Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown Season 5 Episode 3 Smell-o-Vision

In season 5 episode 3 of Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown, titled "Smell-o-Vision," viewers are taken on a sensory exploration of the animal kingdom through their sense of smell. Host Jack Hanna introduces some of the most fascinating and unique creatures who rely heavily on their olfactory abilities to survive.

The episode begins with a segment on the African elephant, whose sense of smell is so acute that they can detect water sources from miles away. Hanna delves into the amazing physiology of elephant trunks, which are equipped with over 100,000 muscle fibers and can even discern the scent molecules in the air.

Next, the spotlight shifts to the wolf, an animal renowned for its keen sense of smell. Hanna takes viewers through a pack's hunting process, which begins with the wolves using their noses to search out prey. The show then discusses the science behind how a wolf's sense of smell works, including the specialized olfactory receptor cells in their nose that allow them to detect scents up to a mile away.

Moving on, the episode covers perhaps the most famous smell-related animal adaptation: the skunk. While most people are familiar with the skunk's pungent spray as a defense mechanism, Hanna also explores the skunk's impressive sense of smell - which, ironically, it uses to locate its preferred foods. Viewers are also treated to a unique look at the striped skunk's anatomy, which includes special scent glands and muscles used to aim and spray its noxious odor.

Next, the show turns to the meerkat, a small but industrious animal native to the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. Though not typically thought of as a creature with outstanding olfactory abilities, meerkats actually rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate prey and avoid predators. Hanna brings us up close and personal with these fascinating creatures, explaining how meerkats navigate their environments and communicate through scent marking and other olfactory cues.

The episode then shifts its focus to marine life, examining the curious case of the humpback whale. Hanna shows us how these massive mammals utilize their sense of smell in an unexpected way: to hunt. Using a technique called bubble net feeding, humpback whales cooperatively blow bubbles around schools of fish, making it easier to scoop them up in their massive mouths. Through a combination of air and water current, humpback whales can detect the direction and density of these bubbles - and, in turn, the location of their next meal.

The final segment of the episode features a much smaller aquatic creature: the sea otter. Sea otters have incredibly dense fur, which requires a lot of upkeep in the chilly Pacific waters they call home. Hanna explains how sea otters use grooming and scratching to maintain their thick coats, and how they also use their sense of smell to locate the best sea urchins - a favorite food.

Overall, Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown season 5 episode 3 offers a fascinating and unique exploration of the animal kingdom through the lens of smell. From pachyderms to pint-sized meerkats, viewers are treated to a sensory journey that showcases the incredible diversity of the animal world. With Hanna's signature enthusiasm and expertise, "Smell-o-Vision" is a must-see for anyone interested in the wonders of the natural world.