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'LL EXPLORE THE PLANET

TO FIND OUR FAVORITE FURRY AND

FEATHERED FAMILIES IN THE WILD,

LIKE IN VIETNAM, WHERE THIS

FAMILY OF LANGURS IS LONG,

LANKY, AND MOST OF ALL, LOVING.

PLUS, THESE SEA LIONS IN THE

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS KNOW TWO

THINGS, PATROLLING THEIR SHORES

AND PARENTING THEIR PUPS.

- AND LATER, WE HEAD TO THE - HIMALAYAS, WHERE ASIAN ELEPHANTS

AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ON THE

SEARCH FOR A FAMILY DINNER.

[ELEPHANT GRUMBLING]

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THERE'S NOTHING MORE - IMPORTANT IN THE WORLD THAN

SPENDING QUALITY FAMILY TIME.

THIS GOES FOR THE ANIMAL

KINGDOM, TOO, WHERE MANY SPECIES

BASE THEIR LIVES AROUND BONDING.

AND LIKE EVERY FAMILY,

RELATIONSHIPS CAN DIFFER FROM

ONE TO THE NEXT.

TODAY, WE'LL LOOK AT THE

NURTURING AND SOMETIMES

FRUSTRATING FAMILY DYNAMICS IN

THE WILD.

VIETNAM'S LABYRINTH OF CAVES

PROVIDE A PERMANENT SHELTER FOR

ONE OF THE MOST UNCOMMON

PRIMATES IN THE WORLD.

HA LONG BAY IN NORTHERN VIETNAM

CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 1,600

LIMESTONE ISLANDS AND ISLETS.

IT'S ALSO HOME TO SOME OF THE

WORLD'S LARGEST CAVES.

THESE LIMESTONE CAVERNS PROVIDE

REFUGE TO SOME OF THE RAREST

SPECIES OF LANGURS.

THESE LANGURS WERE FIRST

DISCOVERED IN THE 1960'S, BUT

- THEY ALMOST COMPLETELY - DISAPPEARED FOLLOWING THE

VIETNAM WAR AND WERE ASSUMED TO

BE EXTINCT.

BUT 30 YEARS LATER, A SMALL

POPULATION WAS DISCOVERED LIVING

IN THE CAVES OF THESE LIMESTONE

FORESTS.

- THERE ARE BELIEVED TO BE AROUND - A THOUSAND LIVING IN THE WILD

TODAY.

- LANGURS RARELY COME TO THE - GROUND, SPENDING MOST OF THEIR

DAY FEEDING IN THE TREES.

LIKE OTHER LEAF-EATING MONKEYS,

THEY LACK CHEEK POUCHES.

INSTEAD, THEY RELY ON A COMPLEX

MULTI-CHAMBERED STOMACH.

THIS REQUIRES THEM TO EAT ON A

SEEMINGLY CONTINUOUS BASIS.

MUNCHING ON SUCCULENT LEAVES

ALSO REDUCES THE NEED TO DRINK

WATER.

THE ADULTS IN THIS GROUP TAKE A

BREAK FROM FEEDING TO INDULGE IN

A LITTLE MUTUAL GROOMING.

THIS RITUAL NOT ONLY REINFORCES

SOCIAL BONDS, IT'S ALSO THE

PERFECT WAY TO RELAX.

- BUT THESE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE - GROUP HAVEN'T QUITE GRASPED

LANGUR SOCIAL ETIQUETTE.

THE ONLY WAY THESE YOUNGSTERS

KNOW HOW TO UNWIND IS WITH A

GAME OF MONKEY TAG.

AS THEIR DAY COMES TO A CLOSE,

THE LANGURS RETURN TO THE SAFETY

OF THEIR LIMESTONE CAVERNS.

THE CAVES PROVIDE SHELTER FROM

THE TROPICAL ELEMENTS, AND AS

THE SEASONS CHANGE, THEY REMAIN

AT A CONSTANT COMFORTABLE

TEMPERATURE.

COMING UP, WE HEAD TO THE

GALAPAGOS TO HAVE SOME FAMILY

FUN IN THE SUN WITH THESE

PLAYFUL SEA LION PUPS.

PLUS, WE HANG WITH THESE PENGUIN

FAMILIES TO DISCOVER HOW THEY

SWIM WITH THE BEST STRAIGHT FROM

THEIR NEST.

AND LATER, THESE ASIAN ELEPHANTS

ARE TAKING THEIR HERDS ON THE

ROAD TO FIND THEIR FAMILY'S

FAVORITE FOOD.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE COMING UP

ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[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.

- DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO "EARTH - ODYSSEY", WHERE WE HEAD TO THE

GALAPAGOS TO FIND OUR FAVORITE

ANIMAL FAMILIES.

ISABELA IS BY FAR THE LARGEST IN

THE CHAIN OF GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.

STILL BUBBLING BENEATH ITS

SURFACE, A REMINDER OF ITS

EXPLOSIVE PAST AS AN ACTIVE

VOLCANO.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT THIS GALAPAGOS

SETTLER WAS ONCE JUST A

CALIFORNIA DREAMER.

- SCIENTISTS SAY ANCESTORS OF THE - SEA LION LEFT THEIR NORTH

AMERICAN HOME AND SWAM NEARLY

THREE THOUSAND MILES TO ISABELA

ISLAND.

GALAPAGOS SEA LIONS ARE SMALLER

THAN THEIR AMERICAN COUSINS.

TEN FEET LONG AND WEIGHING IN AT

MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS,

THIS ONE IS NO PUSHOVER.

SEA LIONS ARE THE LARGEST

MAMMALS ON THESE ISLANDS AND

PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST

ANIMALS THAT DARWIN SAW

SUNBATHING ON THE ROCKS.

[SEA LION GROWLING]

COMFORTABLE ON LAND AND IN THE

SEA, THESE CREATURES HAVE HIND

FLIPPERS THAT HELP THEM NAVIGATE

THE SLIPPERY ROCKS.

NEWBORN PUPS ARE PUT IN A

NURSERY ABOUT A WEEK AFTER

BIRTH.

- ONE FEMALE IS IN CHARGE OF THE - WHOLE LOT.

THE OTHER FEMALES GO ON TRIPS

LOOKING FOR FOOD.

- THOSE TRIPS CAN LAST FOR SEVERAL - DAYS.

MEANWHILE, THE PUPS LEARN TO

SOCIALIZE AND PLAY TOGETHER.

WHEN THE MOTHERS RETURN, THEY

CALL OUT FOR THEIR YOUNG PUPS.

[SEA LION GROANING]

WHEN THE PUPS GROW OLDER,

THEY'LL LEARN TO DO THE SAME,

CALLING FOR THEIR MOTHERS...

[SEA LION GROANING]

THE MALES STAY OUT OF THE WAY

WHEN IT COMES TO PUP-REARING.

USUALLY, THERE'S ONE BULL SEA

LION CALLED A BEACHMASTER.

HE WATCHES OVER A GROUP OF

FEMALES AND THEIR PUPS, BUT HE'S

CHALLENGED BY OTHER BULLS, AND

OFTEN, THE TURNOVER IS FAST.

- THIS BEACHMASTER WILL PROBABLY - STAY IN CHARGE FOR A FEW DAYS

BEFORE GIVING UP.

THE LONGEST ANYONE KEEPS THE JOB

IS ABOUT THREE MONTHS.

EXHAUSTED FROM CONSTANTLY

PATROLLING, THE SEA LIONS TAKE A

COLLECTIVE NAP ON THE SHORES.

COMING UP, IT'S BEACH TIME FOR

THESE PENGUIN FAMILIES WHO HAVE

BEEN AT SEA FOR MORE THAN SIX

MONTHS.

PLUS, THIS FAMILY ROAD TRIP FOR

THESE ASIAN ELEPHANTS IS FULL OF

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, AND OF

COURSE, FULL OF FOOD.

[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.

DYLAN: BEING A PARENT IS

EXHAUSTING, BUT SO IS BEING AN

OLDEST SIBLING, AND THIS IS NO

DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM,

WHERE THE YOUNGEST IS ALWAYS

BITING, PLAYING, AND MOST TIRING

OF ALL, GETTING INTO TROUBLE,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A RIVER

OTTER, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW

WHAT COULD BE LURKING AROUND THE

BEND.

THE GIANT RIVER OTTER, THE

DOMINANT MALE AND LAST YEAR'S

YOUNG RETURN TO THE DEN, THE

FOCUS OF OTTER FAMILY LIFE.

[RIVER OTTER GROANING]

- THE BREEDING FEMALE IS STANDING - GUARD, LOOKING AFTER THIS YEAR'S

CUBS.

SHE'S WORRIED FOR THEIR SAFETY

AND DECIDES IT'S TIME TO MOVE

HOME.

- UNABLE TO SWIM, THE YOUNG CUBS - MUST BE DRAGGED INTO THE MUDDY

WATERS.

PREDATORS LURK NEARBY.

THE OLDER SIBLINGS DECIDE THE

CAYMAN ARE TOO CLOSE FOR

COMFORT.

COORDINATED LUNGES ARE ENOUGH TO

SEE OFF THE DANGEROUS FOE.

THEIR NEMESIS GONE, THE WHOLE

FAMILY TURNS ITS ATTENTION BACK

TO THE MOVE, CARRYING THE CUBS

ONE-BY-ONE.

- THEY'VE ALREADY EXCAVATED A NEW - DEN.

MOVING IN DOESN'T TAKE LONG.

RESPONSIBILITY OVER AND FUELED

BY A BELLY FULL OF FISH, IT'S

TIME TO PLAY.

[RIVER OTTERS SCREECHING]

[SCREECHING CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE GAME OF TAG IS

DISRUPTED BY YET MORE FOOD.

A THREE-FOOT-LONG SWAMP EEL IS

QUITE A FEAST.

- GIANT RIVER OTTERS HAVE LONG - BEEN HUNTED FOR THEIR FUR AND AS

COMPETITION FOR FISHERMEN.

- BY THE MID-20TH CENTURY, THREE - THOUSAND A YEAR WERE BEING

KILLED IN BRAZIL.

- TODAY, THERE COULD BE JUST A - THOUSAND LEFT ACROSS ALL OF

SOUTH AMERICA.

- HERE IN THE PANTANAL, THEY'RE - BOUNCING BACK.

THIS REMOTE SWAMP IS ONE OF

THEIR LAST REFUGES.

- FIVE HUNDRED MILES EAST OF THE - ANDES AND BEYOND PATAGONIA'S

VAST PLAINS LIES PENINSULA

VALDES.

IT STICKS OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC

OCEAN TO FORM TWO SHELTERED

BAYS, PROVIDING A WELCOME

RESTING PLACE FOR OCEAN FRIENDS.

THESE MAGELLANIC PENGUINS HAVE

BEEN AT SEA FOR SIX MONTHS, BUT

THEY MUST COME TO THE SHORE TO

BREED.

PENGUIN COUPLES RETURN TO THE

SAME NEST YEAR AFTER YEAR.

- THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS - OF PENGUIN NESTS IN SEVERAL

COLONIES ALONG THIS COAST.

IN THESE LARGE ROOKERIES, SOME

PENGUINS MUST WALK OVER A MILE

INLAND TO REACH THEIR BURROW...

...NOT EASY FOR AN ANIMAL

ADAPTED TO LIFE IN THE OCEAN.

PENGUIN BODIES ARE BUILT FOR THE

SEA.

TIGHTLY PACKED FEATHERS ARE

COATED IN WATER-RESISTANT OIL,

SECRETED BY A GLAND ABOVE THE

TAIL.

AND WITH FLIPPER-LIKE WINGS,

THEY FLY THROUGH THE WATER.

LIFE ON LAND IS MUCH HARDER

WORK.

EVEN ON PATAGONIA'S COOL SPRING

DAYS, A PENGUIN CAN OVERHEAT.

THEY CAN'T SWEAT, BUT PATCHES

AROUND THEIR EYES HELP BREAK

DOWN THE HEAT, AND THEY CAN EVEN

PANT TO KEEP COOL.

- COLONIES DISPERSE WHEN THEY'RE - AT SEA, AND THESE PENGUIN PAIRS

HAVEN'T SEEN EACH OTHER FOR SIX

MONTHS.

THEY'RE DESPERATE TO FIND THEIR

PARTNERS, BUT FINDING YOUR MATE

AMONG THE MULTITUDE CAN BE

TRICKY.

- BILL FENCING IS A WAY OF - GREETING OLD ACQUAINTANCES, LIKE

A HANDSHAKE OR A PENGUIN POUND.

BUT NOT ALL PENGUINS ARE PLEASED

TO SEE EACH OTHER.

SQUABBLES OVER NEST SITES ARE

COMMON.

[PENGUIN SQUAWKING]

LOUD CRIES CARRY RIGHT ACROSS

THE COLONY, AND EACH PENGUIN

RECOGNIZES THE DISTINCTIVE CALL

OF ITS PARTNER.

THESE LONG DISTANCE

RELATIONSHIPS SEEM TO WORK, AND

THESE LOVEBIRDS ARE READY TO

SETTLE DOWN FOR THE LONG SUMMER.

COMING UP, YOU WON'T BELIEVE THE

DISTANCE THESE ASIAN ELEPHANTS

WILL TRAVEL TO FIND THE PERFECT

MEAL WITH THEIR PERFECT

FAMILIES.

[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.

- DYLAN: NESTLING IN THE - FOOTHILLS OF THE HIMALAYAS IS A

LUSH, GREEN, AND MOUNTAINOUS

WORLD.

FORESTS AND VALLEYS TEAM WITH

LIFE,

AND THEY ARE HOME TO A QUARTER

OF THE WORLD'S ASIAN ELEPHANTS.

ONCE, THEY MIGRATED FREELY

ACROSS INDIA ON AN EPIC 800-MILE

JOURNEY.

TODAY, THEIR AGE-OLD PATHS ARE

PUNCTUATED WITH OBSTACLES AND

DANGER,

BUT HERDS CONTINUE THEIR

QUEST TO FIND BETTER GRAZING AND

AMPLE WATER BY FOLLOWING THE

MONSOON NORTH.

THEIR ANNUAL TREK TAKES THEM

THROUGH JUNGLES, ACROSS PLAINS,

AND UP MOUNTAINS ALMOST TWO

MILES HIGH.

THE HERD IS LED BY THE OLDEST

FEMALE, THE MATRIARCH.

IT'S HER RESPONSIBILITY TO

REMEMBER THE ANCIENT ROUTES.

[ELEPHANT GRUMBLING]

ELEPHANTS NEED A HUGE AMOUNT OF

FOOD TO SUSTAIN THEM.

ADULTS NEED TO EAT ALMOST 500

POUNDS OF VEGETATION A DAY.

THAT'S THE SAME WEIGHT AS

TWO-AND-A-HALF FULLY GROWN MEN.

AND THEY NEED MORE THAN 25

GALLONS OF WATER A DAY TO WASH

IT DOWN.

[ELEPHANT GRUMBLING]

THEIR TRUNK IS AN AMAZING

MULTI-PURPOSE TOOL...

...USED FOR BREATHING, SMELLING,

AND COMMUNICATING AND CAN BE A

DANGEROUS WEAPON.

IT ALSO MAKES AN EXCELLENT

SHOWER.

ELEPHANTS LOVE WATER.

BUT THE BATHERS CAN'T LINGER.

THE MATRIARCH MUST GET HER HERD

BACK ON TRACK AND CONTINUE TO

FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE MONSOON.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]

[ELEPHANT GRUMBLING]

ADULT ELEPHANTS ARE TOO LARGE

TO BE THREATENED BY PREDATORS,

BUT FOR A YOUNG ELEPHANT,

INDIA'S FORESTS CAN BE EVEN

WORSE.

TIGERS LURK IN THESE FORESTS.

[ELEPHANT GROANING]

BUT WITH ADULTS CLOSE, THE

YOUNGSTER IS SAFE FOR NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR

ADVENTURE TO FIND THE TIGHTEST

FAMILIES IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

EVERY MEMBER OF EACH FAMILY HAS

A SPECIFIC ROLE THAT HELPS THEM

SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN THE WILD.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON

ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]