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Downloaded from
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[instrumental music
playing]
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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Magical creatures
have fascinated us,
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00:00:21,187 --> 00:00:24,324
ever since
we first walked the Earth.
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Whether created entirely
from the imagination
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or inspired
by the animals around us,
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mythical beasts have captured
our attention
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for thousands of years.
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00:00:36,369 --> 00:00:41,341
But why in this modern age
of science and technology,
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00:00:41,408 --> 00:00:46,546
are we still so captivated
by these fantastic beasts?
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And what are the truths
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that lie behind
the myths, the magic,
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and the legends?
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[sniffing]
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[chitters]
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Join me on a journey
of exhilarating exploration
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and daring discovery,
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as we uncover the secrets
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behind some of our best-loved
mythical creatures...
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Oh, my heavens.
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Wow.
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...revealing
the real-life beasts
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behind some of the greatest
legends in history.
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You look at some of nature's
extraordinary creations
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and you think, "Well, CGI
will never match this."
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[Fry] And finding out whythe world of magical animals
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is more popular today
than ever before.
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[roaring]
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These are
the extraordinary stories
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of the world's most
fantastic beasts.
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This is one of the greatest
treasure troves
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of the natural world.
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London's Natural History Museum
is a cornucopia
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of unique and fascinating
collections
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from across the globe.
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It's also a place where the
worlds of science and fiction
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have been known to overlap.
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I'll be exploring the museum's
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labyrinth of corridors
and cabinets,
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and uncovering the stories
that continue to fascinate
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millions of people today.
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From the legendary creatures
of ancient mythology,
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to the magical animals
of Harry Potter
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00:02:53,072 --> 00:02:55,408
and the Wizarding World.
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Stories like these.
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The fantastic beasts
and mythological creatures
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00:03:01,381 --> 00:03:05,185
within these pages,
appear to be pure fantasy,
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00:03:05,251 --> 00:03:08,988
but things aren't always
quite that simple.
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We begin our story
with arguably the best-known
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mythological animal
on the planet...
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00:03:18,431 --> 00:03:19,832
the dragon.
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[sniffing]
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One of the most ancient
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and universal
of our mythological creatures,
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the dragon has enthralled
the human race
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for thousands of years.
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[roaring]
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But where did the idea
for this creature
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00:04:08,114 --> 00:04:10,483
first take flight?
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00:04:10,583 --> 00:04:15,555
Was there a spark of truth
behind the dragon myth?
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[Chinese traditional music
playing]
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Chinese New Year
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is often celebrated
around the world
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with a traditional
dragon dance.
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[music continues]
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In the dance,
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the dragon represents
wisdom, power, and wealth.
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And it's believed
that performing the dance
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scares off evil spirits
and brings good luck.
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But why the dragon?
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What is it about this creature
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that so excites
and mesmerizes us?
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Many cultures around the world
have a dragon myth,
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00:05:03,936 --> 00:05:06,439
although they often
vary in appearance.
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European dragons
are usually seen as terrifying,
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fire-breathing beasts
with wings and horns.
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Whereas Asian dragons
are depicted as
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wise, benevolent creatures,
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with a more
serpent-like appearance.
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But if you take a closer
look at the dragon,
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you can see that many
of its features
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are borrowed from real animals,
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animals that have
a fearsome reputation.
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A dragon's large,
powerful talons
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are like those of an eagle.
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[eagles screeching]
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Its sharp teeth
and strong limbs
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are like a lion's.
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And its scales
and hissing tongue
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are similar to a snake's.
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One recent scientific theory
suggests that the dragon is,
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is simply a combination
of those three animals.
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The animals that our early
ancestors were most afraid of.
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An interesting idea indeed,
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00:06:14,874 --> 00:06:17,944
but what lies
behind this theory?
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[dragon roars]
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I visited San Diego Zoo
in California,
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to meet a little creature
that could help to explain.
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[Fry] Oh, now.
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Who have we here?
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[Peterson]
So this is our vervet family.
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This chap here
with the blue bottom,
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he's looking rather alarmed.
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[Peterson] So that is ourdominant male in the family.
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There's some new enrichment
in their enclosure
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that they haven't seen before,
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so he's letting everyone know
there's something new.
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[Fry] When you say enrichment,
do you mean that earthen pot?
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[Peterson] Correct.
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-They've never seen it before?
-Never seen it before.
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{\an8}It has mealworms in there,
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{\an8}-it has peanuts, so they have
to reach their hand in.
-Right.
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But because it's something
new in their environment,
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he's started making
that alert call
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and I don't know
if you noticed,
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they all started
to jump into the trees.
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[Fry] They did, didn't they?
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And they were all
responding to his,
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"Hey there's something
new here".
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There is something new,
we don't know what it is,
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everyone go to your post.
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[Fry] Vervet monkeys
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can be found across
most of Africa,
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and usually live
in large groups,
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known as troops.
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Studies have revealed
that they communicate
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in a highly sophisticated way,
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using different alarm calls
for specific predators,
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00:07:32,084 --> 00:07:35,621
to warn their troop
of approaching danger.
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[chattering]
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[Fry] Is it a very particularkind of warning
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that they know
means something on the ground
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rather than something
on a tree?
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They do. They have
three different calls.
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So they have one for something
that's on the ground,
like a snake.
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Oh, right.
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00:07:50,636 --> 00:07:52,305
They have a different call
for something's in the air,
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00:07:52,371 --> 00:07:53,806
-like a bird of prey.
-Yeah.
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00:07:53,873 --> 00:07:56,876
And then they have another call
for big cats.
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[Fry] Those are the three
things that are most likely
to threaten them?
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00:07:59,979 --> 00:08:01,147
[Peterson] Correct.
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00:08:01,214 --> 00:08:02,482
[Fry] So that was
a snake call, was it?
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00:08:02,548 --> 00:08:04,050
'Cause they
were all looking down.
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00:08:04,150 --> 00:08:05,451
[Peterson] It was. They were
all up on their tiptoes,
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00:08:05,518 --> 00:08:07,119
they were all
looking down at it.
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00:08:07,186 --> 00:08:08,521
-Of course.
-It's exactly
what they do for a snake
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00:08:08,621 --> 00:08:10,022
and, you know,
I was cleaning, um,
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their bedrooms one time,
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00:08:11,491 --> 00:08:14,460
and they started to do
the same call
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for the water hose.
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-[Fry] Really?
-[Peterson] Yeah.
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Of course, a hose
is a green snake.
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They're, like, what is that?
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[Fry] So what doesthis all mean?
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Well, it's thought
that vervet alarm calls
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indicate a very deep-rooted
fear of these three predators.
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And we humans,
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as the primate cousins
of the vervet monkey,
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share the same instinctive
fears of big cats,
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birds of prey, and snakes.
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And perhaps that primal fear
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is what led people
around the world,
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to combine these
three deadly animals
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into their own unique version
of the almighty dragon.
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00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:05,011
But there is another theory
behind the legend of the dragon
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and it's based on a group
of formidable reptiles
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that walked the Earth millions
of years ago.
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[dramatic music playing]
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If you've ever wanted
to dig up a dinosaur,
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then this is the place to come.
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I am surrounded by thousands
of dinosaur fossils here.
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I'm in the Valley Of Bones.
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Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry
in Utah, America,
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has the densest concentration
of Jurassic dinosaur fossils
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ever found on the planet.
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So, have they dug up
anything here that can help us
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decipher the dragon myth?
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00:10:04,070 --> 00:10:07,273
I'm meeting with two
of the quarry's top experts,
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00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:11,344
Mike Leschin
and Casey Dooms, to find out.
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So in terms
of recent human history,
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when was this place discovered?
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[Dooms] We know that people
knew about the area since,
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probably at least late 1800s.
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First Europeans
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{\an8}undoubtedly stumbled across
a lot of different
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{\an8}finds of dinosaur fossils
and all kinds of things.
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[Fry] Because
they were visible?
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00:10:32,298 --> 00:10:34,333
[Dooms] Eroding out
of the hills, eroding out
of these formations...
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00:10:34,433 --> 00:10:36,869
-[Fry] So, sort of, bones
poking up through the soil.
-[Dooms] Mm-hmm.
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00:10:36,969 --> 00:10:39,538
[Fry] And, Mike,
the Europeans, the ranchers
in the 18th century,
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they had no reason to suppose
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that the creatures
that were exhibited there
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were extinct.
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And some people
still kind of get
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confused in their head,
don't they,
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about the fact that obviously
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we never co-existed
with these creatures.
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Oh, yeah, I've had people
come out here and say,
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00:10:55,521 --> 00:10:58,491
{\an8}"I'm here 'cause
I don't believe in dinosaurs."
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00:10:58,557 --> 00:10:59,992
{\an8}-Really?
-And, yeah,
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00:11:00,059 --> 00:11:02,395
{\an8}so I was like, well,
go look down there
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00:11:02,495 --> 00:11:03,396
and then we'll talk.
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00:11:03,496 --> 00:11:05,064
[Fry laughs]
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00:11:05,164 --> 00:11:08,334
What about the non-Europeans,
the native Americans, the Ute?
206
00:11:08,401 --> 00:11:10,970
The Ute tribe
was the local tribe.
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00:11:11,037 --> 00:11:15,408
-They knew they were the
remains of a living creature.
-[Fry] Yeah.
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00:11:15,508 --> 00:11:19,345
And their attitude
was to respect that
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00:11:19,412 --> 00:11:22,081
-and leave it alone.
-Yeah.
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00:11:22,181 --> 00:11:24,183
[Fry] Dinosaur fossilshave been found
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00:11:24,250 --> 00:11:26,552
on every continent on Earth.
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00:11:28,187 --> 00:11:31,323
Could they be behind
the dragon story?
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00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,762
If you take
a look at the T-Rex,
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00:11:36,862 --> 00:11:38,764
with its terrifying teeth,
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00:11:39,532 --> 00:11:41,667
sharp claws,
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00:11:41,734 --> 00:11:43,602
and enormous size,
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00:11:43,703 --> 00:11:47,206
you can see
how the idea could arise.
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00:11:50,743 --> 00:11:52,745
Goodness me,
what is this place?
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00:11:52,845 --> 00:11:56,015
So this is the actual
Cleveland-Lloyd
dinosaur quarry.
220
00:11:56,082 --> 00:11:59,852
Ah. And you've enclosed it
to show off these amazing...
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00:11:59,919 --> 00:12:01,754
-Yes.
-...specimens.
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00:12:01,854 --> 00:12:04,557
So over here, we have
some back vertebrae
from a camarasaurus.
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00:12:04,623 --> 00:12:06,125
[Fry] From what animal?
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00:12:06,225 --> 00:12:07,860
{\an8}[Dooms] Camarasaurus,so it's a herbivorous dinosaur.
225
00:12:07,927 --> 00:12:09,628
{\an8}One of the big long-necks.
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00:12:09,729 --> 00:12:10,863
{\an8}Right next to it,
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00:12:10,930 --> 00:12:13,232
we have a tail vertebrae
of an Allosaurus.
228
00:12:13,299 --> 00:12:14,700
-Oh, yeah.
-The big predator,
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00:12:14,767 --> 00:12:16,635
the major predator of the day.
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00:12:16,736 --> 00:12:18,871
{\an8}[Fry] You can really
see here, Casey, can't you,
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00:12:18,938 --> 00:12:20,973
{\an8}how the dragon myth can arise.
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00:12:21,073 --> 00:12:22,475
[Dooms] Yeah, absolutely.
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00:12:22,575 --> 00:12:24,410
Especially if you're
finding stuff like this.
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00:12:24,477 --> 00:12:27,947
-[Fry gasps]
-That is a single tooth
of an Allosaurus.
235
00:12:28,047 --> 00:12:30,316
Oh, my goodness.
I can feel its serrations...
236
00:12:30,416 --> 00:12:32,384
-Serrations, yeah.
-...saw like, um...
237
00:12:32,451 --> 00:12:35,321
-like a steak knife
for cutting through flesh.
-Yeah.
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00:12:35,421 --> 00:12:36,889
It's still,
after 147 million years,
239
00:12:36,956 --> 00:12:38,991
you can still see them
and you can still feel them.
240
00:12:39,091 --> 00:12:41,293
I mean,
that's a dragon's tooth,
241
00:12:41,393 --> 00:12:44,163
-there's no question
about it, it's just...
-Yes.
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00:12:44,263 --> 00:12:46,398
Wow. I'll give it back to you,
it's very valuable.
243
00:12:46,465 --> 00:12:47,600
Look at that.
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00:12:48,134 --> 00:12:49,835
Wow.
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00:12:49,935 --> 00:12:53,272
Indigenous American
mythology features
246
00:12:53,339 --> 00:12:54,774
dragon-like creatures
247
00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:58,410
such as the Piasa Bird,
with feathery wings,
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00:12:58,477 --> 00:13:01,914
elk's horns,
and a long spiked tail.
249
00:13:03,149 --> 00:13:05,918
And the Gaasyendietha dragon,
250
00:13:05,985 --> 00:13:09,855
a lake-dwelling,
fire-breathing beast.
251
00:13:09,955 --> 00:13:13,092
Perhaps these creations
were inspired by fossils
252
00:13:13,159 --> 00:13:16,195
like those discovered here
in Utah.
253
00:13:18,831 --> 00:13:22,768
If I was here some thousand
years ago or so,
254
00:13:22,835 --> 00:13:25,871
it's easy to see how,
if someone dug up
255
00:13:25,971 --> 00:13:27,273
something like this,
256
00:13:27,339 --> 00:13:30,442
it could conjure up
the image of a dragon,
257
00:13:30,509 --> 00:13:32,711
and terrifying it would be,
258
00:13:32,812 --> 00:13:34,814
because how could I know that
259
00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,050
this was from a species
that had gone extinct
260
00:13:38,150 --> 00:13:40,186
millions of years ago.
261
00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:41,854
As far as I was concerned,
262
00:13:41,954 --> 00:13:47,193
this was one of the species
that was still very much alive
263
00:13:47,293 --> 00:13:50,896
and might swoop down
on me at any moment.
264
00:13:59,972 --> 00:14:02,975
In the world
of fantastic beasts,
265
00:14:03,042 --> 00:14:04,643
there is another creature
266
00:14:04,710 --> 00:14:08,080
that's as universally
recognized as the dragon.
267
00:14:15,654 --> 00:14:17,990
You know, there's
one mythical creature
268
00:14:18,057 --> 00:14:21,594
whose popularity seems
to be even greater today
269
00:14:21,694 --> 00:14:23,529
than it's ever been.
270
00:14:23,596 --> 00:14:26,532
And it's one
of the few magical animals
271
00:14:26,599 --> 00:14:28,767
that isn't
a terrifying monster.
272
00:14:28,868 --> 00:14:32,438
Indeed it's famous
for its peaceful,
273
00:14:32,538 --> 00:14:34,707
benevolent nature.
274
00:14:34,773 --> 00:14:38,410
I'm talking, of course,
about the unicorn.
275
00:14:40,379 --> 00:14:41,580
One more!
276
00:14:45,050 --> 00:14:48,754
I'm on my way to a country
which was once so convinced
277
00:14:48,854 --> 00:14:52,258
that this mystical creature
was real,
278
00:14:52,358 --> 00:14:55,427
that they named it
their national animal.
279
00:14:59,231 --> 00:15:00,766
[horn tooting]
280
00:15:02,868 --> 00:15:06,105
Often depicted as a beautiful,
horse-like creature
281
00:15:06,205 --> 00:15:10,476
with flowing mane,
and long, spiraled horn,
282
00:15:10,576 --> 00:15:14,780
the unicorn is a symbol
of purity and innocence.
283
00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,982
Believed to have
magical powers,
284
00:15:17,082 --> 00:15:20,452
the unicorn's horn was said
to heal sickness
285
00:15:20,552 --> 00:15:22,888
and protect against poison.
286
00:15:25,457 --> 00:15:26,959
In recent years,
287
00:15:27,059 --> 00:15:30,763
unicorns have seen
a huge surge in popularity.
288
00:15:32,498 --> 00:15:36,568
But this adoration
is nothing new in Scotland,
289
00:15:36,635 --> 00:15:40,072
where the unicorn
has been revered for centuries.
290
00:15:42,608 --> 00:15:46,779
So what is this obsession
all about?
291
00:15:46,845 --> 00:15:48,681
I've come to Stirling Castle,
292
00:15:48,781 --> 00:15:53,452
to meet historian
Professor Donna Heddle,
to find out.
293
00:15:53,519 --> 00:15:55,821
-Professor Heddle.
-[Heddle] Oh, call me Donna.
294
00:15:55,921 --> 00:15:56,789
Donna.
295
00:15:56,855 --> 00:15:57,990
What a place.
296
00:16:01,927 --> 00:16:03,662
Oh, my goodness.
297
00:16:04,663 --> 00:16:07,766
Unicorns absolutely everywhere.
298
00:16:07,833 --> 00:16:09,301
[Heddle] I know.
It's splendid, isn't it?
299
00:16:09,368 --> 00:16:11,470
And there are more
all round the room.
300
00:16:11,537 --> 00:16:13,839
This tells us the story
of the hunt of the unicorn.
301
00:16:13,939 --> 00:16:15,507
It's an allegorical piece.
302
00:16:15,607 --> 00:16:16,976
Based on tapestries,
303
00:16:17,042 --> 00:16:18,978
we know that we're
in the collection of James V.
304
00:16:19,044 --> 00:16:21,647
I think they're called
"The History of the Unicorn."
305
00:16:21,714 --> 00:16:24,950
America has a Bald Eagle,
and France has a Cockrel,
306
00:16:25,017 --> 00:16:27,886
and we have
a Lion in England...
307
00:16:27,987 --> 00:16:31,223
you, in Scotland,
don't have a real animal,
308
00:16:31,323 --> 00:16:32,725
you have a mythical animal.
309
00:16:32,825 --> 00:16:34,660
Why is that, do you think?
310
00:16:34,727 --> 00:16:36,562
{\an8}Well, I think at the time
when it was chosen,
311
00:16:36,662 --> 00:16:39,665
{\an8}people did think it was real,
they did believe in it,
312
00:16:39,732 --> 00:16:41,500
but it's a kind of a thing
in the 15th century,
313
00:16:41,567 --> 00:16:43,469
lots of kings
were adopting animals
314
00:16:43,535 --> 00:16:44,903
as their personal symbols
315
00:16:45,004 --> 00:16:47,072
and the unicorn
became the symbol of Scotland
316
00:16:47,172 --> 00:16:50,476
because it is untamable,
it is undefeatable.
317
00:16:50,542 --> 00:16:53,312
Oh, so that's a symbol
of Scotland's sense of itself.
318
00:16:53,379 --> 00:16:54,246
Absolutely.
319
00:16:54,346 --> 00:16:56,148
It's brave, it's courageous,
320
00:16:56,215 --> 00:16:57,649
what's not to like?
321
00:16:57,716 --> 00:16:59,718
-How cool is that
for a national symbol?
-Yes.
322
00:17:02,187 --> 00:17:03,689
[Fry] In the Middle Ages,
323
00:17:03,756 --> 00:17:07,159
the evidence used to prove
that unicorns existed,
324
00:17:07,226 --> 00:17:11,096
came from another
mysterious creature entirely.
325
00:17:13,232 --> 00:17:16,935
A genuine unicorn horn.
326
00:17:17,036 --> 00:17:21,273
Or is it in fact
a narwhal tusk?
327
00:17:21,373 --> 00:17:22,775
I think it's a narwhal tusk.
328
00:17:22,875 --> 00:17:24,877
In fact, it's a replica
of a narwhal tusk,
329
00:17:24,943 --> 00:17:26,378
'cause we wouldn't
have such a thing...
330
00:17:26,445 --> 00:17:29,348
obviously, they belong
on the narwhal's head.
331
00:17:29,415 --> 00:17:31,083
Um, they, sort of,
grow up like that.
332
00:17:31,183 --> 00:17:35,621
I mean, extraordinary things
on the narwhal.
333
00:17:35,721 --> 00:17:39,358
And you can see why
somebody enterprising,
334
00:17:39,425 --> 00:17:41,360
who unfortunately caught one
of those whales
335
00:17:41,427 --> 00:17:44,963
and sawed off his tusk
would have thought,
336
00:17:45,064 --> 00:17:48,100
"I can sell this
as a unicorn horn."
337
00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:49,868
Because that's just
what it looks like.
338
00:17:49,935 --> 00:17:51,603
[Heddle] And it's
quite beautiful.
339
00:17:54,606 --> 00:17:58,410
[Fry] The narwhalis an elusive toothed whale
340
00:17:58,477 --> 00:18:00,813
found in Arctic waters.
341
00:18:00,913 --> 00:18:02,381
The spectacular tusk,
342
00:18:02,448 --> 00:18:05,117
usually only found
on male narwhals,
343
00:18:05,217 --> 00:18:09,054
is actually an overgrown
spiralized tooth.
344
00:18:10,589 --> 00:18:12,157
Scientists are still unsure
345
00:18:12,257 --> 00:18:14,326
as to what exactly
the tusk is for,
346
00:18:14,426 --> 00:18:18,664
but it's thought that it may be
used to break through ice,
347
00:18:18,764 --> 00:18:20,165
help catch fish,
348
00:18:20,265 --> 00:18:25,337
or possibly
to impress female narwhals.
349
00:18:25,437 --> 00:18:28,407
I believe I'm right in saying
that these did change hands
350
00:18:28,474 --> 00:18:30,943
for quite astonishing
sums of money.
351
00:18:31,009 --> 00:18:32,511
Vast sums of money.
352
00:18:32,611 --> 00:18:34,947
We know that Queen Elizabeth I,
paid 10 thousand pounds
353
00:18:35,013 --> 00:18:37,182
and that, that's kept in the
Tower of London, for example,
354
00:18:37,282 --> 00:18:39,918
so it's a very high status
object.
355
00:18:39,985 --> 00:18:41,854
[Fry] Who created this market?
356
00:18:41,954 --> 00:18:43,355
[Heddle] Well, they were
mainly people
357
00:18:43,455 --> 00:18:44,957
who were fishing
in the North of Norway
358
00:18:45,023 --> 00:18:47,759
or Greenland in the Arctic,
Scandinavia.
359
00:18:47,826 --> 00:18:50,662
They would come across
the narwhals,
and it was a huge trade.
360
00:18:50,762 --> 00:18:52,197
And the idea was that
361
00:18:52,297 --> 00:18:54,533
it obviously was a symbol
of your own power and wealth,
362
00:18:54,633 --> 00:18:56,301
but also that it would
protect you in some way?
363
00:18:56,368 --> 00:18:58,770
That's right, the purity
of the unicorn.
364
00:18:58,837 --> 00:19:01,273
This was believed to be
able to purify water,
365
00:19:01,340 --> 00:19:02,674
and to guard against poisons.
366
00:19:02,774 --> 00:19:04,877
Also, in a rather more
mundane fashion
367
00:19:04,977 --> 00:19:06,211
to cure boils and plague.
368
00:19:06,311 --> 00:19:08,280
And it was used
by apothecaries
369
00:19:08,347 --> 00:19:09,548
up until the 18th century.
370
00:19:09,648 --> 00:19:11,183
It was called alicorn powder.
371
00:19:11,283 --> 00:19:12,718
A mere pinch of this
372
00:19:12,818 --> 00:19:15,020
would have been beyond
the dreams of ordinary men.
373
00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:16,321
[Fry] Right.
374
00:19:17,856 --> 00:19:21,393
It's thought the first written
reference to unicorns
375
00:19:21,493 --> 00:19:24,897
dates back
to over 2,000 years ago.
376
00:19:26,298 --> 00:19:27,566
Over that time,
377
00:19:27,666 --> 00:19:29,801
many real animals
have been linked
378
00:19:29,868 --> 00:19:32,004
with this mythical creature.
379
00:19:34,506 --> 00:19:35,841
The Arabian oryx,
380
00:19:35,908 --> 00:19:38,644
also known
as the Arabian unicorn,
381
00:19:38,710 --> 00:19:41,380
has two long slender horns,
382
00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,482
and when viewed in profile,
383
00:19:43,549 --> 00:19:45,584
their horns can appear as one,
384
00:19:45,684 --> 00:19:48,754
making them closely
resemble a unicorn.
385
00:19:52,691 --> 00:19:55,694
But there's another,
rather different animal
386
00:19:55,761 --> 00:19:58,864
that is part
of the unicorn story,
387
00:19:58,931 --> 00:20:00,566
one that may have
388
00:20:00,666 --> 00:20:03,035
the strongest connection
of all.
389
00:20:07,372 --> 00:20:11,043
There they are,
the little armored tanks.
390
00:20:17,883 --> 00:20:19,518
The rhinoceros, the rhino,
391
00:20:19,585 --> 00:20:23,188
surely one of nature's
most iconic creatures,
392
00:20:23,255 --> 00:20:27,426
with its unmistakable
thick, gray hide
393
00:20:27,526 --> 00:20:30,963
and its signature horn.
394
00:20:31,063 --> 00:20:34,366
I call it one of nature's
masterpieces.
395
00:20:34,433 --> 00:20:36,735
An extraordinary,
unique beauty, aren't you?
396
00:20:36,802 --> 00:20:38,303
-[rhino breathes heavily]
-Yes.
397
00:20:43,275 --> 00:20:47,312
These magnificent creatures
are Indian rhinoceros,
398
00:20:47,412 --> 00:20:50,482
and their scientific species
name is,
399
00:20:50,582 --> 00:20:54,720
splendidly,
"Rhinoceros Unicornis."
400
00:20:55,754 --> 00:20:57,723
And they are, in fact,
401
00:20:57,789 --> 00:21:00,726
distantly related
to a real unicorn.
402
00:21:01,627 --> 00:21:02,995
Oh, come now, Stephen.
403
00:21:03,095 --> 00:21:05,664
Well, millions of years ago,
404
00:21:05,764 --> 00:21:09,835
a creature called
Elasmotherium Sibiricum,
405
00:21:09,935 --> 00:21:12,738
the Siberian Unicorn,
406
00:21:12,804 --> 00:21:16,675
roamed between Asia
and Europe and around
407
00:21:16,775 --> 00:21:19,144
for many, many
millions of years.
408
00:21:19,244 --> 00:21:20,412
[growls]
409
00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:23,348
These prehistoric rhinos
410
00:21:23,448 --> 00:21:25,851
wouldn't have looked
terribly different
411
00:21:25,951 --> 00:21:27,986
to the ones we know today.
412
00:21:28,086 --> 00:21:29,955
But they were enormous.
413
00:21:30,022 --> 00:21:32,357
Twice the size
of modern rhinos,
414
00:21:32,457 --> 00:21:34,793
at around three meters tall,
415
00:21:34,860 --> 00:21:37,029
covered in thick, shaggy hair,
416
00:21:37,129 --> 00:21:41,166
and thought to have
a single, large horn.
417
00:21:41,266 --> 00:21:44,369
The Siberian Unicorn
is believed to have grazed
418
00:21:44,469 --> 00:21:46,638
almost entirely on grass,
419
00:21:46,705 --> 00:21:48,640
and despite its large size,
420
00:21:48,707 --> 00:21:53,612
was built to run at speed
across the plains.
421
00:21:53,679 --> 00:21:58,517
They survived all the way
up to about 39,000 years ago,
422
00:21:58,617 --> 00:21:59,951
when they became extinct.
423
00:22:00,018 --> 00:22:02,321
But at that time,
we were there,
424
00:22:02,387 --> 00:22:04,056
we, homo-sapiens.
425
00:22:04,156 --> 00:22:05,390
We'd developed language,
426
00:22:05,490 --> 00:22:07,626
and so, we were able
to tell each other
427
00:22:07,693 --> 00:22:10,028
about meeting
these incredible creatures,
428
00:22:10,128 --> 00:22:12,197
what would
we have thought of them?
429
00:22:12,297 --> 00:22:17,135
Perhaps that's another reason
why the idea of the unicorn
430
00:22:17,202 --> 00:22:19,471
entered the human imagination.
431
00:22:31,850 --> 00:22:33,752
[chittering]
432
00:22:34,353 --> 00:22:35,687
[sniffing]
433
00:22:44,529 --> 00:22:45,764
[chitters]
434
00:22:45,864 --> 00:22:47,532
[sniffing]
435
00:22:57,209 --> 00:23:00,011
[eerie music playing]
436
00:23:15,527 --> 00:23:19,197
Of all the eerie legends
of the ocean depths,
437
00:23:19,264 --> 00:23:22,067
there is one that has
enthralled us
438
00:23:22,134 --> 00:23:24,236
more than any other...
439
00:23:25,036 --> 00:23:26,371
The Kraken.
440
00:23:27,606 --> 00:23:29,474
-[growling]
-[people screaming]
441
00:23:29,574 --> 00:23:31,710
Over 500 years ago,
442
00:23:31,777 --> 00:23:35,714
sailors first told
of an enormous sea monster,
443
00:23:35,781 --> 00:23:39,317
said to live in the waters
off Norway and Iceland,
444
00:23:39,418 --> 00:23:41,787
which had long, snake-like arms
445
00:23:41,887 --> 00:23:45,457
covered in suckers
for grabbing prey.
446
00:23:45,557 --> 00:23:47,659
Some stories reported
the monster
447
00:23:47,759 --> 00:23:50,228
as being
two kilometers in length,
448
00:23:50,295 --> 00:23:55,333
with tentacles as thick
and long as ship's masts.
449
00:23:55,434 --> 00:23:58,970
By the 18th century,
scientists truly believed
450
00:23:59,070 --> 00:24:01,573
that the Kraken was
a living, breathing animal,
451
00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:03,008
and so it was included
452
00:24:03,108 --> 00:24:05,510
in all the highly-respected
scientific journals
453
00:24:05,610 --> 00:24:08,680
of the time, includingthe Systema Naturae,
454
00:24:08,780 --> 00:24:11,516
developed by the famous
Swedish naturalist,
455
00:24:11,616 --> 00:24:13,185
Carl Linnaeus.
456
00:24:13,285 --> 00:24:17,823
Was there really a huge monster
living in the ocean depths,
457
00:24:17,923 --> 00:24:21,593
that overturned ships
and devoured sailors?
458
00:24:25,096 --> 00:24:29,701
This is the Natural History
Museum's Tank Room,
459
00:24:29,801 --> 00:24:35,207
home to thousands
of the most incredible
scientific specimens.
460
00:24:35,307 --> 00:24:37,375
And there's one in particular
461
00:24:37,476 --> 00:24:39,978
that may explain
our Kraken myth,
462
00:24:40,045 --> 00:24:43,548
along with a little help
from museum curator,
463
00:24:43,648 --> 00:24:45,183
Jon Ablett.
464
00:24:47,185 --> 00:24:49,554
-[Fry] Hello there. Jon.
-[Ablett] Hello.
465
00:24:49,654 --> 00:24:50,989
Good to meet you,
466
00:24:51,056 --> 00:24:53,391
thanks for showing me around
your incredible...
467
00:24:53,492 --> 00:24:54,860
[gasps]
468
00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,662
What the heck is that?
469
00:24:57,729 --> 00:25:00,565
Well, this is Archie,
our beautiful
giant squid specimen.
470
00:25:00,665 --> 00:25:01,833
[Fry] This is a giant squid.
471
00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:03,668
I mean, one hears
about giant squids
472
00:25:03,735 --> 00:25:05,904
and one imagines that they are,
473
00:25:06,004 --> 00:25:08,573
maybe, what people mean
by sea monsters.
474
00:25:08,673 --> 00:25:10,842
Is this what they are?
Are these the monsters?
475
00:25:10,909 --> 00:25:13,645
Well, I mean, we don't
really know what
people were seeing,
476
00:25:13,712 --> 00:25:16,515
{\an8}when we think of these
kind of old-fashioned
sea monsters,
477
00:25:16,581 --> 00:25:18,583
{\an8}but these are definitely
a great candidate.
478
00:25:18,683 --> 00:25:20,752
{\an8}I mean, they get
up to about 13 meters.
479
00:25:20,852 --> 00:25:24,523
So Archie here, is about
8.6 meters, so not fully grown.
480
00:25:24,589 --> 00:25:26,358
-Is this a junior?
-This is a junior.
481
00:25:26,424 --> 00:25:28,326
So the females,
we think, get to about 13,
482
00:25:28,393 --> 00:25:30,495
the males about 10, 11.
483
00:25:30,562 --> 00:25:32,597
Oh, I can't imagine what
it must be like,
484
00:25:32,697 --> 00:25:35,267
seeing one of those
actually in the water.
485
00:25:36,935 --> 00:25:40,739
One of the most elusive
creatures on the planet,
486
00:25:40,839 --> 00:25:45,377
giant squid are believed
to weigh up to 500 kilos
487
00:25:45,443 --> 00:25:49,781
and inhabit the deepest oceans
around the world.
488
00:25:49,881 --> 00:25:54,252
This incredibly rare footage
was captured by scientists
489
00:25:54,352 --> 00:25:59,090
in the deep waters
of the Gulf of Mexico in 2019.
490
00:25:59,190 --> 00:26:00,926
Thought to be a juvenile,
491
00:26:01,026 --> 00:26:03,762
and measuring over
three and a half meters,
492
00:26:03,862 --> 00:26:05,797
the squid is attempting to feed
493
00:26:05,897 --> 00:26:09,601
on a decoy
bioluminescent jellyfish.
494
00:26:09,701 --> 00:26:12,737
This is only
the second time in history
495
00:26:12,804 --> 00:26:17,042
that a giant squid has been
filmed in the wild.
496
00:26:17,108 --> 00:26:20,211
So that, sort of, um,
child's adventure book
497
00:26:20,278 --> 00:26:22,981
with a huge tentacle
coming in to the deck,
498
00:26:23,081 --> 00:26:26,117
and wrapping itself around
an unfortunate sailor
499
00:26:26,217 --> 00:26:28,653
-is not very likely?
-Pretty unlikely.
500
00:26:28,753 --> 00:26:30,422
I mean, these live
at really great depths,
501
00:26:30,488 --> 00:26:32,724
we're thinking,
possibly down to 2,000 meters,
502
00:26:32,791 --> 00:26:35,393
and it's actually very likely
they can't actually breathe
at the surface.
503
00:26:35,460 --> 00:26:36,795
Really?
504
00:26:36,895 --> 00:26:38,930
Oh, look, there's more,
you've got suckers and...
505
00:26:38,997 --> 00:26:40,332
There's a wonderful...
506
00:26:40,432 --> 00:26:42,500
Well, this isn't actually
part of a giant squid,
507
00:26:42,601 --> 00:26:45,136
there is something
that possibly gets even bigger.
508
00:26:45,236 --> 00:26:46,905
This is actually
from a colossal squid.
509
00:26:46,972 --> 00:26:48,940
We think they get bigger
than the giant squid,
510
00:26:49,007 --> 00:26:50,842
possibly up to 18 meters.
511
00:26:50,942 --> 00:26:52,644
Eighteen meters!
512
00:26:53,478 --> 00:26:55,347
Wow.
513
00:26:55,447 --> 00:26:58,416
So if you have a look inside,
a closer look.
514
00:27:00,852 --> 00:27:01,820
[Fry gasps]
515
00:27:03,021 --> 00:27:06,124
Wow. I can see
the suckers so clearly.
516
00:27:06,191 --> 00:27:09,461
[Ablett] So here you can see
just the very tip
517
00:27:09,527 --> 00:27:12,497
of a tentacle
of a colossal squid.
518
00:27:12,597 --> 00:27:14,132
And you can see,
they have these
519
00:27:14,199 --> 00:27:16,968
traditional circular suckers
with the saw-toothed edge,
520
00:27:17,035 --> 00:27:19,471
-just like you see
in lots of squid.
-Yeah. Yeah.
521
00:27:19,537 --> 00:27:22,374
But also these
very sharp talon like...
522
00:27:22,474 --> 00:27:24,342
Oh, yes, I can see that.
523
00:27:24,442 --> 00:27:25,443
Ooh!
524
00:27:25,510 --> 00:27:27,178
Goodness they are, aren't they?
525
00:27:27,278 --> 00:27:28,680
Two or three in each sucker,
526
00:27:28,780 --> 00:27:32,350
that are these claws,
these thorns.
527
00:27:32,450 --> 00:27:34,886
Even the ones that don't have
thorns have a certain
528
00:27:34,986 --> 00:27:36,888
sort of raspy burr to them,
don't they?
529
00:27:36,988 --> 00:27:39,824
Yeah, they, sort of, have
a serrated saw-tooth edge
as well, so, yeah.
530
00:27:39,891 --> 00:27:43,294
I mean, absolutely terrifying,
you don't want to be caught
by one of these.
531
00:27:43,361 --> 00:27:46,364
[Fry] Even biggerthan its giant cousin,
532
00:27:46,464 --> 00:27:51,069
the colossal squid
is the largest invertebrate
on Earth.
533
00:27:51,169 --> 00:27:56,074
Potentially almost as long
as an early sailing ship.
534
00:27:56,174 --> 00:27:58,410
These mysterious creatures
535
00:27:58,510 --> 00:28:01,980
live in the icy depths
of Antarctic waters,
536
00:28:02,047 --> 00:28:03,548
and most of what we know
537
00:28:03,648 --> 00:28:06,317
is based on a small number
of carcasses
538
00:28:06,384 --> 00:28:09,254
found by deep-sea
fishing vessels.
539
00:28:10,155 --> 00:28:11,823
Images like these
540
00:28:11,890 --> 00:28:15,894
are almost the only evidence
we have of their existence.
541
00:28:16,895 --> 00:28:19,397
Did these enormous squid,
542
00:28:19,497 --> 00:28:23,268
found washed ashore
or caught in nets long ago,
543
00:28:23,368 --> 00:28:27,439
launch the legend
of the Kraken?
544
00:28:27,539 --> 00:28:29,441
[Ablett] I mean, they really
are so other-worldly,
aren't they?
545
00:28:29,541 --> 00:28:31,342
Yeah. And it's hard
not to be scared
546
00:28:31,409 --> 00:28:34,345
at the thought of one
of those tendrils
547
00:28:34,412 --> 00:28:36,414
coming out and grabbing you.
548
00:28:36,514 --> 00:28:38,883
It is a pretty
primal nightmare.
549
00:28:38,950 --> 00:28:39,951
It certainly is.
550
00:28:43,888 --> 00:28:46,891
[Fry] Sailors could spinwonderful yarns
551
00:28:46,958 --> 00:28:50,695
about the strange sights
they saw at sea.
552
00:28:50,762 --> 00:28:55,200
But not all the tales they told
were of the terrifying type,
553
00:28:55,266 --> 00:28:58,269
some took
a more appealing form.
554
00:29:00,371 --> 00:29:02,807
Mermaids have featured
in legends
555
00:29:02,907 --> 00:29:06,211
from around the world
for thousands of years.
556
00:29:08,079 --> 00:29:11,716
In 1493, the explorer
Christopher Columbus,
557
00:29:11,783 --> 00:29:13,284
sailing to the Americas,
558
00:29:13,384 --> 00:29:17,255
saw what he believed
to be three mermaids,
559
00:29:17,322 --> 00:29:18,723
describing them as
560
00:29:18,790 --> 00:29:21,326
"not so beautiful
as they are said to be,
561
00:29:21,426 --> 00:29:24,662
for their faces
had some masculine traits."
562
00:29:26,631 --> 00:29:30,602
But some scientists now think
that what he actually saw
563
00:29:30,668 --> 00:29:32,737
was a creature
that is still found
564
00:29:32,804 --> 00:29:35,940
along the coasts
of North America today.
565
00:29:38,777 --> 00:29:40,945
[birds chirping]
566
00:29:41,012 --> 00:29:43,181
Crystal River in Florida,
567
00:29:43,281 --> 00:29:46,851
is home
to these enigmatic animals.
568
00:29:47,986 --> 00:29:49,420
[gasps]
569
00:29:49,487 --> 00:29:52,090
There's one. Its little nose
popped up to say hello.
570
00:29:57,629 --> 00:30:01,332
These incredible creatures
are manatees, or sea cows,
571
00:30:01,432 --> 00:30:04,135
and they're the ocean's
largest herbivore
572
00:30:04,202 --> 00:30:07,605
or grazer, in their case
on sea grass.
573
00:30:07,672 --> 00:30:09,808
And despite their massive bulk,
574
00:30:09,874 --> 00:30:13,178
unlike me, they are incredibly
graceful swimmers.
575
00:30:16,014 --> 00:30:19,384
Local manatee expert
Monica Scroggin
576
00:30:19,484 --> 00:30:22,187
has studied the population
on this river
577
00:30:22,287 --> 00:30:23,988
for a number of years.
578
00:30:25,290 --> 00:30:27,358
What brings the manatees
to this place?
579
00:30:27,458 --> 00:30:29,694
{\an8}Do they find it as beautiful
as everyone else does?
580
00:30:29,794 --> 00:30:31,796
{\an8}So actually,
it's the water temperature,
581
00:30:31,863 --> 00:30:35,333
{\an8}but that's because they have
a very small metabolism,
582
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:39,370
so they have to eat about
ten percent of their body fat
583
00:30:39,470 --> 00:30:41,239
every single day.
584
00:30:41,339 --> 00:30:43,341
So for a thousand
pound manatee,
585
00:30:43,408 --> 00:30:45,543
that's about a hundred
pounds of food.
586
00:30:45,643 --> 00:30:46,911
-My goodness.
-Yes.
587
00:30:47,011 --> 00:30:49,981
It is a lot
of green vegetables.
588
00:30:51,182 --> 00:30:53,084
[Fry] Manatees can be found
589
00:30:53,184 --> 00:30:56,487
along the coasts
and rivers of North America,
590
00:30:56,554 --> 00:31:01,326
the Amazon in South America,
and Western Africa.
591
00:31:02,927 --> 00:31:06,431
Though populations
are on the rise in Florida,
592
00:31:06,531 --> 00:31:09,434
manatee numbers
are declining worldwide,
593
00:31:09,534 --> 00:31:13,071
and they are considered
vulnerable to extinction.
594
00:31:15,039 --> 00:31:17,508
Measuring over
three meters in length,
595
00:31:17,575 --> 00:31:21,779
these gentle giants often
travel long distances
596
00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:24,182
in search of seagrass.
597
00:31:26,184 --> 00:31:31,623
Manatee tails certainly
look very mermaid-like.
598
00:31:31,723 --> 00:31:35,126
Perhaps it's the graceful way
they move in the water
599
00:31:35,226 --> 00:31:37,762
that has inspired
these legends.
600
00:31:39,564 --> 00:31:42,300
Or had the sailors
who glimpsed them
601
00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,436
simply been at sea
for too long?
602
00:31:47,906 --> 00:31:49,240
And when you look at manatees,
603
00:31:49,307 --> 00:31:51,643
do you see merpeople,
mermen and mermaids?
604
00:31:51,743 --> 00:31:55,079
I do. I think they
have the similar shape.
605
00:31:55,146 --> 00:31:58,383
They have the similar tail,
their flippers.
606
00:31:58,449 --> 00:32:00,285
Yeah. Do they use them
almost like hands?
607
00:32:00,385 --> 00:32:02,587
I mean, obviously,
they're not opposable thumbs
or anything.
608
00:32:02,654 --> 00:32:04,656
Right, but they almost are.
609
00:32:04,756 --> 00:32:07,492
You could think
of their flipper,
like our hands,
610
00:32:07,592 --> 00:32:09,160
but only with skin covering it.
611
00:32:09,260 --> 00:32:11,229
Their bones
look just like ours.
612
00:32:12,297 --> 00:32:14,165
[Fry] The manatee skeleton
613
00:32:14,265 --> 00:32:18,303
could also hold a clue
to the mermaid myth.
614
00:32:18,403 --> 00:32:21,306
Take a look at their arms
and hands,
615
00:32:21,406 --> 00:32:23,975
and you can see
they are similar to ours.
616
00:32:24,075 --> 00:32:29,280
Yet their tail bones
are unmistakably fish-like.
617
00:32:29,347 --> 00:32:32,016
It's easy to see
how these skeletons
618
00:32:32,116 --> 00:32:34,319
washing up on shores long ago,
619
00:32:34,419 --> 00:32:39,424
could have inspired the idea
of a mysterious half-human,
620
00:32:39,490 --> 00:32:41,659
half-sea creature.
621
00:32:43,628 --> 00:32:47,365
Well, I'm not entirely sure
about these theories,
622
00:32:47,465 --> 00:32:50,601
so perhaps I'd better
take a closer look.
623
00:32:51,302 --> 00:32:52,370
Here goes.
624
00:33:14,292 --> 00:33:16,894
Wow, they are amazing.
625
00:33:16,995 --> 00:33:19,063
So much bigger underwater
626
00:33:19,163 --> 00:33:22,066
and yet still so graceful.
627
00:33:22,166 --> 00:33:24,235
But they don't seem
to mind my presence there,
628
00:33:24,335 --> 00:33:28,906
they just gently nibble away
at that sea grass.
629
00:33:30,241 --> 00:33:31,309
Incredible.
630
00:33:38,349 --> 00:33:40,585
It's not hard to imagine,
is it, how a sailor,
631
00:33:40,685 --> 00:33:43,321
far from home
after a long voyage
632
00:33:43,388 --> 00:33:46,324
and maybe after
a little tot of rum,
633
00:33:46,391 --> 00:33:48,659
looks out and sees a manatee
634
00:33:48,726 --> 00:33:52,196
and in his mind's eye,
there's a mermaid.
635
00:33:52,263 --> 00:33:53,765
A beautiful mermaid.
636
00:33:53,865 --> 00:33:56,701
All right, perhaps
a large tot of rum.
637
00:33:58,536 --> 00:34:02,273
Meanwhile,
the mermaid myth lives on.
638
00:34:07,211 --> 00:34:08,780
Fantastic beasts
639
00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:13,785
don't just lurk on land
or slither through seas.
640
00:34:15,386 --> 00:34:18,089
From Pegasus...
641
00:34:18,189 --> 00:34:19,957
to the hippogriff...
642
00:34:21,893 --> 00:34:23,561
Thestrals...
643
00:34:24,562 --> 00:34:27,799
to Thunderbirds...
644
00:34:27,899 --> 00:34:32,470
many magical creatures
can be found on the wing,
645
00:34:32,570 --> 00:34:35,306
soaring across the skies.
646
00:34:45,416 --> 00:34:47,819
{\an8}Oh, good Lord. Chris, hello.
647
00:34:47,919 --> 00:34:49,654
-Hi.
-[gasps]
648
00:34:49,754 --> 00:34:52,557
{\an8}What's the name
of this extraordinary creature?
649
00:34:52,623 --> 00:34:56,961
{\an8}This is Nikita, and she's
a Steller's sea eagle.
650
00:34:57,061 --> 00:34:58,930
[Fry] A sea eagle.
651
00:34:58,996 --> 00:35:01,766
So beautiful.
652
00:35:01,833 --> 00:35:05,736
And that beak, is it
a specialist beak for fish?
653
00:35:05,803 --> 00:35:07,004
That's a serious beak.
654
00:35:07,105 --> 00:35:08,940
It's designed
for cutting flesh,
655
00:35:09,006 --> 00:35:12,243
but a fish pulled out
of the water at minus 40
656
00:35:12,310 --> 00:35:14,679
is gonna be a block of ice
within a couple of moments,
657
00:35:14,779 --> 00:35:17,248
-so that's what
that tin opener is for.
-Oh.
658
00:35:17,315 --> 00:35:19,417
And those trousers,
I love those,
659
00:35:19,484 --> 00:35:21,586
shaggy, shaggy feet.
660
00:35:21,652 --> 00:35:24,689
On the soles of her feet,
she's got almost like Velcro,
661
00:35:24,789 --> 00:35:26,757
to enable her to grab hold
of slippery fish
662
00:35:26,824 --> 00:35:29,927
-and pull them off the surface
of the water. Yeah.
-Of course.
663
00:35:31,796 --> 00:35:36,701
As you can see, Nikita
is no myth, she's all reality.
664
00:35:36,801 --> 00:35:38,369
Steller's sea eagles,
665
00:35:38,469 --> 00:35:41,105
they're amongst the largest
eagles in the world,
666
00:35:41,172 --> 00:35:43,541
and they're formidable
predators.
667
00:35:43,641 --> 00:35:46,677
There have been stories
over the years, of course,
668
00:35:46,777 --> 00:35:49,547
of eagles attacking humans,
669
00:35:49,647 --> 00:35:52,383
which is why, perhaps,
it isn't surprising
670
00:35:52,483 --> 00:35:55,219
that stories through the ages
have been passed down
671
00:35:55,319 --> 00:35:58,055
of mythical winged beasts
672
00:35:58,156 --> 00:36:00,992
with enormous claws and beaks.
673
00:36:02,026 --> 00:36:03,794
And with that in mind,
674
00:36:03,861 --> 00:36:06,497
it's time for me
to get a bit closer,
675
00:36:06,564 --> 00:36:07,698
so wish me luck.
676
00:36:13,471 --> 00:36:14,739
[Chris] Right, Stephen, so,
677
00:36:14,839 --> 00:36:17,074
essentially it needs
to be upright.
678
00:36:17,175 --> 00:36:18,676
-Oh, like that. Right.
-Yeah.
679
00:36:18,743 --> 00:36:20,645
And now, I'm gonna place
the bird on your arm on the top
680
00:36:20,711 --> 00:36:22,980
and then you've just gotta
keep your arm nice and level
681
00:36:23,047 --> 00:36:25,149
and just slightly
away from your body.
682
00:36:25,216 --> 00:36:27,185
It's gonna be heavy.
683
00:36:27,251 --> 00:36:29,253
-So I'm now gonna
give you the weight.
-[eagle squawks]
684
00:36:29,353 --> 00:36:30,988
Oh, my heavens.
685
00:36:32,156 --> 00:36:33,191
Wow.
686
00:36:34,525 --> 00:36:36,928
Enormous as you are,
687
00:36:37,028 --> 00:36:39,830
you'd be small compared
to some of your ancestors,
688
00:36:39,897 --> 00:36:43,501
both real and mythical.
689
00:36:43,568 --> 00:36:47,572
One flying beast that appears
in ancient tales
690
00:36:47,672 --> 00:36:51,242
from the Middle East
is known as the Roc.
691
00:36:51,342 --> 00:36:53,578
Described as an enormous eagle,
692
00:36:53,678 --> 00:36:57,248
it was said to be strong enough
to carry off an elephant.
693
00:36:58,216 --> 00:36:59,850
Inspiration for the Roc
694
00:36:59,917 --> 00:37:03,621
is believed to have come
from the eggs of a real bird,
695
00:37:03,721 --> 00:37:05,122
Aepyornis...
696
00:37:05,223 --> 00:37:09,393
which lived in Madagascar
over 40,000 years ago.
697
00:37:09,460 --> 00:37:12,063
One of the largest
flightless birds
698
00:37:12,129 --> 00:37:13,631
ever to have existed,
699
00:37:13,731 --> 00:37:18,936
at over three meters tall
and weighing 500 kilos.
700
00:37:19,036 --> 00:37:21,606
Also known
as the Elephant Bird,
701
00:37:21,706 --> 00:37:24,709
it went extinct around
a thousand years ago.
702
00:37:24,775 --> 00:37:30,448
But its eggs were so huge,
as large as 150 chicken eggs,
703
00:37:30,548 --> 00:37:35,253
that people thought they must
belong to the legendary Roc.
704
00:37:35,319 --> 00:37:37,989
Aren't you amazing?
Well, I think it's time
you had her back.
705
00:37:38,089 --> 00:37:41,158
-[chuckles]
-So I'll hand her over to you.
706
00:37:44,161 --> 00:37:46,664
Perhaps, it's the very
mysteriousness
707
00:37:46,764 --> 00:37:48,132
of flight itself,
708
00:37:48,232 --> 00:37:50,501
that has inspired these stories
709
00:37:50,601 --> 00:37:54,272
of legendary flying creatures,
over the centuries.
710
00:37:54,338 --> 00:37:58,175
That, and a fear
of the very powerful
711
00:37:58,276 --> 00:38:01,579
and very real birds themselves.
712
00:38:04,649 --> 00:38:06,017
[squawks]
713
00:38:06,117 --> 00:38:07,618
Goodness.
714
00:38:07,685 --> 00:38:10,087
Fortunately,
nobody's told Nikita
715
00:38:10,154 --> 00:38:13,758
how delicious I am,
so I think I'm safe.
716
00:38:28,639 --> 00:38:31,776
[Fry] Storiesof fantastical beasts
717
00:38:31,842 --> 00:38:34,011
aren't just a thing
of the past.
718
00:38:40,484 --> 00:38:43,654
And there's one
world-famous legend
719
00:38:43,721 --> 00:38:46,991
that is alive and well
here in Scotland...
720
00:38:48,826 --> 00:38:50,528
The Loch Ness Monster.
721
00:38:52,563 --> 00:38:56,734
The origin story
of this iconic monster
722
00:38:56,834 --> 00:39:00,671
can be traced back
to around 1500 years ago
723
00:39:00,738 --> 00:39:03,974
when Irish missionaries
and Columba
724
00:39:04,041 --> 00:39:07,478
was said
to have encountered a beast
725
00:39:07,545 --> 00:39:09,413
in the River Ness.
726
00:39:09,513 --> 00:39:10,981
Over the years,
727
00:39:11,048 --> 00:39:13,984
thousands of people have
claimed to see Nessie
728
00:39:14,051 --> 00:39:15,653
and there have been
numerous attempts
729
00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:19,090
to find conclusive proof
of its existence.
730
00:39:19,190 --> 00:39:22,093
But none have been
as promising,
731
00:39:22,193 --> 00:39:25,696
or as high-tech,
as recent efforts.
732
00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:32,937
I've traveled to the banks
of this legendary Loch...
733
00:39:33,037 --> 00:39:34,772
-Stephen, come aboard.
-[Fry] Hello.
734
00:39:34,872 --> 00:39:36,540
...to meet Adrian Shine,
735
00:39:36,607 --> 00:39:40,411
a naturalist involved in this
exciting new development.
736
00:39:49,587 --> 00:39:53,290
Why do you think that there's
a special quality to Loch Ness?
737
00:39:53,391 --> 00:39:57,561
I mean, why has it retained
such mystique over the decades?
738
00:39:57,628 --> 00:40:00,598
{\an8}Well, it's fascinating.
It is probably, arguably,
739
00:40:00,698 --> 00:40:02,733
{\an8}the most famous lake
in the world,
740
00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:04,869
-and it's quite large.
-Yeah.
741
00:40:04,935 --> 00:40:07,605
You could put the whole human
population of the world into it
742
00:40:07,705 --> 00:40:09,607
-at least three times over.
-Seriously?
743
00:40:09,707 --> 00:40:12,476
-It is quite deep.
-Good gracious. Wow.
744
00:40:12,576 --> 00:40:14,145
[Shine] And it's hostile.
745
00:40:14,245 --> 00:40:17,715
So in that respect,
it qualifies as a lost world,
746
00:40:17,782 --> 00:40:19,784
and we need lost worlds
747
00:40:19,884 --> 00:40:22,987
to make our mythical creatures
at least credible.
748
00:40:23,087 --> 00:40:25,723
-Or more credible.
-Yeah, so it's big enough
749
00:40:25,790 --> 00:40:27,291
for the,
if there were a monster,
750
00:40:27,391 --> 00:40:31,562
it could have credibly hidden
for all this time.
751
00:40:31,629 --> 00:40:35,833
The story of Nessie
evolved over centuries,
752
00:40:35,933 --> 00:40:41,005
but it was in the 1930s
that things really took off.
753
00:40:41,105 --> 00:40:43,808
[Shine] That was whenthe Loch Ness monster,
754
00:40:43,908 --> 00:40:47,178
that we know
and love today, was born.
755
00:40:47,278 --> 00:40:51,682
There's the multi-humped
sea serpent
756
00:40:51,782 --> 00:40:53,784
and the plesiosaur.
757
00:40:53,851 --> 00:40:56,187
- The idea ofa prehistoric monster...
-[Fry] With the long neck.
758
00:40:56,287 --> 00:40:58,823
...long necked,
four flippers, stumpy body.
759
00:41:05,629 --> 00:41:07,932
We used to spend a lot of time
760
00:41:07,998 --> 00:41:09,934
in trying to work out
what was in Loch Ness
761
00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:13,270
with our fish nets,
towing things like that around.
762
00:41:13,337 --> 00:41:15,506
Then we'd spend hours
and hours and hours
763
00:41:15,606 --> 00:41:16,874
looking through microscopes,
764
00:41:16,974 --> 00:41:19,710
identifying things,
counting things.
765
00:41:19,810 --> 00:41:23,280
But now there is
a much more elegant way.
766
00:41:26,617 --> 00:41:28,552
Listen to this delicious...
767
00:41:28,652 --> 00:41:30,488
[both laugh]
768
00:41:30,554 --> 00:41:32,323
-[Shine] Just a minute.
-What a lovely noise.
769
00:41:32,389 --> 00:41:34,058
[Shine] There we are.
770
00:41:34,158 --> 00:41:37,695
[Fry] Using a process calledEnvironmental DNA Sampling
771
00:41:37,795 --> 00:41:39,363
or E-DNA,
772
00:41:39,463 --> 00:41:43,567
scientists examined the
different types of animal DNA
773
00:41:43,667 --> 00:41:46,170
found in Loch Ness water.
774
00:41:46,237 --> 00:41:48,372
-[Shine] And there we go.
-[Fry] That's it.
775
00:41:48,472 --> 00:41:50,841
My very own bucket
of Loch Ness water.
776
00:41:50,908 --> 00:41:52,042
[Shine] That's right.
777
00:41:53,911 --> 00:41:55,579
[Fry] There aremany different theories
778
00:41:55,679 --> 00:41:59,416
as to the Loch Ness Monster's
true identity.
779
00:41:59,517 --> 00:42:01,185
One that Adrian supports
780
00:42:01,252 --> 00:42:04,588
is that it could be
an enormous eel.
781
00:42:06,423 --> 00:42:08,592
Eels are an elusive species.
782
00:42:08,692 --> 00:42:10,027
Much of their behavior
783
00:42:10,094 --> 00:42:12,496
and exactly how large
they can grow
784
00:42:12,563 --> 00:42:15,165
is still a mystery
to scientists.
785
00:42:16,567 --> 00:42:19,069
One of the biggest species
in the world
786
00:42:19,169 --> 00:42:21,505
is the European conger eel,
787
00:42:21,572 --> 00:42:24,942
which is thought to grow
to over three meters long.
788
00:42:28,078 --> 00:42:30,881
But some believe eels
are capable
789
00:42:30,948 --> 00:42:33,717
of growing
to a much larger size.
790
00:42:35,286 --> 00:42:37,221
Known as eunuch eels,
791
00:42:37,288 --> 00:42:40,958
their existence
is somewhat controversial.
792
00:42:41,058 --> 00:42:45,896
Usually, adult eels swim into
the Atlantic Ocean to breed,
793
00:42:45,963 --> 00:42:47,765
after which they die.
794
00:42:47,865 --> 00:42:51,735
But eunuch eels
are said to be infertile,
795
00:42:51,802 --> 00:42:54,605
leading them
to remain in freshwater,
796
00:42:54,705 --> 00:42:57,708
and continuing to grow
for many years,
797
00:42:57,775 --> 00:43:00,411
potentially to a huge length.
798
00:43:02,980 --> 00:43:08,218
So will the DNA results
confirm Adrian's suspicions?
799
00:43:08,285 --> 00:43:11,789
Now presumably,
it will take a few days
to get this analyzed,
800
00:43:11,889 --> 00:43:13,824
but you've had
previous samples.
801
00:43:13,924 --> 00:43:17,428
Well, we certainly think
we know what's in Loch Ness,
802
00:43:17,494 --> 00:43:20,931
and there weren't any great
surprises from the DNA.
803
00:43:20,998 --> 00:43:22,333
What have you found?
804
00:43:22,433 --> 00:43:25,402
[Shine] Bacteria, plankton,
lots of fish.
805
00:43:25,469 --> 00:43:26,904
No reptiles.
806
00:43:26,971 --> 00:43:28,238
No reptiles.
807
00:43:28,305 --> 00:43:29,807
-Sad that, wasn't it?
-Slightly disappointing.
808
00:43:29,907 --> 00:43:32,810
Didn't really expect them,
to be quite honest,
809
00:43:32,910 --> 00:43:34,345
but there we are.
810
00:43:34,445 --> 00:43:38,115
But we got lots and lots
of eel DNA.
811
00:43:38,182 --> 00:43:42,186
But, of course,
it would be the same DNA
812
00:43:42,286 --> 00:43:47,358
for a ordinary eel
as for a huge eunuch eel.
813
00:43:47,458 --> 00:43:51,128
An ordinary eel,
which comes into Loch Ness,
814
00:43:51,195 --> 00:43:52,696
but likes it so much
815
00:43:52,796 --> 00:43:55,766
that it doesn't go back
to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.
816
00:43:55,833 --> 00:43:59,036
-It just grows huge.
-Oh, so it avoids
the famous life cycle.
817
00:44:01,038 --> 00:44:02,806
One of the things
that's so intriguing
818
00:44:02,873 --> 00:44:06,510
is this latest DNA work
that you've been doing,
819
00:44:06,610 --> 00:44:09,880
still leaves avenues open
to believing, doesn't it?
820
00:44:09,980 --> 00:44:11,515
And that's the fun of it.
821
00:44:11,615 --> 00:44:15,219
-Yeah. That is...
-Nature surprises us
all the time.
822
00:44:15,319 --> 00:44:17,955
Exactly right. Exactly right.
823
00:44:18,822 --> 00:44:20,224
And so the mystery
824
00:44:20,324 --> 00:44:23,327
of the Loch Ness Monster
continues.
825
00:44:38,375 --> 00:44:40,711
Our passion
for all things magical,
826
00:44:40,811 --> 00:44:43,580
has never been
stronger than it is today.
827
00:44:45,149 --> 00:44:48,919
Many of the most popular books
and movies of our time
828
00:44:49,019 --> 00:44:52,990
are based on myths, legends
and fantasy worlds,
829
00:44:53,057 --> 00:44:56,427
filled with some of the most
extraordinary creatures
830
00:44:56,527 --> 00:44:57,928
you'll ever see.
831
00:45:00,397 --> 00:45:03,367
And now with cutting-edge
computer technology,
832
00:45:03,434 --> 00:45:07,371
we can bring them to life,
like never before.
833
00:45:11,275 --> 00:45:14,044
Now, behind these doors
834
00:45:14,111 --> 00:45:18,115
is something
just a little bit special.
835
00:45:23,220 --> 00:45:24,922
[gasps]
836
00:45:25,022 --> 00:45:27,791
I've come
to The Making of Harry Potter
837
00:45:27,891 --> 00:45:31,128
at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour
near London,
838
00:45:31,228 --> 00:45:35,032
to see how the Fantastic Beasts
of the Wizarding World
839
00:45:35,099 --> 00:45:37,034
are brought to life,
840
00:45:37,101 --> 00:45:39,770
and to discover
how the natural world
841
00:45:39,870 --> 00:45:44,308
has often inspired
these extraordinary creations.
842
00:45:44,408 --> 00:45:47,111
This is quite an honor for me.
843
00:45:47,211 --> 00:45:49,613
They don't usually
let Muggles in here.
844
00:45:52,216 --> 00:45:54,384
[squeaking]
845
00:45:56,587 --> 00:45:57,654
[croaks]
846
00:45:59,823 --> 00:46:01,258
[growls]
847
00:46:03,627 --> 00:46:05,429
But where do you start
848
00:46:05,496 --> 00:46:08,665
when trying to create
a fantastic beast
849
00:46:08,766 --> 00:46:10,334
for the big screen?
850
00:46:10,434 --> 00:46:14,338
Surely, a description in a book
can only tell you so much.
851
00:46:14,438 --> 00:46:15,839
Well, I've come here
852
00:46:15,939 --> 00:46:17,441
to find out some
of the tricks of the trade,
853
00:46:17,508 --> 00:46:21,178
from visual effects supervisor,
Christian Manz.
854
00:46:25,115 --> 00:46:27,684
Oh, now, hang on.
855
00:46:27,785 --> 00:46:31,688
I think I recognize
where we are.
856
00:46:31,789 --> 00:46:33,624
This is Dumbledore's office.
857
00:46:33,690 --> 00:46:35,359
-[Manz] Yeah.
-[both chuckle]
858
00:46:36,193 --> 00:46:38,796
Now, Christian,
859
00:46:38,862 --> 00:46:41,965
I'm sure a lot of people have
heard of CGI as it's called,
860
00:46:42,032 --> 00:46:44,101
do you spend your whole time
just looking
at a computer screen
861
00:46:44,168 --> 00:46:46,870
doing mathematical things
to create images?
862
00:46:46,970 --> 00:46:48,839
[Manz] The brilliant thingabout visual effects
863
00:46:48,939 --> 00:46:52,042
{\an8}is it's a real marriage
of the creative
and the technical,
864
00:46:52,142 --> 00:46:55,445
{\an8}and our inspiration,
particularly with animation,
865
00:46:55,512 --> 00:46:59,283
is looking at creatures
from all over the world,
866
00:46:59,349 --> 00:47:00,684
and make the audience believe
867
00:47:00,784 --> 00:47:02,719
that what they're seeing
is real.
868
00:47:02,820 --> 00:47:04,121
Have you got some examples?
869
00:47:04,188 --> 00:47:06,623
[Manz] In the second film,
we had the Zouwu,
870
00:47:06,690 --> 00:47:10,661
a elephant-sized,
really colorful big cat.
871
00:47:10,727 --> 00:47:12,162
In the script, it said that
872
00:47:12,229 --> 00:47:14,665
the Zouwu could travel
a thousand miles a day,
873
00:47:14,731 --> 00:47:17,634
and that led us
to that idea of speed.
874
00:47:17,701 --> 00:47:20,838
So here, this was a design
that bedded in
for a while actually...
875
00:47:20,904 --> 00:47:22,639
- The cobra-like head...
-[Fry] Yes.
876
00:47:22,706 --> 00:47:24,174
[Manz]
...with a reptilian body.
877
00:47:24,241 --> 00:47:25,909
We got to the point
of, you know, modelling it
878
00:47:26,009 --> 00:47:29,546
and animating it, but we were
never quite sure about it,
879
00:47:29,646 --> 00:47:31,582
it didn't quite feel
of our world,
880
00:47:31,682 --> 00:47:34,918
and then somebody came up
with this design, this concept.
881
00:47:35,018 --> 00:47:37,087
-[Fry] Goodness.
-And we were like,
882
00:47:37,187 --> 00:47:39,089
-"Wow that feels bonkers."
-Yes.
883
00:47:39,189 --> 00:47:44,595
And also felt very akin to some
of the Chinese dragon dancers.
884
00:47:44,695 --> 00:47:46,263
The sort of ribbon, like...
885
00:47:46,363 --> 00:47:47,931
[Fry] I've taken a lookat those too,
886
00:47:48,031 --> 00:47:50,868
and I know what you mean,
and that exactly suggests it,
887
00:47:50,934 --> 00:47:53,737
-that long sinuous,
flowing tail.
-Yes.
888
00:47:53,837 --> 00:47:55,706
[Manz] And then, kind of,the cat-like face,
889
00:47:55,772 --> 00:47:57,608
and then the body which
in the end,
890
00:47:57,708 --> 00:48:00,844
lizards, was a lot
of our inspiration.
891
00:48:00,911 --> 00:48:03,413
So from that,
we'd look at wildlife.
892
00:48:03,513 --> 00:48:05,949
[Fry] So you've got coral,and is that a variegated tulip?
893
00:48:06,049 --> 00:48:07,618
[Manz] Yeah,and a fighting fish,
894
00:48:07,718 --> 00:48:11,188
and also we tried it
with the sea anemone.
895
00:48:11,255 --> 00:48:13,023
[Fry] Yes,
that's so surprising,
896
00:48:13,090 --> 00:48:15,559
'cause I can believe
that you might look at lizards
897
00:48:15,626 --> 00:48:17,094
and you might look
at large cats
898
00:48:17,194 --> 00:48:20,097
and things, but coral
and flowers...
899
00:48:20,197 --> 00:48:23,300
And yet once you point it out,
you can see that.
900
00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:26,637
What's so interesting, is that
the most ancient stories
901
00:48:26,737 --> 00:48:28,405
of mythical creatures
902
00:48:28,472 --> 00:48:31,141
drew their inspiration
from nature.
903
00:48:31,241 --> 00:48:34,311
And the most modern
technological
mythical creatures
904
00:48:34,411 --> 00:48:37,114
that you create,
also draw from nature.
905
00:48:37,214 --> 00:48:40,150
And I suppose, as long
as the lead times
906
00:48:40,250 --> 00:48:43,120
and the process of doing
computer graphics is,
907
00:48:43,220 --> 00:48:45,489
it's nothing compared
to the millions of years...
908
00:48:45,589 --> 00:48:48,258
-No.
-...that nature has
to try out new ideas.
909
00:48:48,325 --> 00:48:51,161
Yeah, I think that's one
of our biggest learning
experiences, really,
910
00:48:51,261 --> 00:48:53,664
that Mother Nature's definitely
better at it than we are...
911
00:48:53,764 --> 00:48:55,832
-[laughing]
-But she's had practice.
912
00:48:55,933 --> 00:48:58,101
-She's had so much practice.
-[laughs]
913
00:49:09,613 --> 00:49:10,747
[sniffing]
914
00:49:20,757 --> 00:49:23,860
[Fry] But where on Earthdid all of this start?
915
00:49:25,429 --> 00:49:27,464
When did we very first create
916
00:49:27,531 --> 00:49:30,367
or imagine
these mythical creatures?
917
00:49:32,469 --> 00:49:35,439
When early humans
began to draw,
918
00:49:35,505 --> 00:49:38,141
we depicted the world
we saw around us...
919
00:49:38,208 --> 00:49:41,211
the landscape, people,
and animals,
920
00:49:41,311 --> 00:49:44,815
like this magnificent mastodon.
921
00:49:44,881 --> 00:49:46,883
But we also began to create
922
00:49:46,984 --> 00:49:49,853
entirely imaginary
creatures too.
923
00:49:51,355 --> 00:49:54,691
There are examples
of these mysterious creatures
924
00:49:54,791 --> 00:49:56,193
painted in caves,
925
00:49:56,293 --> 00:49:58,628
and on rocks,
found around the world.
926
00:49:58,695 --> 00:50:03,800
Some dating back
as far as 44,000 years ago.
927
00:50:03,867 --> 00:50:06,470
No one really knows
why these images were created,
928
00:50:06,536 --> 00:50:09,706
but perhaps the most
reasonable explanation
929
00:50:09,806 --> 00:50:14,511
is that they were one of the
earliest forms of storytelling.
930
00:50:14,578 --> 00:50:17,748
I wanted to know more
about this instinct
931
00:50:17,848 --> 00:50:20,250
to create mythical creatures,
932
00:50:20,350 --> 00:50:22,919
so I asked someone
who knows a thing or two
933
00:50:23,020 --> 00:50:25,989
about telling stories...
934
00:50:26,056 --> 00:50:28,025
author of the
Harry Potter books,
935
00:50:28,091 --> 00:50:31,328
and creatorof Fantastic Beasts,
936
00:50:31,395 --> 00:50:33,363
J.K. Rowling.
937
00:50:38,201 --> 00:50:40,037
Why is it that we humans
938
00:50:40,103 --> 00:50:43,507
have to tell everything
through stories and examples,
939
00:50:43,573 --> 00:50:46,743
it's our great creative power,
isn't it?
940
00:50:46,843 --> 00:50:48,178
I think about this a lot,
941
00:50:48,245 --> 00:50:50,414
the fact that
we're storytelling creatures,
942
00:50:50,514 --> 00:50:52,015
because to our knowledge,
943
00:50:52,082 --> 00:50:53,917
-we are the only animal
that does this.
-Yeah.
944
00:50:54,017 --> 00:50:56,753
{\an8}And obviously it was an attempt
I think to...
945
00:50:56,853 --> 00:50:58,688
{\an8}certainly in terms
of myth and folklore,
946
00:50:58,755 --> 00:51:01,191
{\an8}it's an attempt to explain
the natural world,
947
00:51:01,258 --> 00:51:02,793
things people
didn't understand.
948
00:51:02,893 --> 00:51:06,430
I am very interested
in story, inevitably.
949
00:51:06,530 --> 00:51:09,466
I'm not just interested
in writing stories.
950
00:51:09,566 --> 00:51:12,869
I am interested in why
we write stories.
951
00:51:12,936 --> 00:51:13,970
Yes.
952
00:51:14,071 --> 00:51:16,440
I'm even more fascinated
by the fact
953
00:51:16,540 --> 00:51:20,210
that discrete cultures
who'd never met,
954
00:51:20,277 --> 00:51:25,148
-create such similar archetypes
and such similar creatures.
-Yeah.
955
00:51:25,248 --> 00:51:28,151
So we see the fire bird,
956
00:51:28,251 --> 00:51:29,753
the phoenix as I called it,
957
00:51:29,820 --> 00:51:32,155
but you see the creation
of a fire bird
958
00:51:32,255 --> 00:51:34,257
throughout different cultures.
959
00:51:34,324 --> 00:51:35,158
Yes.
960
00:51:35,258 --> 00:51:37,127
And what is that telling us
961
00:51:37,227 --> 00:51:38,995
about what it is to be human
962
00:51:39,096 --> 00:51:40,931
and what lives at the back
of our minds,
963
00:51:40,997 --> 00:51:42,232
in our subconscious?
964
00:51:42,299 --> 00:51:44,668
You often see this
in magical beasts,
965
00:51:44,768 --> 00:51:48,071
that very similar beasts
have been imagined
966
00:51:48,138 --> 00:51:53,110
-by, after all, peoples who
are living among different...
-Yes.
967
00:51:53,176 --> 00:51:54,578
...real animals.
968
00:51:54,644 --> 00:51:57,013
We're talking cultures
across different continents.
969
00:51:57,114 --> 00:51:58,515
And that fascinates me,
970
00:51:58,615 --> 00:52:01,251
because that's clearly
telling us about ourselves.
971
00:52:01,318 --> 00:52:03,420
And a perfect example
is the dragon.
972
00:52:03,487 --> 00:52:05,122
-There you are.
-All over the world.
973
00:52:05,188 --> 00:52:07,023
-In China, famously, of course.
-All over...
974
00:52:07,124 --> 00:52:08,959
And what else are there?
Mermaids.
975
00:52:09,025 --> 00:52:11,428
Mermaids, it's
very interesting, isn't it?
976
00:52:11,495 --> 00:52:13,763
Because where did
that myth come from?
977
00:52:13,830 --> 00:52:17,701
Even in Africa,
these inland countries...
978
00:52:17,801 --> 00:52:19,769
-[Fry] Yeah.-...of course,have great rivers...
979
00:52:19,836 --> 00:52:23,106
-Yeah.
-...there is a form
of mermaid, the Jengu.
980
00:52:23,173 --> 00:52:24,307
Ah.
981
00:52:24,374 --> 00:52:27,811
So again,
this is something that has...
982
00:52:27,878 --> 00:52:31,548
has been created across
these different cultures.
983
00:52:31,648 --> 00:52:36,386
Why were British sailors
imagining fishtailed women
984
00:52:36,486 --> 00:52:40,657
when people in Africa were
imagining fishtailed women,
985
00:52:40,724 --> 00:52:42,859
it's just extraordinary.
986
00:52:42,959 --> 00:52:45,228
Do you think it's possible
to invent a creature
987
00:52:45,328 --> 00:52:46,963
that has no basis in nature?
988
00:52:47,030 --> 00:52:49,666
-I think it would be
exceptionally difficult.
-Wouldn't it?
989
00:52:49,733 --> 00:52:52,402
I created a creature,
990
00:52:52,502 --> 00:52:55,639
in Fantastic Beasts,
the original book
991
00:52:55,705 --> 00:52:57,007
called a Lethifold.
992
00:52:57,073 --> 00:52:58,875
[Fry] Yes,a nasty piece of work.
993
00:52:58,975 --> 00:53:00,810
Now that is my worst nightmare.
994
00:53:00,877 --> 00:53:03,480
I really had, there,
gone for something
995
00:53:03,547 --> 00:53:07,217
-that would scare
the bejesus out of me.
-Yes.
996
00:53:07,317 --> 00:53:10,687
{\an8}Although I was takingthe idea from a cloak,
997
00:53:10,754 --> 00:53:13,323
when I stood back
from what I'd invented,
998
00:53:13,390 --> 00:53:15,358
I thought, well, you've...
That's just a manta ray.
999
00:53:15,425 --> 00:53:17,928
-And a manta means
a cloak, doesn't it? Yes.
-There you go. Exactly.
1000
00:53:18,028 --> 00:53:21,264
So basically,
I've invented a manta ray
that doesn't need water.
1001
00:53:21,364 --> 00:53:23,867
-And the niffler?
-Well, I was going
to say the niffler, exactly,
1002
00:53:23,934 --> 00:53:26,102
so the niffler is a bit
of a favorite of mine.
1003
00:53:26,203 --> 00:53:28,538
It's a treasure seeker,
it likes everything
that glitters,
1004
00:53:28,605 --> 00:53:30,774
so it can locate
treasure for you.
1005
00:53:31,775 --> 00:53:33,043
So for those who don't know,
1006
00:53:33,109 --> 00:53:34,945
a niffler
is a curious creature,
1007
00:53:35,045 --> 00:53:38,281
-I suppose it's a cross between
a magpie, in nature...
-Yes.
1008
00:53:38,381 --> 00:53:40,884
...and a duck-billed
platypus in appearance.
1009
00:53:40,951 --> 00:53:43,353
-And a mole.
-And a mole, exactly.
1010
00:53:43,420 --> 00:53:45,188
{\an8}But they used a platypus
1011
00:53:45,255 --> 00:53:48,425
{\an8}to get the snout-likeappearance in the movie,
1012
00:53:48,525 --> 00:53:50,060
{\an8}which I adored.
1013
00:53:50,126 --> 00:53:52,295
I mean, they ran these things
past me and I just loved it.
1014
00:53:52,395 --> 00:53:55,465
It gave it such an endearing
appearance, I think.
1015
00:53:57,901 --> 00:54:00,737
-So it's exceptionally
difficult...
-Yeah.
1016
00:54:00,804 --> 00:54:02,038
...to invent something.
1017
00:54:02,105 --> 00:54:05,308
And often nature
got there far better,
1018
00:54:05,408 --> 00:54:08,712
because you look at some
of nature's extraordinary
creations,
1019
00:54:08,778 --> 00:54:11,615
and you think, well,
CGI will never match this.
1020
00:54:17,921 --> 00:54:20,056
You created your own world
1021
00:54:20,123 --> 00:54:22,325
that has its famous
1022
00:54:22,425 --> 00:54:25,295
and knowable characters
and creatures,
1023
00:54:25,395 --> 00:54:27,931
um, which must give you
enormous satisfaction,
1024
00:54:27,998 --> 00:54:30,667
and you've done it
by examining the real world
1025
00:54:30,767 --> 00:54:32,402
and the world
of the imagination
1026
00:54:32,469 --> 00:54:33,670
that our ancestors had,
1027
00:54:33,770 --> 00:54:35,672
all the way back
through earliest myths.
1028
00:54:35,772 --> 00:54:37,340
I was thinking
about the creatures
1029
00:54:37,440 --> 00:54:39,676
because we were gonna
sit down and talk about this,
1030
00:54:39,776 --> 00:54:41,478
and I realized
1031
00:54:41,578 --> 00:54:46,249
that half the books fold
without those creatures,
1032
00:54:46,316 --> 00:54:48,418
you know, they're so important.
1033
00:54:50,120 --> 00:54:51,988
- Hedwig the owl.
-[Fry] Yeah.
1034
00:54:52,088 --> 00:54:55,158
And then we move through
the Thestrals and the dragons,
1035
00:54:55,258 --> 00:54:57,861
and they are key plot points
1036
00:54:57,961 --> 00:55:00,997
and obviously, thematically,
they work in terms of life
1037
00:55:01,097 --> 00:55:04,100
and death and power.
And struggle and treasure.
1038
00:55:04,167 --> 00:55:07,704
But I realized when I really
focused on those creatures,
1039
00:55:07,804 --> 00:55:10,774
just how important they were,
and that shows,
1040
00:55:10,840 --> 00:55:12,609
we have a deep need, I think,
1041
00:55:12,676 --> 00:55:14,544
to be connected
to the animal world.
1042
00:55:36,466 --> 00:55:41,805
Fantastic beasts have been
with us since the dawn of time,
1043
00:55:41,871 --> 00:55:44,407
from the first imaginary
creatures
1044
00:55:44,507 --> 00:55:46,743
sketched on cave walls,
1045
00:55:46,843 --> 00:55:48,845
to the state-of-the-art animals
1046
00:55:48,912 --> 00:55:51,247
that we see
on our big screens today,
1047
00:55:51,348 --> 00:55:56,419
they are a fundamental part
of our own history.
1048
00:55:57,520 --> 00:55:59,022
[Fawkes squawking]
1049
00:56:02,158 --> 00:56:06,062
Our endless fascination
with magical animals
1050
00:56:06,162 --> 00:56:09,999
and our instinctive curiosity
about the world around us
1051
00:56:10,066 --> 00:56:13,103
could even lead
to the discovery
1052
00:56:13,203 --> 00:56:15,772
of entirely new species...
1053
00:56:16,706 --> 00:56:18,942
If we keep our eyes
1054
00:56:19,042 --> 00:56:21,578
and our minds open,
1055
00:56:21,678 --> 00:56:25,215
who knows
what might be out there?
1056
00:56:32,722 --> 00:56:35,859
The world is a magical place.
1057
00:56:35,925 --> 00:56:38,461
Fantastic Beasts show
1058
00:56:38,561 --> 00:56:42,599
there are still so many things
to discover.
1059
00:56:50,740 --> 00:56:53,309
[chittering]
1060
00:57:05,255 --> 00:57:06,923
[jingling]
1061
00:57:10,059 --> 00:57:12,262
[instrumental music
playing]
159137
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