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"Wild Kratts Alaska: Hero's Journey" is the 17th episode of Season 5 of the PBS Kids show Wild Kratts. It is the 133rd episode of the series overall. It premiered on July 24, 2017. It is a two-part episode, originally airing as a one-hour film special.
Synopsis[]
Aviva announces she's one step closer to fixing the Time Trampoline with the invention of a Time Thruster. But before they can check it out, it goes overboard and attaches onto a sockeye salmon who is in the middle of the salmon run. The Wild Kratts team is led on a wild chase, as they follow the salmon on this incredible and difficult journey - both battling the odds like waterfalls and grizzly bears to reach their goals.
Characters[]
Animals[]
Animation[]
Note: Featured animals are in bold.
- Sockeye Salmon: Hero, Hero Jr.
- Grizzly Bear: Little G, Mama Grizz
- Gray Wolf: Little Howler
- Bald Eagle
- Orca: Swirly
- Atka Mackerel
- Sea Otter
- Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse
- Salmon Shark
- Steller Sea Lion
- American Pine Marten
- North American River Otter (called river otter)
- American Black Bear (called black bear)
- Laughing Gull (called seagull)
- Moose
- Globe Skimmer (nymphs) (called nymph)
- North American Beaver
Live Action[]
Note: Live action animals are linked to Wikipedia.
Trivia[]
- This is the first and so far only special that has no villains.
- When Aviva surprised Koki with her Wolf Power Suit, she called her the "little girl who cried wolf". This is a reference to the story, The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
- This is the fourth episode where an animal Martin named died.
- Hero's fate was similar to Maxilla's in that they both died of old age after undertaking a long journey to lay their eggs.
Key Facts and Creature Moments[]
- Sockeye salmon make a long journey from the Pacific Ocean to their spawning grounds located in freshwater rivers. Only a small percentage of the salmon complete the migration.
- Salmon will often have to make their way over waterfalls and other obstacles like predators in order to complete their migration.
- Salmon that make it to their breeding grounds to spawn eventually die after laying their eggs.
- Sockeye salmon turn red in color when they are going to spawn.
- Male salmon develop hook-like mouths during the spawning period to fight for the right to breed with females.
- Many predatory animals like bears, wolves, sea lions and sharks all depend on salmon as a major source of food.
- Salmon carcasses can even fertilize trees in the forest.
- Man-made structures known as fish ladders have been added to the sides of dams that go through the rivers that salmon have to cross in order to help them get to their spawning grounds.
- Difference between grizzly bears and black bears: Grizzly bears are way bigger and stronger, have a hump of muscle on their back and a rounder face, adult grizzlies also don't climb trees. Black bears are smaller with a more dog-like snout and can climb trees.
- Grizzly bears catching salmon from sitting atop water falls.
- Salmon sharks, orcas, sea lions, wolves, bears, otters and eagles all catching salmon along different stretches of river.