'Born to be Wild' continues to study Ibid and Kiwet this Wednesday

BORN TO BE WILD
“Ibid” and “Kiwet”
Part III this Wednesday

There are no local studies yet on the ibid or endemic sailfin lizard.  And whatever Doc Nielsen Donato and his team can find in the forests of Panay will be helpful to future experts planning to study this lizard with an amazing ability to walk on water.  This week, the team films another discovery.  When it feels threatened, the ibid intentionally cuts off its tail as a defense mechanism. Doc and the team witness this up close including some interesting, and at times funny, sailfin behavior!

From Nueva Vizcaya, guest host Mariz Umali travels to Isabela to continue her investigation on the kiwet or Asian eel that has damaged crops in several farms in Northern Luzon.  In Isabela, she meets farmers who have found a new business—exporting kiwet.  According to local farmers, foreign businessmen buy the eels for 100 pesos a kilo.

These invasive species are then brought to China, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong where they are consumed as a delicacy.  Three tons of kiwet are said to be harvested everyday and are worth around three hundred thousand pesos.  Does the income from this emerging industry outweigh the damage to other farmers’ crops?

Don’t miss Part III of Born to be Wild’s “Ibid” and “Kiwet” series, this Wednesday after Saksi.