02x04 - Planet of the Dolphins

[bunniefuu]

Ready.

Go get them.

Do you see
any dolphins over?

Whoa, there's a few
manta rays down there!

Let's check them out.

[Martin]
on this episode of
kratts' creatures,

We'll be diving
into the world of dolphins,

Considered by many
to be one

Of our most intelligent
mammal relatives.

[Chris]
we'll explore
their underwater world

And learn what makes
these creatures so unique

And why humans are
fascinated by them.

[Martin]
we'll have fun playing
with them, too. Right?

[Chris]
absolutely.

How can't you have fun
diving with dolphins?

Iarriba!

Iandale, andale!

We're in the bahamas,
where we'll be swimming

With one of the most
amazing creatures

In the ocean--dolphins.

And we're
in the right place--

The sandy flats
of the grand bahama banks.

[Martin kratt]
the bahamas is off

The coast of florida,

And the sandy banks are an area
surrounding the islands.

I see something!

Dolphins? Let me see.

Hey, come back!

Where are they going?

[Allison]
what's going on?

The dolphins are taking off.
That's weird.

Dolphins have been known
to save swimmers.

Everyone knows that.

They're one of the smartest
creatures around.

[Martin]
and around the world,

There are great examples
of creature intelligence--

Like elephants, who are believed
to have incredible memories...

[Chris]
and chimps, who are
great tool users.

Or how about another primate?

[Martin]
gorillas, who can
learn sign language.

[Chris]
scarlet macaws,

Who can mimic
animal and human voices.

[Martin]
or how about wolves,

Who are able to plan
and coordinate the takedown

Of much bigger animals?

Then there's sea lions,

Who can be trained
to understand simple sentences.

[Chris]
we're about to find out

Why humans consider dolphins

To be one of the smartest
creatures around.

[Martin]
our problem is finding them.

Do you see them?

I don't see
anything but water.

I wonder where
that pod of dolphins

Could have gone.

If you're looking
for dolphins,

Go a little batty.

We've already
covered bats, ttark.

What do they
have to do with--

That's right!

[Allison]
bats and dolphins

Have something
amazing in common.

It's called echolocation.

Echolocation sounds
like a tough word,

But it's easy
to understand.

Bats fire ultrasonic shrieks
from their mouths when flying.

Their large, sensitive ears
pick up these shrieks

Bouncing off objects
like trees

Or their favorite meal.

[Ultrasonic shrieking]

This means they can navigate
in the dark

And zero in on any bugs

That are within
their sonic sights.

That's echolocation.

Believe it or not,

Dolphins use echolocation
just like bats.

What we need here
is a little echolocation--

Or, in the case
of humans, sonar.

Sonar is the closest
thing humans have

To the natural
echolocation of dolphins.

With this sonar device,

We can send sound waves
through the water.

When they hit something,
they bounce back,

And we get an image
on the screen.

Something's down there!

Let's check it out.

Got your underwater
communicator?

Underwater
communicator--check.

All right. Let's go!

Chris, I think I see
something down there.

Look!

Dolphins?

No, we found
something else--

Stingrays!

[Allison]
totally cool--stingrays.

They're not so easy to find,

But they're one of the most
amazing swimmers in the world.

Chris, did you know
that stingrays

Have been called
pancake sharks?

That makes sense.

They dolook like
steamrolled sharks.

[Martin]
stingrays are no joke.

Their flattened-out shape,
their winglike pectoral fins,

And their boneless bodies

Really let them glide
through the water.

[Chris]
stingrays spend a lot of time

Camouflaged on the seabed,

But when something
disturbs them,

Or when they're hunting,
they can really fly.

The most amazing thing
about scuba diving

Is that you feel like
you're entering another world...

And you are!

There's as much diversity
of life underwater

As there is on land--

Maybe even more.

[Allison]
I've been thinking.

Underwater creatures
can look pretty unusual to us--

Like this rock lobster--

But then, we must look
pretty unusual to them.

[Chris]
I wonder what a sea cucumber

Thinks of us.

It looks like a vegetable,
but it's actually an animal.

[Martin]
look at the soldier fish!

He only comes out at night.

He needs big eyes
to see in low light.

There's a puffer fish.

When he's threatened,

He blows himself up
to look twice as big.

How about moray eels?

They usually eat
small prey like crabs,

But don't be fooled.

They've been known
to bite divers,

So let's keep our distance.

Hey, martin, come here!

Take a look!

The stingray's taking off.

[Martin]
hmm...

Something must have
disturbed him.

[Chris]
it's a remora!

You know what that means.

[Martin]
right, we may have company.

Sharks!

[Allison]
sharks?

You guys got to be careful.

[Chris]
don't worry, al. We're o.k.

These are
caribbean reef sharks,

And they aredangerous,

But if we play it cool,
we'll have no worries.

[Martin]
these sharks eat squid
and bony fishes,

Which means
they're not going to be

A big thr*at to us
unless we provoke them.

You know,
hanging with sharks is cool.

It's crazy that sharks
have such a bad rep.

Lots of people think sharks

Are like underwater
merchants of death.

[Chris]
it's true that sharks
are incredibly fast,

And they're great hunters.

But that's just one side
of the story.

There are a lot of sharks

That aren't dangerous
to humans at all.

Here's a perfect example, al--

The nurse shark.

They're bottom feeders,

Eating lobsters,
sea urchins, and crabs.

[Allison]
I never knew all this
about sharks.

[Chris]
a quick trip to bimini,

Rent some scuba gear,

And you learn
something new every day.

Yeah, but we have
to find those dolphins.

Don't worry, al.

We're on the search.

Martin!
In the distance!

I see something
there.

Look!

[Clicking]

What's that sound?

We don't hear anything,
but we seesomething.

[Allison]
I don't see anything.

Don't tell me
there's something wrong

With this thing again.

We found them! Dolphins!

Thatwas what you heard.

We hear it, too.

That clicking sound
is dolphins communicating--

And it's not just clicks.

Dolphins sound off
in all sorts of ways--

Squawks, whistles,
quacks, barks.

Dolphins are
great communicators.

[Clicking]

When bottle-nosed dolphins
are sick or in pain,

They'll let out
a distress whistle.

Other dolphins will come
to the rescue,

Lifting him to the surface
so he can breathe.

Dolphins are amazing!

[Allison]
it's not just communication

That makes them amazing.

I didn't know dolphins
were such great jumpers--

Or was I thinking
of porpoises?

Accessing information
on dolphins and porpoises...

So there's a dolphin...

But what about porpoises?

What's the difference between
a dolphin and a porpoise?

To tell the difference

Between a dolphin
and a porpoise,

Look at their bodies
and their teeth.

[Chris]
porpoises are smaller
with rounder bodies,

Smaller snout,
and spade-shaped teeth.

So how do dolphins

Move so quickly
through the water?

First off,

They have sleek,
streamlined bodies,

Narrowing out
in the front and back--

Like a submarine.

And don't forget their tails--
it's their propellor.

When dolphins
lift their tails,

Water moves
over their head and back,

Pushing their bodies
forward and down.

Plus, their smooth,
rubbery skin gets greased

By a layer
of oily skin cells

That sheds as they swim.

That oil lets them slide
through the water.

Oil reduces friction.

So, if I cover myself
with baby oil,

I'll be able
to swim much faster.

I'll time you.

O.k.

Oil really doeswork!

Dolphins aren't fish.
They're mammals, like us.

They have to come
to the surface

Every few minutes
to breathe.

Dolphins leap
out of the water

When they really
want to move.

That's because
it's easier to move

Through air than water.

Ready?

Ready.

[Martin]
there's another way

Dolphins communicate--

Using their bodies.

One of the ways they do that
is by nuzzling,

Rubbing, and patting.

It's the dolphin version
of a caress.

[Chris]
dolphins will often
hang out with divers.

They seem to crave
human company.

[Martin]
dolphins also use

Their blowholes
to communicate.

A blast of bubbles might mean
they're curious or confused.

If they're frustrated or angry,

They'll come to the surface
to give a good blast.

Communication--

That's a great example
of how smart dolphins are.

They can talk to each other.

[Chris]
but whistling, clicking,

And blowhole blasting

Aren't the only ways

Underwater creatures
communicate.

Another way is staring us
right in the face--

Color!

[Martin]
this spectacular show of color

May not mean a lot to us,

But every color...

[Chris]
every stripe...

[Martin]
and every pattern

Communicates something.

[Chris]
colors and patterns
are like badges,

Telling other fish their rank,
identity, and gender.

[Martin]
some fish can even change color

When they change moods.

This coral shrimp
eats the parasites

Off other fish.

Its bright stripes
are like an advertisement--

"Come here and get clean!"

[Chris]
that's why he's sometimes called

The barber pole shrimp.

[Martin]
here's another cool form

Of communication.

These lobsters keep in touch
by using vibrations.

When danger is near,

Like a shark,

The lobster that spots it

Creates a warning vibration

That can carry
as far as 55 yards.

It tells other lobsters
in the area...

[Chris]
"incoming shark!

Head for the rocks, dude!"

[Allison]
that's a pretty smart

Underwater creature.

So dolphins
aren't the only ones

Who can communicate.

[Martin]
yeah, but communication

Isn't necessarily
a sign of intelligence.

But one thing that is--

And is also something
dolphins love to do--

Is play!

[Whistling]

[Allison]
few people realize

That many animals play.

It's a way to stimulate
their minds and have fun...

And are theyhaving fun!

Wait. No, they're not!
They're in trouble!

Hey, martin,
where are you?

I'm over here.

I'm caught
in something. Help!

Chris had better
get to him quickly.

His t*nk's really low.

[Beeping]

Martin's only got


Oh, no!

I'm on my way!
Don't worry.

Hurry up, will you?

Al just said
I've got 58 seconds.

You're down to 40 seconds.

Where is he?

Hey, chris!

Anytime you're ready!



Ready when
you are, chris.

I think I saw him
over here.



I better get you
to the surface.

That would be
a good idea.



[Dolphin clicking]

[Alarm beeping]

[Gasping]

You o.k., Man?

Yeah, I'm o.k.

Just get
this thing off me.

Fishing nets like these

Are really dangerous
for dolphins.

Dolphins usually
surface for air

Every three minutes.

They can stay under
up to eight minutes.

If they're caught
in a net,

They can't get
to the surface,

And they drown.

[Allison]
why do dolphins
get caught in nets?

The answer is--tuna.

Some species
of dolphin and tuna

Swim near each other.

That's why a lot of dolphin
were caught in fishing nets.

In one year, 100,000 dolphins
were k*lled this way.

What's it like for dolphins
trying to get out of a net?

Take a piece of string
and wrap it around your hand.

Without using your mouth
or your other hand,

Try getting it off.

It's impossible.

[Martin]
it's not just tuna fishing

That's hurting dolphins.

Another huge problem
is pollution.

[Chris]
when dolphins absorb

Polluted food and water
into their bodies,

It's only a matter of time
before toxic chemicals

Will get to them.

[Martin]
then, they don't have a chance.

[Chris]
environmental pollution

Affects all sea creatures.

Plastic bags are really
bad for sea turtles.

They eat the bags,
thinking they're jellyfish,

Get sick, and die.

Monofilament fishing line

Is bad for about any animal

Because it never biodegrades,

And it can get tangled up
in their feet, flippers...

It's a real mess.

These six-pack rings
can get caught

Around a bird's neck
or in a fish's gill,

And once they're on,

They're impossible to get off,
and the animal usually dies.

[Rock music playing]

If people take a little
time to clean up a beach,

It will help
all sea creatures survive.

Dolphins get hit
on every side.

[Ttark]
maybe they should
head back to the land.

What are you
talking about?

Dolphins and whales
are related to cows.

Dolphins and whales
are related to cows?

And bison and buffalo.

Millions of years ago,

Cowlike creatures started
hanging out in water,

Eating away
just like hippos do.

Eventually, they fully
adapted to life underwater

And became...

Dolphins!

[Both]
wooh hoo!

They're not
bottle-nosed dolphins.

They're spotted dolphins!

A pod of wild
spotted dolphins.

That's really neat!

Let's swim with them.

Hurry up!

Let's not lose them
like last time.

These boots!
I can never get them on.

Wear flippers.

One thing I know,

Dolphins never have
to go through this.

Ready?

Yeah.

Let's go!

[Music playing]

Martin, you see them?

Yeah, but there's


Whoa!

It's a whole pod
of spotted dolphins,

And they want to play!

[Martin]
spotted dolphins

Aren't much different
from the bottle-nosed,

Except for one
obvious difference--

Their spots.

[Chris]
they're actually born spotless

And develop them with age.

Those spots help them
blend in with light patterns,

Making them hard
for predators to spot.

[Martin]
one reason dolphins live in pods

Is so they can
help each other out.

They will help
a sick pod member for weeks,

Pushing them
to the surface for air.

[Chris]
living in a pod

Offers great protection
from predators.

A tight cluster of dolphins
makes it almost impossible

For k*ller whales
or sharks to pick one off.

[Martin]
and it means they can
pool their senses

And find more food
than they would alone.

[Chris]
look! I found a mom
and baby dolphin.

Fin-rubbing is the dolphin way
of showing affection.

This baby is sure
sticking close to mom.

That way, she can get
pulled along by her draft,

Saving her a lot of energy,
which a baby dolphin needs.

[Allison]
dolphin calves hang with mom

For about six years.

That's a long time,

But they need to learn
the traditions of the pod.

There's a lot to learn.

[Chris]
look! A dolphin tail-slap.

Man, they're constantly
in contact--

Every nudge, every touch,

Every tail-slap
means something.

One other thing
about living in a pod--

It means there's always
a buddy to play with.

Some people think
living in groups

Is sign of intelligence.

Go ahead, ttark.

Lots of creatures
live in groups.

It's easier to take
care of the young

And get food when
you're working together.

It's a natural part
of creature life.

I'll never understand
why humans

Are so obsessed
with intelligence.

[Allison]
it's not creature intelligence

Humans are fascinated with

So much as the amazing
things they do.

Scientists believe
that when dolphins snooze,

They only shut down
half of their brain.

The other half is awake,

Controlling stuff like
surfacing for air.

[Chris]
and when they're sleeping,

Dolphins drift slowly
along the surface,

Alongside a few dolphins
that are awake.

These guards keep an eye out
for danger, like...

A tiger shark!

And when it comes to
detecting things

Like food or predators...

That's where
echolocation comes in.

[Clicking]

When dolphins
use echolocation,

They don't just
send out one sound.

They send out hundreds
of sounds per second.

The more sounds
they send out,

The better the picture
they get back.

To get a picture
of how accurate echolocation is,

Check this out.

This guy's zeroing in
on something under the sand.

It could be a flounder
or a razorfish.

It may be hard to believe,

But if you dig
under the sand,

You can find a treasure trove
of stuff to eat.

Look! That goatfish
is digging, too.

This pod is really
scanning the bottom for food.

They're only stopping
to come up for air...

And then it's back to work.

[Martin]
echolocation provides
sound images so detailed

That trained dolphins
can tell the difference

Between a nickel and a dime--
even when they're buried in mud.

[Allison]
what are those dolphins doing?

They're finished eating.

I don't think they're playing.

Hey, guys, are those
dolphins fighting?

[Martin]
these dolphins

Aren't fighting at all.

They're courting!

Dolphins who like each other

Will try to get
the other one's attention.

They'll circle,

Corkscrew their bodies,
and swim upside down.

It's no surprise
that humans

Are so fascinated
with dolphins.

When you add it all up--

Social setup, communication,
protecting the pod--

You're talking about
one amazing creature.

[Allison]
you know, guys,

I couldn't agree
with you more.

Dolphins are amazing.

Intelligence, language,
curiosity, playfulness--

Dolphins and people
are a lot alike.

No wonder chris and martin
fit in so well.

Dolphins really are
intelligent creatures.

They're one of my favorites.

But ttark's right, too.
Intelligence isn't everything.

For some creatures,
other things are more important.

And here's the greatest
thing of all--

When two different
creatures can meet

And actually have fun
hanging out together.

These guys may never
come topside again.

[Martin]
the underwater world

Of the dolphin is something you
never want to stop exploring.

Let's hope it's a world

We'll be able to keep exploring
for a long, long time.