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 EPISODE, WE'LL

EXPLORE THE TREES.

[MONKEY HOWLING]

WE TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES TO

EXPLORE THE DOUBLE LIFE OF A

TREE NYMPH CATERPILLAR, PLUS

FIND ONE OF CHINA'S CUTEST

LOCALS.

PLUS, IF THESE AREN'T MONKEYS,

THEN WHAT ARE THEY?

AND LATER, WITH SHARPENED CLAWS,

WILL THIS BLACK BEAR PROVE TO BE

TOO GREAT A FOE FOR THE MUCH

SMALLER GIBBON?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

- DYLAN: THE PHILIPPINES HAS ONE - OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST CLIMATES

TO SUPPORT MAMMALS, REPTILES,

BIRDS, AND PLANTS.

ITS WARM WEATHER HARDLY CHANGES

FROM SEASON TO SEASON, ALLOWING

FOR ITS INHABITANTS TO SURVIVE

AND THRIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BUT THERE'S ONE CREATURE THAT

CHANGES DRASTICALLY BECAUSE OF

THE CONSISTENT CLIMATE.

- LET'S MIGRATE BACK TO THE - FOREST, WHERE WE DISCOVER THE

NEW LIFE OF THIS CRAFTY

CATERPILLAR.

THE PHILIPPINES ARE HOME TO ALL

SORTS OF STRANGE SPECIES, LIKE

AN INSECT WITH AN APPETITE FOR

POISON.

A TREE NYMPH CATERPILLAR CLIMBS

ITS FAVORITE PLANT, A DOGBANE.

TO TRY AND STOP INSECTS EATING

THEM, DOGBANES FLUSH THEIR

LEAVES WITH TOXINS, BUT IT'S A

TACTIC WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS

WORK.

POISON MAKES THE PLANTS MORE

DESIRABLE TO THE TREE NYMPH

CATERPILLAR, NOT LESS.

IT CAREFULLY SEVERS THE STEM

CARRYING THE TOXINS SO IT

- CONSUMES ONLY A NON-LETHAL DOSE - AS IT EATS THE LEAF.

THE CATERPILLAR CUNNINGLY ADOPTS

THE PLANT'S SELF-DEFENSE TACTIC.

IT NOW CARRIES THE TOXINS, WHICH

SHOULD DETER PREDATORS.

AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS, THE

CATERPILLAR DOUBLES IN SIZE.

IT WEAVES A SILK PAD ON A LEAF

AND SUSPENDS ITSELF USING BARBED

HOOKS ON ITS REAR.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS A BIOLOGICAL

MIRACLE.

ENZYMES DIGEST THE CATERPILLAR'S

TISSUE, EFFECTIVELY LIQUIDIZING

ITS INSIDES.

THE CATERPILLAR SLOWLY SHEDS ITS

SKIN TO REVEAL A GOLDEN

CHRYSALIS.

- AT FIRST, THE CHRYSALIS IS SOFT - AND SKIN-LIKE.

BUT IT QUICKLY TOUGHENS TO FORM

A PROTECTIVE COCOON.

IN THE SAFETY OF ITS HARDENED

HOME, IT WAITS FOR CELLS IN ITS

LIQUID CENTER TO SLOWLY CHANGE.

TWO WEEKS PASS.

THE CATERPILLAR IS NOW READY FOR

THE FINAL STAGE OF A MIRACULOUS

TRANSFORMATION.

ONE OF THE PHILIPPINES' MOST

SPECTACULAR BUTTERFLIES, THE

TREE NYMPH SLOWLY ENTERS THE

WORLD.

FREE OF ITS CRAMPED COCOON, IT

GENTLY PUFFS UP ITS PAPERY

WINGS.

ITS FRAGILE BODY SLOWLY DRIES IN

THE WARM SUNSHINE.

- FINALLY, IT'S TIME FOR ITS FIRST - FLIGHT.

BUT FREEDOM IS SHORT-LIVED.

AN ORB WEAVER SPIDER STRIKES.

ITS WEB IS MORE THAN THREE FEET

WIDE AND ALMOST INVISIBLE.

THE OUTCOME SEEMS INEVITABLE,

BUT ALL IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS.

SOMETHING ABOUT THE BUTTERFLY

DOESN'T TASTE QUITE RIGHT.

ONE LAST LOOK, AND THE SPIDER

CUTS ITS CAPTIVE FREE.

THE TOXINS FROM THE DOGBANE

PLANT THE BUTTERFLY ATE WHEN IT

WAS A CATERPILLAR HAVE SAVED ITS

LIFE.

IT'S COMPLETELY UNPALATABLE TO

THE SPIDER.

THIS INGENIOUS TRICK HAS EARNED

THE TREE NYMPH ANOTHER NAME, THE

LUCKY BUTTERFLY.

THE ORB WEAVER IS LEFT WAITING

FOR A MORE APPETIZING CATCH.

COMING UP, WITH SHARPENED CLAWS

AND THE ABILITY TO CLIMB, WILL

- THIS BLACK BEAR PROVE TO BE TOO - GREAT A FOE FOR THE MUCH SMALLER

GIBBON?

PLUS, WE'LL EXPLORE THE TREES

AND FIND ONE OF CHINA'S CUTEST

LOCALS.

AND LATER, WE DISCOVER ANOTHER

STEALTHY ANIMAL THAT LIVES IN

THESE PARTS, BUT THIS ONE IS

MORE KNOWN FOR THEIR MISCHIEVOUS

WAYS.

.

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

- DYLAN: GIBBONS SPEND THEIR DAYS - IN THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF THE

TREES, AND IT'S NOT HARD TO

UNDERSTAND WHY.

THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM ARE ALSO

HOME TO A MUCH LARGER AND MORE

POWERFUL CREATURE, THE ASIATIC

BLACK BEAR.

THIS YOUNGSTER HAS VENTURED A

LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND

AND HAS BEEN SPOTTED BY THE MUCH

LARGER BLACK BEAR.

- THIS SPECIES CAN WEIGH UP TO 450 - POUNDS.

THE PRIMATE'S MOTHER SUDDENLY

RECOGNIZES THE DANGER.

- SHE RUSHES TO THE SCENE AND - GUIDES HER YOUNGSTER BACK TO THE

SAFETY OF THE TREETOPS.

ALTHOUGH ASIATIC BEARS ARE

EXCELLENT CLIMBERS, THEY ARE NO

MATCH FOR THE JUNGLE'S BEST

GYMNASTS.

ASIATIC BLACK BEARS ARE SIMILAR

IN SIZE TO THEIR AMERICAN

COUNTERPARTS; HOWEVER, THEY

DIFFER BY HAVING CREAM-COLORED

CRESCENTS AROUND THEIR CHEST.

THEY ALSO HAVE LONG, THICK FUR

AROUND THEIR FACE AND NECK THAT

CAN GROW UP TO SIX INCHES LONG.

DESPITE BEING ARMED WITH

INCH-LONG CURVED CLAWS AND

FLESH-TEARING TEETH, THIS

PREDATOR IS MAINLY VEGETARIAN.

GRASS, BERRIES, AND ROOTS MAKE

UP A MAJORITY OF ITS DIET;

HOWEVER, INSECTS AND BEE HONEY

MAKE FOR A TASTY SNACK IN

BETWEEN MEALS.

THEIR NOSE CAN DETECT THE SMELL

OF HONEY FROM A DISTANCE OF MORE

THAN THREE MILES AWAY, BUT IF

THEY CAN'T GET TO THE TASTY

NECTAR, A TREE ANT WILL ALSO

SATISFY THEIR MIDDAY HUNGER.

MOSQUITO-LIKE INSECTS KNOWN AS

MIDGES ARE A CONSTANT SOURCE OF

IRRITATION IN VIETNAM'S HUMID

JUNGLES.

SO, AFTER WASHING DOWN HIS MEAL

WITH A SMEAR OF STICKY TREE SAP,

THIS MALE DECIDES IT'S TIME TO

COOL DOWN AND INDULGE IN SOME

TEMPORARY BUG RELIEF.

ASIATIC BLACK BEARS LEAD A

MAINLY SOLITARY LIFE AND USUALLY

ROAM TERRITORIES COVERING AROUND

25 SQUARE MILES.

IN ORDER TO ATTRACT FEMALES AND

TO WARN OTHER MALES NOT TO

INVADE THEIR TURF, THIS MALE

BEGINS TO SCENT-MARK SURROUNDING

TREES.

- IT'S ALSO A GREAT WAY TO RELIEVE - AN ITCHY BACK.

BUT THIS MALE'S DAILY RITUAL IS

SUDDENLY CUT SHORT.

ANOTHER MALE HAS VENTURED TOO

CLOSE FOR COMPANY.

[BEARS GROWLING]

THE UNWELCOME VISITOR SOON GETS

THE MESSAGE.

THIS IS ONE OPPONENT NOT TO BE

MESSED WITH.

TO ESCAPE DANGER, BLACK BEARS

EITHER RUN AWAY OR HEAD UP INTO

THE TREES.

THIS GUY HAS CHOSEN THE LATTER.

HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO SIT IT

OUT.

IT COULD BE HOURS BEFORE HE

FEELS SAFE TO COME DOWN.

- SO, WHAT BETTER EXCUSE TO TAKE A - MID-MORNING NAP?

- COMING UP, WE'LL EXPLORE THE - TREES AND FIND ONE OF CHINA'S

CUTEST LOCALS.

AND LATER, WE DISCOVER ANOTHER

STEALTHY ANIMAL THAT LIVES IN

THESE PARTS, BUT THIS ONE IS

MORE KNOWN FOR THEIR MISCHIEVOUS

WAYS.

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK.

WHILE BEING HOME TO MORE THAN 40

MILLION PEOPLE, THE NORTHEASTERN

REGION OF INDIA IS ONE OF THE

MOST REMOTE AND SECLUDED PARTS

OF THE WORLD.

- THAT'S BECAUSE THE POPULATION IS - CONCENTRATED IN A FEW SMALL

AREAS, LEAVING THE REST OF THE

LAND TO THE WILD PLANTS AND

ANIMALS.

LET'S HEAD TO THESE NATURAL

TREASURE TROVES TO FIND OUT

- WHAT'S LURKING BENEATH THE - CANOPY.

WELCOME TO THE FORESTS OF THE

LOST WORLDS OF INDIA.

HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF ANIMALS

CALL THIS PLACE HOME, AND SOME

SPECIES ARE HARD TO TELL APART.

MANY PEOPLE MISTAKE THE HOOLOCK

GIBBON FOR A MONKEY BECAUSE OF

ITS SMALL SIZE AND MISCHIEVOUS

APPEARANCE.

BUT LIKE OTHER APES SUCH AS

CHIMPS AND GORILLAS, THE GIBBON

DOESN'T HAVE A TAIL, AND ITS

HANDS HAVE OPPOSABLE THUMBS LIKE

HUMANS.

THE ARMS OF THESE UNUSUAL APES

ARE LONGER THAN THEIR LEGS.

- IT HELPS THEM TRAVEL THROUGH THE - TREES WITH EASE.

THESE NIMBLE GYMNASTS HAVE FEW

EQUALS IN THE FOREST.

HOOLOCK GIBBONS ARE THE FASTEST

AND MOST AGILE OF THE PRIMATES.

THEY MAINLY USE THEIR ARMS TO

MOVE BETWEEN BRANCHES, BUT THEY

CAN JUMP MORE THAN 30 FEET, TOO.

MALES HAVE A BLACK COAT AND

WHITE EYEBROWS.

FEMALES ARE MUCH LIGHTER IN

COLOR.

BABIES ARE BORN WITH WHITE FUR,

WHICH GRADUALLY DARKENS AS THEY

GROW OLDER.

THEY MAINLY EAT FRUIT, BUT ALSO

LIKE LEAVES, INSECTS, AND

FLOWERS.

BUT THESE ACROBATIC APES ARE

MOST FAMOUS FOR THEIR SINGING.

[MONKEYS HOWLING]

[HOWLING CONTINUES]

COMPLEX CALLS PROCLAIM

TERRITORIES, REINFORCE PAIR

BONDS, AND ATTRACT POTENTIAL

MATES.

THE LOST WORLD OF INDIA IS OFTEN

UNREACHABLE BY HUMANS.

ITS STORY CAN ONLY BE TOLD BY

THE ANIMALS AND CREATURES WHO

CALL THIS PLACE HOME, AND ITS

MYSTERY WILL KEEP THE

FASCINATION ALIVE FOREVER.

COMING UP, WE'LL EXPLORE THE

TREES AND FIND ONE OF CHINA'S

CUTEST LOCALS, THE RED PANDA.

.

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

DYLAN: SOUTHWEST CHINA, ONE OF

NATURE'S GREATEST SECRETS.

SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS,

TEMPERATE VALLEYS,

AND TROPICAL JUNGLES

ARE HOME TO A SPECTACULAR ARRAY

OF WILDLIFE.

[BAT CHIRPING]

APPROXIMATELY HALF OF CHINA'S

BIRDS AND MAMMALS LIVE IN THIS

TINY REGION, MANY FOUND NOWHERE

ELSE ON EARTH.

HIMALAYAN SQUIRRELS LIVE AT AN

ELEVATION BETWEEN 5,000 AND

10,000 FEET.

- WATER DROPLETS TRAPPED AMONG THE - PETALS QUENCHES THIS

INDIVIDUAL'S THIRST.

- ALTHOUGH NUTS AND FRUITS MAKE UP - THE MAJORITY OF ITS DIET,

INSECTS TAKING REFUGE INSIDE

FLOWERS ARE ALSO TAKEN.

THESE SECLUDED TEMPERATE

FOOTHILL FORESTS ARE ALSO HOME

TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST

ELUSIVE ANIMALS.

RED PANDAS ARE JUST SLIGHTLY

LARGER THAN A DOMESTIC CAT.

THEY LIVE A SOLITARY LIFE.

DESPITE THE NAME, BIOLOGICALLY,

THEY'RE NOT RELATED TO GIANT

PANDAS.

THEY HAVE RECENTLY BEEN

ALLOCATED THEIR OWN FAMILY

LABEL, MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO

WEASELS.

- RED PANDAS CAN'T DIGEST THE - CELLULOSE FOUND IN MOST PLANTS,

SO THEIR DIET IS ALMOST ENTIRELY

MADE UP OF BAMBOO, A FOOD THEIR

STOMACHS CAN JUST ABOUT MANAGE.

BECAUSE BAMBOO NUTRITION LEVELS

ARE RELATIVELY LOW, THEY SPEND

AROUND 13 HOURS A DAY FEEDING.

- AFTER PATROLLING AND - SCENT-MARKING HIS PATCH OF

FOREST, THIS MALE HAS SOME

IMPORTANT WORK TO DO.

- TO COPE WITH COOLER - TEMPERATURES, RED PANDAS' BODIES

ARE COMPLETELY COVERED IN FUR,

INCLUDING THE SOLES OF THEIR

FEET.

THIS CAT-LIKE CLEANING IS ONE

RITUAL THAT CAN'T BE RUSHED.

MALE TERRITORIES ARE LARGE,

OVERLAPPING THOSE OF SEVERAL

FEMALES; HOWEVER, THIS

INDIVIDUAL APPEARS TO HAVE SOME

COMPANY, BUT OF THE WRONG

GENDER.

- RED PANDAS ARE HIGHLY - TERRITORIAL AND DEFEND THEIR

PATCH OF GROUND WITH VIGOR.

THIS VISITING ROMEO SUDDENLY

REALIZES THIS IS ANOTHER MALE'S

DOMAIN AND HEADS BACK THE WAY HE

CAME.

BEING SMALL-BODIED AND CHOOSING

TO LIVE ALONE HAS ENABLED

CHINA'S RED PANDAS TO LIVE A

SECRETIVE LIFE.

- 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]