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 JOURNEY AROUND THE

PLANET TO THE SANDIEST

ECOSYSTEMS TO DISCOVER WHAT

CREATURES LOVE THE LAND THAT'S

COVERED IN SAND.

LIKE THE ISLAND OF ZANZIBAR,

WHERE THE BEACHES ARE BEAUTIFUL

BUT LIFE AS A CRAB CAN SOMETIMES

BE BRUTAL.

- AND LATER, WE'LL HEAD TO THE - THAR DESERT, WHERE TRAVELING IN

THE HEAT CAN BE DIFFICULT BUT

THESE MAMMALS HELP LOCALS GET

OVER THE HUMP.

PLUS, MOST PENGUINS LOVE THE

SNOW, BUT THE SANDY FALKLAND

ISLANDS ARE ALL THESE GENTOO

PENGUINS KNOW.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: FOR MOST PEOPLE, A DAY - IN THE SAND MEANS A RELAXING DAY

AT THE BEACH.

BUT MANY ANIMALS SEEK OUT THE

SAND ON CLIFFTOPS AND DESERTS,

AS WELL.

TODAY, WE'LL MEET THOSE ANIMALS

AS WE SAND SURF AROUND THE

WORLD.

THE FUN STARTS IN ZANZIBAR WHERE

THE SAND IS NEVER FAR.

LYING 25 MILES OFF THE EAST

COAST OF TANZANIA IN AFRICA, THE

ZANZIBAR ARCHIPELAGO, OR ISLAND

CHAIN, IS DOMINATED BY TWO

ISLANDS: UNGUJA AND PEMBA.

UNGUJA IS THE LARGER OF THE TWO,

MEASURING JUST 62 MILES LONG BY

18 MILES WIDE.

AROUND 130,000 YEARS AGO, THE

INDIAN OCEAN SEA LEVELS BEGAN TO

DROP.

ENORMOUS FOSSILIZED CORAL REEFS

WERE REVEALED, GIVING BIRTH TO

ZANZIBAR AND THE MANY SMALLER

ISLANDS SURROUNDING ITS COASTS.

SOME CREATURES BEGAN COLONIZING

THE ISLAND FROM DAY ONE.

BUT ALONG WITH OTHER PRIMATES,

PEOPLE SETUP HOME HERE MORE

RECENTLY.

2,000 YEARS AGO, SETTLERS

ARRIVED ALONG ZANZIBAR'S SHORES,

- LIVING SIMPLE LIVES GOVERNED BY - THE TIDES.

EVER SINCE, THE ISLANDS HAVE

BEEN A TRADE HUB BETWEEN

MAINLAND AFRICA AND ASIA.

- AND THE POPULATION HAS RISEN TO - AROUND ONE MILLION.

BUT ZANZIBAR STILL HAS A WILD

SIDE.

AND AS THE TIDES COME AND GO,

THE ISLAND'S GIANT CREATURES

REVEAL THEMSELVES.

- NOTHING LOOKS MORE TRANQUIL THAN - WARM TROPICAL WAVES LAPPING OVER

A WHITE, SANDY SHORE.

HOWEVER, ON ZANZIBAR'S BEACHES,

THERE'S FAR MORE THAN MEETS THE

EYE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SOME OF THE ISLAND'S

EARLIEST COLONIZERS CAME ASHORE

IN SEARCH OF FOOD LONG BEFORE

THE ARRIVAL OF MAN.

AND THEY NEVER LEFT.

AT LOW TIDE, SHORE-DWELLING

CRABS HAVE IMPORTANT JOBS TO DO.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: EXCAVATING AND - MAINTAINING BURROWS BURNS LOTS

OF ENERGY.

ALGAE AND FUNGUS SCRAPED OFF

FILTERED SAND PARTICLES FORMS

THE BULK OF THIS CRAB'S DIET.

FEEDING IS A PRODUCTION LINE

PROCESS LEAVING SAND PELLETS

DOTTED ALONG THE SHORE.

AT LOW TIDE, BLACK HERONS ARE

ALSO ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A MEAL.

ALTHOUGH THE CRABS TAKE COVER,

THIS BIRD HAS BIGGER FISH TO

FRY.

ON ZANZIBAR'S SHORES, THE SUN IS

SHINING AND THERE'S PLENTY OF

FOOD FOR THE ISLAND'S LOCALS.

BUT FOR ONE SPECIES, MEALTIMES

PROVE A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING

THAN FOR OTHERS.

ADULT MALE FIDDLER CRABS HAVE AN

OVERSIZED CLAW.

- IT'S THE VIOLIN PLAYING MOTION - THEY MAKE WHILE EATING THAT HAS

GIVEN RISE TO THEIR NAME.

FEMALE FIDDLER CRABS ARE BETTER

BALANCED THAN MALES AND CAUSE

QUITE A STIR WHENEVER THEY

VENTURE AMONG THE BOYS.

- THIS FRANTIC WAVING IS ALL ABOUT - CATCHING THE EYE OF A PASSING

LADY.

- THE FASTER THE RHYTHM, THE - BETTER THE CHANCE OF BEING

NOTICED AND OUTDOING THE

COMPETITION.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FEMALES PREFER FAST

WAVERS AND THIS MALE HAS STRUCK

THE RIGHT CHORD AS HIS CONQUEST

ENTERS HIS BURROW.

- NOT ALL MATING IS A PRIVATE - AFFAIR.

SOME FEMALES PREFER USING THE

SAFETY OF THEIR OWN BURROWS TO

INCUBATE THEIR EGGS.

- FOR MALE FIDDLER CRABS, SIZE - ALSO MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO

PROTECTING THEIR TERRITORY.

- SHOWS OF STRENGTH LIKE THESE - DETER NEIGHBORS FROM CRAMPING

- THEIR STYLE AND KEEP POTENTIAL - SQUATTERS AT BAY.

COMING UP, WE STEP OVER THIS

SANDY OF REGION OF PATAGONIA TO

FIND THE CURIOUS CREATURES THAT

LOVE THIS ECOSYSTEM.

AND LATER, THIS LARGE ANIMAL HAS

HELPED THE NOMADS OF THE THAR

DESERT ESCAPE AND EXPLORE THE

BRUTAL DESERTS.

PLUS, WE'LL BE SURE TO EXPLORE

THE SHORE IN SEARCH OF THESE

SAND-LOVING GENTOO PENGUINS.

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WE'RE BACK IN SOUTH

AMERICA WHERE THE STEP MAKES UP

90 PERCENT OF PATAGONIA.

- THE STEEP DROP FROM THE - MOUNTAINS TO THE PLAINS

GENERATES AN ALMOST CONSTANT

WIND.

AIR CURRENTS RACE DOWN THE

ANDEAN SLOPES AND ROAR ACROSS

THE PLAINS.

GALE-FORCE WINDS MAKE IT

IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYTHING LARGER

THAN A SHRUB TO TAKE HOLD.

GUSTS CAN BE 100 MILES PER HOUR.

MANY PATAGONIAN INSECTS HAVE

LOST THE ABILITY TO FLY.

THEIR HARD WING CASES HAVE

BECOME FUSED.

IN EVOLUTIONARY TERMS, IT'S A

STEP BACKWARDS.

FLIGHT IS USUALLY CONSIDERED

PROGRESS.

BUT TAKEOFF HERE AND THEY'D BE

BLOWN OUT TO SEA.

BUT THERE'S MORE THAN JUST THE

WIND TO WORRY ABOUT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A PATAGONIAN SKUNK

FORAGES FOR A MEAL.

IT'S NOT A FUSSY EATER.

SKUNKS WILL EAT ANYTHING THEY

CAN LAY THEIR PAWS ON, FROM

RODENTS AND LIZARDS, TO INSECTS,

AND EVEN MEAT.

- A GRASSHOPPER DISGUISES ITSELF - AS A PEBBLE, IN THE HOPE OF

GOING UNNOTICED.

A BEETLE CAN RUN AND IT CAN TRY

TO HIDE.

BUT THE SKUNK'S CLAWS ARE BUILT

TO DIG AND THE SOFT SANDY SOIL

OFFERS LITTLE PROTECTION.

WITHIN A FEW SHORT WEEKS, THE

FREEZING WATER IS A DISTANT

MEMORY.

EVERY ANIMAL ON THE PATAGONIAN

STEP IS IN A HURRY TO MAKE THE

MOST OF SPRING.

A MALE ARMADILLO IS ON A MISSION

TO FIND A MATE.

HIS THICK SKIN SHIELDS HIM FROM

THE THORNY UNDERGROWTH.

THERE'S A FEMALE NEARBY BUT

SHE'S MORE INTERESTED IN FINDING

FOOD.

THE BONY PLATE ON HER HEAD HELPS

HER BULLDOZE THROUGH THE EARTH

AS SHE DIGS FOR PREY.

THIS MALE IS SMITTEN.

- HIS EYESIGHT IS POOR BUT HE IS - ABLE TO FIND HER THROUGH HIS

STRONG SENSE OF SMELL.

BUT THIS ARMADILLO LOVE STORY

WASN'T MEANT TO BE.

- COMING UP, IT'S HOT AND DRY IN - THE THAR DESERT, BUT ONE MAMMAL

HAS ADAPTED TO THIS ECOSYSTEM

WITH THE HELP OF THE LOCAL

CAMELS.

PLUS, THESE GENTOO PENGUINS LOVE

THE BEACH AND THE BEACH LOVES

THEM RIGHT BACK.

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: LIKE THE BEACHES AND - CLIFFS WE'VE ALREADY SEEN, SAND

IS OFTEN ENJOYED IN THE MOST

PRISTINE WEATHER.

BUT THE THAR DESERT WITH ITS

SCORCHING HEAT AND WHIPPING SAND

IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL VACATION

HOTSPOT.

YET, SOME THRIVE ON THESE DESERT

DUNES AND THEY HAVE FOR

THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

INDIA'S GREAT DESERT.

BAKING HEAT, DEHYDRATING WINDS,

AND NEAR PERMANENT DROUGHT HAVE

EARNED THIS UNFORGIVING LAND

ANOTHER NAME...THE REGION OF

DEATH.

BUT THIS DESERT IS FULL OF LIFE.

IT'S A HOTSPOT FOR NATURE.

HOME TO SOME OF THE TOUGHEST AND

RAREST CREATURES ON EARTH.

- MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVE HERE, - TOO.

IT'S THE MOST CROWDED DESERT IN

THE WORLD.

HUMANS AND ANIMALS HAVE FORGED

INCREDIBLE ALLIANCES TO SURVIVE.

THIS IS NO ORDINARY WILDERNESS.

THIS IS THE THAR.

THE DESERT OF LIFE.

INDIA'S DESERT COVERS 90,000

SQUARE MILES, ACROSS THE FAR

NORTHWEST OF THE COUNTRY.

TAKING IN THE STATES OF NORTHERN

GUJARAT AND RAJASTHAN, THE

DESERT ENGULFS 10 PERCENT OF

INDIA'S LANDMASS BEFORE SWEEPING

NORTH ACROSS THE BORDER INTO

PAKISTAN.

THIS BORDER COUNTRY IS THE EMPTY

HEART OF AN OTHERWISE CROWDED

DESERT.

IT'S EFFECTIVELY A GIANT

DUSTBOWL.

BILLIONS OF SAND GRAINS ARE

WHIPPED UP BY 70 MILE PER HOUR

WINDS.

THEY FORM IMMENSE SAND DUNES,

SOME ALMOST HALF A MILE HIGH.

SOME NEVER STOP MOVING.

OTHERS HAVE STOOD FOR THOUSANDS

OF YEARS.

DUNE RIDGES RIPPLE LIKE WAVES IN

A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS SEA OF SAND.

WITH NO SHADE OR WATER, FEW

ANIMALS MAKE THEIR HOME ON THESE

SHIFTING SANDS.

THIS IS A LAND OF NOMADS.

- MANY OF THE REGION'S TRIBES MOVE - THROUGH THE DESERT IN A CONSTANT

SEARCH FOR WATER AND GRAZING FOR

THEIR LIVESTOCK.

AND EVERY SPRING, THEY TRAVEL

FROM THE FAR CORNERS OF THE THAR

TO A SMALL TOWN AT ITS HEART.

NAGAUR.

20,000 PEOPLE GATHER FOR THE

DESERT'S LARGEST LIVESTOCK

MARKET, THE NAGAUR FAIR.

- THEY COME TO CELEBRATE THEIR - TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE AND

THEIR ANCIENT ALLIANCE WITH

NATURE.

THESE PEOPLE ARE FARMERS BUT

WITH REGULAR DROUGHTS, THEY

CAN'T RELY ON CROPS FOR FOOD OR

INCOME.

INSTEAD, THEY OWE THEIR SURVIVAL

TO DOMESTICATED ANIMALS.

- BECAUSE OF THIS DEPENDENCE ON - ANIMAL FARMING, THE DESERT IS

HOME TO TEN TIMES MORE LIVESTOCK

THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN INDIA.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: CAMELS ARE CENTRAL TO - DESERT LIFE BECAUSE THEY CAN

WITHSTAND THE INTENSE HEAT AND

LACK OF WATER THAT WOULD KILL

OTHER SPECIES.

OWNERS TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR

PRECIOUS ANIMALS.

WITH PAINSTAKING ATTENTION TO

DETAIL, THEY ARE TRANSFORMED

INTO LIVING WORKS OF ART.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE MARWARI HORSE IS

ALSO HIGHLY VALUED.

ITS UNIQUE SMOOTH STEP, THE

REWAL, ENABLES THE RIDER TO

TRAVEL ACROSS SAND IN COMFORT.

MARWARI MEANS FROM THE LAND OF

DEATH.

- ORIGINALLY BRED FOR DESERT - WARRIORS, IT'S A WARHORSE OF

INCREDIBLE STAMINA THAT CAN

THRIVE WITH LITTLE FOOD OR

WATER.

- DESERT PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS SHARED - THEIR LIVES WITH ANIMALS AND

RELIED ON THEM FOR SURVIVAL.

- THIS HAS CREATED AN ENGRAINED - TRADITION OF RESPECT FOR

ANIMALS.

FUNDAMENTAL TO LIFE ALL OVER THE

THAR.

COMING UP, WHERE WE'RE GOING, WE

DON'T NEED SNOW AND NEITHER DO

THESE GENTOO PENGUINS.

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THE FALKLAND ISLANDS ARE - THE PERFECT SANCTUARY FOR ONE OF

THE MOST ICONIC BIRD SPECIES IN

THE WORLD.

THE ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN.

- NAMED FOR THEIR PENSION FOR - BOUNDING ALONG THE ROCKY

COASTLINES WHERE THEY MAKE THEIR

HOMES.

THE ROCKHOPPERS COME TO ENJOY A

LESS CHALLENGING CLIMB.

THEY ALSO SEEK OUT THE

SPRING-FED WATERS.

A CHANCE TO WASH AWAY THE SALT

AND GRIME OF A HARD KNOCK LIFE

AS A ROCKHOPPER.

FOR THE LUCKY PENGUINS WHO LIVE

HERE, TAKING SHOWERS IS PART OF

THEIR DAILY ROUTINE.

THEY STAND IN LINE, WAITING

THEIR TURN.

- BUT IF THEY TAKE TOO LONG, THESE - PENGUINS CAN QUICKLY GET THEIR

FEATHERS RUFFLED.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THERE'S ANOTHER PENGUIN - SPECIES WHO LIVE HAPPILY ON THE

ISLANDS YEAR-ROUND.

THE GENTOO PENGUINS HOLD THE

RECORD FOR THE FASTEST SWIMMING

BIRDS IN THE WORLD.

- GENTOOS' BODIES ARE BUILT LIKE A - BULLET.

THEY PROPEL THEIR SLEEK BODIES

WITH FLATTENED FLIPPERS.

DARTING THROUGH THE WATER AT 25

MILES PER HOUR.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE GENTOO FEED

UNDERWATER, TOO.

- LOBSTER KRILL IS A PARTICULAR - FAVORITE.

RIGHT NOW, THE GENTOO HAVE THEIR

FLIPPERS FULL.

- WITH EVERYONE CRYING FOR FOOD, - IT'S HARD TO TELL WHICH CHICK

NEEDS TO BE FED FIRST.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THAT'S WHY GENTOO - PARENTS DEVISED THIS CLEVER

PLAN.

CALLED CHICK CHASE.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THE CHICKS CHASE AFTER - THEIR PARENT.

WHOEVER STICKS WITH THE CHASE

THE LONGEST WINS THE GAME.

AND FIRST DIBS AT DINNER.

BEFORE THE SUN IS BARELY UP,

BOTH PARENTS HEAD TO THE SEA.

- THEY NEED TO MAKE FISHING TRIPS - EVERY DAY TO SATISFY THE YOUNG

CHICKS.

- WHILE THE PARENTS ARE BUSY - HUNTING, THE YOUNG GENTOO HUDDLE

TOGETHER TO STAY SAFE AGAINST

ANY PREDATORS.

IT'S CALLED CRESHING, A POPULAR

WAY TO PROTECT A LARGE COLONY OF

CHICKS WHO ARE BORN AROUND THE

SAME TIME.

STAYING CLOSE TOGETHER ALSO

WORKS NEAR THE WATER'S EDGE,

WHERE DANGER CAN APPEAR

SUDDENLY.

THIS SEA LION TRIES A SURPRISE

ATTACK BUT FAILS.

THE SEA LION IS DETERMINED TO

GIVE IT ONE MORE SHOT.

NO LUCK.

THESE FEATHERED WARRIORS ARE

JUST TOO FAST FOR A LUMBERING

SEAL.

- TO KEEP ONE STEP AHEAD OF - TROUBLE, THAT'S WHAT ALL OF

THESE PENGUINS MUST TRY AND DO.

- FROM THE CLIFFS TO DEEP IN THE - SEA, PENGUINS ARE CONSTANTLY

BATTLING THE RUGGED TERRAIN AND

THE CREATURES WHO SHARE THE

FALKLAND ISLANDS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR

ADVENTURE TO FIND THE LAND THAT

IS DOMINATED BY SAND.

ALL TYPES OF SPECIES CAN SURVIVE

IN THESE ENVIRONMENTS, NO MATTER

WHAT IS THROWN THEIR WAY.

WE'LL JOIN YOU NEXT TIME ON

ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]