Only in the Philippines—'Born Impact' studies endemic Pinoy mammals

This Sunday, Born IMPACT gives you a peek into the world of animals that are usually evasive and hidden in the deep forests—mammals that can be found nowhere else in the world but here in the Philippines.

Doc Nielsen Donato goes through a rigorous trek in a mountain in Mindanao, to find a shy creature known to the B’laan tribe as “Mal”, a small mammal with very large eyes, each as big as the animal’s brain. Doc Nielsen joins foreign researchers with the aim of tagging and studying the “Mal” in the wild. On his way, he encounters another forest mammal which was caught in a hunter’s snare. With limited medical equipment in a forest setting, Doc Nielsen needs to improvise to save the dying mammal.

A civet cat caught in a snare trap.

Meanwhile Doc Ferds Recio encounters strange-looking road kill. A Palawan stink-badger, known locally as “pantot,” was accidentally hit by a car. This mammal can only be found in the Philippines. Locals say they generally avoid this animal because it sprays a foul scent they cannot bear. Doc Ferds experiences this foul smell first hand, and this leads him to search for this unique animal in the wild.

A Palawan bear cat.

You may know about tigers, giraffes and elephants—famous mammals that can be naturally found in other countries—but how well do you know our own unique mammals? Are you familiar with kagwang, binturong and dungon?

Get to know more of our Pinoy mammals this Sunday at 9:30am after AHA!