Cane toads and knife fish on 'Born to be Wild'

 

BORN TO BE WILD
June 23, 2019

In a study by the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service, invasive species are among the top 5 causes of biodiversity extinction around the world. The Philippines is no exception. The country also faces problems with alien species that pose threats to endemic plants and animals. But what exactly are these invasive alien species and how did they populate our ecosystem?

The wild vets investigate the invasive species that now affect both crops and fisheries. Farmers first thought that cane toads could help them eradicate bugs on their crops. But Doc Nielsen and the team document how the cane toad preys on everything including beneficial insects for the crops.

Doc Ferds revisits Laguna de Bay to find out more about the invasive knife fish which has populated the lake. The team in 2012 documented how the knife fish began to proliferate in the area, feeding on the smaller, native fish in Laguna de Bay. Today, Doc Ferds discovers that the knife fish, though an alien species, has fueled a booming industry. Fishers say they even export the fish to Thailand. But one problem remains: native fish species like the kanduli and ayungin have declined in numbers.

Catch ALIENS on Born to be Wild this Sunday, right after AHA!