Original subtitles

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NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT'S EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

"THE MORE YOU KNOW" ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

JOIN ME AS WE VENTURE INTO THE WILD DESERTS, RUGGED FORESTS,

AND ROCKY CLIFFS OF INDIA.

THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY."

TODAY, WE'LL MEET A TROOP OF ACROBATIC PRIMATES WHO SHOW NO

FEAR OF MONKEYING AROUND.

AND DISCOVER THE LAST SAFE HAVEN FOR THIS MAJESTIC MOM AND HER

CUBS.

PLUS, WE'LL SEE HOW THIS LITTLE PUP INVESTS IN HER OWN FUTURE.

AND FIND OUT WHY THIS LEAPING LIZARD IS NAMED FOR A LEOPARD.

IT'S ALL COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SOME PEOPLE ASSUME AFRICA IS THE ONLY HOME TO WILD ANIMALS

LIKE ELEPHANTS, LIONS, AND TIGERS.

BUT THE SUBCONTINENT OF INDIA, WITH ITS DESERTS, FORESTS, AND

JUNGLES, HAS ALL THOSE ICONIC CREATURES AND MORE.

OUR ADVENTURE BEGINS IN INDIA WITH A FAMILY OF ANIMALS THAT WE

HUMANS FIND ENDLESSLY FASCINATING.

DESERTS DEMAND A LOT FROM THEIR INHABITANTS, AND INDIA'S LARGEST

IS NO EXCEPTION.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 90,000 SQUARE MILES OF DESOLATE DUNES

AND IMPOSING SANDSTONE CLIFFS.

ON ITS EASTERN EDGE LIES JODHPUR, A CITY THAT'S HOME TO

MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE.

BUT ANOTHER PRIMATE ALSO BRAVES THIS 110-DEGREE HEAT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS LIVELY YOUNGSTER IS PART OF A LARGE DESERT COMMUNITY

OF HANUMAN LANGURS.

THEIR HOME IS A NEAR VERTICAL RIDGELINE.

SOMEHOW, THESE AGILE PRIMATES MANAGE TO NOT ONLY GET COMFY ON

THE CLIFFS, THEY RACE ALONG THE ROCK FACE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN THIS REGION OF SPARSE RAINFALL, LEAVES ARE AN

IMPORTANT WATER SOURCE.

BUT ADAPTABILITY TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS IS THE TROOP'S

GREATEST ADVANTAGE.

OTHERS LEARN CRUCIAL LIFE SKILLS ON THE CLIFF EDGE.

PLAY IS PART OF GETTING IT RIGHT.

GRIP STRENGTH AND A LONG TAIL FOR COUNTERBALANCE ARE KEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE TROOP IS IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER

THROUGH TOUCH, SIGHT, AND VOCALIZATION.

STILL NURSING, YOUNGSTERS STAY CLOSE TO THEIR MOTHERS.

BUT AFTER PLAY, IT'S TIME FOR EVERYONE, BIG AND SMALL, TO

RELAX.

GROOMING IS THE GLUE FOR THIS DESERT SOCIETY.

HIGH STATUS LANGURS ARE GROOMED MOST FREQUENTLY.

THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE PART OF A COMPLEX SOCIAL HIERARCHY.

FEMALES IN THEIR PRIME ARE AT THE TOP, WHILE THE WEAK AND THE

ELDERLY ARE AT THE BOTTOM.

THE ALPHA FEMALE IS THE MATRIARCH OF THE GROUP.

FEMALE LANGURS IN THE SAME TROOP WILL GIVE BIRTH AROUND THE SAME

TIME.

BUT THIS YOUNG FEMALE HAS HAD HER BABY LATER THAN EVERYONE

ELSE.

THE TROOP USUALLY SHARES INFANT CARE, BUT SHE IS RELUCTANT TO

LET ANYONE ELSE HOLD HER BABY.

EVEN THE ALPHA FEMALE ISN'T GETTING A LOOK.

LUCKILY, COOPERATION AND PATIENCE GO A LONG WAY TOWARD

SOCIAL HARMONY.

WHILE THE FEMALES HELP RAISE EACH OTHER'S YOUNG, MOST YOUNG

MALES LEAVE THE TROOP.

SO THIS SISTERHOOD OF PRIMATES MAKES IT THROUGH THEIR PARENTING

CHALLENGES ON THEIR OWN.

THESE MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, AND SISTERS WILL STAY IN THE SAME

TROOP FOR LIFE.

COMING UP, A MOTHER'S SECRET STRATEGY TO KEEP HER CUBS SAFE

AT THE WATERHOLE.

AND CAN THIS PREDATOR REALLY HEAR AN INSECT'S FOOTSTEPS?

PLUS, IN THE DESERT, IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, OUTFOX 'EM.

THAT AND MORE WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" COMES RIGHT BACK.

.

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

DYLAN: INDIA'S GIR NATIONAL PARK SURROUNDS A DRY TEAK FOREST.

THESE TREES AND THE ANIMALS THAT DEPEND ON THEM HAVE ADAPTED TO

ENDURE SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR WITHOUT RAIN.

LESS THAN EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN FALLS HERE EACH YEAR, EVEN

DURING THE WET MONSOON SEASON.

THE LACK OF WATER AND NUTRIENT-DEPLETED SOILS KEEP THE

FOREST SPARSE.

BUT IT'S JUST ENOUGH OPEN SPACE FOR THE REGION'S LARGEST

PREDATOR.

THIS ASIATIC LION HAS HER CUBS SAFELY IN TOW.

THESE LIONS WERE ONCE FOUND ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST, EVEN

RANGING AS FAR AS GREECE.

NOW FEWER THAN 700 SURVIVE, ALL LIVING IN OR NEAR

THIS NATIONAL PARK.

THE ASIATIC LION IS AROUND 200 POUNDS LIGHTER THAN AN AFRICAN

LION AND LIVES IN A SMALLER PRIDE.

HER GROUP IS JUST THREE SISTERS AND A FEW CUBS.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAD WATER IN DAYS.

THE PRIDE'S 25-SQUARE-MILE TERRITORY HAS AT LEAST TWO WATER

HOLES.

SHE'LL HAVE TO CROSS THE HOME RANGES OF TWO MALE LIONS TO GET

THERE.

UNLIKE AFRICAN LIONS, MALE ASIATIC LIONS DON'T LIVE WITH

FEMALES UNLESS THEY'RE MATING OR HAVE A LARGE KILL TO SHARE.

MORE THAN 25 PERCENT LARGER THAN FEMALES, MALE LIONS ARE A

CONSTANT DANGER TO UNRELATED YOUNG CUBS.

THE LIONESS HAS TO TREAD A FINE LINE TO PROTECT HERS.

THE FIRST WATER HOLE IS ALREADY TAKEN.

THIS OLDER MALE WAS THE KING, BUT HE'S BEEN DETHRONED,

NOW BADLY INJURED.

HE'S BEST AVOIDED.

BUT THE NEW LION KING IS ALSO NEARBY.

THE TWO MALES HAVE BOTH STAKED THEIR TERRITORY AT THE WATERING

HOLES.

THE MOTHER LION IS WARY.

TO BRING A FEMALE BACK INTO ESTRUS TO BREED AGAIN, A MALE

WILL ATTACK HER CUBS IF HE THINKS THEY AREN'T HIS.

BUT THE CUB'S MOTHER HAS MATED WITH BOTH MALES, SO THEY EACH

THINK THEY ARE THE FATHER TO THE CUBS.

WITH SO MANY LIONS IN THE CONFINED TERRITORY OF THE PARK,

FEMALES OFTEN PAIR UP WITH MORE THAN ONE DOMINANT MALE IN THEIR

TERRITORY.

IT'S A NECESSARY STRATEGY TO ENSURE HER ENDANGERED CUBS HAVE

THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVING.

TO SOMEDAY BE KINGS AND QUEENS OF THE FOREST THEMSELVES.

COMING UP, WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, WE GO OUT ON THE PROWL

WITH A PREDATOR WHO'S NATURALLY COLD-BLOODED.

AND AFTER MONTHS UNDERGROUND WITH MOM, IT'S TIME FOR THESE

FEISTY KITS TO EXPLORE THE OUTSIDE WORLD WHEN "EARTH

ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

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

DYLAN: SOME ANIMALS GO LARGELY UNSEEN IN NATURE, EVEN THOUGH

THEY'RE A CRUCIAL PART OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

THAT'S THE CASE WITH ONE SMALL DESERT DWELLER, MUCH ADMIRED FOR

ITS ACUTE SENSES AND ITS ACCURATE AIM.

IN THE BADLANDS OF INDIA, THE DAYTIME SUN CAN BE BRUTAL.

BUT ONE SPECIES HERE USES IT TO ITS ADVANTAGE.

THE LEOPARD GECKO.

HIS ROCKY BURROW IS LIKE A SAUNA.

THE BAKING ROCKS CHARGE UP THIS COLD-BLOODED CREATURE, WARMING

HIS BLOOD SO HE CAN MOVE FREELY.

BUT HE WON'T LEAVE THE BURROW UNTIL THE SUN DIPS.

HERE HE HAS SHADE FROM INTENSE UV RAYS, AND HE CAN STAY

PLEASANTLY WARM WHILE AVOIDING PREDATORS LIKE SNAKES, FOXES,

BIRDS, AND LARGER REPTILES.

AT DUSK, IT'S SAFE TO COME OUT.

HE MUST HIKE OVER ROCKY TERRAIN.

INSTEAD OF THE STANDARD GECKO TOE PAD, HE HAS CLAWS.

HE'S A GOOD HUNTER, AND JUST LIKE HIS NAMESAKE, THE LEOPARD

GECKO'S SPOTS LET HIM BLEND IN TO HIS SURROUNDINGS.

ALONG WITH EXCELLENT EYESIGHT, ONE OF HIS MOST HIGHLY TUNED

SENSES IS HEARING.

THE LOCUST'S TINY LEGS ARE LIKE MEGAPHONES.

THE INSECT'S ONLY CHANCE IS TO STAY PERFECTLY STILL.

WITH EVERY TWITCH, THE GECKO ZEROES IN.

ONCE WITHIN A FEW INCHES, THERE'S NO ESCAPE.

IT'S A TASTY TREAT, AND ONE THAT CAN LAST.

THE GECKO CAN STORE FAT IN HIS CHUNKY TAIL FOR WHEN FOOD IS

SCARCE.

A PERFECT LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR THIS RESILIENT REPTILE.

COMING UP, SIBLING RIVALRY STARTS YOUNG.

IT'S TWO AGAINST ONE FOR THESE FURRY BROTHERS AND THEIR SISTER.

"EARTH ODYSSEY" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

DYLAN: IN THIS DESERT, 500 MILLION YEAR-OLD MOUNTAINS

BLOCK MONSOON CLOUDS TO THE EAST.

LIFE HERE IS DOMINATED BY ENERGY-SAPPING HOT DAYS AND DRY,

COLD NIGHTS.

ONLY THE RESILIENT CAN TAKE THE EXTREMES.

THE DESERT FOX IS UNIQUE TO ASIA.

NO BIGGER THAN A HOUSE CAT, HER SANDY COAT HELPS HER HIDE IN THE

ARID LANDSCAPE AND REFLECTS THE SUN'S PUNISHING RAYS.

THIS FEMALE'S LITTER IS DOWN FROM SIX KITS TO THREE.

TO SURVIVE, THE YOUNGEST MUST FIGHT FOR A PLACE IN THE PECKING

ORDER.

WITH TWO BOISTEROUS BROTHERS, SHE'S THE RUNT.

FOOD IS SCARCE.

EVEN A DRIED CARCASS IS A TREAT.

THEIR DIET USUALLY CONSISTS MORE OF INSECTS AND BERRIES THAN

MEAT.

WHEN HER BROTHERS HAVE HAD ENOUGH, IT'S FINALLY HER TURN

FOR A TASTE.

SHE'S NOT THE STRONGEST OF THE LITTER, BUT SHE'S A CRAFTY

UNDERDOG.

WHILE HER SIBLINGS PLAY, THE DESERT FOX SEEMS TO BE PLANNING

FOR THE FUTURE.

CASHING HER FOOD IS A CLEVER TACTIC AND A BUFFER AGAINST THE

CYCLE OF FEAST OR FAMINE.

THE MORSEL IS WELL HIDDEN FROM HER HUNGRY BROTHERS.

WITH THE PANTRY STOCKED, SHELTER FROM THE SUN IS KEY.

THE YOUNG DESERT FOX IS A FAST LEARNER, BUT SHE'S NOT THE BEST

DEN BUILDER YET.

WHAT SHE REALLY NEEDS IS A GOOD MEAL.

AFTER A DAY'S HUNTING, HER MOTHER RETURNS, BUT WITHOUT

FOOD.

THESE YOUNG FOXES HAVE ONLY JUST EMERGED FROM THEIR DEN AND

AREN'T EXPERIENCED HUNTERS YET.

BUT AT LEAST THIS YOUNG ONE HAS HER BURIED STASH.

HER BROTHERS MAY END UP GOING HUNGRY.

CALL IT SURVIVAL SELF-CARE, BUT IN EXTREME CLIMATES, BEING

CLEVER AS A FOX CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

TODAY, WE SAW HOW ANIMALS IN SOME OF INDIA'S LEAST HOSPITABLE

CLIMATES FIND FOOD AND RAISE THEIR YOUNG.

LANGURS SHARE CARE AND FEEDING OF THEIR INFANTS FOR UP TO TWO

YEARS.

THE ASIATIC LIONS PROTECT THEIR CUBS NOT FROM OUTSIDE PREDATORS,

BUT FROM OTHER LIONS.

AND THE DESERT FOX KEEPS HER KITS SAFE UNDERGROUND.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THESE REMARKABLE ANIMALS GROW AND

THRIVE ALONG WITH US.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]