Original subtitles

.

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

TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

GET READY TO SAY G'DAY TO SOME UNUSUAL ANIMALS THAT ARE FOUND

ONLY IN AUSTRALIA, RIGHT NOW ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

LIKE THESE WILD PUPS.

THEY'RE PLAYING WITH A PURPOSE.

THEY'LL GROW UP TO BE APEX PREDATORS.

AND AN AQUATIC CREATURE SO STRANGE SOME ZOOLOGISTS THOUGHT

IT COULDN'T BE REAL.

PLUS, THIS FLIRTY FELLOW COMES BEARING GIFTS, BUT ONLY IN HIS

FAVORITE COLOR.

BUT FIRST, AN ICONIC TREE-HUGGER BRINGS IN THE NOISE.

YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S HIS KOALA-THE-WILD.

ALL OF THIS COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE MAJORITY OF THE CREATURES LIVING IN AUSTRALIA

ARE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE ON THE PLANET.

ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS,

THEY'VE DEVELOPED ONE-OF-A-KIND EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATIONS.

BUT ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST LOVED ANIMALS IS ALSO ONE OF ITS

MOST MYSTERIOUS, PREFERRING TO LIVE SAFELY IN THE TALLEST

TREETOPS.

ALTHOUGH AUSTRALIA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS SCORCHING DESERT INTERIOR,

OFTEN CALLED THE OUTBACK, THIS VAST COUNTRY IS ALSO RICH WITH

TEMPERATE AND TROPICAL FORESTS, INCLUDING MILLIONS OF ACRES OF

EUCALYPTUS.

THESE TOUGH TREES HIDE A DECEPTIVELY TENDER-LOOKING

INHABITANT.

THEY MAY LOOK LIKE TEDDY BEARS, AND THEY ARE EVEN MISTAKENLY

CALLED BEARS...

...BUT KOALAS ARE MARSUPIALS AND NOT BEARS AT ALL.

WITH FORMIDABLE CLAWS AND A SOLITARY LIFESTYLE, THIS MALE IS

NOT AS HUGGABLE AS HE LOOKS.

THE EUCALYPTUS FOREST IS THE KOALA'S NATURAL HOME.

IT'S ALSO THEIR MAIN FOOD SOURCE.

THE TREE'S STRONG-SMELLING, OILY LEAVES REPEL MOST PLANT-EATERS.

IN FACT, THE LEAVES ARE DOWNRIGHT POISONOUS.

BUT KOALAS CAN'T GET ENOUGH.

[MUSIC - FOREST SOUNDS]

DYLAN: TO DIGEST THIS TOXIC CUISINE, THEY GRIND THE LEAVES

TO A FINE PASTE.

SPECIAL GUT MICROBES IN THEIR STOMACHS DETOXIFY THE GOO FOR

HOURS.

ALL THAT CHEWING STILL ONLY GIVES KOALAS ENOUGH ENERGY FOR 2

HOURS OF ACTIVITY A DAY.

AND RIGHT NOW, THIS LONE MALE NEEDS ALL THE STAMINA HE CAN

MUSTER.

[KOALA BELLOWING]

DYLAN: HIS LOW-FREQUENCY BELLOW HAS EVOLVED TO BE HEARD MORE

THAN HALF A MILE AWAY.

[KOALA CONTINUING TO BELLOW]

DYLAN: HE'S CALLING FOR A MATE.

BUT SO FAR, CRICKETS.

IT'S TIME TO WIDEN THE SEARCH.

DOWN ON THE GROUND, KOALAS ARE EXPOSED TO PREDATORS LIKE

DINGOES AND AUSTRALIA'S MANY POISONOUS SNAKES.

FORTUNATELY, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO FAR.

HE FINALLY FINDS A TREE THAT HAS THE SCENT OF WHAT HE'S BEEN

AFTER; A FEMALE.

BUT SHE'S GOT A YOUNG JOEY, WHICH MEANS SHE WON'T BE MATING

ANY TIME SOON.

BUT THE SOUND OF A FEMALE'S MATING CALL MEANS HE'S NOT FAR

OFF.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CHECK EVERY TREE.

AS FOR THE MOTHER KOALA, SHE'S NOT IN A RUSH.

[MUSIC - FOREST SOUNDS]

DYLAN: SHE SPENDS A WHOLE YEAR RAISING HER BABY BEFORE IT HEADS

OFF ON ITS OWN.

THIS LITTLE JOEY HAS STARTED EXPLORING THE WORLD OUTSIDE OF

HIS MOM'S POUCH WHERE HE SPENDS HIS TIME NURSING AND SLEEPING.

AND NOW HE'S OLD ENOUGH TO TEST SOLID FOOD.

SOON, HE'LL SET OUT TO ESTABLISH HIS OWN TERRITORY IN THE TREES.

KOALA NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED DRASTICALLY IN JUST A FEW YEARS.

WITH AS FEW AS 60,000 INDIVIDUALS LEFT IN THE WILD,

EVERY LITTLE JOEY'S SURVIVAL IS VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF THE

SPECIES.

COMING UP, IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THESE WILD PUPS TO BE VOTED OUT

OF THE PACK.

AND THIS ANIMAL HAS FUR BUT ITS BABIES HATCH FROM AN EGG; IT'S

TRULY ONE-OF-A-KIND.

PLUS, AN AVIAN DANCE TO IMPRESS AND MUCH MORE WHEN "EARTH

ODYSSEY" COMES RIGHT BACK.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA, 10 MILES OFF THE COAST OF

QUEENSLAND, LIES GARIE, AN ISLAND COVERED IN RAINFORESTS,

PINE AND EUCALYPTUS WOODLAND.

IT'S THE LARGEST SAND ISLAND ON EARTH.

HERE, PLANTS HAVE EVOLVED TO EXTRACT NUTRIENTS FROM SAND, NOT

SOIL, TURNING THE GREENS A BRILLIANT WHITE.

AND THIS PICTURE-PERFECT ECOSYSTEM SUPPORTS AUSTRALIA'S

LARGEST LAND-BASED PREDATOR; DINGOES.

ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE DESCENDANTS OF DOMESTIC DOGS,

NEW STUDIES PROVE THE DINGO IS AN ANCIENT GENETIC LINK BETWEEN

WOLVES AND DOGS.

THEY LIKELY ARRIVED ON THE CONTINENT WITH HUMAN SEAFARERS

AT LEAST 3,000 YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN AUSSIE MAINSTAYS EVER

SINCE.

ON THE MAINLAND, DINGOES OFTEN INTER-BREED WITH DOMESTIC DOGS.

BUT ON GARIE, PETS ARE BANNED, MAKING THE ISLAND'S FERAL

DINGOES GENETICALLY PURE.

THE MAJORITY OF THIS MALE'S DIET IS SMALL MAMMALS AND REPTILES.

BUT WITH HIS FOREST HOME BACKING ONTO THE COAST, HE ALSO GETS

PLENTY OF SCAVENGING OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE SEA.

THE DINGO'S SENSE OF SMELL IS EXCEPTIONAL.

A GOOD FIND, BUT JUST A SEAFOOD STARTER.

HIS MATE IS TRYING HER LUCK ON THE FOREST BORDER.

THEY'LL EACH ROAM AROUND 12 MILES A DAY SCAVENGING AND

HUNTING.

SHE'S LOOKING FOR INSECTS.

DINGOES AREN'T FUSSY; THEY'LL EAT ALMOST ANYTHING.

FROM PLANTS TO INSECTS, FISH, REPTILES AND MAMMALS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, SHE NEEDS SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL.

SHE HAS A LITTER OF PUPS TO FEED.

WHILE THEIR MOM IS AWAY, THESE PUPS ARE LEFT IN A SECLUDED DEN

SITE BY THE FOREST EDGE.

BUT THEY AREN'T HOME ALONE.

DINGOES ALWAYS GUARD THEIR DEN.

[DINGOES GROWLING AND PLAY-FIGHTING]

DYLAN: THE PARENTS' LITTER FROM LAST YEAR IS STILL PART OF THE

PACK.

DEDICATED FAMILY MEMBERS, THESE BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS GUARD

THE DEN SITE, HELP PROVIDE FOOD, AND STILL FIND TIME FOR PLAY

WITH THE YOUNGER PUPS.

AND THIS BEACH LITTER IS A SOUGHT-AFTER TOY.

THEIR FATHER HAS RETURNED EMPTY-HANDED, BUT IS HAPPY TO

JOIN THE FRAY.

PLAY IS IMPORTANT FOR ESTABLISHING DOMINANCE IN THIS

PACK OF PREDATORS.

WHILE THEY SOCIALIZE, THEIR MOM IS DELIVERING A SEABIRD DINNER

TO THE LITTER.

THE PUPS ARE OLD ENOUGH NOW TO EAT MEAT.

THAT MEANS THE PARENTS' NEXT BREEDING CYCLE IS ONLY MONTHS

AWAY.

FOR THE OLDER OF THE PUPS, THEIR PARENTS' NEW MATING SEASON WILL

BE THEIR CUE TO LEAVE HOME.

THEY WON'T LEAVE THE ISLAND, BUT THEY'LL SEPARATE FOR GOOD FROM

THEIR FAMILY.

IT'S ALL PART OF BECOMING AN ADULT.

ON THEIR OWN, THESE WILD YOUNG DOGS WILL ESTABLISH NEW PACKS IN

THIS PROTECTED AUSTRALIAN HABITAT.

CONTINUING THE LEGENDARY LIVES OF THE GARIE DINGOES.

WHEN WE COME BACK, THIS BIRD BUILDS LIKE AN ARCHITECT AND

DANCES LIKE A STAR.

AND LATER, WHAT HAS WEBBED FEET, A DUCK BILL AND A TAIL LIKE A

BEAVER?

THE ANSWER IS COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

STAY TUNED.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO OUR EXPLORATION OF AUSTRALIA, WHERE

THE WORD "EXTRAORDINARY" IS NO EXAGGERATION.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR MANY SPECIES' SURVIVAL IS

FINDING A MATE.

ONE RAINFOREST DWELLER WAITS 7 YEARS TO START LOOKING FOR A

PARTNER.

BUT WHEN HE DOES, HIS COURTSHIP STYLE IS IMPRESSIVELY CREATIVE.

NEAR THE EASTERN WOODLANDS OF AUSTRALIA IS A SUBTROPICAL AND

TEMPERATE RAINFOREST.

A REMNANT OF A TIME WHEN AUSTRALIA WAS STILL PART OF A

GIANT SUPER CONTINENT.

ANCIENT SPECIES OF CONIFERS, BEACH TREES AND FERNS

STILL TAKE ROOT.

THE GONDWANA FORESTS HAVE REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED SINCE

PREHISTORIC TIMES.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN HERE, SIGNS OF MODERN HUMAN IMPACT CAN

BE FOUND.

BUT ONE WILD SPECIES HAS TURNED OUR TRASH INTO TREASURE.

AS LONG AS IT'S TRASH OF A CERTAIN COLOR.

THIS SATIN BOWERBIRD IS PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON A

BOWER, WHICH IS A LEAFY, PROTECTED SPACE, OR ENCLOSURE,

LIKE AN ARBOR.

METICULOUSLY, HE PLACES STICKS TO CREATE 2 CURVED WALLS.

HIS COMPLEX STRUCTURE REALLY SHOWS OFF HIS LOOKS, BUT THE

SATIN BOWERBIRD STRICTLY PREFERS HIS FAVORITE ACCENT COLOR, BLUE.

IT'S THOUGHT TO SHOW OFF THE MALE'S OWN BLUE IRIDESCENT

PLUMAGE.

TALK ABOUT MATCHY-MATCHY.

THIS BIRD HAS CREATED AN ARTISTIC BOWER THAT DOUBLES AS A

STAGE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ELABORATE DECORATIVE STRUCTURES DESIGNED

TO WOO A FEMALE IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

EVERY ARTIST NEEDS AN AUDIENCE.

A FEMALE.

HE'S PLAYING IT COOL.

BUT TO WIN HER OVER, HE'LL HAVE TO PUT ON A PERFORMANCE OF A

LIFETIME.

HIS BOWER IS NOT THE ONLY ONE SHE'LL VISIT.

SHE'LL CHECK SEVERAL BEFORE CHOOSING HER FAVORITE.

LET THE SHOW BEGIN.

WATCHING THROUGH HIS BOWER, SHE'LL JUDGE HIS PERFORMANCE.

[MUSIC - FOREST SOUNDS]

DYLAN: A STRUT, A BOW...

...AND A TRADEMARK WING QUIVER.

AND EVEN A FLORAL ACCENT.

IF HE DOES WIN HER AFFECTION, FEMALES ARE KNOWN TO VISIT THE

SAME BOWERS ANNUALLY TO MATE.

BUT ONLY THE BEST ARE SELECTED.

THE FINAL MOVE, AN OFFERING OF ONE OF HIS FAVORITE TREASURES.

IT'S A NO.

SOMETHING WAS OFF.

IT'S BACK TO PERFECTING HIS ART.

COMING UP, IT'S TIME TO MEET ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST ASTONISHING

ANIMALS.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: RAINFORESTS COVER LESS THAN 1 PERCENT OF AUSTRALIA.

BUT THOSE FORESTS ARE HOME TO ONE-THIRD OF THE COUNTRY'S

MAMMAL AND BIRD SPECIES.

RIVERS FEED THE LUSH FOLIAGE AND PROVIDE A HUNTING GROUND FOR ONE

OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF AUSTRALIA'S EVOLUTIONARY

ISOLATION.

THE PLATYPUS.

THIS AUSTRALIAN NATIVE HAS A DUCK BILL, WEBBED FEET, A TAIL

LIKE A BEAVER, AND SHE LAYS EGGS.

SCIENTIFICALLY CLASSIFIED AS A MAMMAL BECAUSE SHE ALSO NURSES

HER YOUNG.

THIS SPECIES' EVOLUTIONARY PATH DIVERGED FROM OTHER MAMMALS MORE

THAN 165 MILLION YEARS AGO.

THE MALES CAN BE MORE THAN 20 INCHES LONG AND ARE PERFECTLY

ADAPTED TO AN AQUATIC LIFESTYLE.

A BOTTOM FEEDER, THE PLATYPUS CLOSES HIS EYES, EARS AND NOSE

AS HE DIVES.

BUT THIS ANIMAL ISN'T SWIMMING BLIND.

THE PLATYPUS HAS A SUPER SENSE; HIS UNIQUE BILL IS PACKED WITH

THOUSANDS OF ELECTRICALLY-SENSITIVE

RECEPTORS.

HE USES IT TO SCAN THE RIVERBED FOR ELECTRICAL SIGNALS PRODUCED

BY THE MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS OF PREY LIKE CRUSTACEANS AND WORMS

HIDING IN THE MUD.

HE'LL STORE HIS CATCH IN HIS CHEEK POUCHES.

THIS MALE WILL SPEND MORE THAN 10 HOURS HUNTING, EATING AROUND

HALF HIS BODY WEIGHT EVERY DAY.

IF ALL THESE PLATYPUS FEATURES WEREN'T UNIQUE ENOUGH, HE'S ALSO

ONE OF THE FEW MAMMALS ARMED WITH POISON.

PLATYPUS MALES HAVE HIND LEG SPURS LOADED WITH VENOM TO FEND

OFF RIVALS.

ANOTHER RIVER PREDATOR IS TRACKING HIS EVERY MOVE, WAITING

FOR THE PERFECT MOMENT TO STRIKE.

AN AZURE KINGFISHER, A RIVERSIDE HUNTER AND A KEEN OBSERVER OF

THE PLATYPUS.

THE MAMMAL'S HUNTING TECHNIQUE MAKES HIM A FISHERMAN'S BEST

FRIEND.

AS HE STIRS UP THE RIVERBED, THE PLATYPUS FLUSHES FISH TO THE

SURFACE.

QUEUE THE KINGFISHER.

SCIENTISTS SAY THE ELUSIVE PLATYPUS IS HARD TO COUNT AND

STUDY, BUT THEY KNOW PLATYPUS NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED BY A THIRD

IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THIS PROTECTED RAINFOREST IS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES THIS UNIQUELY

AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL CAN SURVIVE.

WE'VE SEEN HOW AUSTRALIA'S ISOLATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

SOME VERY UNUSUAL ANIMALS.

80 PERCENT OF THE MAMMALS IN AUSTRALIA ARE ENDEMIC, MEANING

THEY ARE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE.

AND MANY OF THOSE MAMMALS ARE MARSUPIALS LIKE THE WORLD-FAMOUS

KOALAS.

BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR, DIVERSITY OF SPECIES IS ONE OF

THE MOST FASCINATING ASPECTS OF LIFE ON OUR PLANET.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]