Original subtitles

.

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

TELEVISION THAT'S EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE'RE OFF TO INDIA TO EXPLORE THE MYSTERIES

OF THE MONSOON FOREST.

COMING UP, POWERFUL PACHYDERMS SET OUT ON AN

EPIC MIGRATION TO FIND WATER.

BUT WILL THEY FIND THEIR WAY?

AND AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM HELPS KEEP THESE JUNGLE

FRIENDS SAFE FROM DANGER.

PLUS A SOLITARY SPECIES THAT'S SAFEST AND DEADLIEST

WHEN HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT.

BUT FIRST, WE'LL DISCOVER WHAT MAKES THE LARGEST FELINE ON

EARTH SUCH A COOL CAT WHEN TEMPERATURES RISE.

OUR ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: 1.9 BILLION PEOPLE LIVE ON THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT,

ALSO KNOWN AS SOUTH ASIA.

EVEN WITH ALL THOSE HUMANS, THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR

WILDLIFE IN ABUNDANCE.

IN FACT, MANY OF THE REGION'S MOUNTAINS, JUNGLES, AND

MONSOON FORESTS ARE CONSIDERED BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS.

INDIA IS HOME TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC ANIMALS,

INCLUDING ONE WILD CAT THAT HAS AN OUTSIZED EFFECT

ON ITS ENVIRONMENT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN; THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MONSOON FORESTS ON

EARTH, DOMINATED BY THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE SEASONS.

BATTLES FOR SURVIVAL PLAY OUT DAILY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE PEAK OF THE DRY SEASON.

SIX MONTHS WITHOUT RAIN PUTS STRESS ON ALL

THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

MOVING SILENTLY THROUGH THESE TREES IS ASIA'S

LARGEST PREDATOR.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE BENGAL TIGER.

THIS FEMALE CONTROLS THIS PRIME WOODLAND TERRITORY, A

THIRD THE SIZE OF MANHATTAN.

BUT SHE HASN'T EATEN IN MORE THAN A WEEK.

BENGAL TIGERS CAN WEIGH UP TO 500 POUNDS, WITH BODIES

MORE THAN SIX FEET LONG.

THE DRY SEASON'S SPARSE FOLIAGE MAKES IT HARDER TO

HIDE WHILE SHE LIES IN WAIT.

AND THESE SPOTTED DEER HAVE EXCELLENT 310-DEGREE VISION.

IN FULL FLIGHT, HER PREY ARE FASTER THAN SHE IS.

SHE MUST GET CLOSER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: STRIPES HELP BREAK UP HER BODY SHAPE.

SHE APPROACHES DOWNWIND TO AVOID THE DEER'S POWERFUL SENSE OF

SMELL FOR AS LONG AS SHE CAN.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BUT THE DEER SENSE THE TIGER'S PRESENCE AND

START SOUNDING THE ALARM.

THE CALL ALERTS THE HERD.

THE CHASE IS ON.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ALTHOUGH THE BENGAL TIGER CAN RUN UP TO 40 MILES

PER HOUR, THE DEER, THIS TIME, ARE FASTER.

ANOTHER MISS.

THE UNSUCCESSFUL CHASE HAS USED UP THE TIGER'S PRECIOUS ENERGY.

IT'S ALMOST 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND

TIGERS CAN'T SWEAT.

SO SHE NEEDS TO COOL DOWN.

HER FAVORITE WATERING HOLE PROVIDES A MUCH-NEEDED DRINK.

AND A COOLING SPA.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS THE WATER EVAPORATES FROM HER BODY, IT REDUCES

HER BODY TEMPERATURE.

TIGERS CAN SPEND UP TO 20 HOURS A DAY RESTING.

UNLESS SHE'S MATING OR HAS CUBS, HER DAY IS

SPENT ENTIRELY ALONE.

WITH THE TIGER DOZING, A PAIR OF THIRSTY MONGOOSE

DECIDE TO RUN THE GAUNTLET.

A BRAVE MOVE, EVEN FOR THESE PLUCKY CARNIVORES.

THEY'RE SAFE, BUT NOT FOR LONG.

FOR AS SOON AS THE TIGRESS HAS RECOVERED, SHE'LL BE READY

TO HUNT AGAIN AMONG THE TREES.

STILL TO COME, HOW CAN YOU TELL IF AN ELEPHANT'S HAPPY?

IT'S ALL IN THE TRUNK AT AN EMOTIONAL FAMILY REUNION.

THIS PETITE PREDATOR'S SUCCESS DEPENDS ON

THE POWER OF PATIENCE.

PLUS, AS THIS BIRD IS ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF ITS LABOR, GUESS

WHO ELSE IS COMING TO DINNER?

EARTH ODYSSEY WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SPANNING MORE THAN 2,000 SQUARE MILES, ONE OF THE LARGEST

PROTECTED WOODLANDS IN INDIA IS THE NILGIRI BIOSPHERE RESERVE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AS YOU CLIMB IN ELEVATION, THE TROPICAL

RAINFORESTS GIVE WAY TO DECIDUOUS MONSOON FORESTS.

AND HERE, YOU WILL FIND MORE THAN 1,000 ANIMAL SPECIES.

IT'S A PLACE OF SANCTUARY AND EXTREMES.

[THUNDER AND RAIN SOUNDS]

DYLAN: FROM THE MONSOON DELUGE TO THE DRY SEASON DROUGHTS.

AND IT'S THIS SEASONAL LACK OF WATER THAT FORCES

INDIA'S BIGGEST ANIMAL TO MAKE THEIR YEARLY MIGRATION.

THIS INDIAN ELEPHANT IS THE MATRIARCH OF HER HERD.

MADE UP MOSTLY OF HER DAUGHTERS AND THEIR OFFSPRING.

THIS LATE IN THE DRY SEASON, THEIR HOME RANGE

CAN'T SUPPORT THEIR HUGE APPETITE FOR FOOD AND WATER.

THEIR DESTINATION NOW IS THE KABINI RIVER.

STILL MORE THAN 30 MILES AWAY, IT'S ONE OF THE

REGION'S LAST REFUGES WITH FRESH FLOWING WATER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS FEMALE LEADER CARRIES A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE

AND INHERITED WISDOM.

WHERE TO FIND WATER, FOOD, AND HOW TO AVOID DANGER.

SHE INTENTIONALLY LEADS THE HERD ALONG FOREST MIGRATION

ROUTES PASSED DOWN BY HER ANCESTORS THAT SHE NOW SHARES

WITH THE NEW GENERATION.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: FOR HER YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, IT'S HER FIRST

JOURNEY.

STILL WEANING AND LEARNING FROM HER MOTHER WHAT'S EDIBLE.

WHEN FULLY GROWN, SHE'LL EAT MORE THAN 300 POUNDS

OF VEGETATION A DAY.

WEIGHING UP TO FIVE AND A HALF TONS, WALKING IN THIS SEARING

HEAT MAKES THIRSTY WORK.

EACH ADULT INDIAN ELEPHANT NEEDS UP TO 50

GALLONS OF WATER A DAY.

AND THEY ARE STILL DAYS AWAY FROM THE RIVER.

FORTUNATELY, THIS ISN'T THE MATRIARCH'S FIRST MIGRATION.

THE ROUTE IS CAREFULLY PLANNED.

AND WELCOME HEAD START.

THE HERD CONTINUES THEIR FOREST MARCH TOWARDS THE KABINI RIVER.

THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY HAS TAKEN MORE THAN A MONTH.

FINALLY, THE FAMILY EMERGES FROM THE TREES.

AND THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES.

OTHER HERDS ARRIVE FROM ALL OVER THE REGION.

ONE OF INDIA'S LARGEST ELEPHANT CONGREGATIONS HAS BEGUN.

[ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING AND GROANING]

DYLAN: LITTLE ONES MEET DISTANT RELATIVES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND ADULTS REUNITE WITH OLD FRIENDS.

ELEPHANTS CAN'T SHAKE HANDS, SO TRUNK TOUCHING WILL HAVE TO DO.

SCIENTISTS DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND YET ALL THE WAYS

THAT ELEPHANTS COMMUNICATE.

BUT IT'S EASY TO SEE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE SHARE EMOTIONS.

BY SAFELY GUIDING HER WHOLE HERD TO THE WATER, THIS

MATRIARCH HAS GIVEN HER FAMILY THE BEST CHANCE OF

SURVIVAL FOR ONE MORE SEASON.

STILL TO COME ON EARTH ODYSSEY, WHEN A REPTILIAN

BOSS SHOWS UP, A WELL-TIMED WARNING MIGHT SAVE A LIFE.

AND TALK ABOUT A HIDDEN OBJECT GAME.

CAN YOU FIND THE PREDATOR WITH THE SUPER-SIZED EYES?

STAY TUNED.

EARTH ODYSSEY WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF AN INSECT AS CHARMING?

WELL, THE SCIENTISTS WHO STUDY THEM, BETTER KNOWN AS

ENTOMOLOGISTS, HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PRAISE NOT JUST AN

INSECT'S SURVIVAL SKILLS, BUT, WELL, THEIR LOOKS.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNUSUAL FOREST DWELLER WHOSE LOOKS

CAN BE DOWNRIGHT DECEIVING.

IN THIS BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN SOUTHERN INDIA, A

LONG-LIMBED CLIMBER IS LOOKING FOR HER NEXT MEAL.

THIS ECOSYSTEM SUPPORTS ALL KINDS OF CREATURES IN ITS

CIRCLE OF LIFE, INCLUDING THE POETICALLY NAMED

WANDERING VIOLIN MANTIS, SO-CALLED BECAUSE ITS HEAD

AND BODY ARE THOUGHT TO RESEMBLE THE SHAPE OF A VIOLIN.

SHE'S A MARVEL OF CAMOUFLAGE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS YOUNG FEMALE NEEDS TO FIND A GOOD VANTAGE

POINT TO CATCH HER PREY, WHICH ARE MAINLY FLIES.

UNLIKE THE MALES OF THE SPECIES, SHE CAN'T FLY, SO POSITION

AND PERSEVERANCE ARE KEY.

UNFORTUNATELY, SHE'S NOT THE FIRST MANTIS TO ARRIVE.

THESE FULLY GROWN ADULTS ARE MUCH BIGGER THAN

THE WIDE-EYED NEWCOMER.

THESE MANTIS CAN TURN CANNIBALISTIC WHEN FOOD

IS IN SHORT SUPPLY.

BUT IN THE DENSE FOREST, THERE'S PLENTY TO GO AROUND

FOR THESE INSECTIVORES.

SHE'S EVOLVED TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: GENTLY SWAYING, HER BODY MIMICS DRY LEAVES.

SHE'S ALSO EQUIPPED WITH UNUSUALLY LARGE COMPOUND EYES

WITH 9,000 PHOTORECEPTORS FOR TARGETING PREY.

AND SHE HAS EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG ARMS ADORNED

WITH SERRATED BLADES.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE FOR A MANTIS.

BUT SHE'S STILL HONING HER HUNTING SKILLS.

OFF BY A FRACTION IN HER FIRST ATTEMPT, SHE

ADJUSTS HER TARGETING.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

COMING UP, THE LARGEST POISONOUS SNAKE IN INDIA IS ON THE MOVE.

BUT EVEN THE KING CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT HE WANTS.

EARTH ODYSSEY WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IN SOME PARTS OF SOUTHERN INDIA, UP TO THREE FEET OF

RAIN CAN FALL IN ONE DAY.

THE SUN-BAKED PATCHES TRANSFORM INTO A GREEN OASIS.

THE REPLENISHED WOODLAND SUPPORTS NEW ARRIVALS.

WATERFALLS AND RIVERS SWELL, EXPANDING

AQUATIC HUNTING RANGES.

THERE'S AN EXPLOSION IN PLANT GROWTH AND FOOD FOR THOUSANDS

OF FOREST INHABITANTS, AS WELL AS NEW

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PREDATORS.

NEW WATERWAYS HAVE FORMED ACROSS THE ENTIRE FOREST,

BECOMING A HUNTING GROUND FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST VENOMOUS

SNAKE.

THE KING COBRA GROWS TO A FORMIDABLE LENGTH

OF UP TO 16 FEET.

ON THE HUNT, THIS MALE USES HIS FORKED TONGUE TO DETECT

SCENTS CARRIED BY THE BREEZE.

HIS FANGS ARE LOADED WITH POTENT NEUROTOXINS,

WHICH ARE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO IMMOBILIZE AN ADULT ELEPHANT.

DURING THE MONSOON, AMPHIBIANS MAKE UP A PART OF HIS DIET,

WHEN HE CAN ACTUALLY CATCH THEM.

TIME TO CHANGE STRATEGY.

A HIGHLY VERSATILE HUNTER, COBRAS EAT OTHER SNAKES AND

REPTILES, MAMMALS, AND BIRDS.

NO PART OF THE JUNGLE IS OFF-LIMITS, INCLUDING THE TREES.

THE GIANT HORNBILL TRAVELS FAR AND WIDE IN SEARCH OF FOOD.

THESE BIRDS CAN LIVE TO 35 YEARS OLD AND BEYOND.

AS IT FEEDS ON ITS FAVORITE FOREST FRUIT, THIS BIRD

HAS NO IDEA THAT THE SERPENT IS SILENTLY ASCENDING.

BUT THERE ARE WATCHMEN ON DUTY.

THE SNAKE'S ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IS RUINED.

IT'S A VICTORY FOR INTERSPECIES COMMUNICATION.

TUFTED GRAY LANGURS SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME IN THE TREETOPS.

THEIR SUPERIOR EYESIGHT AND VOCALIZATIONS MAKE FOR AN

EXCELLENT EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.

DESPITE TODAY'S SETBACK, THE GIANT KING COBRA IS

STILL KING IN THESE PARTS.

LARGE MAMMALS LIKE THE BENGAL TIGER AND THE

INDIAN ELEPHANT ARE FACING DRASTIC POPULATION DECLINES.

THANKFULLY, BIOSPHERE RESERVES LIKE THE ONES WE'VE JUST

SEEN ARE NOW HELPING TO PROTECT ENDANGERED PLANTS

AND ANIMALS ALL ACROSS INDIA.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]