Kuya Kim debuts on '24 Oras' with trivia on crocodiles

Kim Atienza delivered a handful of trivia about crocodiles on his "24 Oras" debut with his segment #KuyaKimAnoNa.

Marking his first appearance on the flagship news program, Kuya Kim answered Bea Alonzo's question on how dangerous are crocodiles.

He went to Lyger Animal Sanctuary in Pilillia, Rizal and introduced Mega, the biggest crocodile in captivity with a length of 19 feet from snout to tail tip. He also fed the animal with raw chicken.

"'Pag nakakita kayo ng buwaya sa inyong mga lugar o probinsya, 'wag lalapit dahil hindi ganito kabait ang mga buwaya ro'n," he reminded the viewers, saying that crocodiles are pure carnivores.

Kuya Kim added that crocodiles like Mega are considered man-eating crocodiles as the species have already fed on humans in the past.

"Ang mga buwaya ay naturally territorial. They can be very aggressive kung sila ay nangingitlog or may anak sila. Kailangan nilang protektahan," said herpetologist and field biologist Arvin Diesmos.

"'Pag meron silang kasama sa habitat nila, ituturing nilang threat. Kung sakaling gutom, isa itong rason na maaaring atakihin 'yung tao," he added.

Kuya Kim said humans can win a race against crocodiles when on land. In water, however, humans don't have the chance.

"Kung nakakita ka ng buwaya sa lupa at kinarera mo, mas mabilis ang tao kesa buwaya pero 'pag nasa tubig at lumalangoy ang buwaya, gusto kang i-pursue dahil prey ka, wala kang laban," he said.

Kuya Kim also showed caiman crocodilus or medium-sized ones and swam with eight of them in the pool.

His trivia on them? Their bite force is 5,000 pounds per square inch (PSI), stronger than those of a great white shark!

They also have a 90% survival rate and grow for up to five feet maximum.

"Kinakain din sila ng ibang predator tulad ng lizard, malalaking isda, kahit kapwa nila na malalaking buwaya," he said.

Before ending the segment, Kuya Kim reminded the viewers that even though crocodiles are regarded as dangerous creatures, they are a part of the world and we should still take care of them.

"Madalas nilalarawang sakim at ganid pero maging sila ay binubulabog at pinagkakaitan sa sariling tahanan," he said. "Imbes na katakutan, kailangan sila protektahan at patuloy na pag-aralan para mapayang mamuhay sa iisang kalikasan."

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News