One barangay, 21 species: 'Born to be Wild' and the snakes of Catanduanes

In 2009, local biology researcher John Ronel Gil published an interesting set of findings through the Catanduanes State Colleges. Gil had identified a whopping twenty-one species of snakes in a single barangay — a rare and exceptional occurrence, according to the Philippines’ herpetology community.   In response, Doc Ferds Recio and the "Born to be Wild" team journeyed to San Vicente, Virac, Cataduanes to prove this rare scientific find. As we immersed ourselves in the community living near the habitats of the snakes, we saw the people’s daily struggle against one of the most venomous snakes in the country: the Philippine Cobra.   During our stay in Catanduanes, Doc Ferds discovered even more species of snakes that were yet to be catalogued. With constant communication and guidance from Dr. Arvin Diesmos, a herpetologist and a scientist from the National Museum, the team was able to film two more species of snakes in San Vicente and the document the re-occurrence of the King Cobra, the world’s longest venomous snake. - Rizza Mendiola