Original subtitles

.

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

GET READY FOR WILDLIFE WONDERS

IN ROMANIA

THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY".

COMING UP: FOXHOLE HIDE-

AND- SEEK KEEPS THESE KITS

GUESSING; THEN

[BEARS ROAR]

A GROUND-SHAKING SHOWDOWN

THAT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT THE

CUBS.

PLUS WE MEET A MADNESS OF

MARMOTS;

AND USING SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS TO

GO FISHING;

INCREDIBLE ANIMAL STORIES,

RIGHT HERE, ON EARTH ODYSSEY!

[MUSIC]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[EAGLE SCREECHES]

[BEARS GROWL]

[ELEPHANT TRUMPETS]

DYLAN: ONE COUNTRY IN

WESTERN EUROPE IS TRULY

WILDER THAN THE OTHERS

ROMANIA IS HOME

TO VAST OLD GROWTH

FORESTS AND THANKS TO

HUNTING RESTRICTIONS,

IMPRESSIVE POPULATIONS OF

CARNIVORES LIKE BEARS, FOXES.

BUT WHEN SUMMER COMES

THESE YOUNG FAMILIES HAVE

ONLY A FEW MONTHS TO TEACH

THEIR KIDS AND CUBS

HOW TO MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN.

ROMANIA REMAINS AN UNUSUAL

SANCTUARY FOR WILD ANIMALS.

THE CARPATHIAN

MOUNTAINS MIGHT LOOK

DESERTED AT FIRST GLANCE.

BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF

CREATURES

MOVING THROUGH THE GRASS.

A RED FOX HAS BUILT A DEN

INTO THE HILL

HER CUBS ARE NOW BIG ENOUGH

TO COME OUT AND PLAY.

EXPLORING IS IMPORTANT.

BUT SO IS HAVING FUN.

JUMPING IN AND OUT OF FOX

HOLES, POUNCING, AND CHASING

EACH OTHER THROUGH THE DEN

SYSTEM IS USEFUL WORK.

IT TEACHES THE KITS HOW FAST

THEY CAN MOVE THROUGH TIGHT

SPACES, AND HOW TO FIND THE

RIGHT-SIZED HIDING PLACE

WHEN A PREDATOR COMES NEAR.

USUALLY, ONE DOMINANT KIT

WILL TRY TO GUARD THE MAIN

ENTRANCE.

BUT EVEN CLEVER LITTLE FOXES

DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHICH FOX

HOLE WILL BE THE CENTER OF

THE ACTION.

IN ANOTHER PART OF

TRANSYLVANIA, A MUCH LARGER

ANIMAL IS FORAGING FOR FOOD.

HE COULD GO HUNTING, BUT THE

“KING OF THE CARPATHIANS” IS

ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR FRESH

BERRIES, ROOTS, AND INSECTS.

HE'S CONSIDERED A LARGE

CARNIVORE, BUT THE BROWN

BEAR IS MOSTLY VEGETARIAN.

ADULT MALES LIKE THIS TEND

KEEP TO THEMSELVES.

BUT DURING SUMMER, THEY

START SEARCHING RELENTLESSLY

FOR A MATE.

A HUGE MALE HAS CAUGHT THE

SCENT OF A FEMALE.

NOW, HIS ATTENTION IS LOCKED

IN.

HE'S TWICE HER SIZE, BUT

SHE'S NOT EASILY

INTIMIDATED.

FEMALE BROWN BEARS ARE ONLY

INTERESTED IN MATING ABOUT

EVERY TWO YEARS, AFTER HER

CUBS BECOME INDEPENDENT.

HIS STRATEGY NOW IS TO GUARD

HER, HOPING SHE GETS USED TO

HIM.

HE TRIES SEVERAL APPROACHES,

BUT IT'S ALL IN VAIN.

SHE'S JUST NOT INTERESTED.

SO THE STAND-OFF CONTINUES.

WITH SUCH A LARGE BEAR

AROUND, HIS COMPETITORS ARE

KEEPING THEIR DISTANCE.

DURING MATING SEASON, BOTH

MALE AND FEMALE BEARS WILL

WANDER FOR MILES, LOOKING

FOR THE RIGHT PARTNER.

BUT ENCOUNTERS WITH THE

COMPETITION ARE INEVITABLE,

ESPECIALLY IN PLACES WHERE

THERE'S A LOT TO EAT.

YOUNG BEARS ACCEPT EACH

OTHER MORE EASILY.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY IS WILLING

TO SHARE THE MEADOW.

[BEAR FIGHT]

A SUMMER RAIN

COMES, JUST IN TIME TO COOL

TEMPERS DOWN.

FEMALE BEARS WITH A LITTER

TEND TO AVOID MALES ON THE

PROWL.

THEY CAN BE EXTREMELY

DANGEROUS TO YOUNG CUBS THAT

AREN'T THEIRS.

WHEN AN INTRUDER SUDDENLY

SHOWS UP, IT DEFINITELY GETS

THE CUBS' ATTENTION.

BUT THEIR MOTHER STAYS CALM.

THE VISITOR IS ANOTHER

FEMALE, WITH HER OWN CUBS

IN TOW.

WHEN A CUB ALREADY HAS TWO

SIBLINGS TO PLAY WITH, IT

DON'T NEED ANY MORE FRIENDS.

FOR TWO YEARS, THE CUBS STAY

CLOSE TO THEIR MOTHER,

LEARNING TO FISH, FORAGE,

AND FIND THEIR WAY THROUGH

MILES OF FOREST.

BUT ONE DAY, THEIR MOTHER

WILL SUDDENLY CHASE THEM

AWAY FOR GOOD.

UNTIL THEN, THESE CUBS HAVE

HER UNWAVERING PROTECTION;

AND THAT'S WORTH FAR MORE

THAN THE “BARE” NECESSITIES.

DYLAN: COMING UP, NIGHT

TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR

SNIFFING OUT A MEAL.

AND, WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDS

[SQUEEK SOUND]

GET READY TO RUN!

PLUS: A COORDINATED STRIKE

IS UNDERWAY

SEE HOW PELICANS PLAN, WHEN

EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS!

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO

"THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC."

.

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

AS EVENING COMES, THIS

NOCTURNAL FAMILY IS UP

AND READY FOR ACTION.

A SOUNDER OF WILD BOARS IS

FORAGING THE FOREST IN

SEARCH OF FOOD.

THEIR NOISY SNUFFLING

DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER ANYBODY.

OTHER EXTRA-NOSY INHABITANTS

OF THE FOREST ARE ALSO

STARTING THEIR NIGHTLY

ROUTINE.

EUROPEAN BADGERS ARE

OBSESSIVE DIGGERS AND

FORAGERS.

IT'S TOUGH TO KEEP THESE

FOUR ENERGETIC CUBS

UNDERGROUND WHEN THEY'RE

EAGER TO EXPLORE

TYPICALLY ONLY MOTHER

BADGERS RAISE THE CUBS.

SO FATHERS ARE FREE TO ROAM

AND DEFEND THEIR TERRITORY.

IT'S TIME FOR THE BADGER

CUBS TO LEARN HOW TO FIND

THEIR OWN FOOD

NOT EVERYTHING IS EDIBLE.

BUT FROM A BADGERS POINT OF

VIEW, IT'S WORTH A SNIFF.

BADGERS WILL EAT ALMOST

ANYTHING: FROM INSECTS,

AMPHIBIANS AND SMALL

RODENTS, TO SEEDS, ROOTS,

AND FRUIT.

BUT, THEY'RE ESPECIALLY FOND

OF EARTHWORMS.

PLAYING IS PART OF THEIR

ROUTINE, BUILDING STRENGTH

AND COORDINATION.

AS FAT AS THEY ARE, EVERY

MOVE ENDS WITH A TUMBLE.

BUT NEAR THE DEN, THE CUBS

ARE SAFE.

BY THE TIME THEY'RE A YEAR

OLD, THEY'LL BE OLD ENOUGH

TO LEAVE HOME, AND HAVE

TRULY LEARNED TO FOLLOW

THEIR NOSES.

ONCE NIGHT FINALLY FALLS,

THE LIFE STORIES OF THE

ANIMALS IN THE FOREST

CONTINUE.

A RECENTLY- BORN FAWN IS

CURLED UP FOR THE NIGHT.

IT'S EASY PREY FOR A PACK OF

WOLVES, UNLESS THE MOTHER IS

ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH IN AN

OUT- OF-THE-WAY PLACE.

A BEAR MIGHT FIND HIM TOO.

AFTER ALL, THE NEWBORN IS

STILL CLUMSY ON ITS FEET.

SO HOW WILL IT STAY SAFE IN

A FOREST ALIVE WITH

PREDATORS?

FAWNS INSTINCTIVELY FREEZE

IF A PREDATOR APPROACHES.

IT'S HEART RATE WILL DROP BY

30-PERCENT, HELPING IT TO

STAY QUIET, AND HIDE.

CAMOUFLAGE IS A PLUS, TOO.

AT DAWN, WE CAN SEE THE FAWN

HAS MADE IT THROUGH ITS

FIRST LONG NIGHT.

AS AN ADULT, IT WILL BE FAST

ENOUGH TO TRY TO OUTRUN

PREDATORS.

BUT FOR NOW, STAYING STILL

IS THE PERFECT INVISIBILITY

CLOAK.

DYLAN: COMING UP:

MOUNTAIN MAMAS PITCH IN TO

MAKE ROOM FOR BABY

AND WATCH OUT FOR THOSE WINGS!

GIANT BIRD SECRETS - WHEN

EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS!

[MUSIC]

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO

"THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC"

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WE HUMANS ARE

HARDWIRED TO BE SOCIAL

AND WE NOTICE THOSE FRIENDLY

TRAITS IN OTHER ANIMALS TOO

ONE FAMILY OF MOUNTAIN

MAMMALS UNDERSTANDS THAT

CUDDLING LEADS TO COOPERATION

MEET THE MARMOT'S

THE SNOW IS FINALLY MELTING

IN THE IMPRESSIVE CARPATHIAN

MOUNTAINS.

THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND

SOME REAL LITTLE HOMEBODIES.

A COLONY OF ALPINE MARMOTS

HAVE BEEN HIBERNATING FOR

MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, DEEP

IN THEIR BURROW.

BUT NOW, WARMER WEATHER HAS

LURED OLD AND YOUNG OUT.

IT LOOKS LIKE NOT EVERYBODY

HAS HAD ENOUGH SLEEP.

DESPITE THEIR ROUND SHAPES,

THE MARMOTS' FAT RESERVES

HAVE SHRUNK DURING

HIBERNATION.

THEY'VE LOST 30 TO 40

PERCENT OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT.

SO EATING IS A MUST, BUT

IT'S NOT THE ONLY PRIORITY.

ONLY ONE DOMINANT PAIR IN A

MARMOT COLONY WILL BREED

EACH YEAR.

AND THE STRONGEST MALE MAKES

SURE TO PUSH AWAY ANY

COMPETITION.

MEANWHILE, THESE YOUNGSTERS

ARE PLAY FIGHTING

PRACTICING HOW TO TAKE

CONTROL OF THE GROUP WHEN

THEIR TIME COMES.

SOCIALIZING IS ESSENTIAL FOR

THE MARMOTS, BUT COMMUNITY

WORK IS ALSO ON THE AGENDA.

THE LEAD FEMALE IS READY TO

GIVE BIRTH.

COOPERATING WITH OTHER

MEMBERS OF THE COLONY, SHE

COLLECTS DRY GRASS TO

INSULATE THE DEN FOR THE

BABIES.

[SQUEEK SOUND]

AN ALARM CALL CARRIES

THROUGH THE VALLEY

BUT NO NEED TO WORRY, IT'S

JUST A CHAMOIS

LOOKING FOR FRESH GRASS.

LUCKILY, A NEARBY BEAR,

WHICH COULD HUNT A

DISTRACTED MARMOT, SEEMS

CONTENT FOR THE MOMENT TO

FORAGE FOR GREENS.

ANIMALS AREN'T THE ONLY

LIVING THINGS THAT HAVE TO

ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

IN JUNE IN THE MOUNTAINS,

VIVID COLORS TAKE OVER THE

SLOPES.

FLOWERS, PLANTS, AND TREES

ARE BURSTING INTO BLOOM

LIKE THE RHODODENDRON, THE

MOUNTAIN PINE, AND THE

JUNIPER TREE.

THESE PLANTS COLONIZED THE

SLOPES HERE AFTER THE

ICE-AGE GLACIERS MELTED.

HIGH ON AN ISOLATED

RIDGETOP, ANOTHER PRIZED

FLOWER IS BLOOMING.

THIS CARNATION ONLY GROWS IN

THE RUGGED HILLS OF ROMANIA.

DYLAN: JUST AHEAD, FIND OUT

WHY ROMANIA IS CALLED THE

YELLOWSTONE OF EUROPE ”

MORE INCREDIBLE

CREATURES, WHEN EARTH

ODYSSEY RETURNS!

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO

"THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S NOT JUST IN THE

CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS THAT

ROMANIA'S WILDLIFE IS

ABUNDANT.

THE DANUBE RIVER

AND THE BLACK SEA, GAVE

BIRTH TO THE ONE OF THE MOST

BIODIVERSE COUNTRIES ON THE

CONTINENT,

EARNING ROMANIA

THE NICKNAME “THE

YELLOWSTONE OF EUROPE.”

THE ANIMALS FOLLOW THAT

LIFE-GIVING WATER WHEREVER

IT FLOWS, DOWN THE RIVER

THROUGH HEALTHY FORESTS

TO A TRULY UNIQUE PLACE

EUROPE'S LARGEST UNDAMAGED

WETLAND.

AN ECOSYSTEM WITH MORE THAN

FIVE THOUSAND SPECIES, ALIVE

AND WELL.

HERE, IN THE DANUBE DELTA

WETLANDS, AN ASTONISHING

AVIAN AERIAL OPERATION HAS

BEGUN.

DOZENS OF GREAT WHITE

PELICANS ARE FLYING LOW OVER

THESE ROMANIAN LAKES,

SEARCHING FOR FISH.

WHEN THEY FIND A GOOD SPOT,

THEY CLUSTER, AND WORK

TOGETHER, TO DEVASTATING

EFFECT.

USING THEIR GIANT WINGS AND

FEET, THEY UNITE TO CORRAL

THE FISH.

THE FISH ARE CONFUSED BY ALL

THIS COMMOTION, MAKING THEM

EASIER PREY.

THEN THE PELICANS DIVE,

OFTEN IN UNISON, CATCHING

FISH INSIDE THE POUCH UNDER

THEIR BEAK.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW

PELICANS PULL OFF

COOPERATIVE AIRBORNE

HUNTING, YOU HAVE TO SEE IT

FROM ABOVE.

THE PELICANS ARE DIVIDED

INTO GROUPS THAT WORK

SEPARATELY.

ONCE A SCHOOL OF FISH IS

SPOTTED, THE OTHERS JOIN IN.

SEAGULLS ARE HAPPY TO FEED

ON THE SMALL FISH

DISORIENTED BY THE AMBUSH.

OTHER PELICANS JOIN THE

CHAOTIC FEAST.

THE MUDDY WATER SHOWS THE

TRACES OF THE FEEDING AREAS,

AND IT GUIDES A FLOCK OF

CORMORANTS, WHICH ALSO JOIN

IN.

THE PELICANS BEAT THEIR

WINGS ON THE WATER.

THE FISH ARE NOW UNDER SIEGE

FROM ABOVE AND BELOW.

SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES

ARE WOVEN BY THE BIRDS,

UNTIL FINALLY, THERE'S NO

ESCAPE.

WITH A FULL BELLY AFTER THE

FISHING FRENZY, THE BIRDS

NEED TO DRY THEIR FEATHERS.

IT'S PREENING TIME.

ONCE THE EVENING COMES, THE

PELICANS GATHER TO REST.

THIS ENORMOUS DELTA IS A

SANCTUARY THAT PROTECTS THIS

SPECTACULAR KEYSTONE

SPECIES.

DYLAN: IN ROMANIA, WE'VE SEEN

HOW ANIMALS COORDINATE

THEIR BEHAVIOR

WHETHER THEIR LEARNING

FROM MOM, FIXING UP THE

DEN OR FLYING TOGETHER

IT'S ALL ABOUT ENSURING THE

SURVIVAL OF THEIR SPECIES.

I'M DYLAN DREYER

THANKS FOR WATCHING

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]