Original subtitles

.

- NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS - SYMBOL YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL

AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI, EVERYBODY, I'M

DYLAN DREYER, AND WELCOME

TO "EARTH ODYSSEY".

ON TODAY'S SHOW, WE HEAD

TO SOUTH AMERICA TO

EXPLORE THE ISLANDS OF THE

AMAZON RIVER.

HERE, ALL TYPES OF EXOTIC

ANIMALS THRIVE, LIKE THE

BIGGEST OTTERS IN THE

WORLD THAT YOU "OTTER"

KNOW ABOUT.

AND LATER, WE'LL DISCOVER

SOME OF THE BEST FISHING

HOLES FROM THE LOCALS

THEMSELVES.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: SOUTH AMERICA IS - HOME TO TWO OF THE WORLD'S

LARGEST RIVER BASINS, THE

AMAZON AND THE RIO DE LA

PLATA.

THEY'RE FED BY SMALLER

RIVERS THAT SUPPORT LIFE

- FOR THE HUNDREDS OF ANIMAL - SPECIES LIVING IN THIS

VIBRANT REGION.

SOUTH AMERICA IS ALSO HOME

TO ANOTHER WORLD'S LARGEST

WHO THRIVES IN THESE

TREMENDOUS TRIBUTARIES.

- I DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT - AWAY, BUT YOU "OTTER" PAY

ATTENTION.

- THE AMAZON RIVER ISLANDS - ARE THE HEART OF THE

AMAZON RIVER.

THESE ANCIENT ISLANDS WERE

FORMED DURING A TIME OF

- CHANGE IN THE AMAZON MORE - THAN 1,500 YEARS AGO.

THEN THE BLACK WATERS OF

THE RIO NEGRO DID NOT FLOW

SO FREELY INTO THE MIGHTY

AMAZON RIVER.

CONDITIONS WERE MUCH

CALMER.

SEDIMENT ARRIVING FROM THE

RIO BRANCO TO THE NORTH

STARTED TO SETTLE.

JOINED BY WATERS FROM THE

RIO NEGRO'S UPPER REACHES,

POCKETS OF FOREST STARTED

TO FORM.

- THEY DEVELOPED INTO THE - ISLANDS WE SEE TODAY.

OVER TIME, THE RIO NEGRO

ONCE AGAIN PICKED UP PACE

- AND STARTED TO FLOW BACK - INTO THE AMAZON.

THE ISLANDS WERE LEFT AND

SURVIVE TO THIS DAY, BUT

- THEY WOULDN'T EXIST AT ALL - IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE

WHITE WATERS OF THE RIO

BRANCO, WHERE EVEN TO THIS

DAY, LIFE DOESN'T JUST

SURVIVE; IT FLOURISHES.

ONE OF THE RIO BRANCO'S

MOST CHARISMATIC CREATURES

IS THE GIANT RIVER OTTER.

THE OTTERS SPEND MOST OF

THEIR TIME HUNTING.

MOVING AS A PACK, THEY'RE

ABLE TO CORRAL FISH BEFORE

PICKING THEM OFF

ONE-BY-ONE.

FRESH FISH MAKE A FINE

BREAKFAST.

OTTERS NEED TO FUEL THEIR

ENERGETIC LIFESTYLE AND

CAN CRUNCH THROUGH UP TO

EIGHT POUNDS OF FISH A

DAY.

- CATCHING THE FISH WITH - THEIR MOUTHS, THEY THEN

HOLD THEM WITH THEIR

FOREPAWS AS THEY DEVOUR

THEIR PREY, SCALES AND

ALL.

BUT THESE PREDATORS HAVE A

SOFTER SIDE, AND WHEN

- BREAKFAST IS OVER, IT'S - TIME TO PLAY.

GIANT RIVER OTTERS LIVE IN

LARGE FAMILY GROUPS, AND

IT WILL BE SOME TIME

BEFORE LAST YEAR'S CUBS

HEAD OFF TO FORM FAMILIES

OF THEIR OWN.

FAMILY LIFE REVOLVES

AROUND THE DEN.

- THE MOTHER REMAINS HIDDEN - WHILE SHE RAISES THE NEXT

GENERATION.

WITH SEVERAL DENS DOTTED

AROUND THEIR TERRITORY,

THE FAMILY MOVES REGULARLY

IN SEARCH OF FISH AND TO

AVOID UNWANTED ATTENTION

FROM PREDATORS.

JUST A FEW MONTHS OLD, THE

CUBS MUST BE CARRIED, AS

- THEY'RE STILL TOO YOUNG TO - SWIM.

- THE FAMILY HEADS OFF - UPRIVER.

ARRIVING AT THEIR NEXT

DEN, THE FIRST PRIORITY IS

TO GET THE CUBS INSIDE

WHERE IT'S SAFE.

- THE FATHER KEEPS WATCH - WHILE HIS FAMILY SETTLES

INTO THEIR NEW HOME.

- THE MALE'S SCENT MARKS THE - ENTRANCE TO WARN OTHERS

THAT THEY ARE NOW IN

RESIDENCE.

- IT'S A PUNGENT CONCOCTION - THAT WILL KEEP EVEN THE

NOSIEST NEIGHBORS AWAY.

- COMING UP, EVEN THE - TINIEST INSECT CAN MAKE

THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON

THESE ISLANDS.

- PLUS, WE'RE FISHING FOR - THE SECRETS THAT KEEP THE

LOCALS OF THIS ISLAND

HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

[BREAK]

.

- NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE - MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC

- DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO - THE AMAZON RIVER ISLANDS,

WHERE FLOODS CAN BRING

CHANGE TO THE SHAPE OF THE

LAND.

- THESE FLOODWATERS BRING - ABOUT A CHANGE IN

EVERYONE'S LIVES, FROM THE

BIGGEST TO THE SMALLEST.

- A COLONY OF FIRE ANTS HAVE - BEEN FORCED OUT OF THEIR

UNDERGROUND HOME BY THE

RISING WATER LEVELS...

...PROVIDING AN EASY MEAL

DESPITE THEIR PAINFUL

STING.

- THIS TREE WILL PROVIDE A - SAFE HAVEN UNTIL THE

- WATERS FALL AND THEY CAN - RETURN TO THE FOREST

FLOOR.

THE RESILIENT ANTS QUICKLY

MOVE IN TO A VACANT CRACK

IN THE BARK.

SOME ANIMALS DON'T JUST

SURVIVE; THEY THRIVE IN

THE NEW CONDITIONS.

LEAF-CUTTER ANTS SWARM

THROUGH THE TREES.

ABLE TO CARRY PIECES OF

LEAF WEIGHING 20 TIMES

THEIR BODY WEIGHT, THEY

ARE BORN TO WORK.

THESE ARE NO ORDINARY

ANTS.

- IT'S BELIEVED THEY'RE A - SEPARATE SPECIES TO THE

ONES WHO NEST UNDERGROUND,

AND THEY'VE DEVELOPED A

UNIQUE BEHAVIOR.

THEY'VE SWAPPED THE FOREST

FLOOR FOR THE TREETOPS.

BY BUILDING THEIR NESTS IN

THE CANOPY, THEY AVOID THE

ANNUAL FLOODS.

SO DESPITE THE RISING

WATERS, THEY CONTINUE

UNDISTURBED.

COLONIES CAN CONTAIN UP TO

EIGHT MILLION INDIVIDUALS,

- MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST - DOMINANT CREATURES IN

SOUTH AMERICA AND ONE OF

THE RIVER ISLANDS' MOST

RESILIENT RESIDENTS.

WORKER ANTS ARE SENT OUT

TO COLLECT SUPPLIES.

- FORAGING FAR AND WIDE, - THEY'RE ABLE TO FIND THEIR

WAY HOME BY LAYING DOWN A

PHEROMONE TRAIL.

THE PHEROMONE IS SO

POWERFUL, ONE GRAM OF THE

SCENT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO

LAY AN ANT TRAIL ALL THE

WAY AROUND THE WORLD.

ONLY THE FRESHEST AND

JUICIEST LEAVES ARE

SELECTED.

- POWERFUL JAWS SLICE - THROUGH THE CELLULOSE WITH

EASE.

- ONCE LOADED UP, THE ANTS - THEN BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY

BACK TO THE NEST.

LEAF-CUTTER ANTS CULTIVATE

A SPECIAL FUNGUS GARDEN

DEEP WITHIN THE NEST AND

ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY

- DEPENDENT ON THE FUNGUS - FOR FOOD.

MAINTAINING THE GARDEN IS

CRUCIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF

THE COLONY.

ONLY THE QUEEN IS ABLE TO

PRODUCE OFFSPRING.

SHE'S CAPABLE OF LAYING

THOUSANDS OF EGGS PER DAY,

MOST OF WHICH ARE DESTINED

TO BECOME WORKERS.

THE ANTS ARE TRUE FOREST

SPECIALISTS, AND OUT OF

- THE REACH OF THE - FLOODWATERS, THEY CONTINUE

TO DOMINATE.

COMING UP, THESE INSECTS

MIGHT WANT YOU TO THINK

TWICE BEFORE VENTURING

AWAY FROM LAND.

PLUS, THESE MASSIVE

MAMMALS CAN NAVIGATE

THROUGH THE SMALLEST

STREAMS, NEXT ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

[BREAK]

.

- NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE - MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK.

THE RIO NEGRO SITUATED IN

THE MIDDLE OF THE AMAZON

REGION OF SOUTH AMERICA

SEES ITS FAIR SHARE OF

CHANGING WEATHER.

THE DRY INTERVAL USUALLY

OCCURS FROM JULY TO

OCTOBER, GIVING WILDLIFE A

CHANCE TO RECOVER FROM THE

GRUELING FLOOD SEASON.

THIS RIVER SEES ABOUT 54

INCHES OF RAIN A YEAR, AND

MOST OF THAT COMES DURING

FEBRUARY TO JULY, WHERE

THE FLOODING CAN EXCEED 30

FEET.

AND FROM THIS DELUGE, LIFE

IN THE RIVERS IS SWIMMING

WITH ACTION.

TAKE A LOOK.

- MOST INSECTS IN THE AMAZON - RIVER ISLANDS HAVE NOT

QUITE ADAPTED TO THEIR

AQUATIC HOME.

SOME ARE FORCED TO VENTURE

ACROSS THE WATER'S SURFACE

IN SEARCH OF DRY LAND.

IT'S A CROSSING FRAUGHT

WITH DANGER.

AROWANA LURK BENEATH.

THE FISH PATROL CLOSE TO

THE SURFACE, SCANNING FOR

PREY.

NO INSECT IS SAFE.

AS THE FLOODWATERS RISE,

MORE AND MORE GET WASHED

INTO REACH.

IT'S A TIME FOR THE

AROWANA TO FATTEN UP

- BEFORE THE LONG DRY SEASON - RETURNS.

SOME OF THE WATERWAY'S

MORE UNUSUAL CREATURES ARE

ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF

THE NEW FOOD AVAILABLE.

NEEDLEFISH LIE JUST

BENEATH THE SURFACE.

THEIR SLIM PROFILE HELPS

THEM TO AVOID DETECTION.

THEY HUNT BY SIGHT AND ARE

READY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

ANY STRAGGLERS.

UNLUCKY SPIDERS ARE PICKED

OFF WITH EASE.

- CARNIVOROUS FISH ARE NOT - THE ONLY UNDERWATER

- ANIMALS ENJOYING A GLUT OF - FOOD.

ONE OF SOUTH AMERICA'S

LARGEST ANIMALS LURKS IN

THESE WATERS.

THE AMAZONIAN MANATEE IS

AN ICONIC SYMBOL.

- HIDING OUT IN THE QUIET - BACKWATERS, THEY GORGE ON

THE FOOD THAT ARRIVES WITH

THE FLOODWATERS.

FOR THE MANATEE, THIS IS A

TIME OF PLENTY.

AND ALSO A TIME TO REAR

THEIR YOUNG.

THESE SHY MAMMALS GIVE

BIRTH TO A SINGLE CALF

ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.

- THE MOTHER WILL SPEND TIME - TEACHING THE YOUNGSTER THE

BEST ROUTE THROUGH THE

MAZE OF RIVER CHANNELS.

- THE CALF WILL NEED ALL ITS - MOTHER'S KNOWLEDGE AND

SUPPORT WITH THE DRY

SEASON FAST APPROACHING.

WHEN WE RETURN, WE TRY TO

STAY DRY IN THE WETTEST

SEASON IN ONE OF EARTH'S

WETTEST REGIONS.

[BREAK]

.

- NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE - MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO

THE AMAZON RIVER ISLANDS.

- IT'S NOW AUGUST, AND THE - RAINY SEASON IS COMING TO

AN END.

WATER LEVELS ARE FINALLY

STARTING TO FALL.

- THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS - THAT HAVE SURVIVED THE

FLOODS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO

DRYER TIMES AHEAD.

- EKING OUT A LIVING ON THE - EVER-CHANGING ISLANDS CAN

BE A CHALLENGE, BUT THERE

ARE ALWAYS WAYS AND MEANS

OF DOING SO.

AS THE FLOODWATERS START

TO FALL, SPECTACULAR FISH

BEGIN TO APPEAR IN THE

SHALLOWS OF THE FOREST.

CARDINAL TETRAS ARE FOUND

DEEP IN THE HEART OF PALM

- FORESTS ALONG THE BLACK - WATERS OF THE RIO NEGRO.

THIS FAMILY MAKES THE

EIGHT-HOUR ROUND TRIP FROM

- THE VILLAGE EACH DAY IN - ORDER TO GATHER THE TINY

FISH.

- THEIR CATCH IS DESTINED - FOR EXOTIC FISH TANKS

AROUND THE WORLD AND

PROVIDES THE FAMILY WITH A

VITAL SOURCE OF INCOME.

COME MIDDAY, IT'S TIME TO

HEAD BACK TO THE VILLAGE.

ON THEIR RETURN, THE FISH

ARE QUICKLY SORTED.

THE HIGHLY PRIZED CARDINAL

TETRAS ARE SEPARATED AND

PILED INTO BOXES.

A THOUSAND FISH SELLS FOR

AROUND FIVE DOLLARS, A

- DECENT INCOME THAT THE - FAMILY SUPPLEMENTS BY

HUNTING AND FISHING.

ONCE THE MORNING'S WORK IS

DONE, THE PACE OF VILLAGE

LIFE SLOWS.

BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER,

THE HEAVY RAINS CEASE, AND

THE WATER ENGULFING THE

RIVER ISLANDS HAS FALLEN

BY ALMOST A THIRD.

AS THE LEVELS DROP,

BEACHES REAPPEAR.

FOR MANY, LIFE STARTS TO

BECOME EASIER.

BUTTERFLIES FEED ON

FRESHLY EXPOSED LAND.

- MIGRANT BIRDS RETURN TO - NEST.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

- DYLAN: NEWLY EXPOSED - PLANTS BURST BACK INTO

LIFE WITH A FLUSH OF

GREEN.

- SQUIRREL MONKEYS ARE LESS - FEARFUL OF THE WORLD BELOW

AS THE RETREATING

FLOODWATERS LEAD THE

DANGERS AWAY...

- ...WHICH IS ALSO GOOD NEWS - FOR THE SLOTHS.

BUT FOR THE ISLAND'S WET

SEASON VISITORS, IT'S TIME

TO MOVE OUT.

- THE MANATEE MOTHER AND - CALF HAVE FEASTED FOR THE

PAST FOUR MONTHS.

- THEY MUST NOW PREPARE TO - RETURN TO THE MAIN

CHANNELS AND BEGIN THEIR

DRY SEASON FAST, AND FISH

- ARE ALSO FORCED TO LEAVE - THE ISLANDS' FLOODED

FOREST AND RETURN TO THE

DEEPER RIVER CHANNELS.

- SPREAD OVER A - SIX-HUNDRED-MILE STRETCH

OF THE RIO NEGRO, THE

ISLANDS OF THE AMAZON

RIVER PROVIDE A HOME FOR

SOME OF THE HEARTIEST

ANIMALS IN THE WORLD.

AS FLOODWATERS ENGULF THE

ISLANDS EACH YEAR, THOSE

THAT LIVE HERE ARE FORCED

TO ENDURE INCREDIBLE

EXTREMES.

- BUT ANIMALS HAVE DEVELOPED - WAYS OF COPING AND HAVE

LEARNED TO MASTER THEIR

EVER-CHANGING ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S EITHER SINK OR SWIM

HERE IN THE FLOATING

FORESTS OF THE AMAZON.

- THANK YOU FOR JOINING US - ON OUR ADVENTURE TO THE

HEART OF THE AMAZON, WHERE

HUNDREDS OF RIVER ISLANDS

SUPPORT LIFE FOR AN

ASTOUNDING NUMBER OF

SPECIES.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME

FOR ANOTHER INCREDIBLE

JOURNEY ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]