Original subtitles

.

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, I'M DYLAN DREYER,

AND WE'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER “EARTH ODYSSEY.”

TURKEY, AN ANCIENT LAND WHERE THE

IMPOSSIBLE EXISTS WITH SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME

CONDITIONS, AND THE REGION EXPLODES WITH LIFE,

WHETHER ON SHEER CLIFFS, FROSTBITTEN LANDSCAPES,

OR SCORCHING PLATEAUS.

THE WILL TO SURVIVE ONLY GROWS STRONGER WITH EACH

CHALLENGE DEMANDED BY LIFE IN THIS MIDDLE EASTERN

TERRAIN.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ALL OVER THE EARTH,

WE DISCOVER THAT NATURE FINDS A WAY TO ADAPT.

THAT HAPPENS EVEN UNDER THE MOST EXTREME

CONDITIONS.

YOU CAN FIND AN EXAMPLE HERE AT RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM

OF MYRTLE BEACH.

THESE CORAL BEHIND ME HAVE AN INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO

BOUNCE BACK.

WHEN THEIR REEFS ARE HIT BY STORMS,

THEY'LL RETURN OVER TIME, REPOPULATING THE AREA AND

CREATING A NEW UNDERWATER ECOSYSTEM.

WELL, THERE'S AN ANIMAL IN TURKEY THAT SHARES THIS

SAME ABILITY TO SURVIVE UNPREDICTABLE CONDITIONS.

AS TEMPERATURES DROP WELL BELOW FREEZING,

THE BROWN BEARS YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET WILL MOVE

INDOORS FOR THE WINTER, BUT THE CHALLENGES DON'T

STOP THERE.

SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO GO OUT ON A LIMB.

MOUNTAINOUS, BEAUTIFUL, AND BIZARRE IN ITS ROUGH

NATURE, TURKEY SITS BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE

MIDDLE EAST.

TWO MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES REST ON EITHER SIDE OF ITS

CENTRAL PLATEAU.

WITH PEAKS RISING MORE THAN

16,000 FEET, SHAPED BY VOLCANIC EXPLOSIONS AND A

NEVER-ENDING SUPPLY OF EARTHQUAKES,

THIS IS A LAND OF EXTREMES.

MAJOR FAULT LINES CAUSING QUAKES IN THE EARTH'S

SURFACE, 80 PERCENT OF THE TERRAIN CONSISTS OF

BROKEN, JAGGED ROCK.

WITH FREEZING COLD WINTERS AND A BURNING HOT SUMMER

SUN, THIS COUNTRY CHALLENGES THE TOUGHEST

ANIMALS TO SURVIVE, YET SOMEHOW,

NATURE RISES TO THE CHALLENGE HERE IN TURKEY,

ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME CLIMATES ON EARTH.

HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE, TURKEY'S ALPINE FORESTS

FIND OUT THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP.

THEY'VE MANAGED TO ROOT DOWN INTO SHEER

MOUNTAINOUS SIDES, ALLOWING LIFE TO THRIVE

UNDERNEATH ITS CANOPY.

THIS BROWN BEAR TRIES TO SCALE THE TREES DESPITE

HIS HEFTY BUILD.

BEARS ARE THE LARGEST LAND MAMMALS IN TURKEY.

THIS ONE COULD WEIGH HALF-A-TON.

HIS PAWS ARE ENORMOUS, THE SIZE OF FRISBEES.

HIS FINGERLIKE CLAWS ARE LONG ENOUGH TO HELP HIM

HANG ON.

IN A TREE, THERE ARE NO DISRUPTIONS,

AND HE CAN ENJOY HIS SOLITARY DINNER IN PEACE.

DOWN BELOW IS ANOTHER STORY.

SOMETIMES A COMPETING BEAR WILL INTERRUPT HIS FEEDING

TIME.

HE'LL NEED AN ESCAPE ROUTE TO AVOID ANY TROUBLES.

MALE BEARS PREFER TO STAY SOLO.

THEY CAN WANDER AS FAR AS SEVEN HUNDRED MILES

LOOKING FOR A GOOD MEAL.

THESE BEARS TAKE A LONG WINTER'S NAP,

HIBERNATING FOR SIX MONTHS AT A TIME.

WHEN THEY WAKE UP, THEY'RE LITERALLY STARVING.

BEARS DON'T NORMALLY EAT OR DRINK DURING

HIBERNATION.

IN FACT, FEMALES WHO GIVE BIRTH DURING THE WINTER

SLEEP CAN LOSE ALMOST HALF THEIR BODY WEIGHTS.

THESE BEARS ARE GRUMPY WHEN THEY WAKE UP,

TOO.

[BEARS GROWLING]

DYLAN: THAT'S WHERE THE OLD SAYING COMES FROM,

“NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BEAR.”

ONCE THEY'RE UP, IT'S GAME ON TO FIND A TASTY MORSEL,

EVEN IF IT MEANS BRAVING THE EXTREME CLIMATE.

TWO LAYERS OF FUR PROTECT THE BEARS FROM NASTY

WEATHER.

A THICK UPPER LAYER OF HAIR ACTS LIKE A FURRY

RAINCOAT FOR THESE MAMMALS.

WATER STREAMS OFF OF CLUMPS OF THE LONG,

COARSE HAIR.

HE'LL HAVE TO KEEP MOVING IF HE IS GOING TO GET

ANYTHING TO EAT TODAY.

WATER FALLS OFF THE JAGGED MOUNTAINS OF TURKEY,

POUNDING INTO THE ROCK, CREATING SHEER CLIFFS WITH

TREES THAT SHOOT UP OUT OF NOWHERE,

MAKES LIVING OUT HERE ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD SEEM

LIKE A CRAZY CHOICE UNLESS YOU'RE ONE OF THE BEST

MOUNTAINEERS IN THE WORLD.

MEET TURKEY'S ANATOLIAN WILD GOAT.

IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT TO GO THROUGH FOR THE FIRST

SPRING SHOOTS OF THE YEAR.

A FALL FROM THESE STEEP SIDES WOULD MEAN THE END,

SOME AREAS DROPPING STRAIGHT DOWN SIX HUNDRED

FEET, BUT THE GOATS ARE FEARLESS.

EVEN THE JUVENILES USE THIS CLIFFSIDE PLAY AS

THEIR IDEA OF FUN.

THE GOATS HAVE SOME HIGHLY SPECIALIZED TOOLS FOR THE

JOB, TOO.

THEIR HOOVES BOTH SPREAD APART IN TWO AND HAVE

LEATHERY SOLES THAT OFFER BETTER GRIP WHEN THINGS

GET SLIPPERY.

EVEN THEIR EYES HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY DESIGN.

RECTANGULAR-SHAPED PUPILS ALLOW THESE GOATS TO SEE

TROUBLE COMING FROM NEARLY EVERY DIRECTION,

EXCELLENT TOOLS TO FIND A FOOT-HOLE IN THE ROCK OR

SPOT A HUNGRY PREDATOR LURKING AROUND.

ONE OF THE GOATS SENSES A PROBLEM NEARBY,

PERHAPS AN EARTHQUAKE?

WORD SPREADS QUICKLY, AND IN A FLASH,

THE GOATS HAVE LEFT THIS PERCH ON TOP OF THE WORLD

FOR NOW.

COMING UP ON “EARTH ODYSSEY,

VOLCANIC ASH HAS LEFT A UNIQUE HABITAT FOR SOME

SPECTACULAR BIRDS WHO KNOW HOW TO THROW A PARTY.

FIND OUT WHAT GIVES THESE FLAMINGOES THEIR ROSY

GLOW, AND THEN FURTHER DOWN THE GRASSY BANKS IN

TURKEY, WE HAPPEN TO CATCH THIS LITTLE BUSYBODY AS HE

MAKES A RUN FOR HIS DINNER.

HE'S GOT GOOD REASON TO LOOK NERVOUS.

THAT AND A LOT MORE NEXT ON “EARTH ODYSSEY.”

.

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: WELCOME BACK TO “EARTH ODYSSEY.”

TURKEY IS A LAND OF EXTREMES.

VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES ROCK THE LAND.

THE LARGEST VOLCANO IN THIS AREA,

MOUNT ERCIYES, RISES INTO THE CLOUDS.

IT HOVERS OVER THESE WETLANDS,

A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM FED BY THE MINERALS OF THE

VOLCANIC EARTH.

EVEN THOUGH THESE WATERS ARE MILES FROM ANY OCEAN

LAKE YAY IS SALTY, PERFECT FEEDING GROUNDS FOR THE

GREATER FLAMINGO, EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE OTHER

BIRDS FIND THE SALTY WATER UNAPPETIZING.

THE FLAMINGOES USE THEIR FEET TO STIR UP THE SILTY

BOTTOM AND THEN GO MINING FOR FLAMINGO GOLD.

THEIR UPSIDE-DOWN BILLS SUCK UP LOOSE SEDIMENT,

SIFTING OUT WHAT THEY DON'T WANT,

COLLECTING DELICIOUS LITTLE SHRIMPS AND ALGAE.

THAT'S WHAT TURNS THE FLAMINGO'S FEATHERS A

BLUSH PINK COLOR.

THEIR LONG, SKINNY LEGS WADE DEEP INTO THE WATER.

IT'S GOOD FISHING GROUNDS WITH A BIRD'S EYE VIEW,

BUT GUSTY WINDS CAN SEND THESE BIRDS FLYING.

IT'S QUITE A CHALLENGE TO LIVE ON THE SIDE OF A

VOLCANO AT HIGH ALTITUDE.

IN SEARCH OF CALMER WATERS,

THE BIRDS RISK THE WINDS AND FLY TO SAFER FEEDING

GROUNDS.

NOT EVERYONE CHOOSES TO STRUT AROUND THE WETLANDS,

HOWEVER.

THIS LITTLE GUY KEEPS HIS HEAD DOWN,

TRYING TO AVOID TROUBLE FROM ABOVE,

WITH GOOD REASON.

THIS IS THE ANATOLIAN GROUND SQUIRREL.

HE LIVES IN CONSTANT FEAR.

FLYING PREDATORS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HIM HOME TO

THEIR NESTS IN THE CLIFFS, AND HE KNOWS IT,

BUT TO EAT, HE MUST EXPOSE HIMSELF.

THE SQUIRREL MAKES A DASH FOR SOME FRESH GRASSES

SPOTTED IN THE DISTANCE.

SHARP CLAWS DIG OUT THE TREAT.

IN A FLASH, HE STRIPS THE LESS APPEALING OUTER LAYER

AND GOES FOR THE SOFTER, SWEETER GRASSES INSIDE,

TEARING AWAY AT THE PRIZE.

HIS TEETH ARE AN EXCELLENT TOOL,

AND AS HE WEARS THEM DOWN WITH ALL OF THAT CHEWING,

THOSE TEETH KEEP GROWING EVERY DAY.

WHILE MAKING QUICK WORK OF THE MEAL,

HIS JOY IS OVER IN AN INSTANT.

HIS WORST FEAR IS REALIZED,

A BIRD OF PREY.

THE MARSH HARRIER SPOTS THE GROUND SQUIRREL AS HE

SURVEYS THE LAND.

THE SQUIRREL DASHES AWAY AGAIN,

WARNING OTHERS NEARBY OF THE IMPENDING DANGER.

THE BIRD GETS CLOSER TO HIS TARGET,

BUT THE SQUIRREL KNOWS THESE GRASSY BANKS WELL.

HIDDEN TUNNELS DOT THE LANDSCAPE.

HE DIVES HEADFIRST FOR SAFETY...

...A WELCOME HIDING PLACE UNTIL HE CAN WORK UP THE

NERVE TO POKE HIS HEAD OUT INTO THE WORLD AGAIN.

COMING UP ON “EARTH ODYSSEY,

MEET A TURKISH LIZARD WHO TAKES CENTER STAGE,

AND THEN THE UNTAMED BEACHES OFF THE COAST OF

TURKEY COME ALIVE WITH GHOST-LIKE CRITTERS AND

PREHISTORIC CREATURES GUIDED BY THE LIGHT OF THE

MOON.

FIND OUT WHY THESE LITTLE ONES MAKE A MAD DASH TO

THE WATERS AND WHERE THEY'RE HEADED.

THAT STORY AND MORE FROM TURKEY COMING UP ON “EARTH ODYSSEY”.

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO “EARTH ODYSSEY.”

THIS IS GABBY THE GREEN SEA TURTLE,

AND SHE HAS BEEN MAKING QUITE A SPLASH HERE AT THE

AQUARIUM SINCE SHE ARRIVED ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO.

TODAY, SHE WEIGHS A WHOPPING 350 POUNDS.

SHE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE COUSINS WITH ANOTHER TYPE

OF SEA TURTLE CALLED THE LOGGERHEAD,

AND THEY WILL SWIM THOUSANDS OF MILES TO THE

SHORES OF TURKEY'S WILD BEACHES.

THERE, THEY'LL CRAWL UP ON SHORE AND LAY THEIR EGGS,

AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE JUST HOW MANY BABY TURTLES

WILL BE POPPING OUT OF THE SAND IN A FEW MONTHS.

UNDER THE BLAZING HOT SUN, ANCIENT RUINS MARK THE END

OF ONE CIVILIZATION.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, THE PORT CITY OF KAUNOS,

ONCE A THRIVING METROPOLIS,

WAS OVERCOME BY MOSQUITOES AND THEN MALARIA.

ONLY THESE STONES OF AN OLD THEATER REMAIN.

THEY SIT FIVE MILES FROM THE OCEAN'S EDGE,

PROVIDING WONDERFUL HUNTING GROUNDS FOR A

LIZARD WITH A FLAIR FOR THEATRICS.

THIS IS THE STARRED AGAMA.

HE'S LOOKING FOR A FRIEND, BUT FIRST,

HE NEEDS TO WARM UP.

BASKING IN THE SUN, THE LIZARD SITS HIGH ON THE

ROCKS, ANGLING FOR A PROMINENT POSITION,

ALL THE BETTER TO SHOW OFF HIS IMPRESSIVE PHYSIQUE.

THERE ARE A FEW FEMALES IN THE WINGS,

ALONG WITH ANOTHER SUITOR THREATENING TO TAKE OVER

HIS LEAD ROLE.

TO SHOW HIS STRENGTH, A FEW PUSHUPS WILL DO THE

TRICK.

HE LOOKS AROUND, BOBBING HIS HEAD WITH APPROVAL.

TODAY, HE COMES OUT ON TOP.

NO ONE COULD BEAT SUCH A STRONG PERFORMANCE.

DOWN BY THE COASTLINE, THERE'S ANOTHER BATTLE

BEING WAGED.

THESE GOLDEN SANDS ARE THE PERFECT FOIL FOR A CRAB

WHO HAUNTS THE SHORELINES OF THE MIDDLE EAST.

THIS IS THE GHOST CRAB.

HE HAS EYES THAT ACT LIKE A PERISCOPE,

TURNING 360 DEGREES TO SPOT APPROACHING DANGER AS

WELL AS ANY DINNER PROSPECTS,

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE BLAZING

TEMPERATURES.

HE NEEDS TO BURROW DOWN TO ESCAPE THE HEAT.

THE GHOST CRAB SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME CLEANING UP

THE DIRT THAT CLOGS HIS HOME,

ALWAYS TRYING TO KEEP ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE CHANGING

TIDES.

FOR NOW, THE GHOST CRAB TRIES TO LAY LOW AND

RESERVE HIS ENERGY.

HE'S GOT A BIG NIGHT AHEAD.

THE SUN FINALLY STARTS TO SET,

COOLING DOWN THE SAND AND MAKING WAY FOR A GROUP OF

ANCIENT NAUTICAL TRAVELERS TO SWIM TO SHORE.

THOUSANDS OF TURTLES CHOOSE TURKEY'S WILD

BEACHES FOR THEIR NESTING SPOTS.

THIS LOGGERHEAD TURTLE SWIMS OUT OF THE SEA.

SHE STRUGGLES THOSE LAST FEW YARDS TO FIND A DRY

NESTING SPOT.

IMPORTANT TO STAY OUT OF THE REACH OF INCOMING

TIDES, IT'S TIME TO LAY EGGS.

THESE EGGS HAVE A ONE-IN-THREE CHANCE OF

SURVIVAL.

THE CONDITIONS OUT HERE ARE BRUTAL.

TOO MUCH RAIN, AND THEY'LL DROWN.

TOO MUCH SUN, AND THEY'LL BURN.

PLUS, PLENTY OF PREDATORS ARE EAGER TO FIND A HIDDEN

BURIAL SPOT.

IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS, THE EGGS ARE READY TO HATCH.

OUT POPS ONE HUNDRED OR SO BABIES FROM THE NEST.

WITH SO MANY LITTLE TURTLES BORN TOGETHER,

THE HOPE IS SOME OF THOSE BABIES WILL MAKE IT TO THE

WATER'S EDGE, BUT THE AMBUSH IS PREPARED.

GHOST CRABS PICK UP ON THE MOVEMENT FROM THE NEST.

THEY MAKE THEIR MOVE.

GHOSTLY EYES APPEAR OVER THE SAND.

THESE TINY PREHISTORIC REPTILES LET THE MOON

GUIDE THEM TO THE SEA.

IT'S A RACE TO SEE WHO GETS THERE FIRST.

JUST AS THE GHOST CRABS MOVE IN,

A WAVE BREAKS ON-SHORE STRONG ENOUGH TO WASH THE

NEWLY HATCHED TURTLES OUT TO SEA.

SAFE FOR THE MOMENT FROM THE CRAB'S CLUTCHES,

NOW THE BATTLE TO SURVIVE IN OPEN WATERS BEGINS.

COMING UP ON “EARTH ODYSSEY,

WINTER FALLS ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS.

FOOD IS SCARCE FOR THESE WILD SHEEP OF TURKEY.

FIND OUT HOW THEY SURVIVE IN THIS EXTREME CLIMATE

WITH DANGER EVERYWHERE.

THAT AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON “EARTH ODYSSEY.”

.

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

DYLAN: WINTER APPROACHES.

TEMPERATURES DROP WELL BELOW FREEZING.

THIS MIDDLE EASTERN AREA TRANSFORMS INTO A WHITE

WONDERLAND.

A BLANKET OF SNOW HIDES THE JAGGED ROCKS AND

RUGGED TERRAIN.

THERE ARE 130 MOUNTAIN PEAKS MADE IMPASSABLE BY

THIS WEATHER.

ANIMALS THAT CAN WILL HIBERNATE AND WAIT UNTIL

THE SNOW MELTS BEFORE TRYING TO FIND BETTER

FEEDING GROUNDS, BUT NOT ALL.

THE ANATOLIAN MOUFLON ARE THE WILD SHEEP OF TURKEY.

THESE ANCESTORS OF THE DOMESTICATED SHEEP HAVE NO

CHOICE.

LIVING HIGH ON THE MOUNTAINS,

THEY LIVE ON PLANT TUBERS HIDDEN BENEATH THE FROZEN

GROUND.

HOWEVER, THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY HUNGRY ANIMALS IN THE

MOUNTAINS.

WOLVES STALK THESE SHEEP.

WOLVES CAN REACH SPEEDS UP TO 60 MILES PER HOUR.

STAYING CLOSE, THE HERD MAKES A BREAK FOR IT.

KEEPING TOGETHER IS HOW THEY SURVIVE THESE

CHASES...

...UNITY IN ACTION.

THE WILDLIFE OF TURKEY MIRRORS THE LANDSCAPE

HERE.

BEING RUGGED, STRONG, AND DETERMINED IS THE ONLY WAY

TO SURVIVE AMONG VOLCANOES,

EARTHQUAKES, AND EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

FROM VERTICAL MOUNTAINSIDES TO RAGING

WATERFALLS AND BLUSTERY FIELDS,

THEY TAKE ON THE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE THIS MIDDLE

EASTERN COUNTRYSIDE A UNIQUE PLAYGROUND AT THE

EDGE OF THE WORLD.

HEY, THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THIS SPECTACULAR

JOURNEY THROUGH THE GREATEST PLACES ON EARTH.

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

[MUSIC]