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 THERE, I'M DYLAN

DREYER, AND THIS IS "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE TRAVEL AROUND THE

WORLD TO FIND THE MAMMALS WHO

NOT ONLY LOVE THE WATER, BUT

DEPEND ON IT FOR ITS SURVIVAL.

WE'LL DISCOVER WHY THESE BLACK

BEARS THRIVE IN NORTH AMERICA'S

WETTEST REGION AND THESE PYGMY

ELEPHANTS WHO LOVE TO MAKE A

SPLASH WHENEVER THEY FIND THE

OPPORTUNITY.

PLUS, THESE ORCA WHALES USE

WATER AS A TOOL AS THEY FIND

THEIR NEXT MEAL.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: EVERYONE LOVES TO TAKE A - DIP IN THE OCEAN, AND SOME

MAMMALS LOVE THE WATER SO MUCH,

THEY DECIDED TO STAY.

- TODAY, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT - MAMMALS WHO EITHER LIVE FOR THE

WATER OR IN THE WATER, EVEN IF

IT'S NOT IDEAL, LIKE THE

GANGETIC RIVER DOLPHIN, A

SPECIES THAT THRIVES IN A RIVER

THAT IS SO MURKY, THEY CAN'T

EVEN SEE.

BUT HEAR THEM OUT.

THESE DOLPHINS HAVE FOUND A

SOUND WAY TO SWIM AROUND THEIR

PROBLEMS.

IN THE GANGES RIVER BASIN OF

INDIA, THE WATER IS NATURALLY

MUDDY.

- FURTHER AGGRAVATED BY WASTE FROM - NEIGHBORING INDUSTRIES, IT'S

INCREDIBLE THAT ANYTHING COULD

LIVE IN ITS MURKY DEPTHS.

BUT LIFE ALWAYS FINDS A WAY.

HERE ON THE RIVER, THERE'S ONE

ANIMAL THAT'S A RARE SIGHT TO

SEE...

...THE GANGETIC RIVER DOLPHIN.

DUE TO EXTREMELY LOW VISIBILITY

IN THE GANGES, THE DOLPHINS ARE

ALMOST TOTALLY BLIND.

- THEY DEPEND ON ECHOLOCATION, OR - SOUND WAVES, TO LOCATE OTHER

OBJECTS IN THE WATER, INCLUDING

FOOD.

AND LIKE MOST ANIMALS, THEY

SPEND A LOT OF THEIR TIME

HUNTING DOWN THEIR NEXT MEAL.

TO STIR UP A LITTLE DINNER,

THESE DOLPHINS SWIM ON ONE SIDE

WITH A FLIPPER SWEEPING THE

MUDDY BOTTOM.

- THERE'S ANOTHER EVEN - STRANGER-LOOKING ANIMAL THAT'S

ON THE HUNT IN THE INDIAN RIVER

AS WELL.

THE AMAZON RIVER ISLANDS ARE THE

HEART OF THE AMAZON RIVER.

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

ROUTES THROUGH THE MAZE OF RIVER

CHANNELS.

THE CALF WILL NEED ALL ITS

MOTHER'S KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT

- WITH THE DRY SEASON FAST - APPROACHING.

- COMING UP, THERE'S SOMETHING - FISHY IN THE WATER OF VANCOUVER

ISLAND, AND THESE BLACK BEARS

LOVE IT.

AND LATER, THESE PYGMY ELEPHANTS

LOVE TO SLIDE IN AND SPLASH

AROUND IN THEIR FAVORITE

WATERING HOLE.

PLUS, MOST ANIMALS LOVE WATER

WHEN THEY'RE THIRSTY, BUT THESE

ORCA WHALES LOVE IT WHEN THEY'RE

HUNGRY, TOO.

[BREAK]

.

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

- DYLAN: IT'S EARLY OCTOBER, AND - MANY OF VANCOUVER ISLAND'S

STREAMS HAVE DRIED TO JUST A

TRICKLE.

THE AUTUMN RAINS ARE LONG

OVERDUE, AND THE RECENT DROUGHT

HAS PREVENTED SALMON FROM MOVING

UPRIVER TO REACH THEIR SPAWNING

GROUNDS.

- BUT IT APPEARS CHANGE IS IN THE - AIR.

- EVEN THE ISLAND'S BLACK BEARS, - WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY

FOR WEEKS, SENSE IT.

SOON, THE RIVERS ARE IN FULL

FLOW.

THE SALMON MAKE THEIR MOVE...

...SO DO THE BEARS.

[WATER SPLASHING]

BLACK BEARS CAN KILL UP TO HALF

THE SALMON IN THESE SMALLER

STREAMS.

THEY CAN EACH CONSUME UP TO

20,000 CALORIES A DAY WHEN

STOCKING UP FOR WINTER.

DESPITE THE DELUGE OF RAIN, THE

RIVERS REMAIN RELATIVELY CLEAR

AND FREE OF DEBRIS.

TREE ROOTS IN THE SURROUNDING

FOREST HOLD THE SOIL, WHICH

FILTERS WATER BEFORE IT ENTERS

THE STREAMS.

THESE RIVERS CONTAIN SOME OF THE

PUREST WATER IN THE WORLD.

- FOR THOSE SALMON THAT MANAGE TO - AVOID THE BEARS AND MAKE IT

FARTHER UPSTREAM, A FINAL

CHALLENGE LIES AHEAD.

MALES AT THIS STAGE ARE OFTEN

GAUNT WITH HOOKED JAWS, HUMPED

BACKS, AND BATTLE-TORN FINS.

MANY FEMALES DISPLAY LARGE WHITE

PATCHES OF BRUISED AND DISEASED

SKIN.

FORTUNATELY, THEIR MISSION IS

NEARLY OVER.

FEMALES JOSTLE FOR POSITION

ABOVE THE BEST PLACES TO LAY

THEIR EGGS.

COMING UP, THESE BUOYANT

ELEPHANTS LOVE TO TAKE A LOAD

OFF IN THEIR HAPPY PLACE.

PLUS, THIS ORCA WHALE HUNTING

METHOD USES WATER AS A TOOL.

[BREAK]

.

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

DYLAN: FROM THE BIGGEST TO THE

SMALLEST, MOST MAMMALS LOVE THE

WATER, WHETHER IT'S TO DRINK,

RELAX IN, OR PLAY IN, AND ONE OF

THE LARGEST MAMMALS ON EARTH

LIVES NEAR RIVERS BECAUSE IT

LOVES ALL THREE, ESPECIALLY

PLAYING.

NOW LET'S THROW ON OUR TRUNKS

AND EXPLORE THE LOVE THAT ASIAN

ELEPHANTS HAVE FOR THE RIVERS

THEY CALL HOME.

WELCOME TO THE DIVERSE AND

BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY OF MALAYSIA,

WHERE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU

MIGHT FIND.

MALAYSIA'S JUNGLES CAN SEEM LIKE

AN IMPENETRABLE WALL OF GREEN,

BUT RUNNING THROUGH IT ALL IS

WATER.

[WATER RUSHING]

A HUNDRED AND FIFTY RIVER

SYSTEMS SPREAD INTO A NETWORK OF

CREEKS AND STREAMS, SLICING UP

THE FOREST.

THE RIVER DRAWS GIANTS OUT OF

THE FOREST.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]

A GRASSY RIVERBANK IS THE

PERFECT PLACE FOR A HERD TO

GATHER.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]

THESE ELEPHANTS ARE RARE TO

FIND IN THESE PARTS.

- THEY'RE PYGMY ELEPHANTS FOUND - ONLY IN BORNEO.

THE SMALLEST ELEPHANTS IN THE

WORLD, THEY STAND ALMOST THREE

FEET SHORTER THAN THEIR LARGER

ASIAN COUSINS, AN ADAPTATION TO

LIVING IN DENSE FOREST.

THIS RIVERSIDE SHINDIG IS A

SOCIAL EVENT.

- RELATIVES WHO MAY NOT HAVE SEEN - EACH OTHER FOR MONTHS GET A

CHANCE TO CATCH UP AND REAFFIRM

BONDS.

ELEPHANTS FORM STRONG EMOTIONAL

TIES.

THEIR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN

FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN BE AS

COMPLEX AS OUR OWN.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]

[ELEPHANT GRUMBLING]

BUT LIKE ALL ELEPHANTS, THEY

LOVE MUD.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]

ELEPHANTS ARE GOOD SWIMMERS,

THEIR BULK MAKING THEM BUOYANT

IN THE WATER.

AND TAKING TWO TONS OF WEIGHT

OFF YOUR FEET IS THE ULTIMATE

WAY TO RELAX.

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETING]

GETTING OUT IS A LOT TRICKIER

THAN GETTING IN.

EVEN THE SMALLEST OF THESE

LITTLE LEVIATHANS CAN GET STUCK

IN THE MUD.

BATH TIME OVER, THE WHOLE HERD

SLIPS INTO THE GREEN GLOOM AND

VANISHES FROM SIGHT.

COMING UP, ORCA WHALES ARE ONE

OF THE MOST FEARED MAMMALS IN

- THE OCEAN, AND THEY'VE FIGURED - OUT HOW TO USE THE OCEAN TO

THEIR HUNTING ADVANTAGE.

[BREAK]

.

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

DYLAN: STRETCHING SOUTH FROM

THE RIO COLORADO, PATAGONIA

COVERS MORE THAN 300,000 SQUARE

MILES OF ARGENTINA AND CHILE.

IT'S A PLACE OF EXTREMES, HOME

TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST

DESERTS.

AND YET, BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF

FRESH WATER ARE LOCKED INTO THE

ICE OF ITS VAST GLACIER FIELDS.

IT'S A LAND OF THE UNEXPECTED,

WHERE UNUSUAL ANIMALS LIVE IN

UNUSUAL PLACES.

PENGUINS NEST UNDER DESERT

PLANTS.

RELATIVES OF THE CAMEL SIT OUT

WINTER SNOWS, AND PARROTS LIVE

BY THE SEA.

GRIPPED BY WINTER FOR NEARLY

HALF THE YEAR, PATAGONIA IS A

TOUGH PLACE TO SURVIVE.

- SPRING AND SUMMER ARE ALL TOO - BRIEF, AND WILDLIFE MUST RUSH TO

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SHORT

OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE FOR THE

WINTER.

[SEAL GROWLING]

- ON THE NORTHEAST COAST, THE - OCEAN COLLIDES WITH A REMOTE

PENINSULA.

IT'S THE IDEAL PLACE FOR SEA

LIONS TO REAR THEIR PUPS.

IT'S THE END OF SUMMER.

- FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE - PUPS HAVE ENJOYED THE SAFETY OF

THE BEACHES.

[SEA LION GROANING]

- BUT NOW THEY ARE GETTING - CURIOUS AND VENTURING INTO THE

WATER.

- THEY NEED TO PERFECT THEIR - SWIMMING SKILLS BEFORE WINTER

RETURNS AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE

THEIR FIRST JOURNEY OUT TO THE

OPEN OCEAN.

SURFING THE SHALLOWS, THEY FLEX

THEIR FLIPPERS AND GEAR UP FOR A

LIFE AT SEA.

- BUT THIS NURSERY ISN'T A SAFE - PLACE.

[WATER SPLASHING]

[SEA LION GROANING]

ORCAS, OR KILLER WHALES, ARE

THE OCEAN'S TOP PREDATORS AND

ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT

ANIMALS IN THE WATER.

THIS PATAGONIAN BEACH IS THE

ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE

KILLER WHALES HAVE LEARNED TO

BEACH THEMSELVES AS A HUNTING

TECHNIQUE.

IT'S A VERY RISKY MANEUVER.

- IF THEY GET STRANDED ON LAND, - THEIR BODIES WOULD QUICKLY

COLLAPSE UNDER THEIR OWN WEIGHT.

- THE KILLER WHALES PATROLLING - PATAGONIA'S BEACHES HAVE LEARNED

HOW TO WRIGGLE BACK TO DEEPER

WATER.

[SEA LION GROANING]

THE HUNTER'S WINDOW OF

OPPORTUNITY IS SHORT-LIVED.

- IN JUST TWO WEEKS, THE SEA LIONS - WILL LEAVE THE BEACHES AND HEAD

SOUTH TO THE RICH FEEDING

GROUNDS OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC.

COLD WATER FROM ANTARCTICA

PUSHES NORTH ALONG SOUTH

AMERICA'S WEST COAST FROM THE

SOUTHERN TIP OF CHILE RIGHT UP

TO THE EQUATOR.

THIS VAST COLD TONGUE OF WATER

IS KNOWN AS THE HUMBOLDT

CURRENT.

- BRINGING NUTRIENTS UP FROM THE - DEEP, IT POWERS THE MOST

PRODUCTIVE MARINE ECOSYSTEM IN

THE WORLD.

[SEAGULL SQUAWKING]

- WHILE THEY MAY HAVE CLAIMED THE - LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF SAILORS,

THE COLD SEAS AROUND THE TIP OF

PATAGONIA ARE BURSTING WITH

LIFE.

SARDINES FORM SHOALS THAT CAN BE

MORE THAN 60 FEET ACROSS AND

MADE UP OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS

OF INDIVIDUALS.

A FIFTH OF THE WORLD'S ENTIRE

FISH CATCH COMES FROM THESE

WATERS.

AND SO MUCH FISH ATTRACT

SPECIALIST HUNTERS.

A SEA LION IS ONE OF THE MOST

SKILLFUL PREDATORS IN THE OCEAN.

HIS RICH DIET HELPS HIM BUILD UP

A LAYER OF BLUBBER SEVERAL

INCHES THICK, KEEPING HIM WARM

IN ALMOST FREEZING WATER.

- PATAGONIA IS ONE OF SOUTH - AMERICA'S LAST GREAT

WILDERNESSES.

- IT HOLDS THE WILD WONDER THAT - MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST

FASCINATING REGIONS IN THE

WORLD.

- THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THIS - SPECTACULAR JOURNEY THROUGH THE

GREATEST PLACES ON EARTH.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR

ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]