'Born Impact' takes us on a wildlife mission around Asia

BORN IMPACT
Born to be Wild Weekend Edition
Hosted by Doc Ferds Recio and Doc Nielsen Donato
Airing date: Sunday, March 10, after AHA!

This Sunday, Born IMPACT takes us to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam on a mission to meet Southeast Asia’s endangered wildlife.



In Vietnam, Doc Ferds Recio encounters Malayan sun bears and Asian black bears and their plight as prisoners in bear farms. In Vietnam and other parts of Asia, bile is extracted from live bears as a valuable commodity for sale as an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine. Now, bear bile extraction is prohibited in Vietnam, but bears continue to suffer in small cramped cages because they can never be brought back to the wild again.

“Magkahalong dismay at awa yung mararamdaman mo. Akala mo kasi ‘yung ibang abuse na ginagawa dito sa Pilipinas dito mo lang nakikita, nangyayari rin pala sa ibang bansa. Sa mas malalaking hayop pa tulad ng oso,” Doc Ferds says.

Meanwhile, Doc Nielsen Donato witnesses a peculiar animal and human relationship in Thailand. In a snake facility, ferocious snakes are held captive not because they are life-threatening. Here they are cared for to help people understand their nature and teach Thais how humans and snakes can co-exist peacefully. Doc Nielsen also helps a team of Thai veterinarians treat a large phyton with a nasal problem.

“Nung nagpunta kami sa Thailand nakakatuwang isipin na ang mga snake na kinatatakutan, dito meron silang facility kung saan dinadala yung mga rescued snake, ‘dun ginagamot sila, isang lugar din ito para i-educate yung mga tao,” Doc Nielsen says.

In Asia, 2,380 species of animals are in the IUCN Red List which means all of them are in danger of going extinct because of different environment pressures. In fact, in other parts of Thailand, experts are trying to save a critically endangered giant freshwater stingray. In a long shot attempt, they try to collect semen from the freshwater giants in hopes of artificially reproducing their dwindling numbers in the future.

“Sa labas ng Pilipinas may mga kwento ng wildlife issue rin at mga lessons na puwede natin kapulutan ng aral, na ma-i-apply din natin dito sa problema natin sa Pilipinas,” says Doc Ferds.

Catch Born Impact this Sunday, 9:30 am after AHA!