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Rare Philippine Forest Dwellers (Full Episode) | Born to be Wild
GMA Public Affairs
Follow
2/17/2025
Join Doc Nielsen Donato and Ferds Recio as they embark on an exciting quest to track down the elusive giant centipede in Negros Occidental and the endangered Philippine deer in Aurora. Will they succeed in their mission? Watch this video.
Category
😹
Fun
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Oh, it's so big!
00:07
It's just a little bit big.
00:09
Its feet are fiery orange.
00:13
And as you can see, it's like our childhood toys.
00:18
It's 8 inches.
00:19
If it sticks to my skin,
00:21
I'll be in trouble because its feet are sticky.
00:26
It's like a cockroach.
00:31
There are territorial dogs of different breeds.
00:37
Roses are hard to find.
00:39
To get it, we need to leave camera traps.
00:46
This looks like food.
00:47
The dog ran out of everything.
00:50
That's one of our neighbors.
01:00
It's dark in Negros Occidental.
01:10
In one of the exits, there are different animals.
01:15
It crawls fast on the ground using its feet.
01:25
Under the rocks,
01:26
there are 8-legged reptiles.
01:30
And in the trees,
01:31
there's a cockroach that squints its eyes.
01:35
You'll be in trouble
01:38
if you encounter a jungle reptile.
01:42
In the jungle.
01:55
A giant centipede
01:57
and a false coral snake
02:00
fought each other on a cellphone camera in Camarinasur.
02:05
It was obvious that they were fighting.
02:09
It looks like David and Goliath.
02:12
But the giant centipede, or Alupihan, is stronger.
02:26
The giant Alupihan
02:28
can also be found in the mountains of Negros
02:31
according to hiker Paulo Oliveros.
02:34
Someone told us that you're often seen in the jungle when hiking.
02:40
What animals can you see there?
02:44
Like millipedes and centipedes,
02:46
you can see them on the trail.
02:48
Sometimes, when we have time, we observe them.
02:56
To see how big the Alupihan are,
03:00
we climbed a mountain before the sun set.
03:05
Because the Alupihan are nocturnal or more active at night.
03:11
In Negros Occidental,
03:13
there are different types of centipedes.
03:17
But our goal is to see the giant Alupihan.
03:22
Because it is rare to see a giant centipede,
03:26
especially when there are a lot of ants in its habitat.
03:31
According to hiker Paulo,
03:33
they are afraid of the giant Alupihan
03:36
every time they climb a mountain.
03:39
When it comes to millipedes and centipedes,
03:44
what is the most remarkable thing you've seen?
03:48
There are a lot of feet.
03:50
And then,
03:51
it was swallowed.
03:53
We just let it be.
03:55
We didn't touch it.
03:57
We didn't touch it.
03:58
No.
03:59
Why?
04:00
Because we're afraid.
04:01
The giant centipede lives under a rock.
04:06
Together with the forest guide, Romel,
04:09
we will try to catch it.
04:11
So, it's under a rock.
04:16
Hey!
04:17
We saw a tarantula.
04:20
We saw a giant centipede or tarantula.
04:25
There it is.
04:28
The centipede is sharp, long, and agile.
04:32
The centipede is the leader of the giant centipede
04:36
which is its opponent to bigger animals.
04:42
Its front leg is like a horse's foot.
04:47
Let's look at its fangs.
04:49
See?
04:50
That's what we're trying to avoid,
04:53
to be bitten by their fangs.
04:56
What other animals can it kill?
04:59
Crickets and cicadas.
05:03
Biologist Daryl Acuna reminds us
05:07
to be careful of tarantulas.
05:10
So far, I haven't seen any tarantula bite.
05:15
But if it has an allergic reaction,
05:18
the tarantula has a venom
05:19
that it uses to immobilize its food.
05:24
Later.
05:29
Wow!
05:30
It's so big!
05:31
Wow! It's so fat!
05:32
Oh my gosh!
05:33
Look at that head!
05:35
Wow!
05:36
This is already a matured Philippine pit viper.
05:40
It usually lives in arboreal trees.
05:45
I'm really amazed by the size of this Philippine pit viper
05:49
because it's rare to see one of this size.
05:53
Let's examine it.
05:56
We know that pit vipers are venomous.
06:00
The Philippine pit viper is cytotoxic
06:03
or can damage a person's tissue
06:06
and can possibly die due to its venom.
06:11
In the Philippines,
06:12
no one has been found dead due to its venom.
06:18
It's so big!
06:20
What a big viper!
06:24
It has a bullet in its lower jaw.
06:27
Let's take a look.
06:28
If you don't see it and you pass by it,
06:30
it can strike you.
06:33
It has a bullet in its lower jaw.
06:35
Could it be its own fangs that damage its own tissue?
06:40
I immediately examined the viper.
06:47
Look at that.
06:50
It has a bullet in its lower jaw.
06:53
And it's right in the mouth.
06:59
Look at those fangs.
07:01
It won't stop praying.
07:03
See, they're foldable and they can find their target.
07:07
Even though it has a wound in its mouth,
07:09
it's strong and can still survive in the jungle.
07:14
Let's let it go.
07:16
Let's put it here.
07:19
I haven't encountered a viper in a long time
07:24
because we haven't made stories in the forest for a long time.
07:28
But here, we're lucky
07:31
because we can see this huge Philippine pit viper.
07:35
Aside from the wound in its mouth,
07:37
it's very healthy.
07:38
It means it eats well.
07:41
The Philippine pit viper is a carnivore
07:44
and it likes to eat small animals.
07:49
We continued our search for the giant Philippine pit viper.
08:02
It's right here.
08:03
It has a bullet in its lower jaw.
08:06
It's a bit big.
08:07
Its feet are fiery orange.
08:11
And as you can see,
08:13
it looks like the toys we used to play with when we were kids.
08:15
They look like a rubber toy,
08:16
but this one is real.
08:18
I touched it.
08:19
Its body is soft.
08:21
But this is not what I was expecting.
08:25
It's a bit big.
08:26
It has a bullet in its mouth.
08:28
It's right here.
08:29
It's right here.
08:30
It's right here.
08:31
It's right here.
08:32
It's right here.
08:34
This is not what I was expecting.
08:37
I thought it would be bigger.
08:40
So this one is probably still a young one.
08:46
After walking for 30 minutes,
08:51
we saw a giant Philippine pit viper.
08:56
Oh my gosh!
08:57
It's fat.
08:58
It's even fatter than my finger.
09:02
Oh my gosh!
09:03
It's so big.
09:05
It's moving.
09:06
It's awake.
09:07
My giant centipede is awake.
09:13
It's so fat.
09:14
Can you see my finger?
09:16
Woohoo!
09:17
We found our giant centipede.
09:20
It can grow up to the size of a thumb,
09:23
or the length of a straw.
09:26
Eight inches.
09:29
It's about 19 inches.
09:31
An expert added,
09:33
if the centipede bites and scratches the skin,
09:36
it's better to go to the nearest hospital.
09:40
The size of the centipede is bigger
09:44
than the ones I've seen.
09:46
It can also bite and scratch the skin.
09:49
If it gets close to my skin,
09:51
I'll be scared because it's legs are so short.
09:56
It looks like a cockroach.
10:00
But if you get bitten,
10:03
it will surely bite you back.
10:08
There are many different types of centipedes found in the jungle.
10:12
Although they look different,
10:14
they play an important role in our environment.
10:19
Give respect to what you're going through.
10:22
Just look at it.
10:24
If you're looking for a centipede,
10:27
don't just touch it.
10:30
So whenever we visit and climb a mountain,
10:35
let's not catch it or hurt it.
10:38
In this place,
10:40
there are terrador humanoids.
10:45
They're hard to find,
10:47
but they're smart.
10:50
That's what the centipedes are like in Aurora.
10:53
It looks like it's eating something.
10:56
It's eating everything.
10:57
It's eating everything.
10:59
It's eating everything.
11:00
It's eating everything.
11:01
It's eating everything.
11:03
It's eating everything.
11:04
It's eating everything.
11:05
It looks like it's eating something.
11:06
It's eating everything.
11:07
It's eating everything.
11:08
It's eating everything.
11:16
Hiding under a tree,
11:18
feeling something.
11:21
And slowly,
11:22
the centipede is walking.
11:26
Centipede.
11:27
Centipede.
11:29
But when it hears its master's call,
11:32
it's time to eat.
11:36
For two decades,
11:37
centipedes have been taking care of the 15-hectare mountain,
11:41
where it's free to roam and eat.
11:46
Ussalea.
11:47
It's coming here.
11:49
It's calling.
11:50
There's another one.
11:52
It's calling.
11:53
You know its name.
11:54
Or when it hears its master's voice.
11:56
USSLEA
11:58
USSLEA
12:00
USSLEA
12:03
Usslea,
12:04
is the daughter of Judith,
12:06
the owner of this place.
12:08
I said,
12:11
God's will,
12:12
to take care of nature,
12:14
and from the pool,
12:16
I'm an animal lover.
12:17
So,
12:18
I accepted them as my children.
12:22
Why her?
12:23
Why not the other deer?
12:24
Because she's...
12:26
She's your favorite?
12:27
That's how it is.
12:28
Favorite is favorite.
12:29
And she doesn't drink outside.
12:32
She only drinks here.
12:34
Usslea.
12:35
Come, Usslea.
12:37
Compared to other Ussleas,
12:39
Usslea is the only one Judith approaches.
12:43
Even though they're used to people,
12:46
she still has apprehension.
12:47
When she approaches,
12:49
she still doesn't want to be held.
12:51
She's the closest to them.
12:54
But,
12:56
she still doesn't want to be held.
12:58
She's not the one you can pet,
13:00
and she's not the one you can hold or carry.
13:04
But this is as close as I can get to this deer.
13:08
Because Usslea is so close to Judith,
13:11
it seems like she's used to being alone with people.
13:15
But Usslea is not the only Usslea.
13:18
Most of her companions
13:20
were rescued from the wild,
13:23
and breed here.
13:25
Back then,
13:27
Usslea's business and food was flourishing in Aurora.
13:29
How many heads of deer are there now?
13:32
I estimate there are around 10 to 15.
13:36
How many have you lost?
13:39
None.
13:40
But we can see that there are babies.
13:42
They gave birth this December.
13:44
We can see three babies.
13:47
Ussleas are very active.
13:49
To catch them,
13:51
we need to leave camera traps.
13:54
This is a camera trap.
13:56
We use this when we want to watch
14:00
animals or wildlife
14:06
that would not otherwise be seen on a regular day.
14:11
Or if there are a lot of people,
14:13
they won't be seen.
14:14
They are very elusive,
14:15
just like geese,
14:16
which is why we are setting this up tonight.
14:19
Geese are nocturnal or more active at night.
14:22
If there is a movement,
14:23
the camera will activate
14:25
and it will take a video or photos.
14:27
There is also a chance that
14:29
it will go to their backyard.
14:31
We have installed a camera trap
14:35
in their backyard.
14:36
They always go there.
14:39
There is a place near their house
14:41
that geese always go to.
14:44
That is where we will set up
14:45
the second camera trap.
14:49
This is where they go in and out.
14:51
They will go in here
14:53
and then they will stay here.
14:54
It is more suitable here
14:56
compared to other places in their area.
15:03
Geese's offspring,
15:05
Ussleas,
15:06
are elusive
15:07
but love to feed
15:09
on different plants.
15:12
This is why
15:14
it is permissible in their area.
15:17
Their teeth are very sharp.
15:21
Actually,
15:22
their lips are very thick
15:25
and very sharp.
15:27
That is why they grow teeth.
15:30
There is also a time
15:31
when they die one by one.
15:33
They die.
15:34
For example,
15:35
we have a lot of mango trees
15:37
and they eat the mangoes
15:39
when they fall.
15:40
Then they drown the seed.
15:43
They hide inside the eggs
15:46
so don't feed them.
15:49
And there is a place
15:51
where they go back and forth
15:53
to rest.
15:54
This is the place
15:55
where the geese go
15:57
to rest at night.
16:01
If you think about it,
16:03
you have a stream of water
16:05
where they can drink
16:07
and this is where
16:09
they lay their eggs.
16:11
Look at this.
16:13
Look at this.
16:15
The geese,
16:16
especially the males,
16:18
they lay their eggs here.
16:20
They lay their eggs here
16:22
so you can see the eggs.
16:24
This is another one.
16:26
There.
16:27
And this one.
16:28
There.
16:30
They lay their eggs here
16:32
because it grows.
16:34
Sometimes,
16:35
they remove the eggs
16:37
so they can lay their eggs again.
16:41
With the help of the camera trap,
16:43
we will try to find out
16:44
what species of geese
16:46
live here.
16:49
Let's find out.
16:56
A dog.
16:57
A dog ate it.
17:02
We saw blood.
17:06
I hope they didn't come last night.
17:10
We reviewed the one
17:12
that we installed here
17:14
outside.
17:15
We couldn't figure out
17:16
if this is a real geese
17:17
because there's fog.
17:19
There's a thin layer of fog
17:21
on the ground.
17:23
At first,
17:24
you might think
17:25
it's just a goat or a dog.
17:26
But upon close inspection,
17:28
you can see the shape of the eyes,
17:30
the head, the body,
17:31
and the lights
17:33
and below the eyes,
17:35
the characteristic size
17:37
in comparison to the body.
17:42
And the distinct ears.
17:44
This is a real geese.
17:49
According to Erwin Agbayani,
17:50
the chief of the Conservation
17:52
and Development Section
17:53
of the Municipal Environment
17:54
and Natural Resources Office,
17:55
or MENRO,
17:58
Philippine Deer are the species
17:59
of geese that we caught.
18:02
It's one of the largest
18:03
species of geese
18:04
found in the Philippines.
18:06
It's possible that
18:07
the geese were caught
18:09
in the mountains nearby.
18:12
This is the Philippine Deer,
18:13
Asperdau 2019-09.
18:16
This is an endangered species
18:18
here in the Philippines.
18:20
Based on hundreds of years of observation,
18:22
there's no increase.
18:24
It's just the same number
18:25
of missing geese.
18:27
We couldn't count them all
18:29
when we were here.
18:31
Although their movement is limited,
18:34
the geese are able to live
18:36
and breed freely.
18:39
This is something that
18:40
each of them needs
18:41
to be able to maintain
18:42
their species.
18:45
No matter how large
18:46
the range of geese here,
18:48
they still need permission
18:50
from the government
18:51
before raising them.
18:54
That's why Judith
18:55
has a Certification of Wildlife Registration
18:57
since 2005.
19:01
The good thing about a wildlife
19:03
is that it's still free-ranging
19:05
even if it's in a cage.
19:08
At least they're practicing
19:10
what we're discouraging,
19:12
which is to have a domesticated one
19:15
because there are wildlife species
19:17
that need to be observed.
19:22
No matter how large
19:23
the geese they're chasing,
19:25
the geese have the right
19:27
to live without being cared for.
19:30
And hopefully,
19:31
the time will come
19:32
when the geese won't be able
19:34
to escape their paradise.
Recommended
19:45
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