Original subtitles

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

TELEVISION THAT'S EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER AND WE ARE OFF TO

ENCOUNTER EARTH'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS RIGHT

HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

TODAY, WE'LL MEET ANIMALS CONSIDERED FIRST IN THEIR CLASS.

THOSE THAT OUTSIZE, OUT EAT OR OUT PACE THE COMPETITION.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE WORLD'S LARGEST LAND CARNIVORE AND HIS

PRECARIOUS LIFE ON ICE.

THEN GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE BIGGEST FISH IN THE

SEA.

PLUS, WE'LL CRUISE WITH A SALTWATER REPTILE WHO'S LARGE

AND IN CHARGE.

AND FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MIGHTIEST MAMA WALKING THE

EARTH.

THIS AND MUCH MORE COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EARTH HAS BEEN HOME TO SOME IMPRESSIVELY LARGE MAMMALS

LIKE THE WOOLLY MAMMOTH AND THE SABER-TOOTHED TIGER.

THOSE GIANTS MAY BE EXTINCT, BUT OUR PLANET STILL HOSTS

EXTRAORDINARY CREATURES TODAY.

THAT INCLUDES ANIMALS THAT ARE THE BIGGEST, THE HUNGRIEST AND

THE MOST RESILIENT OF THEIR ANIMAL FAMILIES.

OUR FIRST STORY BEGINS FAR NORTH IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE WHERE ONE

MAGNIFICENT MAMMAL IS KING OF THE ICE AND SEA.

IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE, THE ICY SURFACE OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN HAS

BEGUN TO MELT AND BREAK APART.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR THE POLAR BEAR, THE SEA ICE IS A VAST DOMAIN

COVERING MILLIONS OF SQUARE MILES.

THIS IS WHERE HE MUST TRAVEL, REST AND HUNT FOR MONTHS ON

END.

THIS LARGEST OF BEAR SPECIES FEEDS MAINLY ON SEALS AND HE

RELIES ON THE ICE TO CATCH THEM.

WITH A LANDSCAPE SO SPARSELY POPULATED, IT CAN TAKE DAYS TO

FIND A MEAL.

THERE'S NOT A SEAL IN SIGHT, BUT AN ENTICING AROMA ON THE BREEZE

COMPELS THE HUNTER ONWARDS.

HIS SURVIVAL IN THE COLD WITH FEW OTHER SPECIES DEPENDS ON

PERSISTENCE.

THE POLAR BEAR SEARCHES FOR A BREATHING HOLE THAT A SEAL MIGHT

EMERGE FROM.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: HIS EXCEPTIONAL SENSE OF SMELL ALLOWS HIM TO SNIFF OUT

SEALS UNDERWATER FROM A HALF MILE AWAY AND THOSE ON TOP OF

THE ICE FROM 20 MILES AWAY.

HIS BEST OPTION NOW IS TO WAIT.

BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE A SEAL WILL SURFACE RIGHT HERE.

EVENTUALLY, THE BEAR SPIES A SEAL ON THE ICE.

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, THERE'S NO CHANCE OF A SUBTLE APPROACH.

THERE'S NOWHERE TO HIDE.

THE SEAL SENSES A THREAT.

THE BEAR IS A GOOD SWIMMER.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HE CAN'T BEAT A SEAL, BUT POLAR BEARS CAN HOLD THEIR

BREATHS FOR TWO MINUTES.

AMBUSH IS HIS ONLY CHANCE.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: HE'S NOT CLOSE ENOUGH.

HE WILL SPEND HALF HIS LIFE HUNTING, BUT LESS THAN 2% OF

ATTACKS ARE SUCCESSFUL.

EACH YEAR, HUNTING BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT AS THE ICE MELTS

FASTER AND GROWS THINNER.

HIS HABITAT IS DISAPPEARING, DISRUPTING HUNTING PATTERNS AND

THREATENING THE SPECIES' SURVIVAL.

FINALLY, THE BEAR IS ABLE TO REST.

CURLING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FROZEN SEA, HE SETTLES IN FOR A

WINTER'S NAP.

COMING UP, YOU MIGHT THINK THE BIGGEST SHARK IN THE SEA WOULD

BE THE FIERCEST.

WE FIND OUT IF THIS FISH IS DANGEROUS OR DOCILE.

AND EVEN THE BIGGEST PREDATORS START OUT SMALL, COME ALONG AS

THESE HATCHLINGS LEARN HOW TO HUNT.

PLUS, ONE OUTSIZED MAMMAL HAS A MASSIVE EFFECT ON ITS

ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

MORE WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY COMES RIGHT BACK.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ON THE EAST INDIAN OCEAN, 750 MILES NORTH OF PERTH,

AUSTRALIA, LIES A CORAL REEF TEEMING WITH LIFE.

NINGALOO REEF IS YOUNGER THAN THE FAMOUS GREAT BARRIER REEF.

IT WAS FORMED WHEN WARMING OCEAN CURRENTS CAUSED CORAL LARVAE TO

DRIFT SOUTH FROM THE EQUATOR.

NOW, THE DIVERSE HABITAT STRETCHES FOR NEARLY 200 MILES.

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS NAMED IT A WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

IT HAS A VAST NETWORK OF SUBTERRANEAN CAVES AND

WATERWAYS.

TODAY, MORE THAN 200 CORAL SPECIES ARE FOUND IN NINGALOO.

IT'S A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM WITH MORE THAN 500 DIFFERENT KINDS OF

FISH, INCLUDING THE BIGGEST ONE ON THE PLANET.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE WHALE SHARK.

AT MORE THAN 30 FEET LONG, HE'S AROUND 30 YEARS OLD.

BUT WHALE SHARKS CAN GROW UP TO 40 FEET.

THAT'S BIGGER THAN A SCHOOL BUS.

THE SHARK'S ARRIVAL HERE IS IN SYNC WITH THE CORAL'S MASS

SPAWNING.

PLANKTON NUMBERS EXPLODE AS THEY FEED ON THE SPAWN.

IN TURN, PLANKTON ATTRACT THE HUNGRY WHALE SHARKS.

THIS ONE'S TRAVELED MORE THAN 900 MILES TO GET HERE.

AND TO A WHALE SHARK, THIS REEF IS PARADISE.

SHARKS HAVE A FEARSOME REPUTATION FOR ATTACKING PREY.

BUT THE WHALE SHARK IS A FILTER FEEDER, MAKING HIM A GENTLE

GIANT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HIS FIVE-FOOT-WIDE MOUTH ENGULFS MILLIONS

OF THE MICROSCOPIC PREY.

HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TRAWLING THE PLANKTON BLOOM.

400 OF THESE GIANT OCEAN FISH DESCEND ON THE REEF EVERY YEAR

FROM TROPICAL WATERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: ONLY ACTUAL WHALES ARE BIGGER THAN THE WHALE SHARK IN

THE EARTH'S OCEANS.

DESPITE THEIR ENORMOUS SIZE, THEY FEED ON THE SMALLEST OF

OCEAN PREY.

BUT AS SOON AS THE PLANKTON LEVELS DROP, THESE SIZABLE

SHARKS WILL HEAD BACK OUT TO DEEPER WATERS IN THE INDIAN

OCEAN.

COMING UP, EARTH'S BIGGEST SHARK MAY BE ONE OF THE GENTLEST FISH

IN THE SEA.

BUT EARTH'S BIGGEST REPTILE HAS A DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT

PERSONALITY AND THE TEETH TO MATCH.

AND WE FOLLOW IN THE DUSTY FOOTSTEPS OF THESE QUEENS OF THE

SERENGETI AS THEY SEARCH FOR PRECIOUS WATER, WHEN EARTH

ODYSSEY COMES RIGHT BACK.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: BEING THE BIGGEST DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN STANDING OUT IN A

CROWD.

IN FACT, EARTH'S LARGEST REPTILE IS ALSO ONE OF ITS STEALTHIEST,

AN APEX AMBUSH PREDATOR WHO KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO LIE IN WAIT

UNTIL THE RIGHT PREY COMES ALONG.

TAKE A LOOK.

THE RICHEST RAINFORESTS IN THE WORLD CAN BE FOUND ON THE

EQUATORIAL ISLAND OF BORNEO.

GIANT RIVERS CRASH DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS, DELIVERING FRESH

WATER AND LIFE TO THE JUNGLES BELOW.

THE HUMID LOWLANDS ARE IDEAL FOR PLANT GROWTH.

SOME OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE MANGROVE SYSTEMS ON EARTH CAN BE

FOUND HERE.

MANGROVES THRIVE ALONG RIVERS AND SHORELINES IN A MIX OF FRESH

AND SALT WATER.

IT'S AN IRRESISTIBLE HUNTING GROUND FOR THE PLANET'S LARGEST

REPTILE.

THIS SALTWATER CROCODILE IS RETURNING TO HER NEST.

THIS IS A HYPER-CARNIVOROUS APEX PREDATOR, KNOWN TO EAT ANY

PREY OF NEARLY ANY SIZE.

BUT HER HATCHLINGS ARE STILL LEARNING.

IN ORDER TO CLIMB THE FOOD CHAIN, THEY HAVE TO START SMALL

AND MUST WAIT UNTIL THE COVER OF DARKNESS TO HUNT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE NIGHT IS QUIET, BUT THE YOUNG CROCODILE ISN'T THE

ONLY PREDATOR PATROLLING THESE WATERS.

IT HAS COMPETITION.

A BUFFY FISH OWL IS ALSO ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ITS NEXT MEAL.

IT WATCHES THE YOUNG CROCODILE STALK A MUDSKIPPER, WITHOUT ANY

LUCK.

THINKING IT CAN DO BETTER, THE OWL SWOOPS DOWN FOR A KILL.

BUT IT, TOO, EMERGES WITHOUT A MEAL.

THE YOUNG CROCODILE SPIES AN OPPORTUNITY DOWNSTREAM.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: AND ON ITS SECOND TRY, THE OWL GETS LUCKY, TOO.

IT LANDS A FISH.

IT'S A MANGROVE SMORGASBORD WHERE PREDATORS ARE SPOILED FOR

CHOICE.

THE MANGROVES ARE AN INTERTIDAL WONDERLAND, PERFECT FOR THE

MUDSKIPPER'S UNIQUE BIOLOGY.

SPECIALLY ADAPTED FINS PROPEL THEM ACROSS THE MUDFLATS.

AS LONG AS THEY STAY WET, MUDSKIPPERS CAN REMAIN OUT OF

THE WATER FOR EXTENDED PERIODS.

THEY CARRY MOISTURE INSIDE THEIR MOUTHS AND ENLARGED GILL SACS.

AND THEY CAN EXTRACT OXYGEN DIRECTLY FROM THEIR DAMP SKIN.

DURING HIGH TIDE, THE MUDSKIPPERS WALLOW

IN THE WARM SHALLOWS.

AT LOW TIDE, THEY GET BUSY.

EACH HAS A U-SHAPED BURROW, SOME MORE THAN THREE FEET DEEP.

THEY HAVE TO KEEP IT OPEN, DESPITE THE CONSTANT INFLUX OF

WATER AND SEDIMENT.

IT'S HERE THAT THE FEMALE LAYS HER EGGS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS KEEPING INTRUDERS OUT.

SOME MUDSKIPPERS BUILD WALLS AROUND THEIR HOMES TO MARK OUT

THE NO-GO ZONE.

INVASIONS ARE NOT APPRECIATED.

TEMPERS FLARE WHEN A HOME INVADER REFUSES TO LEAVE.

THE FISH USE THEIR GAPING MOUTHS LIKE SUCKERS, AIMING TO GET A

HOLD.

LUCKILY, THESE FIGHTS ARE MOSTLY JUST A DISPLAY OF POWER AND

DOMINANCE.

A WINNING MALE WATCHES AS HIS CHALLENGER SLINKS AWAY.

THE CONTEST IS OVER AND HIS TERRITORY SECURED.

NOW HE JUST NEEDS TO STEER CLEAR OF THE SALTWATER CROC.

COMING UP, THE LARGEST SPECIES WALKING THE EARTH ALWAYS FOLLOWS

ITS LEADER.

AND ITS LEADER IS ALWAYS FEMALE.

FIND OUT HOW THIS FEARLESS MATRIARCH LEADS HER HERD TO

WATER WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS.

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE WORLD'S LARGEST LAND MAMMAL IS THE MIGHTY AFRICAN

ELEPHANT.

FOUND IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA, THIS MASSIVE SPECIES HAS

OUTSIZED SURVIVAL SKILLS.

BUT IN A HOT, DRY LAND, IT FACES A CONSTANT BATTLE TO STAY COOL.

FLAPPING THEIR BIG EARS HELPS COOL THEIR BLOOD SUPPLY.

WEIGHING ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 14,000 POUNDS, GETTING RID OF

HEAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE ELEPHANT.

EACH ANIMAL NEEDS TO DRINK HUNDREDS OF GALLONS OF WATER

EVERY DAY TO STAY HYDRATED.

AND THE REWARDS OF THIS WATERING HOLE HAVE EVAPORATED.

THE HERD RELIES ON THE MATRIARCH TO GUIDE THEM TO ANOTHER SOURCE

OF WATER.

MOTHERS, AUNTS, SISTERS, AND YOUNG ONES FOLLOW HER LEAD.

SHE TAKES ONE OF MANY WELL-TRAVELED ELEPHANT HIGHWAYS.

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, SOME PATHS WILL LEAD TO DUST BOWLS OF

DISAPPOINTMENT.

BUT THE MATRIARCH KNOWS OTHER ROUTES TO FOLLOW.

FOR A YOUNG CALF, A LONG TREK FOR WATER IS HARD WORK.

BUT THEIR JOURNEY GREATLY BENEFITS THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

ELEPHANTS AREN'T JUST LARGE.

THEY PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OTHER LIVING CREATURES ON THE

SAVANNAH.

AFRICAN ELEPHANTS ARE KNOWN AS KEYSTONE SPECIES.

THAT MEANS THEY'RE VITAL TO THE ECOSYSTEMS THEY INHABIT.

AS THEY TRAVEL, THEY CONSUME AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF FOOD.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THEY PUSH OVER LARGE TREES, CREATING SPACE AND LIGHT

FOR GRASS TO GROW.

AS THEY MIGRATE ACROSS THE PLAINS, THEY DISPERSE SEEDS AS

THEY GO.

AND WHEN THEY GET THIRSTY, THEY DIG HOLES TO REACH WATER,

CREATING NATURAL WELLS THAT OTHER ANIMALS CAN USE.

TO COOL OFF PROPERLY, ELEPHANTS NEED A REAL MUD BATH.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: AFTER TREKKING MORE THAN 60 MILES, THE HERD FINALLY

ARRIVES AT AN OASIS.

IT'S A WATER FESTIVAL.

AND FOR THE CALVES, A NEW DELIGHT.

BUT THERE IS NEVER AN IDEAL MOMENT TO RELAX IN THE

SERENGETI.

A YOUNG ELEPHANT HAS WANDERED OFF FROM THE HERD, INTENT ON

EXPLORING ITS NEW SURROUNDINGS, FINDING A NICE SPOT FOR A DUST

BATH.

BUT HE'S NAIVE TO SO MANY THREATS.

HIS FAMILY CONTINUES TO BATHE AS HE HEADS AWAY FROM THE WATERHOLE

IN FULL VIEW OF A PRIDE OF LIONS.

LUCKILY, ONE OF THE ADULTS WARNS HIM JUST IN TIME.

AND THE YOUNGSTER IS ABLE TO REJOIN THE HERD, SAFE FOR

ANOTHER DAY.

MEGAFAUNA IS THE SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR THE LARGEST VERTEBRATES ON

EARTH.

THEY'RE OUR BIGGEST ANIMALS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO THE MOST

ENDANGERED.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE CRITICAL TO KEEPING THESE

EXCEPTIONAL CREATURES AND THEIR HABITATS ECOLOGICALLY SAFE AND

SOUND, SO WE CAN ALL ENJOY OUR BIODIVERSE PLANET AND ITS

AMAZING INHABITANTS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]