Eel named Cassie bonds with residents in Leyte

An eel living in a brook has formed a close bond with residents in Matalom, Leyte.

As seen in Kuya Kim Atienza's report on "24 Oras," residents have come to love the eel who they named Cassie, or short for "kasili," the Visayan term for eel.

Vlogger Jose Pavo Dano documented his time playing with Cassie. He also feeds it cooked chicken and pork.

"Si Cassie, hindi nangangagat po. Mabuting hayop si Cassie," Jose said.

For more than 10 years, Cassie has bonded with the laundresses in the brook. With the residents' care, Cassie has grown to one and a half meters. There are also more eels in the brook now.

Eels are fish that are also carnivorous predators that eat smaller fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Bigger eels are able to eat amphibians, small reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Their dorsal and anal fins help them swim forward and backward.

According to marine biologist Glenville Castrence, Cassie is well taken care of, which is why it is able to bond with residents. However, eels are naturally predatory and nocturnal. —Nika Roque/MGP, GMA Integrated News