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The Kapuso local wildlife program Born to Be Wild is now on its 14th year on air, and to celebrate their show's anniversary, veterinarians and TV hosts Doc Ferds Recio and Doc Nielsen Donato looked back on their humble beginnings and some of their unforgettable episodes.

Doc Ferds Recio revealed that he was about to leave the country when the opportunity to host Born to Be Wild came.

“Noong umpisa, kinukuha ako ng mga program sa GMA as a resource person, as a veterinarian,” Doc Ferds told Tunay na Buhay host Pia Arcangel. “They asked us to audition. Paalis na ko nun, papunta na 'kong Amerika.”

Originally, Doc Ferds planned to do the show for only six months. Ironically, he's been the host of the program for 14 years.

He also recounted one of the most unforgettable experiences he had on the show as a vet.

“My favorite (is) 'yung siguro ginamot namin 'yung giraffe sa Calauit.

“Siguro 'yung pang-apat na punta namin ng Calauit, 'yung isang giraffe dun may sakit sa paa.

“Kailangan naming tapyasin 'yung paa niya to treat it.

“Paborito ko 'yun because it is so challenging, first of all, to treat a gigantic animal, to sedate it and give medications at the same time.

“For me, one of my accomplishments as a veterinarian I think (is) to put that in my resume that I treated a giraffe.”

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Doc Ferds Recio recounts most memorable experience as Born to Be Wild host / Source: Tunay na Buhay

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As for Doc Nielsen Donato, he opened his animal hospital, Vets in Practice, in 2003 and missed the chance to become a Born to Be Wild host the first time.

“Kakaumpisa pa lang ng aming first animal hospital, 'yung Vets in Practice, ang laki ng panghihinayang ko na hindi ako nag-audition,” Doc Nielsen told Pia. “After three years, they called again.”

He said one of the challenges of doing the program is definitely interacting with wild animals.

“Kasi 'yung wild, in the wild, you can't direct them. You cannot tell them (to) be there 'pag dumating kami.

“Whatever you see there, dapat handa ka na makaharapan 'yung mga 'yon."

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Doc Nielsen Donatao gives Pia Arcangel a tour of his animal hospital / Source: Tunay na Buhay

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Doc Nielsen also takes pride in the fact that their program adheres to truthfulness in their storytelling.

“It's the only local wildlife show that really goes out there and we're so proud to say that we do not plant our subjects.

“'Pag walang makita, then tell the story. That's the reality na kailangan mo ikuwento: bakit wala sila diyan, ano 'yung mga factors na 'yon?”

As for Doc Ferds, he believes part of the reasons why Born to Be Wild lasted this long is the continuous learning it provides on how we can better appreciate and preserve the animals in the wild.

“I think it's because the common things, we make extraordinary. We still continue to learn ourselves, noh?

“As a program, patuloy kaming natututo and then we share that to them.”

Watch Pia Arcangel take a tour of Doc Nielsen Donato's animal hospital, where she got to meet his rescued dog named C-5 and the gigantic blood donor dog, Buddy, in the Tunay na Buhay video below.

For more celebrity features like this, watch Tunay na Buhay every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. on GTV.

Viewers abroad can also watch Tunay na Buhay via GMA's flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

And for more lifestyle content, head out to the GMA Lifestyle page.

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