This Sunday on 'Born Impact': Snakes in your backyard

Snakes in the backyard
September 8, 2013

This Sunday on Born Impact, the two vets come to the rescue of snakes that made their way into human habitation.

Just after Typhoon Maring, Born to be Wild receives a call about a venomous Philippine cobra in Caloocan City. Doc Nielsen goes on site to rescue the snake. He wonders how a cobra that normally lives in forests and rice fields ended up in the city. He further examines the snake for any injury and gets a surprise when he examines the mouth of the cobra.

Snake sightings in human settlements are not unusual, especially after a flood. The recent flooding from Typhoon Maring and Habagat did not only displace people but wildlife too. But how do we deal with snakes that end up in our yard?

Doc Ferds Recio also encounters a community in Quezon Province where bright green snakes frequent the rice fields. Because of fear, farmers automatically kill the snakes. Humans’ fear of snakes is rightly placed. After all, according to the World Health Organization, of the 3000 snake species in the world, 600 or 20% of them are venomous. But most snakes only possess venom strong enough to kill small prey, and would  be considered too weak to harm any human. Most snakes are not even venomous at all.  Doc Ferds goes on site to investigate whether the mysterious green snakes really pose harm to the community.

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