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: I'M DYLAN DREYER, AND THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE TRAVEL TO THE ANCIENT ISLAND COUNTRY OF

SRI LANKA AND SEE HOW LOWLAND ELEPHANT BULLS GO

HEAD TO HEAD IN A BATTLE FOR DOMINATION.

PLUS, FIND OUT WHY THESE GRACEFUL DEER MUST RELY ON

THE HELP OF THEIR PRIMATE PALS TO AVOID ONE OF THE

MOST DANGEROUS PREDATORS.

AND LATER, WE MEET A TROUP OF MACAQUES WHO HAVE TAKEN

OVER AN ENTIRE ANCIENT CITY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: I'M HERE AT RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM OF

CANADA.

THIS EXHIBIT IS HOME TO GREEN SEA TURTLES,

A SPECIES FOUND IN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL

CLIMATES, LIKE THOSE OF SRI LANKA.

THESE REPTILES SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME IN THE

SHALLOW COASTAL WATERS WHERE THEY FEED ON LUSH

SEA GRASS BEDS.

THEY HAVE A LONG LIFESPAN, SURVIVING UP TO 80 YEARS

IN THE WILD.

SRI LANKA IS ALSO HOME TO ANOTHER GIANT CREATURE

WITH AN IMPRESSIVELY LONG LIFESPAN: THE ELEPHANT HAS

A LIFE EXPECTANCY UP TO 75 YEARS OLD.

AMONG MAMMALS, ONLY HUMANS LIVE LONGER.

SO LET'S SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME

OF THESE PROUD PACHYDERMS IN ONE OF THE WILDEST

PLACES ON EARTH.

DYLAN: LOCATED NEAR THE SOUTHERN TIP OF INDIA SITS

THE ISLAND NATION OF SRI LANKA.

ALTHOUGH IT IS ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF PENNSYLVANIA,

THIS TROPICAL REGION IS PACKED WITH ENOUGH

WILDLIFE TO RIVAL A VAST CONTINENT.

BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE CLIMATE,

YOU WILL FIND A STAGGERING ARRAY OF CREATURES BOTH

LARGE AND SMALL.

AND THEY RANGE FROM THE FRIENDLY TO THE FEROCIOUS.

FOR SUCH A SMALL COUNTRY, SRI LANKA HAS A VERY

COMPLICATED CLIMATE SYSTEM.

ON AVERAGE, TWO MONSOONS A YEAR HIT THE ISLAND,

DRENCHING IT IN TORRENTIAL RAINS FOR WEEKS ON END.

HOWEVER, FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR,

SRI LANKA'S LOWLANDS ENDURE MONTHS OF DROUGHTS.

THIS LEAVES ANIMALS, LIKE THE ELEPHANT,

TO GO IN SEARCH OF WATER.

SRI LANKA'S LOWLAND PLAINS COVER MORE THAN TWO THIRDS

OF THE ISLAND.

THIS REGION IS HOME TO OVER 2,000 WILD ELEPHANTS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST POPULATIONS ON EARTH.

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF DRY SEASON,

FINDING FOOD BECOMES INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.

A FULLY-GROWN ELEPHANT SPENDS UP TO 16 HOURS A

DAY GRAZING.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FEEDING ON THE SHORT,

DRY GRASS REQUIRES A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE.

THE ELEPHANT GRABS, TWISTS,

THEN SHAKES THE CLUMPS TO REMOVE ANY DIRT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ELEPHANTS LIVE IN CLOSE-KNIT GROUPS UNDER

THE WATCHFUL EYE OF AN OLDER FEMALE.

WITH HER YEARS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE,

THE MATRIARCH KNOWS WHERE TO FIND AND THE WATER IN

TIMES OF SHORTAGE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WITH WATER A PRECIOUS COMMODITY,

HERDS FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST SRI LANKA MAKE

THEIR WAY TO A VAST LAKE KNOWN AS MINNERIYA TANK.

SOME ELEPHANTS TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES TO REACH

THIS RESERVOIR.

OFTEN, FAMILY GROUPS BAND TOGETHER TO FORM LARGER

HERDS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE LAKE IS A KEY TO SURVIVAL FOR THE ISLAND

ELEPHANTS.

EVEN AFTER WEEKS WITHOUT RAIN,

MINNERIYA TANK OFFERS BOTH FOOD AND WATER FOR THESE

MIGRATING HERDS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AND THE SURROUNDING SCRUB FOREST

PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED SHELTER FROM THE SUN.

AND WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE FEMALES,

MALE ELEPHANTS ARE NEVER FAR BEHIND.

MALE ELEPHANTS, OR BULLS, NORMALLY LEAD A SOLITARY

EXISTENCE, BUT DURING MATING SEASON,

THEY ARE READY FOR SOME FEMALE COMPANIONSHIP.

WITH THE BULL'S HORMONES RAGING,

THEY'RE READY TO GRAPPLE WITH OTHER MALES TO ASSERT

THEIR DOMINANCE.

THE WINNER OF THIS SHOWDOWN STANDS TO WIN THE

PICK OF THE HERD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT ROMANCE ASIDE, THE REAL PULL OF MINNERIYA

IS ITS PRICELESS WATER SUPPLY.

EVERY ANIMAL NEEDS WATER TO SURVIVE,

BUT FEW ANIMALS ENJOY A GOOD BATH QUITE AS MUCH AS

ELEPHANTS.

THEIR TRUNKS CAN PULL IN UP TO TWO GALLONS OF

WATER, WHICH THEY USE TO HOSE DOWN THE OTHER

MEMBERS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WITHOUT THIS INVALUABLE WATER SUPPLY,

YOUNG ELEPHANTS IN PARTICULAR ARE PRONE TO

OVERHEATING AND DEHYDRATION.

SO A COOL DIP IN THE LAKES IS NOT JUST REFRESHING,

IT IS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR SURVIVAL.

THESE SCARCE WATERING HOLES DON'T JUST LURE

ELEPHANTS, THEY ATTRACT ANIMALS OF EVERY KIND.

INCLUDING SOME VERY DEADLY PREDATORS.

COMING UP, FIND OUT WHY A SIMPLE DRINK OF WATER CAN

LEAD TO A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION FOR THESE

SPOTTED DEER, AND WHY IT PAYS TO HAVE A BUDDY WHO

HAS YOUR BACK.

.

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.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: DURING THE HEIGHT OF A DROUGHT,

FINDING WATER IS IMPERATIVE FOR EVERY

CREATURE'S SURVIVAL.

ON SRI LANKA'S SOUTHEAST COAST LIES YALA NATIONAL

PARK.

THIS LAND WAS ONCE THE CENTER OF A BYGONE

CIVILIZATION WHO BUILT A SERIES OF RESERVOIRS

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

TODAY, THESE MANMADE WATERING HOLES DRAW

ANIMALS OF EVERY SPECIES, INCLUDING LARGE HERDS OF

SPOTTED DEER.

LIKE ALL OF SRI LANKA'S DEER,

ONLY MALES HAVE ANTLERS.

THESE BRANCHY HORNS ARE SHED AND REGROWN EVERY

YEAR.

THE DEER ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH GLANDS ON THEIR FACES

AND FEET THAT RELEASE A DISTINCT SCENT.

STAGS MARK THEIR TERRITORY BY LEAVING THEIR SCENT ON

GRASS AND TREES.

AND BY MAKING SCRAPES IN THE GROUND.

AS WITH MOST PLANT EATERS, THE DRY SEASON IS A

DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE SPOTTED DEER.

WITH A SHRIVELING FOOD SUPPLY,

THEY MUST TRAVEL IN SEARCH OF THEIR NEXT MEAL.

BUT YALA'S ANCIENT RESERVOIRS ENSURE THAT

THERE IS ALWAYS PLENTY OF WATER AND VEGETATION FOR A

NEEDY ANIMAL.

BUT THE MIGRATION OF THE DEER BRINGS A DEADLY

PREDATOR.

OVER 40 SRI LANKAN LEOPARDS STALK THIS PARK.

IT IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF LEOPARDS

IN THE WORLD.

AND SPOTTED DEER ARE THEIR MAIN PREY.

BUT LUCKILY, THE DEER HAS A LOYAL ALLY.

KEEPING LOOKOUT IN THE TREES ARE GREY LANGURS WHO

SOUND THE ALARM WHENEVER DANGER IS AFOOT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LIKE MOST CATS, LEOPARDS ARE STEALTH

HUNTERS WHO GET AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THEIR

TARGET BEFORE LAUNCHING THEIR ATTACK.

BUT THIS LITTLE PRIMATE IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT

DOESN'T HAPPEN.

LEOPARDS WILL JUST AS SOON MAKE A MEAL OF A LANGUR.

SO THESE AGILE MONKEYS FIND SAFE REFUGE UP IN THE

TREES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LUCKILY, THIS LEOPARD IS YOUNG AND STILL

LEARNING HIS HUNTING SKILLS.

SO THE DEER AND MONKEYS ARE SAFE FOR NOW.

LEOPARDS PREFER TO HUNT UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT,

SO IT'S FAR BETTER FOR HIM TO WAIT UNTIL DARK.

IN SRI LANKA, LEOPARDS HOLD AN UNCHALLENGED

POSITION AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

THERE ARE NO LIONS OR TIGERS ON THE ISLAND.

THIS LACK OF COMPETITION HAS CAUSED THE LEOPARDS TO

GROW ESPECIALLY LARGE FOR THEIR SPECIES.

IN FACT, THEY ARE THE BIGGEST LEOPARDS IN THE

WORLD.

FULLY GROWN MALES WEIGHT UP TO 175 POUNDS.

ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF AN ADULT HUMAN.

BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE AND STATUS,

SRI LANKA'S LEOPARDS ARE REMARKABLY CONFIDENT.

IN OTHER REGIONS, IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL TO SEE A

LEOPARD OUT IN THE OPEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

EVEN THIS YOUNG CUB ISN'T AFRAID TO STRUT AROUND IN

THE OPEN.

BUT HAVING HIS MOM BY HIS SIDE DOESN'T HURT EITHER.

WHILE THESE ANIMALS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE MANMADE

WATERHOLES, ANOTHER CREATURE HAS CLAIMED AN

ENTIRE ABANDONED METROPOLIS.

COMING UP, FIND OUT HOW THIS GROUP OF MACAQUES

LEFT THE WILDS OF THE JUNGLES FOR THE COMFORTS

OF THE CITY.

.

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

DYLAN: STURGEON AND PADDLEFISH,

LIKE THOSE BEHIND ME, ARE FRESHWATER FISH THAT CAN

BE FOUND IN RIVERS AND LAKES THROUGHOUT THE

WORLD.

UNFORTUNATELY, BOTH OF THESE SPECIES' POPULATIONS

HAVE BEEN ON THE DECLINE DUE TO OVERFISHING,

POLLUTION, AND HUMAN ENCROACHMENT.

LIKE THESE FISH, MANY SPECIES OF MONKEYS,

INCLUDING THE ONES YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET,

HAVE ALSO FOUND THEMSELVES ENDANGERED.

HOWEVER, ONE POPULATION IN SRI LANKA HAS FOUND A

CLEVER WAY TO SURVIVE.

BY MOVING INTO ABANDONED HUMAN DWELLINGS.

IN THE NORTHEASTERN LOWLANDS OF SRI LANKA,

A BYGONE CIVILIZATION LEFT AN ENTIRE CITY TO A GROUP

OF WAYWARD PRIMATES.

1,000 YEARS AGO, THIS SPRAWLING METROPOLIS WAS

ONCE THE CAPITAL OF SRI LANKA.

TODAY, RUINS ARE ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE ABANDONED

CITY OF POLONNARUWA.

AND WHEN HUMANS MOVED OUT...

THE MACAQUES MOVED IN.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HUNDREDS OF TOQUE MACAQUES BATTLE FOR

TERRITORY AMONG THE ARCHAIC STRUCTURES.

MACAQUES LIVE IN LARGE GROUPS OF UP TO 40

MEMBERS.

THEY FOLLOW A STRICT SOCIAL SYSTEM UNDER THE

LEADERSHIP OF AN ALPHA MALE.

EACH MACAQUE HAS A DISTINCT PERSONALITY AND

DISTINCT HAIRSTYLES, AS WELL.

FEMALES FEATURE COLORFUL RED FACES.

THEY ALSO HOLD AN IMPORTANT ROLL;

THE TROOP RELIES ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF OLDER FEMALES

TO LEAD THEM TO FOOD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK FAR.

A FLOWERING TREE INSIDE THE CITY WALLS CAN YIELD A

NICE SNACK.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: MACAQUES CAN EAT VIRTUALLY ANYTHING.

BUT DURING THE DRY SEASON, A GOOD MEAL IS HARD TO

COME BY.

SO THEY MUST SNIFF AROUND THE JUNGLE FLOOR FOR

FALLEN FRUIT, NUTS, AND INSECTS.

LOWER RANKING MONKEYS MUST WAIT FOR THOSE OF HIGHER

STATUS TO EAT FIRST.

THIS IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WORLD AND THE

ALPHA MALE SWIFTLY REPRIMANDS THOSE MONKEYS

WHO IGNORE THE PECKING ORDER.

TOQUE MACAQUES HAVE POUCHES IN THEIR CHEEKS

THAT CONTAIN A SPECIAL ENZYME TO HELP DIGEST

FOOD.

THEY'RE ALSO A GOOD PLACE TO HIDE MORSELS FROM RIVAL

MONKEYS.

AFTER EATING, YOUNG MALES ENGAGE IN BOISTEROUS BOUTS

OF PLAY.

THIS IS NOT JUST FOR SPORT,

IT TEACHES THEM FIGHTING SKILLS THEY'LL NEED WHEN

THEY ONE DAY LEAVE THE GROUP.

THIS PROWESS COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

LIFE AND DEATH.

FOR TOQUE MACAQUES, THE GREATEST THREAT COMES FROM

OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR SPECIES.

GROWN MALES ARE TWICE AS BIG AS FEMALES AND HAVE

HUGE CANINE TEETH.

AND THE ALPHA MALES CONTROL NOT JUST ACCESS TO

FOOD, BUT ACCESS TO MATES.

SO IN THIS SOCIETY, IT REALLY DOES BENEFIT TO BE

NICE TO YOUR ELDERS.

COMING UP, AS MORE ANIMALS GO IN SEARCH OF WATER,

THEY CONFRONT A NEW THREAT AND IT'S PROWLING JUST

BENEATH THE MURKY WATERS.

WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS.

.

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

DYLAN: WHEN THE ARID SUMMER LEAVES LAKES AND

RIVERS BONE DRY, ANIMALS OF EVERY ORDER CONGREGATE

AT THE EVER-SHRINKING POOLS OF WATER.

HERE, BIRDS, MAMMALS, AND REPTILES COMPETE FOR BOTH

FOOD AND DRINK.

BUT THERE IS AN EVEN BIGGER PREDATOR HUNTING

THIS MUDDY POND.

MUGGER CROCODILES CRUISE THE POOLS MAKING THE MOST

OF THE BOUNTY OF FISH NOW TRAPPED WITH NOWHERE TO

HIDE.

NOWHERE ELSE IN THE INDIA SUBCONTINENT HAS AS MANY

OF THE HUGE REPTILES AS THE TINY ISLAND OF SRI

LANKA.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THESE CROCS EAT MAINLY FISH,

BUT LARGER MALES ARE ALSO KNOWN TO PREY ON LAND

ANIMALS ATTRACTED TO THE WATER'S EDGE.

WHILE MUGGERS ARE UNLIKELY TO TAKE ON THIS MAMMOTH

ELEPHANT, THIS WATER BUFFALO AND HER CALF NEED

TO REMAIN ON ALERT.

FOR THESE CROCODILES, SUMMER MEANS ANOTHER

THING: MATING SEASON.

CONFINED WITHIN THESE SMALL POOLS,

MALES SEARCH FOR FEMALES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY COMPETE FOR DOMINANCE WITH OTHER MALES

BY THRASHING THEIR TAILS ON THE SURFACE OF THE

WATER.

BUT ODDLY, PAINTED STORK SEEM TO HAVE NO FEAR OF

VENTURING INTO THESE CROCODILE INFESTED WATERS.

THEY USE THEIR FEET TO STIR UP FISH BELOW THE

SURFACE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO BENEFIT

FROM THE INGENIOUS METHOD.

AS THE FISH TRY TO ESCAPE THE STORK'S THRASHING

FEET, THEY END UP RIGHT IN THE CROCODILE'S MOUTH.

PERHAPS THIS IS WHY THE STORKS AREN'T AFRAID TO

HUNT SO CLOSE TO SUCH HUGE PREDATORS.

THESE CROCODILES KNOW BETTER THAN TO LOOK A GIFT

STORK IN THE MOUTH.

THANKS FOR COMING ALONG WITH ME ON THIS ADVENTURE

THROUGH THE ISLAND OF SRI LANKA.

I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED EXPERIENCING THE REGION'S

AMAZING WILDLIFE AS MUCH AS I HAVE.

JOIN ME NEXT TIME AS WE TRAVEL TO A NEW AND EXOTIC

LOCATION ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]