Environment invaders on GMA’s Born Impact

MANILA, Philippines - Today after AHA!, GMA 7’s Born Impact tackles alien species that create havoc in the natural environment.

From other countries, humans manage to get them into the Philippines purposefully or by accident.  In the absence of natural predators, they flourish, reproduce more quickly and become a threat to natural wildlife that they either eat or compete with for food. Eventually, they become “invasive,” taking over areas where native species once thrived.

According to the Invasive Alien Species group (IAS), the Philippines has over 47 invasive species, and most of them are the kinds that have a history of being the most damaging in other parts of the globe.

In two dams north of the Philippines, Doc Nielsen Donato searches for a feared fish called the “Black Mask” that is said to be invading the man-made reservoirs. The invasive fish possesses a snake-like appearance, razor-sharp teeth and eats other native fish.

Meanwhile, Doc Ferds Recio encounters turtles of an aggressive kind in Pampanga. With their long snout and tube-like nostrils that allow them to snorkel in shallow water, the turtles pack a nasty bite. But aside from their painful bite when provoked, local fishpond owners are more concerned that the invasive turtles are eating most of their fish leaving them bankrupt. 

Not all species eventually become invasive. Some fish species, for example, help increase fish stock and livelihood. The key is in studying their characteristics and potential roles in the ecosystem to which they are introduced.