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".

TODAY, WE HEAD TO SOUTH AMERICA

AND VISIT ONE OF THE LARGEST

WATERWAYS IN THE WORLD: THE

ORINOCO RIVER.

PLUS, THE ANIMALS THAT CALL

ISLANDS IN THE AMAZON RIVER

HOME.

LIKE THESE MONKEYS WHO HAVE TO

TIGHT-ROPE OVER THE WATERS THAT

HOLD THE MOST DANGEROUS

PREDATORS.

THEN, WE DISCOVER THE EPIC

JOURNEY OF THE PACIFIC SALMON

AND TRY TO STAY OUT OF HARM'S

WAY.

AND LATER, WE TRAVEL TO THE

LARGEST WETLAND AREA IN THE

WORLD: THE PANTANAL REGION OF

SOUTH AMERICA.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE AMAZON RIVER IS BY

FAR THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD,

AND ITS RICH, FLOWING WATER

SUPPORTS MILLIONS OF EXOTIC

SPECIES.

- BUT THERE'S ANOTHER EPIC SOUTH - AMERICAN RIVER THAT'S OFTEN

OVERLOOKED: THE ORINOCO RIVER.

LIKE THE NEIGHBORING AMAZON, THE

ORINOCO DOESN'T JUST SUPPORT

ANIMALS WHO THRIVE IN ITS WATER,

IT ALSO GIVES LIFE TO THOSE

AROUND IT.

WHETHER THEY WALK ON FOUR LEGS,

TWO LEGS, OR FLY HIGH IN THE

AIR, YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET SOME

FASCINATING SOUTH AMERICAN

NATIVES WHO CALL THE ORINICO

HOME.

- DYLAN: WHEN CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS - DISCOVERED THE MOUTH OF THE

ORINOCO, HE DESCRIBED IT AS THE

GATEWAY TO

CELESTIAL PARADISE.

IT WAS SO LARGE.

HE REALIZED THE RIVER DRAINED

NOT JUST AN ISLAND, BUT AN

ENTIRE CONTINENT.

IN TERMS OF VOLUME, IT'S THE

LARGEST RIVER IN THE WORLD.

FLOWING 1500 MILES, THE ORINOCO

IS ALSO THE THIRD LONGEST RIVER

IN SOUTH AMERICA.

IT CURLS AROUND THE NORTHEAST

CORNER LIKE A GIGANTIC FISHOOK,

DRAINING MORE THAN 380,000

SQUARE MILES OF VENEZUELA,

COLOMBIA, AND BRAZIL.

AT THE RIVER'S MOUTH, THE

ORINOCO DELTA STRETCHES 300

MILES ALONG THE COAST OF

NORTHEAST VENEZUELA.

MANGROVES UNDERPIN THIS SALTY

SWAMP.

- THEY'RE THE ONLY TREES ABLE TO - WITHSTAND THE CHANGES BROUGHT BY

DAILY TIDES.

THESE FORESTS ARE ALSO HOME TO A

FIERCE FELINE:

THE PUMA.

- RANGING FROM THE CANADIAN - ROCKIES TO THE ARGENTINIAN

PAMPAS, IT'S GATHERED MORE THAN

40 NAMES, MORE THAN ANY OTHER

ANIMAL IN THE WORLD.

IN VENEZUELA, IT'S CALLED

"LEON," THOUGH IT'S MORE CLOSELY

RELATED TO THE DOMESTIC CAT THAN

TO THE AFRICAN LION.

- THE SECRET TO ITS SURVIVAL LIES - WITHIN ITS WILLINGNESS TO EAT

ANYTHING, FROM TINY INSECTS TO

LARGE MAMMALS.

BUT IN THE DELTA, SALTY WATER

MEANS PREY IS SPARSE, AND MOST

STAYS WELL OUT OF REACH.

WITH LITTLE FOOD, THE ADAPTABLE

PUMA IS RARE HERE.

THE TIDAL FORESTS ARE DOMINATED

BY SPECIALISTS.

BIZZARE CREATURES THAT HAVE GONE

TO EXTRORDINARY LENGTHS TO MAKE

A LIVING AT THIS WILD FRONTIER

BETWEEN LAND AND SEA.

DYLAN: THE HOATZIN HAS TAKEN TO

EATING LEAVES.

RAISED ON SUCH LOW-ENERGY FOOD,

THE CHICKS GROW SLOWLY.

LAST YEAR'S BROOD HELPS OUT,

ACTING AS SENTRIES.

THE MOTHER HAS BUILT HER NEST

OVER WATER, OUT OF THE REACH OF

PUMAS, BUT WELL WITHIN RANGE OF

ANOTHER FOREST HUNTER:

A TREE BOA.

USUALLY, IT'S AN AMBUSH

PREDATOR, BUT EVERY NOW AND

THEN, ITS PATIENCE WEARS THIN.

THE HOATZIN LOOKOUTS SOON SPOT

IT.

LUCKILY FOR THE HOATZIN, THEIR

SCOLDING SENDS THE SNAKE IN

SEARCH OF EASIER PREY.

DYLAN: COMING UP, WE EXPLORE THE

ANIMALS THAT CALL ISLANDS IN THE

AMAZON RIVER HOME.

PLUS, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF

THIS EPIC JOURNEY FOR THESE

VITAL FISH?

NEXT, ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST

COVERS MORE THAN 2 MILLION

SQUARE MILES OF OUR PLANET.

SPRAWLING ACROSS ALMOST HALF OF

THE SOUTH AMERICAN CONTINENT, IT

IS FED BY THE MIGHTY AMAZON

RIVER.

AND AT ITS HEART ARE A GROUP OF

ISLANDS KNOWN AS THE ANAVILHANAS

AND MARIUA ARCHIPELAGOS.

MORE THAN 1,000 ISLANDS STRETCH

ALONG THE RIO NEGRO BRANCH OF

THE AMAZON RIVER, AND TOGETHER

MAKE UP THE LARGEST COLLECTION

OF RIVER ISLANDS IN THE WORLD.

THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM THE

NEAREST OCEAN, THESE RIVER

ISLANDS ARE UNIQUE, SURROUNDED

NOT BY CORAL REEFS AND

CRYSTAL-CLEAR WATERS, BUT BY

FLOODED FORESTS AND HIDDEN

DANGERS.

THIS IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST

UNUSUAL CREATURES IN THE WORLD.

FLOODED FOR SIX MONTHS OF THE

YEAR, THE ISLANDS ARE A MASS OF

SUBMERGED TREES AND WANDERING

VINES.

THIS IS A WORLD LIKE NO OTHER.

THE FOREST FLOOR BECOMES THE

RIVERBED.

FISH FEED FROM THE TREETOPS AND

CANOPY DWELLERS ARE STALKED BY

CREATURES THAT LURK BENEATH.

- DYLAN: IT'S MAY, AND THE - FLOODWATERS ARE STARTING TO

RISE.

- THE LIVES OF THE ANIMALS THAT - CALL THE ISLANDS HOME TAKE A

DRAMATIC TURN.

ONLY TWO PRIMATES LIVE HERE.

RED HOWLER MONKEYS, AND THE MORE

COMMON ARE

SQUIRREL MONKEYS, WHO

HAVE THE RUN OF THE CANOPY.

BECAUSE THEY SPEND MUCH OF THE

YEAR CUT OFF FROM THE MAINLAND,

THEY'VE LEARNED TO ADAPT TO LIFE

ABOVE THE WATER.

- IT'S EARLY MORNING, AND A LARGE - GROUP IS HEADING OUT ON A

FORAGING EXPEDITION.

- THE MONKEYS MAKE THE MOST OF THE - DAYLIGHT HOURS AS THEY MOVE

THROUGH THE CANOPY.

THEY'RE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR

FRUITS, FLOWERS, AND INSECTS

THAT MAKE UP THEIR DIET.

LONG TAILS PROVIDE THEM WITH

EXCELLENT BALANCE.

- AND AIDED BY NIMBLE HANDS AND - FEET, THEY'RE ABLE TO

INVESTIGATE ANY OPPORTUNITY.

BUT THE CANOPY OFFERS SLIM

PICKINGS.

- SURROUNDED BY WATER, THE - ARCHIPELAGOS DO NOT SUPPORT THE

ABUNDANCE OF FOOD THAT IS

AVAILABLE TO MONKEYS ELSEWHERE

IN THE AMAZON.

SOME OF THE YOUNG MALES AREN'T

IMPRESSED BY WHAT'S OFFERED

SO THEY DECIDE TO VENTURE DOWN

DEEPER INSIDE THE FLOODED

FOREST.

THE REWARDS ARE WORTH IT.

- YOUNG MONKEYS HAVE INCREDIBLY - GOOD EYESIGHT, AND THEY'RE ABLE

TO SPOT FOOD AMONGST THE DENSE

VEGETATION WITH EASE.

THEY'VE FOUND A FAVORITE.

THESE FLOWERS' SWEET NECTAR IS

IRRESISTABLE.

- AFTER A FRANTIC MORNING - FORAGING, ONE OF THE YOUNGSTERS

IS DESPERATE FOR A DRINK.

BUT IT'S RISKY BUSINESS.

DYLAN: BLACK CAIMAN LURK BELOW.

AN ALARM CALL ALERTS HIM TO THE

DANGER, BUT HE IS NOT OUT OF

TROUBLE YET.

THE SLIGHTEST SLIP COULD BE

FATAL FOR THE PLUCKY PRIMATE.

FINALLY, HE MAKES IT BACK TO THE

CANOPY, WHERE HE IS SAFE FOR

NOW.

- DYLAN: COMING UP, THESE PACIFIC - SALMON FACE THEIR BIGGEST

CHALLENGE YET.

- WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THIS - EPIC JOURNEY?

NEXT, ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK.

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.

WELCOME TO VANCOUVER ISLAND,

WHERE ONE FISH IS AS IMPORTANT

AS ANYTHING LIVIING HERE.

IT'S EARLY OCTOBER, THE AUTUMN

RAINS ARE LONG OVERDUE AND THE

RECENT DRAUGHT HAS PREVENTED

SALMON FROM MOVING UPRIVER TO

REACH THEIR SPAWNING GROUNDS.

BUT IT APPEARS CHANGE IS IN THE

AIR.

SOON THE RIVERS ARE IN FULL

FLOW.

A FINAL CHALLENGE LIES AHEAD.

DYLAN: 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.

FEMALE SALMON LAY AROUND 3,000

EGGS IN A SERIES OF NESTS.

EACH ONE IS COVERED BY GRAVEL TO

PROTECT AGAINST PREDATORS AND TO

PREVENT THE EGGS FROM DRIFTING

AWAY.

THE SALMONS' BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL

BEGINS.

- DYLAN: GULLS PADDLE THEIR FEET - ALONG THE FRESHLY VISITED

SPAWNING GROUNDS.

DISLODGED EGGS ARE A

PROTEIN-RICH DELICACY.

DIPPERS USUALLY EAT AQUATIC

INSECT LARVAE, WHICH THEY DIVE

TO COLLECT FROM THE RIVER

BOTTOM.

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY

CAPITALIZE ON THE SALMON SPAWN.

HOWEVER, CERTAIN PICKINGS ARE

OFTEN TOO BIG TO SWALLOW.

DYLAN: ONLY 10 PERCENT OF SALMON

EGGS WILL SUCCESSFULLY HATCH.

FOR EVERY 1,000 LAID, ONLY FOUR

WILL MAKE THE JOURNEY TO THE

OCEAN AND BACK AGAIN.

THESE ADULT SALMON ARE ULTIMATE

SURVIVORS.

THEIR JOB IS DONE.

THEY'VE PASSED THE BATON TO THE

NEXT GENERATION, AND THIS FINAL

ACT MARKS THE END OF THEIR LIFE.

PACIFIC SALMON ALWAYS DIE AFTER

THEY'VE SPAWNED.

THROUGH A COMBINATION OF

EXHAUSTION AND THE EFFECTS OF

MOVING FROM SALT TO FRESH WATER,

THEY BREATHE THEIR LAST IN THE

SAME STREAMS THAT SPAWNED THEM.

THEIR DECOMPOSING BODIES RELEASE

NUTRIENTS THAT FEED THE AQUATIC

FOOD WEB.

THIS IN TURN WILL NURTURE THE

NEXT GENERATION OF SALMON

THROUGHOUT VANCOUVER ISLAND'S

RIVERS OF LIFE.

AND THEIR JOURNEY IS FINALLY

COMPLETE.

- DYLAN: COMING UP, THE PANTANAL - IS DRY FOR NOW, BUT WHAT DOES IT

LOOK LIKE WHEN THE RAINS START

TO FALL IN THE WETTEST REGION OF

SOUTH AMERICA?

NEXT, ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[BREAK]

.

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

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THE PANTANAL, WHICH HAS - BEEN SO DRY, IS TRANSFORMED INTO

A MASSIVE VOLUME OF WATER.

IT'S SWOLLEN RIVERS FUNNEL

SOUTH, JOINING THE PARAGUAY

RIVER, THEN MERGE WITH THE

PARANA, THE SECOND LONGEST RIVER

IN SOUTH AMERICA.

TOGETHER, THEY DRAIN A FIFTH OF

THE ENTIRE CONTINENT.

ONE OF THE TRIBUTARIES PASSES

THROUGH THE IGUAZU FALLS.

DYLAN: THE MIGHTIEST WATERFALLS

IN THE AMERICAS.

SHAPED LIKE A GIANT HORESHOE,

THEY'RE A SERIES OF 275 FALLS

DROPPING 260 FEET INTO A NARROW

CHASM.

NEARLY TWO MILES ACROSS, THE

IGUAZU FALLS ARE WIDER THAN THE

VICTORIA FALLS AND DWARF

NIAGARA.

- IN THE WET SEASON, UP TO THREE - MILLION GALLONS FLOW TO THE EDGE

EVERY SECOND, 18,000 OLYMPIC

SWIMMING POOLS EVERY HOUR.

BLACK VULTURES GATHER.

- THEY KNOW THAT ANYTHING SWEPT - OVER THE EDGE WILL BE DASHED ON

THE ROCKS BELOW, AN EASY MEAL ON

TAP.

HUGE FLOCKS OF GREAT DUSKY

SWIFTS SWIRL THROUGH THE MIST.

THEY'VE COME TO BREED.

BUT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

THE LUSH FORESTS THAT CLOAK THE

FALLS ARE FULL OF THIEVES:

TOUCANS, SPECIALIST NEST

RAIDERS.

AND COATIS.

- THEY'LL EAT ANYTHING THEY CAN - FIND, BUT EGGS ARE A

PARTICULARLY VALUABLE PRIZE.

BANDS PATROL EVERY LEVEL OF THE

FOREST.

THE SWIFTS HAVE COME UP WITH AN

EXTRAORDINARY SOLUTION.

AS DUSK ARRIVES, THEY FLY

EVER CLOSER TO THE FALLS,

- LOOKING FOR A CHANCE TO - PENETRATE THE THUNDERING CURTAIN

OF WATER.

THEN, ONE BY ONE, THEY SWOOP

THROUGH.

- ONCE THEY'VE MADE IT TO THE - SLIPPERY CLIFF FACE, THEIR LONG

CLAWS ENABLE THEM TO CLING ON.

- THEN THEY CLAMBER TOWARDS THEIR - NESTS AND PRECIOUS EGGS ARE

SAFELY DEPOSITED OUT OF DANGER'S

REACH.

- DYLAN: ALL OF THE RIVERS FROM - THE PANTANAL EVENTUALLY FLOW

INTO THE RIO PLATA, CREATING THE

SECOND LARGEST RIVER BASIN ON

EARTH.

- THE PANTANAL PLAYS A CRUCIAL - ROLE IN CONTROLLING THIS MASSIVE

VOLUME OF WATER, ACTING LIKE A

GIANT SPONGE.

DURING THE WET SEASON, IT WORKS

AS A NATURAL GRATE, PREVENTING

FLASH FLOODS FROM HITTING

SOUTHERN BRAZIL, PARAGUAY, AND

ARGENTINA.

AND DURING THE DRY, IT BECOMES A

VITAL RESERVIOR, SLOWLY

RELEASING ITS CONTENTS.

- DYLAN: 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]