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.

- I'M DYLAN DREYER AND WE'RE ABOUT - TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

COMING UP, WE WALK THE GROUNDS

OF THAILAND.

HOME TO SOME OF THE WILDEST

ANIMALS IN THE WORLD.

LIKE THIS HUNGRY INDOCHINESE

TIGER.

PLUS, OUR ODYSSEY TAKES US TO

THE JUNGLES OF MALAYSIA WHERE

THIS PROBOSCIS MONKEY MIGHT NOT

BE THE MOST GRACEFUL BUT SHE

SURE KNOWS HOW TO GET AROUND.

AND LATER, WE SETTLE BACK DOWN

TO EARTH AND EXPLORE WHAT'S

CRAWLING ON THE GROUND OF JAPAN.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THERE ARE ALMOST 200

MILLION SQUARE MILES THAT

- COMPRISE THE SURFACE AREA OF OUR - PLANET.

THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT LIVE

TOGETHER IN OUR DIVERSE WORLD

GIVE IT THE LIFE THAT SEPARATES

EARTH FROM EVERY OTHER PLANET IN

OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.

AND THERE'S ONE COUNTRY THAT

HOLDS MORE DIVERSITY IN ITS

127,000 SQUARE MILES THAN

ANYWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

MALAYSIA.

TAKE A LOOK.

MALAYSIA IS ONE OF 17 COUNTRIES

IDENTIFIED AS MEGADIVERSE.

MEANING, THESE COUNTRIES HARBOR

THE MAJORITY OF THE EARTH'S

SPECIES.

A FIFTH OF ALL THE WORLD'S

ANIMAL SPECIES LIVE HERE.

- DESPITE IT HAVING JUST POINT TWO - PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S LAND

MASS.

- IT'S NOT JUST THE AMOUNT OF - DIFFERENT SPECIES THAT'S SO

- SURPRISING, BUT HOW STRANGE MANY - ARE.

MALAYSIA IS HOME TO SOME OF THE

LARGEST, SMALLEST, AND DOWNRIGHT

ODDEST LIFEFORMS ON THE PLANET.

- MANY OCCURRING NOWHERE ELSE ON - EARTH.

THE SECRET BEHIND THIS

INCREDIBLE BIODIVERSITY LIES IN

MALAYSIA'S HOT, WET CLIMATE AND

ITS HUGE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT

HABITATS.

MALAYSIA SITS JUST NORTH OF THE

EQUATOR, IN THE TROPICAL BELT,

WHERE RAINFALL IS HIGH AND

TEMPERATURES WARM.

IT'S A LAND OF TWO HALVES.

WEST MALAYSIA IS A PENINSULA.

THE VERY TIP OF INDOCHINA'S

MAINLAND.

EASTERN MALAYSIA COVERS THE TOP

QUARTER OF BORNEO, THE THIRD

LARGEST ISLAND IN THE WORLD.

DURING THE LAST ICE AGE, THE TWO

WERE CONNECTED BY LAND BRIDGES.

18,000 YEARS AGO, THE GLACIERS

RETREATED, SEA LEVELS ROSE, AND

BORNEO WAS CUT OFF.

AND WHEN ISOLATED, LIFE CAN

EVOLVE IN PECULIAR WAYS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THERE ARE 100 SPECIES IN

BORNEO THAT OCCUR NOWHERE ELSE

ON EARTH.

AND THERE'S ONE THAT WINS THE

WEIRD RACE BY A NOSE.

FOR PROBOSCIS MONKEYS, BEAUTY IS

SURELY IN THE EYE OF THE

BEHOLDER.

MALES HAVE THE LONGEST NOSES OF

ALL PRIMATES.

[MONKEY CALLS OUT]

- DYLAN: THEIR ECHO CHAMBERS - AMPLIFY THE MALE'S CALLS, WHICH

INTIMIDATES RIVALS, AS WELL AS

IMPRESSES FEMALES.

THE BIGGEST NOSE IN THIS PACK

BELONGS TO AN ALPHA MALE.

HE'S THE BOSS OF A SMALL GROUP

OF FEMALES AND THEIR YOUNG.

YOUNG MALES HANG OUT TOGETHER IN

SMALL TROOPS UNTIL THEY'RE

- STRONG ENOUGH TO RUN A GROUP OF - THEIR OWN.

AND THEY'RE ALWAYS ON THE

LOOKOUT TO RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THE DOMINANT MALE - DOESN'T SEEM TOO UPSET BY THE

GROUPS' ADVANCES, BUT HE'S

KEEPING A STEADY EYE ON THINGS.

[THUNDER CRASHES]

DYLAN: BUT A BRIEF RAINSTORM

EXTINGUISHES ANY IMPENDING

- SCUFFLE, OR PERHAPS IT'S JUST - NOT WORTH PUTTING THE ALPHA

MALE'S NOSE OUT OF JOINT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: PROBOSCIS MONKEYS AREN'T

THE MOST GRACEFUL OF PRIMATES.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THEIR POT BELLIES SEEM - TO MAKE JUMPING DIFFICULT, BUT

THEY'RE KEY TO SURVIVAL.

- PACKED WITH FRIENDLY BACTERIA - AND DIVIDED INTO CHAMBERS LIKE A

COW'S, A PROBOSCIS MONKEY'S

STOMACH IS LIKE A HUGE

FERMENTATION VAT.

AND THIS UNIQUE DIGESTION SYSTEM

MEANS THEY CAN CARRY UP TO A

QUARTER OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT IN

THEIR STOMACH, SLOWLY GLEANING

EVERY LAST MORSEL OF NUTRITION.

THE BACTERIA EVEN NEUTRALIZE

TOXINS, MEANING PROBOSCIS

MONKEYS CAN EAT LEAVES THAT

WOULD POISON OTHER ANIMALS.

EVEN SO, THEY CHOOSE THEIR FOOD

CAREFULLY.

THE SEARCH FOR THE TASTIEST

LEAVES AND SHOOTS LEADS THIS

YOUNGSTER AWAY FROM THE TROOP.

BUT THE MANGROVE FOREST ISN'T

THE SAFEST PLACE TO EXPLORE

UNSUPERVISED, ESPECIALLY WHEN

GYMNASTICS AREN'T YOUR STRONG

SUIT.

COMING UP, FIND OUT IF THESE

DEER ARE ALERT ENOUGH TO ESCAPE

THE PROWL OF THAILAND'S MOST

DANGEROUS PREDATOR.

PLUS, FIND OUT WHY THESE ASIAN

ELEPHANTS HAVE BECOME KNOWN AS

THE GARDENERS OF THE JUNGLE.

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THE HIGHLANDS OF - THAILAND ARE HOME TO A WIDE

ARRAY OF ANIMALS, AT ALL LEVELS

OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

AND AT THE VERY TOP, BUILT FOR A

LIFE OF AMBUSH ATTACKS IS THE

INDOCHINESE TIGER.

- THAILAND IS THOUGHT TO CONTAIN - ONE OF THE LARGEST POPULATIONS

OF THESE CATS IN THE WORLD.

AND TIGERS LIKE THIS GUY HAVE

EVOLVED PERFECTLY FOR THIS

HABITAT.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: HIS STRIPED MARKINGS - LIKELY HELP CAMOUFLAGE HIM

WITHIN A WORLD OF CONFUSED

LINES.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT HOG DEER ARE EVER

VIGILANT.

SO, SURPRISE IS HIS MOST

IMPORTANT ASSET.

ONLY ONE OUT OF EVERY 10 TO 20

ATTACKS RESULTS IN SUCCESS FOR

THE TIGER, SO THE ODDS ARE STILL

STACKED AGAINST HIM.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: BUT THE HIGHLAND PLAINS - MAKE AN UNPREDICTABLE PLAYING

FIELD.

- CAUTION AND AWARENESS ARE - ESSENTIAL FOR HOG DEER TO

SURVIVE THAILAND'S WILD ARENAS.

THE FOREST FLOOR IS AN

UNPREDICTABLE ARENA FOR PLANT

LIFE, TOO.

TREES CONSTANTLY COMPETE FOR

LIGHT, WATER, AND NUTRIENTS.

BUT THE STRANGLER FIG AVOIDS

SUCH PROBLEMS BY USING OTHER

TREES TO GIVE IT A HEAD START IN

LIFE.

IN THEIR CANOPY, THEY GATHER

NUTRIENTS FROM THE SUN AND RAIN,

SENDING OUT AERIAL ROOTS WHICH

ENGULF THE HOST.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: UP IN THE TREES, EVERY

PATCH IS ACCOUNTED FOR AND THE

KINGS OF THE CANOPY LIKE TO

STAKE THEIR CLAIM.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LAR GIBBONS ASSERT

THEMSELVES BY CALLING.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THEY ARE A TIGHTKNIT - FAMILY AND TOTALLY COMMITTED TO

EACH OTHER.

BRINGING UP THEIR OFFSPRING IS A

FULLTIME JOB IN THIS HIGHRISE

HOME.

THESE GIBBONS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY

AWAKENED THEIR NEIGHBORS.

THEY NEED TO FEED AND BEGIN

HEADING FOR A FRUITING TREE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: LIKE GYMNASTS, THEY USE

BODYWEIGHT TO PROPEL THEMSELVES.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THEIR ABILITY TO TOTALLY - ROTATE THEIR SHOULDER JOINT

MEANS SWINGING HOLDS MORE SWAY.

- WITH NO NEED FOR A TAIL TO - BALANCE ON TOP OF BRANCHES, THEY

SWING UNDERNEATH, HAND OVER

HAND, THROUGH THEIR CANOPIED

KINGDOM.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: FRUIT MAKES UP AT LEAST - HALF OF THEIR DIET, SO A FIG

TREE IS A MONKEY MAGNET.

THEY SCURRY OFF TO THE NEXT TREE

TO FIND MORE FOOD, PEACE, AND

QUIET.

UP NEXT, FIND OUT WHY THESE

ASIAN ELEPHANTS HAVE BECOME

KNOWN AS THE GARDENERS OF THE

JUNGLE.

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: ON EVERY "EARTH - ODYSSEY", WE FIND A DIVERSE

- GROUP OF WILDLIFE, ALL WITH - UNIQUE TRAITS THAT SERVE THEM IN

THE WILD.

- WELL, YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET - ANOTHER ANIMAL WITH A SPECIAL

TALENT FOR SURVIVING AND

THRIVING.

TAKE A LOOK.

- IN THE LOWLAND JUNGLES OF - SOUTHWEST CHINA LIVES ONE OF THE

- MOST ENDANGERED CREATURES ON - EARTH.

- DESPITE THEIR SIZE, THESE - LUMBERING BEASTS HAVE MANAGED TO

EVADE DETECTION FOR DECADES.

THIS IS THE ASIAN ELEPHANT.

- WHILE THEY TRAVEL IN LARGE - GROUPS, THEY REMAIN ONE OF

CHINA'S GREATEST SECRETS.

GIANT HERDS USED TO BE COMMON

ACROSS CHINA, ROAMING AS FAR AS

BEIJING.

BUT THIS HIDDEN VALLEY IN YUNNAN

IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THEY

SURVIVE.

ASIAN ELEPHANTS EAT UP TO 300

POUNDS OF FOOD A DAY, AND THEY

ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE

JUNGLE ECOSYSTEM.

- ELEPHANT DROPPINGS BOTH - FERTILIZE THE SOIL AND HELP

- DISPENSE SEEDS OF THE MANY PLANT - SPECIES.

- ASIAN ELEPHANTS LIVE IN SMALL - GROUPS CONTAINING SIX OR SEVEN

FEMALES, AS WELL AS THEIR YOUNG.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS TIGHTLY KNIT FAMILY

OF FEMALES REMAINS TOGETHER FOR

LIFE.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: ADULT ELEPHANTS DRINK - MORE THAN 25 GALLONS OF WATER A

DAY.

BUT A VISIT TO THIS FOREST POND

SATISFIES ANOTHER IMPORTANT NEED

BESIDES THIRST.

- BLOWING BUBBLES INTO THE MUCKY - POOL RELEASES MINERALS SUCH AS

CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM.

SALTS ESSENTIAL FOR THEIR DIET.

- THE GROWNUPS HAVE HAD THEIR FILL - AND ARE READY TO MOVE ON.

BUT THIS YOUNGSTER DECIDES THE

FUN ISN'T OVER YET.

[MUSIC]

[ELEPHANT GRUMBLING AND

TRUMPETING]

- DYLAN: THIS RIVER IS A FAVORITE - GATHERING POINT FOR MANY OF THE

REGION'S FAMILIES.

BATHING ISN'T JUST ABOUT KEEPING

COOL, IT'S ALSO A PLACE FOR THE

ELEPHANTS TO PLAY AND SOCIALIZE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AFTER A RELAXING DIP IN

THE WATER, THIS HERD IS OFF TO

FIND THEIR NEXT MEAL.

ALTHOUGH THEIR FAVORITE FOOD IS

BAMBOO AND GRASS, TREE LEAVES,

LIANAS, AND SAPLINGS WILL DO IN

A PINCH.

AS THESE ANIMALS MAKE THEIR WAY

THROUGH THE FOREST, THEY CREATE

CLEARINGS THAT ALLOW LIGHT TO

REACH THE FOREST FLOOR,

NURTURING NEW PLANT GROWTH.

- THEY ARE QUITE LITERALLY THE - GARDENERS OF THIS TROPICAL

LANDSCAPE.

OF THE THOUSANDS OF ELEPHANTS

THAT ONCE ROAMED ACROSS CHINA,

FEWER THAN 300 REMAIN.

AND THEY ALL LIVE HERE IN

YUNNAN'S SECRET FORESTS.

DYLAN: UP NEXT, FIND OUT WHAT'S

STANDING THE HEAT IN JAPAN'S

MOST SOUTHERN REGION.

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: OKINAWA IS THE

SOUTHERN-MOST REGION OF JAPAN.

IT'S A GROUP OF AROUND 160

ISLANDS, STRETCHED OVER 350

MILES.

- THESE SUN-KISSED ISLANDS ARE A - WORLD APART FROM THE REST OF THE

COUNTRY.

- AS SUMMER ARRIVES, THE - TEMPERATURE CLIMBS TO NEARLY 90

DEGREES.

IRIOMOTE IS THE SECOND LARGEST

ISLAND IN OKINAWA AND JAPAN'S

LAST FRONTIER.

DUBBED THE GALAPAGOS OF THE

EAST, SUBTROPICAL FORESTS,

WATERFALLS, AND MANGROVE SWAMPS

DOMINATE THE LAND.

A HOST OF RARE ANIMALS AND

PLANTS LIVE IN THE LUSH JUNGLE,

COVERING MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF

THE ISLAND.

THE NAKAMA RIVER FLOWS FROM THE

HILLS DOWN TO THE OCEAN.

THIS IS HOME TO A VAST ARRAY OF

FISH, AMPHIBIANS, AND BIRDS.

AND ONE SPECIES IS ESPECIALLY

APTLY NAMED.

MUD CREEPERS.

- THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST - GATHERING OF SNAILS IN THE

WORLD.

UP TO 150 LIVE IN JUST

THREE-SQUARE MILES.

MUD CREEPERS CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT

FOOD FOR UP TO FOUR MONTHS AND

WHEN THEY'RE HUNGRY, THE

MANGROVE PROVIDES ALL THEY NEED.

ADULTS ARE DRAWN TO THE SMELL

RELEASED BY DAMAGED LEAVES.

MEALTIMES ARE LONG, LEISURELY

AFFAIRS.

- YOUNG MUD CREEPERS DON'T GROW - THE TEETH THEY NEED TO BREAKDOWN

LEAVES UNTIL THEY'RE ADULTS.

SO, THEY SLOWLY SIFT THE SAND

FOR LEFTOVERS INSTEAD.

BUT MUD CREEPERS DON'T HAVE IT

ALL THEIR OWN WAY.

THEY STEAL SOMEONE ELSE'S

INSTEAD.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THESE HERMIT CRABS NEED - TO KEEP UPSIZING THEIR SHELLS AS

THEIR BODIES GROW.

- WHEN THE IDEAL PROPERTY COMES ON - THE MARKET, THE RUSH TO GRAB IT

CAN BE FIERCE.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: IRIOMOTE'S MANGROVES - TEEM WITH MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES

OF CRAB.

- FIDDLER CRABS TRY TO ATTRACT A - MATE BY FRANTICALLY WAVING THEIR

OVERSIZED CLAWS.

- WHILE SOLDIER CRABS MARCH IN - GROUPS AS THEY RUSH TO DODGE THE

TIDE AND FIND FOOD.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: CRABS AND MUD CREEPERS - AERATE THE SAND AS THEY FEED AND

- ARE VITAL TO THE LIFE CYCLE OF - THE MANGROVES.

- 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]