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 DISCOVER THE RUGGED BEAUTY OF THE

FALKLAND ISLANDS.

FOR MILLIONS OF PENGUINS, IT'S NATURE'S PERFECT

PLAYGROUND.

PLUS, WE'LL GO ISLAND HOPPING WITH SOME NOISY

SEALS WHO KEEP THEIR NEIGHBORS ON HIGH ALERT.

AND LATER, WE GO UNDERGROUND WITH ONE

PENGUIN WHO HAS TUNNEL VISION WHEN IT COMES TO

PROTECTING ITS NEST.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN NATURE, BEING ABLE TO ADAPT TO YOUR

ENVIRONMENT IS KEY TO SURVIVAL.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE SOLE AND FLOUNDER FOUND HERE IN

RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM OF CANADA ARE CONTINUOUSLY

CHALLENGED TO MAKE THE BEST OF THEIR

CIRCUMSTANCES.

BOTH ARE EXAMPLES OF FLAT FISH THAT CAN CHANGE COLOR

AND LIE FLAT TO CAMOUFLAGE THEMSELVES ON THE OCEAN

FLOOR.

PENGUINS ARE ALSO HIGHLY ADAPTIVE.

THESE BIRDS WILL SCALE CLIFFS AND SWIM ACROSS

OCEANS TO FIND A SAFE NESTING SPOT FOR THEIR

CHICKS.

LET'S JOURNEY TO THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, THE

SOUTHERN ATLANTIC OCEAN, HOME TO MILLIONS OF

PENGUINS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: JUST 300 MILES OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH

AMERICA, YOU'LL FIND THE CHAIN OF FALKLAND ISLANDS,

700 IN TOTAL.

WINDSWEPT AND WILD, THESE ISLANDS LOOK AS IF NOTHING

COULD SURVIVE.

AND IT'S TRUE.

THERE ARE NO NATIVE LAND MAMMALS OR REPTILES, BUT

NATURE STILL FINDS A WAY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVERY YEAR, THE ISLANDS TURN INTO A

BREEDING GROUND FOR A PECULIAR LOOKING ANIMAL.

YOU COULD SAY THEY FLOCK HERE, MORE THAN A MILLION

OF THEM.

THE FALKLAND ISLANDS ARE A PENGUIN PARADISE.

OF THE 17 SPECIES OF PENGUINS IN THE WORLD,

NEARLY ONE THIRD VISIT TO LAY THEIR EGGS AND RAISE

THEIR YOUNG.

THIS IS THE PROUD KING PENGUIN, A REGAL LOOKING

SPECIES.

IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST OF ALL THE PENGUINS.

THEY STAND AT LEAST THREE FEET TALL AND WEIGH A

WHOPPING 33 POUNDS.

THESE PENGUINS STRUT AROUND LIKE THEY OWN THE

PLACE, IT'S PART OF A COURTSHIP, WHICH IS HOW

THESE PENGUINS FIND A PARTNER.

WHEN THESE PENGUINS LAY THEIR EGGS, THEY WILL ONLY

PRODUCE ONE AT A TIME.

THIS LARGE WHITE EGG IS SECURELY TUCKED UNDER THE

PENGUIN.

IT'S KEPT WARM AND SAFE OUT OF THE WIND AND

WEATHER.

ONCE IT HATCHES, THE PARENTS WILL RAISE THE

CHICK TOGETHER FOR NEARLY A YEAR.

WITH THEIR SHAGGY BROWN FUR COATS, THE KING

PENGUIN CHICKS LOOK NOTHING LIKE THEIR

PARENTS.

IN FACT, SCIENTISTS ONCE THOUGHT THESE BROWN

FURBALLS WERE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SPECIES, BUT

THEY'RE ONE IN THE SAME.

THE CHICKS HAVE A HIGH WHISTLE TO CATCH THEIR

PARENTS' ATTENTION.

THAT DISTINCT NOISE SIGNALS TO THE GROWNUPS:

THIS CHICK IS HUNGRY, IT'S TIME TO EAT AGAIN.

THE PARENTS WILL TREK BACK TO THE SHORELINE, POWERFUL

FINS PROPEL THESE EXPERT SWIMMERS THROUGH THE

WATER, EASILY NAVIGATING THE COLD OCEAN CURRENTS.

THEY'LL SWIM ALMOST 200 MILES OFFSHORE TO FIND

ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEIR YOUNG FAMILIES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ONCE BACK ON SHORE, THE PROUD PENGUINS

WILL SPEND TIME CLEANING UP THEIR FEATHERS.

THESE BIRDS PRODUCE AN OIL THAT KEEPS THEIR FEATHERS

WIND AND WATER PROOF.

THE PENGUINS AREN'T THE ONLY VISITORS TO THESE

OUTPOSTS IN THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC OCEAN.

THIS ISLAND IS A POPULAR SPOT FOR SOUTHERN SEA

LIONS TO RAISE THEIR YOUNG PUPS, TOO.

IN FACT, SEA LIONS PROWL THE ENTIRE FALKLANDS.

AS MANY AS 5,000 NOW LIVE HERE.

PART OF THE SEAL FAMILY, THE MALE SEA LION WEIGHS

IN AT 700 POUNDS AND MEASURES ALMOST TEN FEET

FROM NOSE TO TAIL.

LIKE A LION, THE SEAL HAS A MANE OF FUR ON HIS HEAD

AND NECK.

THE MALES ARE MUCH LARGER, ALMOST THREE TIMES THE

SIZE OF FEMALE SEA LIONS.

A NURSERY OF BABY SEALS IS CALLED A ROOKERY.

MANY OF THESE PUPS ARE BARELY A DAY OR TWO OLD,

BUT THEY GAIN WEIGHT QUICKLY, ALREADY PUSHING

30 POUNDS OR MORE.

THE SEALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A PRETTY DAY AND WARM

UP UNDER THE SUN.

BUT IT'S NOT ALL LYING AROUND, TO KEEP THESE PUPS

FED, THE MOTHERS HAVE TO BRAVE THE ICY WATERS TO

FIND FRESH FISH.

PARENTS CAN LEAVE THEIR BABIES BEHIND FOR UP TO

TWO DAYS TO GO ON THEIR FISHING EXPEDITIONS.

WITH MOM HUNTING, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE THESE

YOUNGSTERS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ON THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, YOU CAN FIND SEA

LIONS PERCHED EVERYWHERE.

EVEN THE HARDEST TO REACH SPOTS CAN GET VISITORS

YEAR-ROUND.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE SEALS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR

THE PENGUINS.

PENGUINS ARE A SPECIAL TREAT FOR HUNGRY SEALS.

IT'S BEST THAT THESE BIRDS CAN KEEP THEIR DISTANCE.

SOMEHOW, NATURE NEGOTIATES A FRAGILE PEACE TREATY FOR

THESE ANIMALS.

COMING UP, SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY FOR THESE

PENGUINS TO GET THROUGH TROUBLE IS TO RUN.

THEN, IT'S BATH TIME, NATURAL FED SPRINGS ARE AN

EXCELLENT WAY TO KEEP THESE PENGUINS LOOKING

THEIR BEST.

THAT'S NEXT 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.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE FALKLAND ISLANDS ARE THE PERFECT

SANCTUARY FOR ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC BIRD SPECIES

IN THE WORLD, THE ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN.

NAMED FOR THEIR PENSION FOR BOUNDING ALONG THE

ROCKY COASTLINES WHERE THEY MAKE THEIR HOMES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WITH THEIR OUTRAGEOUS FEATHERED FACE,

THE ROCKHOPPERS ARE THE SMALLEST, BUT PERHAPS THE

MOST FEARLESS PENGUIN SPECIES IN THE FALKLANDS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WITHOUT HESITATION, THEY PLUNGE

FROM TERRIFYING HEIGHTS INTO THE CHURNED-UP WATERS

OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN BELOW.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY HUNT FOR BABY SHELLFISH AND KRILL.

NO NEED TO RUSH BACK, THESE PENGUINS CAN STAY

UNDERWATER SEARCHING FOR THE BEST CATCH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEIR JOURNEY ON LAND HAS ITS OWN

CHALLENGES.

UNLIKE MOST PENGUINS THAT PREFER TO SLIDE AND

WADDLE, ROCKHOPPERS HAVE A DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE.

ARMED WITH SHARP CLAWS AND WEBBED FEET, THESE BIRDS

EXPERTLY CLIMB STEEP CLIFFS.

THEY FOLLOW AN ANCIENT PATH WITH GROOVES THAT

HAVE BEEN CARVED OUT OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HOWEVER, THE CLIMB PAYS OFF FOR THESE

DETERMINED SEABIRDS.

A NESTING SPOT HIGH IN THE CLIFFS IS HIDDEN FROM

PREDATORS.

IT'S CROWDED UP HERE, AS MANY AS 100,000 NESTS.

BUT NOT ALL ROCKHOPPERS SCALE THE CLIFFS, SOME

CHOOSE A RISKIER ROUTE TO THEIR NESTS.

FALKLAND FUR SEALS ARE A NATURAL PREDATOR OF

PENGUINS.

THIS BAY IS LITTERED WITH THEM, 5,000, AT LEAST.

FUR SEALS ARE SIX AND A HALF FEET LONG AND WEIGHT

50 TIMES AS MUCH AS ROCKHOPPERS.

THEY ALSO FLAUNT AN EXTRA SET OF TEETH THAT MAKES

FAST WORK OF ANY PREY.

YET, HERE THEY GO, THESE BRAVE LITTLE BIRDS HOP

THROUGH AN OBSTACLE COURSE FULL OF POWERFUL FUR

SEALS.

THE GOOD NEWS: THESE FUR SEALS AND ROCKHOPPERS HAVE

SHARED THIS COVE FOR DECADES.

THE FIRST SEALS WILL LET THEM PASS, IF A LITTLE

RELUCTANTLY.

AND THERE'S NO TIME TO DAWDLE, THESE PENGUINS

NEED TO KEEP MOVING, EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO STEP ON A

FEW SEALS TO GET THERE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FUR SEALS ENJOY A DIET RICH IN THE LOCAL

FISH.

THE PENGUINS ARE JUST A NUISANCE.

THE ROCKHOPPERS MAKE IT TO THE SAFETY OF THE TALL

TUSSOCK GRASSES, ANOTHER PATH TO THEIR NESTING

SITE.

DESPITE PLENTY OF SURROUNDING LAND, THIS IS

A CROWDED NURSERY.

BRINGING UP FAMILIES IN SUCH CLOSE QUARTERS CAUSES

SOME NEIGHBORLY FRICTION.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVERY YEAR, THE ROCKHOPPERS WILL RETURN TO

THE EXACT SAME NEST, AN INSTINCT THAT DRIVES THESE

POPULATIONS OF PENGUINS ACROSS THE WINDY, BARREN

LANDSCAPE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT OF COURSE, PARADISE COMES AT A PRICE,

THESE PENGUINS HAVE TO STAY ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE

GIANT CREATURES WHO ALSO LAY CLAIM TO THE

FALKLANDS.

COMING UP, THE ROCKHOPPERS TAKE US TO THEIR SECRET

SPA FOR A QUICK DIP.

THEN, MEET THE WORLD'S FASTEST SWIMMING BIRDS.

AND LATER, IT'S TIME FOR A GAME OF CHICK CHASE.

NEXT, ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO EARTH ODYSSEY, I'M DYLAN

DREYER.

THE AMERICAN LOBSTER, LIKE THIS ONE, FEED ON ALGAE

AND PLANT LIFE GROWING IN THE OCEAN.

THESE MARINE ANIMALS HAVE STRONG SENSES, WHICH HELP

THEM NAVIGATE STEEP UNDERWATER CLIFFS.

THE GENTOO PENGUIN IS ANOTHER ANIMAL THAT'S

PRETTY CLEVER AT SCALING ROCKY ISLAND CLIFFS, NOT

ONLY THAT, IT HOLDS THE PENGUIN WORLD RECORD FOR

ANOTHER AMAZING FEAT, TAKE A LOOK.

THE ROCKHOPPERS COME TO ENJOY A LESS CHALLENGING

CLIMB.

THEY ALSO SEEK OUT THE SPRING-FED WATERS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A CHANCE TO WASH AWAY THE SALT AND GRIME OF

A HARD KNOCK LIFE AS A ROCKHOPPER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR THE LUCKY PENGUINS WHO LIVE HERE,

TAKING SHOWERS IS PART OF THEIR DAILY ROUTINE.

THEY STAND IN LINE WAITING THEIR TURN, BUT IF THEY

TAKE TOO LONG, THESE PENGUINS CAN QUICKLY GET

THEIR FEATHERS RUFFLED.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THERE'S ANOTHER PENGUIN SPECIES WHO LIVE

HAPPILY ON THE ISLANDS YEAR-ROUND.

THE GENTOO PENGUINS HOLD THE RECORD FOR THE FASTEST

SWIMMING BIRDS IN THE WORLD.

GENTOO'S BODIES ARE BUILT LIKE A BULLET, THEY PROPEL

THEIR SLEEK BODIES WITH FLATTENED FLIPPERS,

DARTING THROUGH THE WATER AT 25 MILES PER HOUR.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE GENTOO FEED UNDERWATER, TOO.

LOBSTER KRILL IS A PARTICULAR FAVORITE.

RIGHT NOW, THE GENTOO HAVE THEIR FLIPPERS FULL.

WITH EVERYONE CRYING FOR FOOD, IT'S HARD TO TELL

WHICH CHICK NEEDS TO BE FED FIRST.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THAT'S WHY GENTOO PARENTS DEVISED THIS

CLEVER PLAN: CALLED CHICK CHASE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE CHICKS CHASE AFTER THEIR PARENT,

WHOEVER STICKS WITH THE CHASE THE LONGEST, WINS

THE GAME, AND FIRST DIBS AT DINNER.

BEFORE THE SUN IS BARELY UP, BOTH PARENTS HEAD TO

THE SEA.

THEY NEED TO MAKE FISHING TRIPS EVERYDAY TO SATISFY

THE YOUNG CHICKS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHILE THE PARENTS ARE BUSY HUNTING, THE

YOUNG GENTOO HUDDLE TOGETHER TO STAY SAFE

AGAINST ANY PREDATORS.

IT'S CALLED CRECHE, A POPULAR WAY TO PROTECT A

LARGE COLONY OF CHICKS WHO ARE BORN AROUND THE SAME

TIME.

STAYING CLOSE TOGETHER ALSO WORKS NEAR THE

WATER'S EDGE, WHERE DANGER CAN APPEAR SUDDENLY.

THIS SEA LION TRIES A SURPRISE ATTACK BUT FAILS.

THE SEA LION IS DETERMINED TO GIVE IT ONE MORE SHOT,

NO LUCK.

THESE FEATHERED WARRIORS ARE JUST TOO FAST FOR A

LUMBERING SEAL.

TO KEEP ONE STEP AHEAD OF TROUBLE, THAT'S WHAT ALL

OF THESE PENGUINS MUST TRY AND DO.

FROM THE CLIFFS TO DEEP IN THE SEA, PENGUINS ARE

CONSTANTLY BATTLING THE RUGGED TERRAIN, AND THE

CREATURES WHO SHARE THE FALKLAND ISLANDS.

COMING UP, SEAFARING PENGUINS SWIM THOUSANDS OF

MILES BEFORE RETURNING HOME.

FIND OUT WHAT KEEPS THEM COMING BACK.

THEN, MEET THESE GIANT SEALS WHO HAVE NO TROUBLE

THROWING THEIR WEIGHT AROUND.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE FALKLAND ISLANDS LOOK ALMOST

BARREN, NOT A TREE IN SIGHT.

BUT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PART TIME RESIDENTS,

PENGUINS AND SEALS JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEIR

DELICIOUS SEAFOOD OFFERINGS.

THE MAGELLANIC PENGUINS ARE PARTICULARLY LOYAL TO

THE FALKLANDS.

THESE SEABIRDS WILL SWIM FOR SIX MONTHS, LIVING

ENTIRELY IN THE WATER.

THEY CAN CROSS 9,000 MILES, ONLY TO RETURN TO

THEIR SAME PARTNER TO BUILD A NEST TOGETHER ON

THE ISLANDS.

TO STAY SAFE FROM RAIDERS, THESE CLEVER BIRDS TUNNEL

INTO THE SOFT PEATY SOIL AND BUILD THEIR NESTS

UNDERGROUND.

BUT TROUBLE IS NEVER FAR AWAY, THEY HAVE TO SHARE

THIS LAND WITH ANOTHER MAMMOTH CREATURE.

MEET THE ELEPHANT SEAL.

APTLY NAMED FOR ITS GIGANTIC SNOUT THAT LOOKS

LIKE AN ELEPHANT'S TRUNK.

THESE LARGE APPENDAGES HELP THE SEALS COMMUNICATE

WITH OTHERS.

ROARS CAN BE HEARD MORE THAN HALF A MILE AWAY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE ELEPHANT SEAL IS THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS

MAMMAL IN THE WORLD, SPENDING ITS TIME BOTH ON

THE LAND AND IN THE SEA.

THEY'LL HUNT IN OPEN WATER FOR TEN MONTHS STRAIGHT.

THEY GROW TO AN ASTOUNDING 20 FEET LONG, WEIGHING AS

MUCH AS THREE FAMILY SIZED CARS.

WITH ALL THAT BRUTE FORCE, IT'S A WELCOME FACT THAT

THEY DON'T EAT PENGUINS.

ELEPHANT SEALS PREFER TO FEED ON FISH AND SNAILS.

THE YOUNG MALES LIKE TO SPAR WITH EACH OTHER, A

GOOD WAY TO PASS THE TIME AND BUILD STRENGTH.

THEY'LL NEED IT AS THEY GROW UP ON THESE WILD

ISLANDS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECTACULAR

EXPEDITION TO THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, WHOSE ABUNDANT

FISH AND PRISTINE COASTLINES PROVIDE THE

PERFECT BACKDROP FOR SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST UNIQUE

ANIMALS.

JOIN ME NEXT WEEK AS WE EMBARK TOGETHER ON ANOTHER

EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]