The anniversary special of Born to be Wild continues this Sunday (Nov. 29). Veterinarian-hosts Doc Nielsen Donato and Doc Ferds Recio set off to Laguna to check on some macaques.
Macaques live in forests but we often hear and see cases of them inside cages–treated as pets. It’s possible that these animals carry zoonotic diseases that may be transferred to humans. In a rescue center in Laguna, the Born to be Wild team tests the captive macaques to know if they carry diseases.
Born to Be Wild also investigates bird trade in the country. Because of their colorful fur, beautiful bird sounds and cute antics, birds are poached and sold as pets. Not only endemic species are at risk. Birds from other countries are also illegally transported to the Philippines. The poor conditions during transport leave these birds dehydrated, weak, and sick. Know what these animals go through because of illegal wildlife trade.
Over the years, Born to be Wild has been considered as the authority in terms of wildlife preservation. A lot of things may have changed, but the program’s thrust remains.
“Through the years, Born to Wild has evolved in making people understand the natural behavior, importance of habitat, endemic species, as well as the discovery of new species,” said Doc Nielsen. “On our 13th year, times have changed. Because of the pandemic, it will be more challenging for us to do our wildlife documentation. At the same time, it will be more interesting because we will discover how the wild has behaved when they are left alone.”
Meanwhile, Doc Ferds encourages the public to continue doing their part in saving the environment and the animals. “The time to act was yesterday. To plant endemic trees, save our forests, protect our seas because that’s where our wildlife live. The next pandemic is bound to happen if we do not act now. We should not lose hope. We can still protect the environment. We can still act now,” he said.
Watch the second part of “Close Contact: Wildlife and the Pandemic,” Born to be Wild’s anniversary special, this Sunday after AHA! on GMA Network.
