Find out the effects of climate change on reptiles this Sunday on 'Born to be Wild'

REPTILE KINGDOM
A Born to be Wild special series

They are fierce, resilient creatures that have stood the test of time. But can they stand the test of a changing climate?

In Cagayan de Oro, Doc Ferds and his team receive word that the local rescue unit faces the highest snake turn out in years. Residents say more and more snakes are emerging from the forests and ending up in their backyard. Doc Ferds checks on the pythons and cobras that were surrendered to the facility and prepares them for reintroduction to the wild.

These snakes reportedly wandered into people’s homes in the month of March when temperatures in the province reached 38 degrees Celsius. Experts say reptiles are highly-sensitive to temperature and that the heat may have played a part in the increase in snake sightings.

Meanwhile in Murcia, Negros Occidental, a government-managed tourist spot is a haven for snakes. Local guides say they’ve recorded at least 10 different snake species in the area. In this forest and spring park, where it is neither too hot nor too cold, the snakes have found a safe place to call their home.

Record-high temperatures have been recorded all over the world in recent months. Scientists say that perhaps the snakes’ discomfort with a warming planet is a message people shouldn’t ignore.

Born to be Wild’s Reptile Kingdom continues this Sunday after AHA!