Original subtitles

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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 THIS IS

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE HEAD TO SOUTH ASIA

WHERE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST

FASCINATING CREATURES AND MOST

FEARED PREDATORS CALL HOME.

FIRST, WE'LL JOIN THE HERD OF

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ANIMALS ON

EARTH.

AND THEN, WE HEAD FROM ONE OF

THE PLANET'S BIGGEST MAMMALS TO

ITS SMALLEST PIGS.

BUT THIS TINY SWINE KNOWS HOW TO

EAT JUST FINE.

PLUS, ONE OF THE GREATEST

HUNTERS ON THE PLANET GRACES US

WITH ITS PREDATORIAL PRESENCE.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: SOUTH ASIA INCLUDES MANY - DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND COVERS

TWO MILLION SQUARE MILES OF THE

EARTH'S SURFACE.

IT CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE

DIFFERENT CLIMATES: TROPICAL,

DRY, AND TEMPERATE.

- THIS ALLOWS FOR AN INCREDIBLE - AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY IN THE

REGION, FROM THE SMALLEST PLANT

TO THE BIGGEST MAMMAL AND FEW

MAMMALS ARE BIGGER THAN THE

ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL AND THE ALWAYS

HUNGRY ASIAN ELEPHANT.

WELCOME TO AN ANCIENT, MAGICAL

LAND.

A TRUE PARADISE OF UNRIVALED

BEAUTY.

HERE IN SOME OF THE PLANET'S

MOST SPECTACULAR HABITATS.

- ICONIC SPECIES CARVE OUT A WILD - EXISTENCE.

FROM GENTLE GIANTS...

...TO FIERCE PREDATORS.

THIS IS A LAND LIKE NO OTHER.

- BUT THESE ANIMALS ARE FACING NEW - CHALLENGES.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALTERING THEIR

HOME.

FORCING WILDLIFE TO STRIVE

HARDER THAN EVER.

FOR THEIR VERY SURVIVAL.

- IN THE WILD EDEN'S OF SOUTH - ASIA.

HERE AT THE GRASSLANDS OF ASSAM

LIVES ONE OF THE LARGEST MAMMALS

TO WALK THE EARTH.

THE ASIAN ELEPHANT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS FEMALE IS THE

MATRIARCH.

LEADING THE HERD IS NO EASY

TASK.

IT'S A BIG FAMILY.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: AND IT'S HER JOB TO - GUIDE THEM ALL TO THE BEST

FEEDING SPOTS.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: LUCKILY, THERE'S PLENTY - OF FOOD HERE IN THE FORESTS OF

ASSAM.

WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

ELEPHANTS EAT A LOT.

A FULLY GROWN ADULT CAN CONSUME

MORE THAN 300 POUNDS OF FOOD IN

A SINGLE DAY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THE MATRIARCH

GETS PLENTY TO EAT.

SHE NEEDS ALL THE NUTRITION SHE

CAN GET BECAUSE SHE'S NOT ONLY

THE BOSS, SHE'S ALSO A MOTHER.

HER CALF IS JUST A FEW MONTHS

OLD AND FOR NOW, HE'S COMPLETELY

RELIANT ON HIS MOTHER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AT THIS AGE, HE'LL NEVER

BE FAR FROM HER SIDE.

HE'S CONSTANTLY LEARNING NEW

LESSONS FROM HIS FAMILY.

TODAY, HE'S TRYING TO GET TO

GRIPS WITH HIS TRUNK.

THE ADULTS CAN USE THIS UNIQUE

APPENDAGE TO PLUCK EVEN THE

SHORTEST BLADES OF GRASS.

BUT WITH 40,000 MUSCLES IN EACH

ELEPHANT'S TRUNK, IT TAKES A LOT

OF PRACTICE.

- SOME OF THE FAMILY ARE TRUE - MASTERS.

- BUT THIS YOUNGSTER STILL NEEDS A - LOT MORE PRACTICE.

THE ELEPHANT'S IMMENSE SIZE AND

EXTRAORDINARY APPETITE HELP

SHAPE THIS WILD EDEN.

BUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN

EXPANSION ARE ALSO ALTERING THIS

HABITAT.

- MEANING THE SURVIVAL OF THESE - ICONIC ANIMALS IS BECOMING

INCREASINGLY IN JEOPARDY.

THEY COULD SOON CEASE TO EXIST

ALL TOGETHER.

THESE GENTLE GIANTS SHARE

ASSAM'S TOWERING GRASSES WITH

ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED

ANIMALS ON THE PLANET.

COMING UP, JUST BECAUSE THESE

ARE THE SMALLEST PIGS IN THE

WORLD DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T

HAVE A BIG APPETITE.

AND LATER, WITH A HOP AND A SKIP

WE HEAD TO HANG WITH THIS SLIMY,

AMPHIBIOUS FISH.

PLUS, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE

SPOTTED BY ONE OF THESE

LEOPARDS.

[BREAK]

- NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO - THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE

MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO SOUTH

ASIA WHERE THE RAREST AND IN

- THIS CASE CUTEST CREATURES ON - EARTH CALL HOME.

FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH,

THESE ARE THE SMALLEST PIGS IN

THE WORLD.

BARELY EIGHT INCHES TALL, THIS

FEMALE PYGMY HOG IS RAISING

EIGHT EVEN TINIER PIGLETS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY MAY BE SMALL BUT

LIKE ALL PIGS, THEY HAVE A HUGE

APPETITE AND WILL EAT ALMOST

ANYTHING.

FROM ROOTS AND GRASSES TO

INSECTS AND EVEN SMALL RODENTS.

THESE TINY HOGS ARE THE ONLY

BREED OF PIG TO BUILD NESTS ALL

YEAR-ROUND.

- DIGGING HOLES IN THE DIRT AND - COVERING THEMSELVES WITH STICKS

AND GRASSES.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: AS WELL AS BEING THE - SMALLEST PIGS ON EARTH, THEY'RE

ALSO THE MOST ENDANGERED.

JUST 200 INDIVIDUALS SURVIVE IN

THIS TINY POCKETED INDIAN

GRASSLAND.

LEAVING THEM ON THE EDGE OF

EXTINCTION.

MEANING THIS SMALL GROUP MAY BE

THE LAST OF THIS SHY AND ELUSIVE

SPECIES.

BEING SO EASILY HIDDEN AMONGST

EVEN THE SHORTEST GRASSES,

THEY'RE RARELY SPOTTED IN THE

WILD.

- BUT NOT ALL OF ASIA'S WILDLIFE - IS SO SHY.

IN FACT, SOME ARE BORN TO

SHOWOFF.

IN THIS FOREST CLEARING, A YOUNG

PEACOCK IS TRYING TO IMPRESS ALL

THE OTHER FEMALES.

BUT HIS OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY IS

ALSO BEING WATCHED BY THE

BIGGEST MALE IN THE AREA.

WHO DECIDES TO HEAD OVER AND

INTERRUPT THE YOUNGER PEACOCK'S

FEEBLE ATTEMPT.

FOR PEACOCKS, SIZE MATTERS.

AND THE HUGE MALE'S SUPERIOR

PLUMAGE QUICKLY PUTS THE

JUVENILE'S IN HIS PLACE.

HAVING RUFFLED HIS FEATHERS, HE

ALSO RELAXES.

HE'S PROVEN THAT HE'S STILL THE

PRETTIEST BOY IN THIS PART OF

THE FOREST.

DESPITE BEING HIGHLY VISIBLE TO

PREDATORS, PEACOCKS HAVE SOMEHOW

MANAGED TO SPREAD TO ALMOST

EVERY CORNER OF THIS HUGE

COUNTRY.

- BUT WITH SO MANY OF THESE - FLAMBOYANT BIRDS COMPETING FOR

FOOD, THEY'RE SOMETIMES FORCED

TO LOOK IN SOME HARD-TO-REACH

PLACES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS MALES HAS SPOTTED A

PARTICULARLY TRICKY MEAL.

HE'S TOO HEAVY FOR THE SMALL

BRANCHES, SO HE USES HIS

INGENUITY.

THERE ARE SURELY MORE ACCESSIBLE

DELIGHTS.

- BUT IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE OTHERS - JOIN HIM.

SADLY, HIS BEAK IS NOT DESIGNED

FOR CRACKING INTO THE HARD OUTER

LAYER OF THIS FRUIT.

THE PEACOCK NEEDS OTHER SPECIES

TO SHOW 'EM HOW IT'S DONE.

WITH THE SOFT FRUIT NOW EXPOSED,

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THE

OPPORTUNITY IS SPOTTED BY

ANOTHER MALE.

- TENSIONS SOON RISE AND THE - FRUSTRATED BIRDS COMPETE FOR THE

CHOICE FRUITS.

- BUT EVENTUALLY, HIS PERSEVERANCE - PAYS OFF.

COMING UP, THERE'S NO DUD IN

THIS MUD AS THESE AMPHIBIOUS

FISH ARE EXPERTS AT SURVIVING

AND THRIVING.

PLUS, ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST

BEAUTIFUL MAMMALS IN THE ANIMAL

KINGDOM.

[BREAK]

- NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO - THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE

MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: IF YOU WANT TO GET A - FEEL FOR THE VERSATILITY OF

SOUTH ASIA'S LANDSCAPE, LOOK NO

FURTHER THAN ONE OF ITS MOST

- DIVERSE REGIONS, THE SUNDARBANS - FOREST.

DEPENDING ON THE TIDES, IT'S TWO

DIFFERENT AND DANGEROUS WORLDS.

- BUT THERE'S ONE PRIMATE THAT - GETS AWAY WITH LEAVING ITS HOME

BECAUSE ITS VERSATILITY HELPS IT

GET AWAY FROM PREDATORS.

COVERING ALMOST 4,000 SQUARE

MILES ON THE BORDER OF INDIA AND

BANGLADESH, THE SUNDARBANS IS

THE BIGGEST RIVER DELTA ON THE

PLANET.

LOCATED AT THE MOUTH OF THE

MIGHTY GANGES RIVER, THIS IS

- ALSO THE LARGEST MANGROVE FOREST - ON EARTH.

A MAZE OF ENDLESS WATERWAYS AND

UNEXPLORED ISLANDS.

- HOME TO A STAGGERING ARRAY OF - WILDLIFE.

AND THIS UNIQUE HABITAT

TRANSFORMS WITH THE TIDE.

WHEN THE WATER IS AT ITS LOWEST,

THE MUDDY BANKS REVEAL A HIDDEN

FEAST.

WHICH IS ENJOYED BY ONE OF THE

WORLD'S MOST VERSATILE ANIMALS.

RHESUS MACAQUES.

THIS IS THE DOMINANT MALE.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, - IT'S BEST TO KEEP OUT OF HIS

WAY.

LUCKILY FOR THESE INGENIOUS

MONKEYS, THERE'S PLENTY TO EAT

- AMONG THE EXPOSED ROOTS OF THE - MANGROVE.

AND THE RETREATING WATERS CAN

SOMETIMES OFFER UP A TREAT.

EVEN IF IT DOES MEAN GETTING

YOUR FEET WET.

- THESE MONKEYS SHARE THE MUDDY - SHORES WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S

MOST UNUSUAL FISH.

THE MUD FLATS OF THE SUNDARBANS

PROVIDE THE PERFECT HABITAT FOR

THIS STRANGE CREATURE:

MUDSKIPPERS.

THIS LAND-LOVING FISH SPENDS

MOST OF ITS LIFE OUT OF THE

WATER.

THEY CAN WALK ON LAND AND

BREATHE AIR.

THE SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS LIES

IN THE MUD.

AS THE SUN HITS THE EXPOSED RICH

SILT, MICROSCOPIC PLANTS AND

ANIMALS THRIVE, PROVIDING THE

PERFECT DIET FOR THIS AMPHIBIOUS

FISH.

DESPITE THE ABUNDANCE OF FOOD,

MUDSKIPPERS ARE HIGHLY

TERRITORIAL.

IF A NEIGHBOR GETS TOO

CLOSE...FIGHTING SOON BREAKS

OUT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT THE MUDFLATS THESE

CURIOUS CREATURES CALL HOME MAY

NOT BE SAFE FOREVER.

GLOBAL WARMING HAS LED TO RISING

SEA LEVELS, RESULTING IN A

DEVASTATING LOSS OF HABITAT.

HUGE AREAS OF FORESTED COASTLINE

ARE BEING CONSUMED BY THE SEA

EVERY YEAR.

THE RICH MANGROVE FORESTS ARE

SLOWLY DISAPPEARING.

WHOLE ISLANDS ARE BEING

ENGULFED.

AND ENTIRE SPECIES COULD BE

COMPLETELY LOST.

- THE FUTURE OF THE ANIMALS HERE - IN THE SUNDARBANS MAY BE

THREATENED BY TOO MUCH WATER.

COMING UP, THE UNBELIEVABLE

STRENGTH AND ABILITY OF ONE OF

THE WORLD'S MOST INCREDIBLE AND

INCREDIBLY FEARED HUNTERS: THE

INDIAN LEOPARD.

[BREAK]

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE

MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN THE NORTH OF INDIA,

LIFE MUST FIND A WAY TO SURVIVE

- IN ONE OF SOUTH ASIA'S DRIEST - REGIONS.

HERE AMONG THE CRAGGY HILLS AT

THE EDGE OF THE THAR DESERT,

HUMAN ACTIVITY HAS MAROONED ONE

OF INDIA'S MOST ICONIC

PREDATORS.

AMONG THESE ROCKS LAY THE

REMAINS OF A RECENT MEAL.

THIS INDIAN LEOPARD IS A

STEALTHY, NOCTURNAL HUNTER.

CAPABLE OF TAKING DOWN PREY

THREE TIMES ITS SIZE.

- THIS MALE HAS BEEN OUT HUNTING - ALL NIGHT.

IN THE COOL DAWN AIR, HE PATROLS

HIS ROCKY DOMAIN.

KEEPING OUT A WATCHFUL EYE FOR

INTRUDERS.

HE WOULD PREFER TO LIVE A

SOLITARY EXISTENCE, BUT DUE TO

HABITAT LOSS, HE MUST NOW SHARE

THE SINGLE HUNTING GROUND WITH

FIVE OTHER LEOPARDS.

- WITH SO MUCH COMPETITION, THESE - BIG CATS ARE BEING FORCED TO

HUNT NIGHT AND DAY.

THE SUN MAY BE RISING, BUT THIS

YOUNG FEMALE IS HEADING DOWN TO

SEARCH FOR PREY.

AT JUST TWO YEARS OLD, SHE'S

STILL PERFECTING HER TECHNIQUE.

AND SHE'S ALREADY BEEN SPOTTED.

ALWAYS READY TO SOUND THE ALARM,

A TROOP OF HANUMAN LANGURS ARE

KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THE BIG

CAT'S EVERY MOVE.

THEY'VE CREATED SO MUCH NOISE,

THE WHOLE FOREST IS ALERTED TO

THIS LEOPARD'S UNEXPECTED

APPROACH.

INCLUDING INDIA'S LARGEST

ANTELOPE.

NILGAI ARE BIG AND FAST.

BUT THE CALF IS AN OBVIOUS

TARGET.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: EVEN A LEOPARD THIS - YOUNG KNOWS NOT TO WASTE ENERGY

ON A LONG CHASE.

PATIENCE WILL BE HER SECRET

WEAPON.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: SHE SPOTS AN OPPORTUNITY - FOR A SURPRISE ATTACK.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR - THIS ROOKIE HUNTER, HER

CAMOUFLAGE IS BEST SUITED FOR

LOW LIGHT.

AND IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF DAY,

THE NILGAI SOON SPOT THE

APPROACHING DANGER.

PERHAPS ONCE NIGHT FALLS, THE

BIG CAT WILL REGAIN THE UPPER

HAND.

- THE WILDLIFE OF SOUTH ASIA FACES - HUGE CHALLENGES.

THE MONSOON HAS GIFTED LIFE IN

PLACES, BUT IN OTHERS, CLIMATE

CHANGE COULD TIP THE BALANCE.

- LEAVING THE FUTURE OF THIS - SUBCONTINENT'S WILDLIFE

UNCERTAIN.

FROM THE BIG TO THE SMALL AND

EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, ALL THESE

INCREDIBLE SPECIES MUST FIGHT

FOR THEIR SURVIVAL IN SOUTH

ASIA'S WILD EDENS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS

ADVENTURE TO SOUTH ASIA.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING HIDING

OR SOMETHING HUNGRY IN THIS

DIVERSE LAND, SO YOU ALWAYS NEED

TO STAY ON YOUR TOES.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON

ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]