNGEONS AND FIND FOOD.

BUT NOT ALL OF TRINIDAD'S ANIMALS HIDE AWAY.

ON THE WEST COAST OF TRINIDAD,

IS CARONI SWAMP.

THAT'S WHERE THE SCARLET IBIS SHOWS OFF HIS TRUE

COLORS.

THESE ARE CONSIDERED THE NATIONAL BIRDS OF

TRINIDAD.

THE IBIS GET THEIR COLOR FROM THEIR MAIN DIET OF

CRABS.

THESE CRABS ARE RICH IN A PIGMENT CALLED KERATIN.

THE IBIS ARE ACTUALLY BORN GREY.

AND AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS, THEY EAT ENOUGH OF THE

CRABS TO TURN RED.

THEY DIP THE CRABS IN THE WATER TO RINSE OFF THE MUD

BEFORE EATING THEM.

THESE IBIS LIKE TO EAT TOGETHER,

JUST IN CASE ANY PREDATORS ARE LURKING AROUND.

THEY'LL SHARE THE FEEDING GROUNDS WITH OTHER WATER

BIRDS, LIKE THE EGRETS AND HERONS.

THESE DAYS, THERE ARE AS MANY AS

15,000 IBIS LIVING ON TRINIDAD.

AFTER A LONG HOT DAY, THESE IBIS WILL FLY

TOGETHER, BACK TO SAFELY ROOST IN THE TREES.

COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY,

WATCH ONE OF THE SMALLEST RESIDENTS OF THE CARIBBEAN

FIND ITS PERFECT FIT.

THAT AND MUCH MORE COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO EARTH ODYSSEY.

THE WINDWARD AND LEEWARD ISLANDS ARE AT THE

CROSSROADS OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY IN THE CARIBBEAN.

THE ISLAND OF DOMINICA BOASTS NINE VOLCANOES,

MORE THAN ANY OTHER ISLAND IN THE WORLD.

THE UPSIDE OF ALL THESE VOLCANOES IS EVIDENT BY

LOOKING AROUND AT THE LUSH GREEN FORESTS OF DOMINICA.

VOLCANIC SOIL IS EXTREMELY FERTILE.

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WILL GROW.

THE ISLAND'S WET WEATHER HELPS THE PLANTS ALONG.

THE ABUNDANT FLOWERS ATTRACT PLENTY OF WILDLIFE,

ESPECIALLY THESE LITTLE SPEED EATERS.

HUMMINGBIRDS LOVE THE CARIBBEAN'S VIBRANT

COLORS.

THEY CAN'T SMELL AT ALL, SO THEY CHOOSE WHAT THEY

EAT BY WHAT LOOKS THE TASTIEST.

HUMMINGBIRDS ARE FOUND ALL OVER THE CARIBBEAN.

THESE BIRDS CAN MOVE FASTER THAN THE EYE CAN FOLLOW.

LIKE AN ENGINE, THEIR HEARTS BEAT 500

TIMES EVERY MINUTE.

TO KEEP THEIR ENERGY UP,

THEY NEED TO FEED CONSTANTLY.

ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, THEY'LL EAT ALMOST THREE

TIMES THEIR BODY WEIGHT EVERYDAY.

TINY, ONLY THREE AND A HALF INCHES LONG,

THE ANTILLES ENCRUSTED HUMMINGBIRD IS ONE OF THE

SMALLEST.

THE MALE HAS A MOHAWK OF COLORFUL GREEN PLUMAGE.

THE FEMALE WEARS LESS FLASHY FEATHERS FOR HER

OWN SAFETY.

IT'S BETTER TO GO INCOGNITO WHEN PROTECTING

HER NEW BABIES.

THE HUMMINGBIRD'S NEST IS MADE ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM

SPIDER SILK.

THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S A FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

AS THE BABIES GROW, THE NEST WILL KEEP EXPANDING.

AND THESE CHICKS GROW VERY QUICKLY WITH ALL OF THE

ATTENTION.

THEY'RE READY TO FLY AWAY IN TWO WEEKS.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST MOM AND DAD WHO DO THEIR PART.

EVOLUTION PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE SURVIVAL OF

THESE FAST FLYERS.

HUMMINGBIRDS AND HELICONIA PLANTS ARE LIKE TWO PIECES

OF THE SAME JIGSAW PUZZLE.

HELICONIA ARE FOUND ALL OVER THE CARIBBEAN.

THEY NEED THE HUMMINGBIRDS TO SPREAD THEIR POLLEN AND

FERTILIZE NEW PLANTS.

HUMMINGBIRDS DEPEND ON THE HELICONIA'S NECTAR AND

VISITING INSECTS FOR PROTEIN.

TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH TO GO AROUND,

HUMMINGBIRDS HAVE VERY DIFFERENT SIZED BEAKS.

EACH BEAK HAS A HELICONIA PARTNER.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FIGURING OUT WHICH PLANT

VARIETY OFFERS THE PERFECT FIT FOR EACH HUMMINGBIRD.

THAT WAY, THE HUMMINGBIRDS DON'T NEED TO FIGHT OVER

THE SAME PLANT.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TYPE TO ENJOY.

THESE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS ARE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING.

A PARADISE OF COLOR AND CREATION.

I'M SO GLAD YOU COULD COME ALONG ON THIS EPIC TRIP TO

THE WILD SIDE OF THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME

FOR ANOTHER EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]