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".

ON TODAY'S SHOW, WE HEAD TO THE

PHILIPPINES, WHERE YOU'LL FIND

SOME OF THE WILDEST ANIMALS IN

ONE OF THE MOST EXOTIC LOCATIONS

ON EARTH.

PLUS, WE EXPLORE THE ANIMALS

THAT CALL ISLANDS IN THE AMAZON

RIVER HOME.

AND LATER, WATCH ONE OF THE

SMALLEST RESIDENTS OF THE

CARIBBEAN FIND ITS PERFECT FIT.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: THERE ARE FEW PLACES ON - EARTH THAT ARE MORE BIODIVERSE

THAN THE PHILIPPINES.

- THE WATERS AROUND THESE - INCREDIBLE ISLANDS ARE SAID TO

HAVE MORE LIFE THAN ANYWHERE

ELSE IN THE WORLD.

- BUT IT'S NOT JUST SEA ANIMALS - THAT GIVE THE PHILIPPINES ITS

LIVELY REPUTATION.

THERE'S ALSO PLENTY OF ANIMAL

ACTIVITY ON LAND.

- LET'S CRUISE OVER TO SOUTHEAST - ASIA TO GET UP CLOSE AND

PERSONAL WITH THE PHILIPPINES'

ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE.

THE PHILIPPINES ARE MADE UP OF

MORE THAN 7,000 TROPICAL ISLANDS

IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN.

THEY'RE AMONG THE MOST ANCIENT

ISLANDS ON EARTH.

DENSE RAINFOREST COVERS MOST OF

THE LAND.

- AND ALL COMBINED, THE - PHILIPPINES HAVE THE WORLD'S

FIFTH LONGEST COASTLINE.

THE ISLANDS SIT WITHIN THE

NOTORIOUS PACIFIC RING OF FIRE,

- MAKING THEM PRONE TO TYPHOONS, - EARTHQUAKES, AND THE THREAT OF

- ERUPTION FROM AROUND 20 ACTIVE - VOLCANOES.

- THEY ARE ALSO HOME TO ONE OF THE - MOST DIVERSE COLLECTION OF

ANIMALS AND PLANTS IN THE WORLD.

THE PHILIPPINES ARE CROWDED WITH

RARE AND UNIQUE SPECIES,

- INCLUDING MANY SPECIALIZED - PREDATORS.

SOME OF THE MOST SKILLFUL STALK

THE DENSE FORESTS OF PALAWAN

ISLAND.

PALAWAN LIES BETWEEN THE SOUTH

CHINA SEA IN THE NORTHWEST AND

THE SULU SEA IN THE SOUTHEAST.

IT'S THE SIXTH LARGEST ISLAND IN

THE PHILIPPINES.

IT'S ALSO THE MOST SPARSELY

POPULATED AND THE MOST HEAVILY

FORESTED.

- DENSE RAINFOREST AND MISTY - MOUNTAINS RUN THE LENGTH OF THE

ISLAND.

BENEATH THE CANOPY IS A MAZE OF

BRANCHES AND VINES, THE PERFECT

HOME FOR SOME OF THE

PHILIPPINES' MOST FORMIDABLE

HUNTERS.

THE LEAF LITTER RUSTLES UNDER

THE WEIGHT OF BULKY BUGS,

LIKE THIS FOREST SCORPION

SEARCHING FOR A MEAL.

ARMED WITH A LETHAL STING THAT

TARGETS NERVE CELLS, IT WILL

INJECT ANY PREY IT COMES ACROSS

WITH PARALYZING VENOM.

A GIANT SCOLOPENDRA IS JUST AS

DEADLY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S

LARGEST CENTIPEDES.

ADULTS CAN REACH UP TO EIGHT

INCHES LONG.

ONE POISON-PACKED BITE IS

USUALLY ENOUGH TO GO TOE-TO-TOE

WITH ANIMALS AS BIG AS MICE,

BIRDS, AND BATS.

- IT'S NOT ONLY ANIMALS WHO HAVE - DEVELOPED SPECIAL SKILLS TO

SURVIVE IN PALAWAN'S JUNGLES.

THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE

VEGETATION ITSELF.

BIZARRE PLANTS CROWD THE EDGE OF

THE FOREST.

THEY'RE CALLED PITCHER PLANTS

DUE TO THEIR VASE-SHAPED BODIES,

- BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT - SEPARATES THESE PLANTS FROM

THOSE IN YOUR BACKYARD.

THESE PLANTS ARE HUNGRY.

THE SOIL AT THE EDGE OF THE

FOREST IS POOR QUALITY AND NOT

FERTILE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT MOST

PLANTS.

SO, PITCHER PLANTS TURN TO OTHER

SOURCES OF FOOD, LIVING

CREATURES.

THESE PLANTS ARE PREDATORS, AND

SINCE THEY CAN'T MOVE, THEY MAKE

THEIR PREY COME TO THEM.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 SPECIES

OF TROPICAL PITCHER PLANT, BUT

NEPENTHES PHILIPPINENSIS IS

FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

USING SPECIAL GLANDS, THE PLANT

SECRETES SWEET-SMELLING NECTAR

ONTO ITS BRIGHTLY COLORED OUTER

LIP.

TO INSECTS LIKE ANTS, THE

COMBINATION OF SCENT AND COLOR

PROVES IRRESISTIBLE.

AND THE LIP OF THE PLANT SEEMS

THE MOST ENTICING PART OF ALL.

ONCE LURED ONTO THE EDGE, THE

ANT'S FATE IS SEALED.

THE SURFACE IS A SLIPPERY TRAP.

- THE PLANT'S BODY IS FULL OF - LIQUID.

SOME HOLD AS MUCH AS A

HALF-A-PINT, AND ITS WAXY WALLS

MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ITS PREY

TO CLIMB OUT.

SPECIAL DIGESTIVE ENZYMES WORK

LIKE ACID AND BREAK DOWN THE

ANTS' BODIES AS THEY DROWN.

THE PITCHER PLANT NOW HAS THE

VITAL NUTRIENTS IT CAN'T GET

FROM THE SOIL.

COMING UP, TRY NOT TO MAKE A

MISTAKE WHEN GIANT REPTILES ARE

PATROLLING THESE WATERWAYS.

PLUS, WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT

THESE HUMMINGBIRDS ARE SINGING

ABOUT.

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME TO THE AMAZON

RIVER ISLANDS.

SOME SMALL FISH WHO PACK A BIG

BITE PATROL THESE WATERWAYS.

NONE HAS A MORE FEARSOME

REPUTATION THAN A PIRANHA.

BLOOD IN THE WATER WILL WHIP

THEM INTO A FEEDING FRENZY.

THESE RED-BELLIED PIRANHAS ARE

EFFICIENT WORKERS.

JAWS FILLED WITH RAZOR-SHARP

TEETH ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE QUICK

WORK OF THEIR MEAL.

AS THE WATERS CONTINUE TO RISE,

MANY ANIMALS WILL BECOME CUT

OFF.

- A THREE-TOED SLOTH IS FORCED TO - BRAVE THE TREACHEROUS WATERS IN

SEARCH OF A NEW HOME.

DESPITE THE DANGERS, IT HAS NO

CHOICE.

BUILT FOR LIFE IN THE TREETOPS,

SLOTHS ARE SURPRISINGLY GOOD

SWIMMERS.

THEY PADDLE EFFICIENTLY WITH

THEIR LONG ARMS AND ARE ABLE TO

- MOVE MUCH FASTER THAN THEY DO ON - LAND.

BUT NOT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO GO

UNNOTICED.

- GREEN ANACONDA ARE ALWAYS ON THE - LOOKOUT FOR AN EASY MEAL.

- THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TOO GOOD - TO BE MISSED FOR ONE OF THE

FOREST'S DEADLIEST PREDATORS.

CHEMORECEPTORS ON THE SNAKE'S

TONGUE HELP IT TRACK ITS PREYS

MOVEMENTS THROUGH THE WATER.

FINALLY, THE SLOTH MAKES IT TO A

SUITABLE TREE, BUT IT'S A LONG

WAY TO THE TOP, AND TIME IS

AGAINST IT.

BUT THIS SLOTH IS LUCKY TO GET

AWAY.

COMING UP, WE DISCOVER THE EPIC

JOURNEY OF THE PACIFIC SALMON

AND TRY TO STAY OUT OF HARM'S

WAY.

AND THEN, WATCH ONE OF THE

SMALLEST RESIDENTS OF THE

CARIBBEAN FIND ITS PERFECT FIT.

.

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

DYLAN: AS THE THIRD LARGEST

CONTINENT IN THE WORLD, NORTH

AMERICA IS HOME TO THOUSANDS OF

DIFFERENT SPECIES OF ANIMALS.

SOME ARE PREDATORS; SOME ARE

PREY, BUT ALL WORK TOGETHER TO

- KEEP THE CIRCLE OF LIFE IN - MOTION.

AND THERE'S ONE SMALL FISH IN

BRITISH COLUMBIA THAT MEANS AS

MUCH, IF NOT MORE, TO ITS

ENVIRONMENT THAN ANY OTHER

CREATURE ON EARTH, THE SALMON.

- IT'S MORE THAN JUST FOOD FOR THE - BLACK BEARS AND EAGLES.

IT'S THE FOCAL POINT FOR LIFE IN

BOTH THE FORESTS AND RIVERS OF

VANCOUVER.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

VANCOUVER ISLAND IS HOME TO ONE

OF THE WORLD'S MOST DIVERSE

ECOSYSTEMS...

...GLACIER-CAPPED MOUNTAINS,

ANCIENT FORESTS, NUTRIENT-RICH

OCEANS,

AND A NETWORK OF RIVERS

AND CREEKS THAT SUPPORT A

WILDERNESS LIKE NO OTHER.

BUT ONE CREATURE STANDS OUT

ABOVE ALL THE REST,

THE PACIFIC SALMON.

VIRTUALLY ALL LIFE HERE RELIES

ON ITS EXISTENCE.

AS SUMMER DRAWS TO AN END, THE

ISLAND PREPARES FOR AN INVASION

OF SALMON, A SPECTACLE THAT

FUELS THE REGION'S RIVERS OF

LIFE.

HUGGING THE WEST COAST OF

CANADA, VANCOUVER ISLAND

STRETCHES APPROXIMATELY 280

MILES LONG BY ABOUT 60 MILES

WIDE.

IT'S THE LARGEST ISLAND OFF THE

WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA.

- WHILE GLACIERS FUEL THE FLOW OF - SOME OF CANADA'S TALLEST

WATERFALLS,

AN ENDLESS NETWORK

OF RIVERS AND CREEKS PROVIDES

- THE IDEAL HABITAT FOR ONE OF THE - WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT FISH.

EACH YEAR, HALF-A-BILLION SALMON

LEAVE THE SEA TO RETURN TO THEIR

SPAWNING GROUNDS IN THE RIVERS

OF NORTH AMERICA.

VANCOUVER ISLAND IS THE

DESTINATION FOR MILLIONS OF

THESE DETERMINED FISH.

ON THEIR REMARKABLE JOURNEY, THE

SALMON FACE AN ENDLESS ARRAY OF

CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES.

NOT ALL MANAGE TO MAKE IT HOME

TO SPAWN THE NEXT GENERATION.

AT THE NORTHERN TIP OF THE

ISLAND IN THE JOHNSTONE STRAIT,

MILLIONS OF SALMON CONVERGE

AFTER HAVING SPENT UP TO FIVE

YEARS AT SEA IN THE PACIFIC

OCEAN.

THIS IS THE FIRST STAGE OF THEIR

TESTING JOURNEY, AND ALTHOUGH

THE BLACK BEARS LIE FURTHER

INLAND, ANOTHER PREDATOR IS

EAGER TO GREET THEM.

NAMED AFTER THE NATURALIST,

GEORG WILHELM STELLER, WHO FIRST

DESCRIBED THEM IN 1742, STELLER

SEA LIONS ARE THE LARGEST OF ALL

SEA LIONS.

THEY CAN REACH MORE THAN TEN

FEET LONG AND WEIGH MORE THAN A

TON.

UNLIKE MOST TRUE OR CRAWLING

SEALS, THEY CAN WALK ON ALL FOUR

FLIPPERS.

[SEA LIONS GROWLING]

SEA LIONS ALSO HAVE VISIBLE

EARS AND ARE OFTEN MUCH MORE

VOCAL THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS.

[SEA LIONS GROWLING]

SOUNDING LIKE A GROUP OF GRUMPY

OLD MEN, THE MALES CONSTANTLY

BICKER FOR A BETTER POSITION ON

COASTAL ROCKS.

[SEA LIONS GROWLING]

STELLER SEA LIONS NEED TO EAT

AROUND SIX PERCENT OF THEIR BODY

WEIGHT EACH DAY.

SOON, HUNGER KICKS IN, AND IT'S

TIME FOR A SPOT OF FISHING.

SEA LIONS MAY SEEM CUMBERSOME ON

LAND, BUT UNDER WATER, THEY

BECOME STREAMLINED AND SLEEK.

HITTING SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 18

MILES PER HOUR, THEY MAKE TIGHT

TURNS TO OUTMANEUVER THEIR PREY.

UNLUCKY VICTIMS ARE DISPATCHED

WITH QUICK PRECISION.

COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY",

WATCH ONE OF THE SMALLEST

RESIDENTS OF THE CARIBBEAN FIND

ITS PERFECT FIT.

.

- WE KNOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU

KNOW ON NBC.

- DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO "EARTH - ODYSSEY".

THE WINDWARD AND LEEWARD ISLANDS

ARE AT THE CROSSROADS OF

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY IN THE

CARIBBEAN.

THE ISLAND OF DOMINICA BOASTS

NINE VOLCANOES, MORE THAN ANY

OTHER ISLAND IN THE WORLD.

- THE UPSIDE OF ALL THESE - VOLCANOES IS EVIDENT BY LOOKING

AROUND AT THE LUSH GREEN FORESTS

OF DOMINICA.

VOLCANIC SOIL IS EXTREMELY

FERTILE.

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WILL

GROW.

THE ISLAND'S WET WEATHER HELPS

THE PLANTS ALONG.

THE ABUNDANT FLOWERS ATTRACT

PLENTY OF WILDLIFE, ESPECIALLY

THESE LITTLE SPEED-EATERS.

HUMMINGBIRDS LOVE THE

CARIBBEAN'S VIBRANT COLORS.

THEY CAN'T SMELL AT ALL, SO THEY

CHOOSE WHAT THEY EAT BY WHAT

LOOKS THE TASTIEST.

- HUMMINGBIRDS ARE FOUND ALL OVER - THE CARIBBEAN.

- THESE BIRDS CAN MOVE FASTER THAN - THE EYE CAN FOLLOW.

LIKE AN ENGINE, THEIR HEARTS

BEAT 500 TIMES EVERY MINUTE.

TO KEEP THEIR ENERGY UP, THEY

NEED TO FEED CONSTANTLY.

ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, THEY'LL EAT

ALMOST THREE TIMES THEIR BODY

WEIGHT EVERY DAY.

TINY, ONLY THREE-AND-A-HALF

INCHES LONG, THE ANTILLEAN

CRESTED HUMMINGBIRD IS ONE OF

THE SMALLEST.

THE MALE HAS A MOHAWK OF

COLORFUL GREEN PLUMAGE.

- THE FEMALE WEARS LESS FLASHY - FEATHERS.

FOR HER OWN SAFETY, IT'S BETTER

TO GO INCOGNITO WHEN PROTECTING

HER NEW BABIES.

THE HUMMINGBIRD'S NEST IS MADE

ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM SPIDER

SILK.

- THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S A FLEXIBLE - MATERIAL.

AS THE BABIES GROW, THE NEST

WILL KEEP EXPANDING, AND THESE

CHICKS GROW VERY QUICKLY WITH

ALL OF THE ATTENTION.

THEY'RE READY TO FLY AWAY IN TWO

WEEKS.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST MOM AND DAD

WHO DO THEIR PART.

EVOLUTION PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN

THE SURVIVAL OF THESE FAST

FLYERS.

HUMMINGBIRDS AND HELICONIA

PLANTS ARE LIKE TWO PIECES OF

THE SAME JIGSAW PUZZLE.

HELICONIA ARE FOUND ALL OVER THE

CARIBBEAN.

- THEY NEED THE HUMMINGBIRDS TO - SPREAD THEIR POLLEN AND

FERTILIZE NEW PLANTS.

HUMMINGBIRDS DEPEND ON THE

HELICONIA'S NECTAR AND VISITING

INSECTS FOR PROTEIN.

- TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH TO - GO AROUND, HUMMINGBIRDS HAVE

VERY DIFFERENT SIZE BEAKS.

EACH BEAK HAS A HELICONIA

PARTNER.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FIGURING

OUT WHICH PLANT VARIETY OFFERS

THE PERFECT FIT FOR EACH

HUMMINGBIRD.

- THAT WAY, THE HUMMINGBIRDS DON'T - NEED TO FIGHT OVER THE SAME

PLANT.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TYPE TO

ENJOY.

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]