The Vulnerable Species in the Philippines (Full Episode) | Born to be Wild
Aired ( September 15, 2024): Doc Nielsen Donato travels to Pangasinan to explore the life of the elusive loner octopus and learns about the traditional techniques fishermen use to catch them.
Meanwhile, Doc Ferds Recio visits sanctuaries in Negros Oriental for Philippine monkeys and flying foxes, observing their close interactions with people. Is this level of interaction safe for both the animals and humans?
For the full story, watch the video!
‘Born to be Wild’ is GMA Network’s groundbreaking environmental and wildlife show hosted by resident veterinarians Doc Nielsen Donato and Doc Ferds Recio. #BornToBeWild #GMAPublicAffairs #GMANetwork
Watch it every Sunday, 9 AM on GMA
Network. Subscribe to youtube.com/gmapublicaffairs for our full episodes.
Meanwhile, Doc Ferds Recio visits sanctuaries in Negros Oriental for Philippine monkeys and flying foxes, observing their close interactions with people. Is this level of interaction safe for both the animals and humans?
For the full story, watch the video!
‘Born to be Wild’ is GMA Network’s groundbreaking environmental and wildlife show hosted by resident veterinarians Doc Nielsen Donato and Doc Ferds Recio. #BornToBeWild #GMAPublicAffairs #GMANetwork
Watch it every Sunday, 9 AM on GMA
Network. Subscribe to youtube.com/gmapublicaffairs for our full episodes.
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FunTranscript
00:00We accompanied the fishermen to Mamuguita.
00:05They are looking for the rocks and they have something to catch.
00:11What they are using is the Tora-Tora.
00:13It's like they are eating a crab.
00:17Let's see what they caught.
00:23From vulnerable to endangered now, the Philippine Long-tailed Macaque or Unggoy.
00:30The Philippine Long-tailed Macaque or Unggoy
00:35Something's wrong with the leg.
00:37Why can't it reach the bottom?
00:39Is there a problem?
00:51Under the sea, each of them has a family.
00:56They are stronger when they are together.
01:01But there are some who prefer to be alone like the Philippine Long-tailed Macaque or Unggoy.
01:08The problem is, they are more likely to be victims because no one will defend them.
01:18Can they still be free?
01:26The sea is calm and peaceful.
01:31In the distance, there is still something lurking.
01:35But you won't be able to see it because it's good at hiding.
01:41Don't let it escape because it is the so-called Master of Disguise of the sea.
01:52The Long-tailed Macaque or Unggoy
01:55They have a rare ability to imitate the appearance and color of their surroundings.
02:04There is something more powerful they will reveal.
02:09Their dark ink.
02:19I have already met Alan and Edgar.
02:24They are looking for a way to catch the Long-tailed Macaque.
02:35We are here in Laot, in Pangasinan.
02:39We accompanied the fishermen who are looking for Long-tailed Macaque.
02:44Because they feel that the population of Long-tailed Macaque is declining.
02:51And this is their main source of income.
03:00What they are doing is, they have a raft.
03:03The fishermen have a mask.
03:07They are looking for the rocks and they have a tool to catch the fish.
03:13They are using the Tora-Tora.
03:16It's like they are eating a crab.
03:20But they have hooks.
03:23They will throw the fish under the water.
03:32There is no fish.
03:37It's painful.
03:38It's painful.
03:41If there is no fish, we will just sit and wait for them to come.
03:53A few more minutes.
03:57Finally, Edgar has arrived.
04:01Let's see what he caught.
04:04It's beautiful. It looks like a crab.
04:07Water crab.
04:09Yes.
04:11Look at that.
04:13It's tentacles are hiding.
04:15Look at those suction capsules.
04:19It changes color above the water.
04:23Look at its eyes.
04:25It looks like a predator.
04:28These fish are predators.
04:31Aside from that, it has the ability to regenerate the tentacles it amputated.
04:38Sometimes, that is what they eat.
04:41Because Puguita is young, we asked for permission from Allan and Edgar to bring it back to the wild.
04:48It's time for me to dive.
04:50Let's dive.
04:55But I was very surprised when I saw that most of the fish were turning white.
05:05According to the expert, it is possible that the fish died because they were poisoned by cyanide fishing.
05:13The living and colorful communities of the sea creatures are almost dead.
05:21Why are the corals down there turning white?
05:26Maybe because the fish are dying.
05:29Why?
05:30I don't know, sir.
05:31Maybe because they are swimming.
05:36When we moved to another place,
05:38we were lucky to see healthy corals.
05:47The octopus quickly disappeared and returned to the corals.
06:09For now, the young Puguita is safe.
06:19However, there is a bigger threat to their population.
06:26The destruction of the coral where they live.
06:32Something that can affect more sea creatures.
06:39Puguita Octopus
06:45When we returned to Pampang,
06:48we saw a bigger octopus that was brought to the market.
06:54It came from a distant part of the sea in Pangasinan.
07:03And look at this.
07:04When I caught this alive, it was scary because it was so close.
07:11You can see it, sir.
07:13It was so close.
07:15I don't think I can remove it.
07:19The conservation that we are doing is really regulated.
07:25As you can see, Puguita's fishing is not destructive
07:31because of the way they do it.
07:36People benefit a lot from the sea.
07:39For sea creatures like Puguita,
07:42the livelihood of many of our countrymen depends on it.
07:46But if we illegally destroy their homes,
07:51they will be destroyed.
07:54Let's not wait for that time to come.
07:58Let's help them multiply.
08:01While we still can.
08:10In two different places in Negros,
08:13up close and personal,
08:15animals can meet.
08:21I don't have food.
08:23The Kabugo Flying Fox
08:26is just lying under a tree.
08:28Here, we can see flying foxes.
08:33While the Puguita's
08:35feed each other.
08:40But because of this interaction,
08:43humans can put their lives at risk.
08:55In Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental,
08:58a group of monkeys are slowly coming out.
09:05They are waiting for their friends.
09:12It's time for their breakfast.
09:17When they see a bucket of bananas,
09:20they come closer.
09:22It's time to share.
09:28They are sharing the bananas.
09:34There's also a bonus of mangoes.
09:39Some of them don't want to share food.
09:46But there's a brother who shares
09:49with a smaller monkey.
09:53On the other side,
09:56there's a group of monkeys.
10:03They don't fight with each other.
10:10In this sanctuary,
10:12two groups respect each other's boundaries.
10:15Even though they can't share their breakfast,
10:18a visitor will come
10:21to greet them.
10:27A mother monkey is staring at them.
10:32It's not just one,
10:35but two of her sublings.
10:40When the mother monkey
10:42gives birth,
10:45she needs to gather strength
10:48to carry her two children at the same time.
10:54That's why she needs to get the bananas right away.
10:59But while waiting,
11:02others seem to be getting tired.
11:06Someone is playing.
11:09Someone is feeding their children.
11:15Someone is also eating.
11:19When two groups are together,
11:22if you feed one group,
11:25it won't reach the other group.
11:28If you feed this group,
11:31it won't reach the other group.
11:34A few moments later,
11:36their visitor has arrived.
11:42They are now greeting the tourists one by one.
11:47But of course,
11:49their food is bananas.
11:54In this sanctuary,
11:56monkeys and humans interact freely.
12:01But monkeys can't avoid
12:03being bitten by monkeys.
12:16In Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental,
12:19monkeys can't avoid people.
12:29Monkeys can't help but chase
12:31and let their pets rest in their house.
12:36But before this sanctuary can be found,
12:40monkeys are killed every time
12:43they step on the fields.
12:46It's a pest and it steals crops.
12:52To avoid this,
12:54a resident gave her land
12:57for the monkeys to live.
12:58We made an agreement
13:01that we will help the area.
13:03If we can't protect the monkeys,
13:06we won't have a monkey sanctuary.
13:08We also provide provisions for their food.
13:14They are also open to advice
13:17on how to help the monkeys and the sanctuary.
13:22We need to be careful
13:24in close encounters with wildlife.
13:26I have previously tested monkeys
13:29in a facility in Albay.
13:31To make sure they don't have tuberculosis
13:34before they are rehabilitated.
13:37Unless they are believed to be many.
13:40The truth is,
13:42they are also in danger of extinction.
13:44In the latest study of monkeys experts,
13:48from Vulnerable to Status-
13:51Endangered now,
13:52Philippine Long-tailed Macaque or Unggoy.
13:56According to the latest IUCN assessment,
13:59the Long-tailed Macaque is considered as endangered.
14:02The reason for this is the threats to them.
14:07In the Philippines,
14:09the major threat to them
14:12is habitat destruction,
14:14pet trade, and hunting.
14:17That's why the help of the sanctuaries
14:19that become eco-tourism sites
14:22to protect the animals is very important.
14:29This is how the Mambucal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary
14:34for Long-tailed Macaque or Flying Foxes in Negros Occidental was built.
14:41The Long-tailed Macaque or Large Flying Foxes
14:44live on tall trees.
14:46Here,
14:48they are closely monitored
14:51for their proximity and control to the wildlife.
14:55Because there are often falling trees in this area.
14:59Beboy is one of those who can often see
15:02falling trees in this area.
15:05Some of them feel that they are weak.
15:08For example, the mother.
15:10When she is weak,
15:12she sacrifices her child.
15:14There are also some who fell
15:17because they were attacked by wild boars.
15:20They accidentally fell.
15:23Today,
15:25I didn't expect that I would see a flying fox
15:28that fell from a tree.
15:30It suddenly fell here, sir.
15:33In the cement.
15:35If we go up, we can see
15:37flying foxes.
15:39It probably fell.
15:40If they fall,
15:42they can fly.
15:44But if they are too weak,
15:46they are unable to flap their wings.
15:49It's a bit weak.
15:51If we approach it,
15:53it will attempt to fly.
15:55Since it's not doing it,
15:57it's really weak.
15:59Something's wrong with the leg.
16:01Usually, it's upside down.
16:03Why can't it stand?
16:05Is there a problem?
16:07Let's see if it can move.
16:09The wings are fine.
16:11It can move.
16:13I'm trying to flap its legs.
16:15I'm looking for a reason
16:17why it can't fly.
16:19It's not aggressive
16:21and I just let it fly.
16:23By the way,
16:25if you see bats like that
16:27on this tree,
16:29just let them be.
16:31Maybe they are resting
16:33or looking for food.
16:35And do not attempt to catch them
16:36because some bats
16:38carry with them diseases.
16:40I thought that's why it fell
16:42because it's weak.
16:44But when we examined it,
16:46it's not like that.
16:48So we put it aside
16:50for it to collect its bearings
16:52and then let's see later
16:54if it can fly again.
16:56Even though it's raining,
16:58it's still not leaving its place.
17:00It's licking its plants
17:02and drinking water
17:04from the rain.
17:06It's still not moving.
17:11Because it can't fly,
17:13B-boy moved it to a place
17:15far from people's sight.
17:17So that it can't reach its prey.
17:20It can hide
17:22or it can eat.
17:25Ecotourism sites play a big role
17:27in conserving the natural habitat
17:29of the wildlife.
17:31There's support
17:33and space for the wildlife
17:34in the ecotourism sites.
17:36The ecotourism managers
17:38also have the opportunity
17:40to have educational campaigns
17:42for conservation of long-tailed macaques
17:44and other wildlife.
17:46However, if the practices
17:48in the ecotourism areas
17:50are not sustainable,
17:52it can cause problems.
17:56But there are experts
17:58in these areas.
18:00There are also practices
18:02such as catching.
18:04This is a problem
18:06and it's not only risky
18:08for the long-tailed macaque,
18:10but it's also risky for humans
18:12who can have long-tailed macaque bites
18:14or human scratches.
18:17In the small world
18:19that is inhabited by animals,
18:23their space should still be respected.
18:28They shouldn't be touched
18:32and they shouldn't be caught
18:34because that's what they need.
18:36So, keep your distance
18:39for the peaceful life
18:41of humans and animals
18:43in one place.