Rare white viper revealed on 'Born to be Wild' series finale

BORN TO BE WILD

“The White Viper”

Series Finale airs Wednesday, April 18, 2012

 

The search for the white viper of Batanes has not been easy for Doc Nielsen and his team. For two weeks, we followed Doc and the local guides as they unraveled different vipers of stunning hues – gold, tiger yellow, brown, and grey. But one viper remains elusive: the white viper which can fetch up to 2,500 dollars or more than a hundred thousand pesos in the black market.

 

As Doc travels from island to island studying the habitat of pit vipers, it becomes apparent why collectors are fascinated with these animals. They are beautiful snakes which have unique characteristics. But they are also venomous creatures and must be handled with care. They are also rare and can only be found in Batanes. But the fascination with vipers has led to overhunting to supply the illegal wildlife trade. Even locals have noticed that they no longer see vipers, especially the white kind, as often as they used to. Doc Nielsen and the team want to find out if there are still white vipers in Batanes. The last time researchers saw the white viper was five years ago.

 

From the island of Sabtang, Doc Nielsen returns to mainland Batan and climbs another mountain believed to be a habitat of the white viper.  In the darkness of the forest, the team is welcomed by an eye-catching viper, gleaming white in the pale moonlight.

 

The long wait is over. The White Viper is revealed in the series finale this Wednesday on BORN TO BE WILD.