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 THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER, AND THIS IS

STAR, AND THIS IS EARTH ODYSSEY.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, WE MEET THE NEW RULERS OF A

LOST JUNGLE KINGDOM.

THEN, WE HEAD INTO A SECRET FOREST IN CHINA

WHERE GIANTS ROAM.

AND LATER, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, THESE ARE QUITE

POSSIBLY THE SPEEDIEST CREATURES IN PARADISE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HERE AT RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM OF THE SMOKIES,

YOU CAN GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO THESE PENGUINS TO SEE

THEIR BLACK AND WHITE COATS.

IF YOU LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER, YOU MIGHT NOTICE

THAT PENGUINS EACH HAVE THEIR OWN SPOT PATTERNS AS

UNIQUE AS YOUR OWN FINGERPRINT.

LIKE THESE PENGUINS, ANIMALS AROUND THE WORLD

HAVE DEVELOPED SPECIAL SKILLS TO SURVIVE IN THE

WILD.

WE'RE ABOUT TO MEET A GROUP OF MONKEYS WHO RELY

ON THE CALL OF THEIR YOUNG TO STICK TOGETHER WHEN THE

TROOP GETS A LITTLE ROWDY.

TAKE A LOOK.

CAMBODIA, A COUNTRY FLOODED WITH ANCIENT

RIVERS AND WATERWAYS.

800 YEARS AGO, THE KINGDOM OF ANGKOR WAS ONE OF THE

GREATEST PREINDUSTRIAL CITIES IN THE WORLD.

NOW COVERED IN VINES IN THE MIDDLE OF A JUNGLE.

IT LOOKS LIKE A SCENE OUT OF AN ADVENTURE MOVIE,

WITH A NEW CAST READY TO TAKE THE STAGE.

MEET THE MACAQUES.

THESE LONG-TAILED MONKEYS RULE OVER THIS CITY LONG

ABANDONED BY THEIR HUMAN PREDECESSORS.

THE KHMER PEOPLE BUILT A SYSTEM OF MOATS AND

RESERVOIRS TO CAPTURE THE RAINS.

TODAY, THIS WATERY LANDSCAPE SERVES THESE

MONKEYS WELL.

MACAQUES ENJOY BIG, NOISY FAMILIES.

60 IN A TROOP, MAKING FOR CRAZY EATING TIMES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: MACAQUES ARE PICKY EATERS.

AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD, THEY'VE FIGURED OUT

A WAY TO ACTUALLY CLEAN THEIR FOOD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE LITTLE ONES HAVE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES

HEARD OVER THE TROOP.

SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT THE BABIES ARE BORN DURING

THE RAINY SEASON, MAKING SURE THERE IS PLENTY OF

WATER AND FOOD.

THE MOMS ARE IN CHARGE OF THE BABIES, AND THAT'S A

FULL TIME JOB; FEEDING, CLEANING, AND PROTECTING

THEM FROM PREDATORS.

AS THE YOUNG MALE MACAQUES GROW UP, THEY TEST THEIR

STRENGTH IN PLAY BATTLES, GETTING READY FOR LIFE IN

THE JUNGLE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHEN THEY'RE A LITTLE OLDER, THEY'LL

LEAVE THE TROOP AND THIS WATERY KINGDOM, FIND A

BAND OF MALE BACHELORS TO HANG OUT WITH OR TRY

RUNNING THEIR OWN TROOP OF MONKEYS.

WHEREVER THEY END UP, THESE MONKEYS NEED TO BE

RESOURCEFUL, FINDING WATER AND FOOD AT ALL TIMES.

LUCKILY, THE MONSOON SEASON PROVIDES BOTH.

IN CHINA, THERE ARE A GROUP OF HIGHLY SKILLED

ANIMALS WHO HAVE MASTERED THE ART OF LIVING ON THE

WATER.

FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS, LOCALS HAVE FISHED

THE LIJIANG RIVER WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THESE EXPERT

ANGLERS.

CORMORANTS ARE AQUATIC BIRDS WHO SPECIALIZE IN

CATCHING FISH.

TRAINED BY THEIR HUMAN COUNTERPARTS FROM SIX

MONTHS OLD, THESE ADULT BIRDS KNOW THEY HAVE AN

IMPORTANT JOB TO DO.

DIVING BELOW THE SURFACE, THE CORMORANT PLUCKS

UNSUSPECTING RIVER LIFE FROM THE SHALLOW WATERS.

A LOOSE TIE AROUND THEIR NECK PREVENTS THEM FROM

SWALLOWING THE FISH WHOLE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SLAPPING THE WATER ENCOURAGES THE BIRDS TO

PERFORM THEIR DUTIES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ON A GOOD DAY, A FISHERMAN, WITH THE HELP

OF HIS AVIAN ASSISTANT, CAN LURE IN MORE THAN 100

POUNDS OF BOUNTY A DAY.

AND CORMORANTS ARE ANYTHING BUT BIRD BRAINED.

THEY'RE SAID TO BE ABLE TO COUNT HOW MANY FISH

THEY'VE PULLED IN.

WHO NEEDS A ROD AND REEL WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE

FEATHERED FRIENDS BY YOUR SIDE?

COMING UP, FIND OUT HOW THESE LUMBERING GIANTS OF

ASIA STIR THINGS UP WHEN WE RETURN.

.

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: WELCOME BACK.

JUST LIKE HUMANS, ALL ANIMALS IN THE WILD USE

THEIR WITS TO SURVIVE.

BUT THERE'S ONE CREATURE WHOSE INTELLIGENCE IS

TRULY LEGENDARY.

THE ELEPHANTS YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET HAVE COMPLEX

FAMILY SYSTEMS THAT ENCOURAGE TIME TOGETHER.

WHETHER THEY'RE FINDING THEIR NEXT MEAL OR PLAYING

IN THE MUD, LET'S WATCH.

IN THE LOWLAND AREAS OF SOUTHWEST CHINA, LIVES ONE

OF THE MOST ENDANGERED CREATURES ON EARTH.

DESPITE THEIR SIZE, THESE LUMBERING BEASTS HAVE

MANAGED TO EVADE DETECTION FOR DECADES.

THIS IS THE ASIAN ELEPHANT.

WHILE THEY TRAVEL IN LARGE GROUPS, THEY REMAIN ONE OF

CHINA'S GREATEST SECRETS.

GIANT HERDS USED TO BE COMMON ACROSS CHINA,

ROAMING AS FAR AS BEIJING.

BUT THIS HIDDEN VALLEY IN YUNNAN IS THE ONLY PLACE

WHERE THEY SURVIVE.

ASIAN ELEPHANTS EAT UP TO 300 POUNDS OF FOOD A DAY,

AND THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE JUNGLE

ECOSYSTEM.

ELEPHANT DROPPINGS BOTH FERTILIZE THE SOIL AND

HELP DISPENSE SEEDS OF THE MANY PLANT SPECIES.

ASIAN ELEPHANTS LIVE IN SMALL GROUPS CONTAINING

SIX OR SEVEN FEMALES, AS WELL AS THEIR YOUNG.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS TIGHTLY KNIT FAMILY OF FEMALES REMAINS

TOGETHER FOR LIFE.

ADULT ELEPHANTS DRINK MORE THAN 25 GALLONS OF WATER A

DAY.

BUT A VISIT TO THIS FOREST POND SATISFIES ANOTHER

IMPORTANT NEED BESIDES THIRST.

BLOWING BUBBLES INTO THE MUCKY POOL RELEASES

MINERALS SUCH AS CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM.

SALTS ESSENTIAL FOR THEIR DIET.

THE GROWNUPS HAVE HAD THEIR FILL AND ARE READY

TO MOVE ON.

BUT THIS YOUNGSTER DECIDES THE FUN ISN'T OVER YET.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS RIVER IS A FAVORITE GATHERING POINT

FOR MANY OF THE REGION'S FAMILIES.

BATHING ISN'T JUST ABOUT KEEPING COOL, IT'S ALSO A

PLACE FOR THE ELEPHANTS TO PLAY AND SOCIALIZE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AFTER A RELAXING DIP IN THE WATER, THIS

HERD IS OFF TO FIND THEIR NEXT MEAL.

ALTHOUGH THEIR FAVORITE FOOD IS BAMBOO AND GRASS,

TREE LEAVES, LIANAS, AND SAPLINGS WILL DO IN A

PINCH.

AS THESE ANIMALS MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE

FOREST, THEY CREATE CLEARINGS THAT ALLOW LIGHT

TO REACH THE FOREST FLOOR, NURTURING NEW PLANT

GROWTH.

THEY ARE QUITE LITERALLY THE GARDENERS OF THIS

TROPICAL LANDSCAPE.

OF THE THOUSANDS OF ELEPHANTS THAT ONCE ROAMED

ACROSS CHINA, FEWER THAN 300 REMAIN.

AND THEY ALL LIVE HERE IN YUNNAN'S SECRET FORESTS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ACROSS THE WORLD, ON THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS,

THERE'S A MUCH SMALLER CREATURE, WHOSE ABILITY TO

ADAPT TO ITS UNFRIENDLY SURROUNDINGS IS

OUTSTANDING.

THE ABILITY TO ADAPT TO SUCH HOSTILE CONDITIONS

SECURED A FUTURE FOR THESE UNIQUE REPTILES FOUND ONLY

ON THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.

THE ROUGH BLACK ROCKS FROM THE LAVA COAT THE ISLAND.

JUST A FEW PLANTS AND ANIMALS COULD EVER

SURVIVE.

WITH LITTLE COMPETITION, THIS REPTILE STAKES CLAIM.

THE MARINE IGUANA.

IT'S THE ONLY LIZARD IN THE WORLD THAT PREFERS TO

SPEND MOST OF ITS TIME IN THE WATER.

THESE LIZARDS ADAPTED TO THIS BARREN LANDSCAPE.

NOW, THERE ARE MORE THAN 250,000 MARINE IGUANAS ON

THE GALAPAGOS.

THE MARINE IGUANAS ARE COLD BLOODED REPTILES AND

THE OCEAN IS FREEZING COLD.

THOSE TWO THINGS DON'T MIX.

TO GET PREPARED, THESE CREATURES LIE OUT ON THE

HOT ROCKS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TO WARM UP.

WHEN IT'S GO TIME, THE MARINE IGUANA PLUNGES DEEP

INTO THE SEA.

THIS IGUANA'S TAIL IS FLAT AND ACTS LIKE A BIG

FLIPPER, PROPELLING HIM AS DEEP AS 40 FEET DOWN.

THESE MARINE ANIMALS ARE VEGETARIAN, THEY SEEK OUT

THE RED AND GREEN ALGAE GROWING ON UNDERWATER

ROCKS.

LONG, FINGERLIKE CLAWS ALLOW THEM TO GRASP THE

ROCKS, HOLDING TIGHT AS THEY GRAZE.

A SHORT SNOUT LETS THE IGUANA GET CLOSE TO THE

LAVA ROCKS, TEARING AT THE ALGAE.

AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES, THE ICY WATER MAKES THEIR

MUSCLES SEIZE UP.

IF THE IGUANAS DON'T SURFACE QUICKLY, THEY

COULD GET STUCK UNDERWATER.

INSTINCT DRIVES THE IGUANAS TO RETURN TO THE

ROCKS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

MARINE IGUANAS END UP SWALLOWING A GREAT DEAL OF

SALT DURING THESE DIVING EXPEDITIONS.

SPECIAL GLANDS ABOVE EACH EYE COLLECT THE SALT.

WHEN THEY'RE READY, THE IGUANAS JUST SNEEZE OUT

THE EXCESS SALT.

COMING UP, WE HEAD TO THE CLIFFS OF TURKEY, A

PLAYGROUND FOR SOME OF THE WORLD'S BEST MOUNTAIN

CLIMBERS.

AND THEN, FIND OUT WHY THESE ANCIENT NOMADS

RETURN EVERY YEAR TO THIS MOONLIT BEACH.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK.

ON EVERY EARTH ODYSSEY, WE FIND A DIVERSE GROUP OF

WILDLIFE, ALL WITH UNIQUE TRAITS THAT SERVE THEM IN

THE WILD.

WELL, YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET ANOTHER ANIMAL WITH A

SPECIAL TALENT FOR SURVIVING AND THRIVING.

TAKE A LOOK.

MOUNTAINOUS, BEAUTIFUL, AND BIZARRE IN ITS ROUGH

NATURE.

TURKEY SITS BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST.

SHAPED BY VOLCANIC EXPLOSIONS AND A

NEVER-ENDING SUPPLY OF EARTHQUAKES, THIS IS A

LAND OF EXTREMES.

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 600 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 FORM NEARLY EVERY DIRECTION.

EXCELLENT TOOLS TO FIND A FOOTHOLD 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.

ON TURKEY'S COAST, THESE PREHISTORIC CREATURES OF

THE SEA FACE A DIFFERENT SET OF CHALLENGES.

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.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: 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 THE

HIDDEN BURIAL SPOT.

THE WILL TO SURVIVE ONLY GROWS STRONGER IN THIS

MIDDLE EASTERN TERRAIN.

COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY, WE EXPLORE THE

WILD SIDE OF PARADISE.

THEN WATCH AS ONE OF THE SMALLEST RESIDENTS OF THE

CARIBBEAN FINDS THEIR PERFECT FIT.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO EARTH ODYSSEY.

WHEN YOU THINK OF A TROPICAL PARADISE, IMAGES

OF WHITE SANDY BEACHES AND PALM TREES SWAYING IN THE

WIND PROBABLY COME TO MIND.

BUT THERE'S A WILD SIDE TO THESE ISLANDS, TOO, AND

IT'S FULL OF ANIMALS WHO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR

SURROUNDINGS.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS ARE SITUATED BETWEEN THE NORTH

AND SOUTH AMERICAN CONTINENTS.

ON THE ISLAND OF TRINIDAD, THERE'S A PLAYFUL MAMMAL

WHO'S NOT AFRAID TO KNOCK HARD TO GET WHAT HE WANTS.

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 AND 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.

TRINIDAD'S MONKEYS ARE LUCKY, THEY ONLY NEED TO

HOP AROUND THE ISLAND TO FIND ANOTHER MEAL.

DOMINICA IS THE YOUNGEST ISLAND OF THE CARIBBEAN.

IT'S COVERED WITH LUSH GREEN FORESTS.

THEIR 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.

THEIR WINGS BEAT 80 TIMES EVERY SECOND.

AND, LIKE AN ENGINE, THEIR HEARTS BEAT 500 TIMES A

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.

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 ROLL 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.

IT'S A MATCH MADE IN PARADISE ON THESE

CARIBBEAN ISLANDS.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THE BEST OF EARTH ODYSSEY.

IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO SEE HOW ANIMALS AND PLANTS

HAVE LEARNED TO ADAPT NO MATTER HOW CHALLENGING

THEIR ENVIRONMENTS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE ON

EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]