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00:05When you see this symbol, you know you're watching television that's educational and
00:10informational.
00:11The more you know on NBC.
00:15Hi everyone, I'm Dylan Dreyer.
00:17We're headed for adventure on the Iberian Peninsula.
00:20This is Earth Odyssey.
00:23On today's episode, this elegant feline is back from the brink of extinction, and on
00:28the prowl.
00:30And it's teeth versus talons as these ancient enemies face off for food.
00:36Plus, this watery sanctuary breeds an astonishing amount of avian life.
00:42And these rabbits are running from extinction.
00:46This and much more, starting now on Earth Odyssey.
01:12Centuries of human civilization have permanently changed the wild forests of the Iberian Peninsula,
01:18home to Spain and Portugal.
01:20But after nearly disappearing, one rare and fantastic feline is making a delicate comeback
01:26in her mountain hideaway.
01:29The Iberian Peninsula is a remarkable European habitat.
01:34It's a beautiful but unforgiving territory.
01:43Yet wildlife has found many ways to thrive here, both on land and in the skies.
01:51In an immense landscape shaped by human activity, wild and domestic animal species must share
01:59nature's gifts and challenges.
02:02The peninsula's unique forests are the stage for an eternal dance between predator and prey.
02:08Due to its isolation, many Iberian life forms have taken new evolutionary paths, creating new species
02:16of plants and animals.
02:17But life here can be hard.
02:20Temperatures and rainfall reach extremes at both ends of the scale through the seasons.
02:25In this thrilling ecosystem, there are fierce confrontations and inspiring survival stories
02:32of some of the most iconic inhabitants of the peninsula, like the Iberian lynx.
02:42The presence of the biggest feline of the region is enough to make everybody nervous.
02:48Perfectly adapted to this environment, the lynx embodies the essence of the Iberian hunter.
02:56An apex predator, he roams freely throughout his territory, searching for prey.
03:03But it hasn't always been like this.
03:07In recent times, the lynx came dangerously close to extinction.
03:20Habitat loss, poaching, and the lack of prey species were what made it so hard for them
03:26to survive.
03:28In the beginning of the 21st century, fewer than 100 individuals lived in only one small territory
03:35in southern Spain.
03:48Fortunately, in the last 10 years, the population of the Iberian lynx has increased significantly.
03:58Thanks to conservation efforts carried out in both Spain and Portugal, we can now hope for
04:04better days for the future of this magnificent animal.
04:11Coming up, it takes guts to stand up to an enemy with a 7-foot wingspan.
04:18And a pod of bottlenose dolphins living on the edge.
04:24Plus, these spoonbills are playing the field and looking for a mate.
04:29And talk about a clever strategy using scent to guide prey into the danger zone.
04:35All this and more when Earth Odyssey returns.
04:43We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
04:49We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
05:05In a quiet part of Portugal's cork forest, a young fox is on a daily quest for food.
05:12Hunting is a difficult task, as most prey are too deceptive.
05:19The Hammer vol Iya!眾
05:19intensity and overtaken here. Fortunately,
05:20he's got his brother's company. Life is
05:24hard for these brothers. They must
05:27learn to fend for themselves, and to use the knowledge passed on by their mother.
05:38They split their efforts to cover more ground and increase their chances.
05:45Suddenly there's a scent of fallen prey in the air.
05:53A rabbit is quite an amazing find.
05:55This is a jackpot.
06:08But a finding like this is too good to be true.
06:13The real owner of the carcass is about to claim its prize.
06:16The rabbit belongs to her, a golden eagle.
06:36Right away, the eagle tries to scare the fox, imposing her size and strength.
06:49But sometimes hunger speaks louder than fear.
06:56The fox tries to grab another bite.
07:10Despite his courage, the fox doesn't stand a chance against such a large rival.
07:27The fox has no choice but to give up.
07:33The eagle shows who is the true ruler of this land.
07:48After taking her stance, the eagle grabs part of her meal and flies to a nearby perch to eat
08:00it.
08:03Reluctantly, the fox hides and waits for an opportunity.
08:13Finally, the fox grabs his share of the prize.
08:17This is intriguing and unusual behavior.
08:20The fox is actually one of the eagle's prey species.
08:39Predator and prey tolerate each other, at least for now, while there is food for both here
08:44on the Iberian Peninsula.
08:49Coming up, a getaway to a remote island turns out to be just the ticket for these lovebirds,
08:56plus a breathtaking glimpse of some elegant marine mammals.
09:01And does this rabbit stand a chance against a wild cat with a plan?
09:05Find out who wins this round when Earth Odyssey comes right back.
09:15We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
09:22We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
09:36Wild animals live in complex habitats, and sometimes it's impossible to avoid the neighbors, whether
09:43those are other wild animals or pesky people.
09:47But in Iberia's wetlands, it turns out there's an avian art to getting away from it all.
09:55After a long journey from Iberia's highlands, some rivers form deltas and estuaries right
10:02before reaching their final destination.
10:05Wetlands are the most productive habitats on the planet.
10:10Two of the largest estuaries in the Iberian Peninsula are found here, in the south of Portugal.
10:19Despite the strong human presence in the region, wildlife has adapted and thrived.
10:26These alluvial plains are intertidal zones where the rhythm of the sea sets the pace of life.
10:32Here we can find a very special mammal, a group of bottlenose dolphins.
10:41This particular group lives in these waters between the river and the sea.
10:55It's the only group that is known to do so in the entire peninsula.
11:02They are the brightest stars of the estuary.
11:06Their presence contributes a lot to the conservation of this protected area.
11:22Farther to the north, the estuary of the longest river on the peninsula is home to an astonishing
11:27variety of birds.
11:29The land here is extremely fertile and human intervention is very intense.
11:43The birds that live here and those who are passing by have learned to adapt and to take
11:48advantage of human intervention.
11:51Spoonbills, with the help of their specialized spoon-shaped beaks, are extremely effective hunters.
11:58For them, this is a feast.
12:04They wait for the tractors to come by to get an easier meal.
12:17They know that these exposed soils are rich in larva, insects, and crayfish.
12:26But at the moment, food is not their only concern.
12:30It's early spring, and the spoonbills are starting to think about mating.
12:50This couple will form a solid bond, and they will build a nest together to care for their
12:55soon-to-be youngsters.
12:57But for that, they must first find the ideal location.
13:02And farther upstream, there is just the perfect place.
13:16This small island has become a true sanctuary, a bird haven.
13:24It is home to hundreds of birds of many different species.
13:30There are no predators here.
13:33The only problem is the lack of space.
13:37This is a crowded neighborhood.
13:42The spoonbill couple manages to find a spot.
13:45There, with two hungry chicks, the couple feeds them constantly by taking turns.
13:56Even so, the chicks never seem to be satisfied.
14:01And they keep asking for more.
14:06It seems that this strategy does yield results.
14:14Some species live here permanently, while others are just passing through.
14:21This island is a striking example of the explosion of life one can find around the Iberian Peninsula,
14:27where nature shows, once again, her extraordinary resilience.
14:36Coming up, conservationists step in to save one furry species to keep another alive.
14:42Find out what happens in this remarkable wildlife story when Earth Odyssey returns.
14:52We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
14:58We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
15:15Here in southern Spain, the first rays of sunlight finally reach the hills.
15:20This patch of forest has served as the last stronghold for the lynx.
15:31Conservationists have placed rabbit warrens here to provide additional shelter and encourage breeding.
15:42The European rabbit, native to the Iberian Peninsula and the south of France, is one of the keystone species of
15:50Mediterranean ecosystems.
15:53But when a virus helped decimate the rabbit population in the 1980s, predator populations also fell drastically.
16:07In all, about 80% of rabbits disappeared and the lynx along with them.
16:12But now, with the help of dedicated conservation efforts, the rabbits are again a common presence in some parts of
16:20the peninsula.
16:21And once again, so are their predators.
16:32Some of the locals have sensed danger.
16:36This lynx is looking for his next meal.
16:39And a rabbit would be the perfect catch.
16:47But the rabbit senses his presence and flees.
16:56The lynx continues stalking, moving through the landscape with the hope of catching a less careful rabbit.
17:07He moves silently.
17:11But once again, the rabbit runs away.
17:24This is the eternal dance between predator and prey.
17:29Only the most cunning and clever will be successful.
17:36Near his lair, this rabbit takes no chances and hides in his little man-made fortress.
17:50The lynx approaches the den and tries a different strategy.
17:55He knows the rabbit is inside.
17:59But there is an intricate network of underground tunnels.
18:02The rabbit might be anywhere.
18:06Trying to deceive the rabbit, the lynx marks all the entries except for one.
18:11And waits carefully at its side.
18:21If the rabbit doesn't smell him, it may come out through the chosen exit.
18:33It can be a very long wait.
18:37But sometimes waiting is all there is left to do.
18:45In the end, perhaps it's time for this hunter to find another opportunity.
18:53We've seen how human intervention can work both ways when it comes to animal survival.
18:59Thankfully, simple conservation strategies are helping vulnerable creatures in Europe's remaining wild places.
19:07I'm Dylan Dreyer.
19:08We hope to see you next time on Earth Odyssey.
19:10.
19:12.
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