Rat Eating Plant In The Philippines
A new plant has recently been discovered in the Philippines and what a plant it is. This plant can eat rat! Its got a long Latin name that I shouldn’t bother to repeat, who cares, the thing eats rats! However the name of this plant is Nepenthes attenboroughii.
Nepenthes attenboroughii
It has upside down bell in which insects and small animals can crawl into and then become trapped by the liquid within that belly. What a cool plant!
Don’t plan on going out to find one on your own though, they are only found on one remote island and only about 200 of them. As cool as it would be to have one, with numbers this low it would also be wrong. It would be nice though if they manage to grow these in the lab and make them available to those that want one.
The plant so far has only been found in Mount Victoria, Palawan.
There has been lots of press about this plant “eats” rats. However, there is no documented cases of that. The scientist that discovered it say it is large enough to consume them but no rats have actually been seen within one of them. The belly of the plant is filled with two liquids, one is thick and the other much more liquid and even supports mosquito larvae. The scientist did say it is certainly large enough to trap a rat or other small animal.
I found a lot of misinformation about this plant before I found the truth.
Tagged with: Living In The Phlippines
Filed under: Living In The Philippines
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Rusty–That’s almost like “feed me Seymore!” It must be related to all those carnivorous plants like the pitcher plants and venus fly trap. Probably this plant wouldn’t be hungry enough to eat too many rats. Kind of scarey looking though, I wouldn’t want one in my garden. LOL Where did you find out about it?
I found it because I have various bots that seek out information about the Philippines and turned that up. I had to change my article a lot though after I found out most of what I found was going for the sensational and sometimes even described how it “eats.”
It is a pitcher plant. I just didn’t go into that.
Ii don’t thik its a matter of how hungry it is, its more if something falls in there it gets digested. I wish it wouldd digest the mosquito larvae.
Dude, as interesting as this article is, you do realize it is a bit hypocritical? I mean, you start out by saying it is a rat eating plant, right in the headline, then say you are a complete liar and that it doesn’t eat rats at all, and then complain about the amount of misinformation you find about it? Really, how did that string of logic work out in your head, because it sure doesn’t look too smart when you write it down and publish it like this.
Frank, your moma didn’t bring you up right, did she. I don’t believe I said I was a liar, you said I said that. I believe you are the one saying that.
You start out by telling me its interesting then you call me a liar and stupid.
Now perhaps, I should have explained that this plant is being referred to the rat eating planting in the Philippines, google it. People in the Philippines will be interested in it.
As for you, I suppose you are interested in a stupid story. It is being called a rat eating monkey by most of the people writing about it, it can eat rats, it almost surely has its just not documented.
Dude, you’ve been on the computer too much. Take a xanax.
Interestingly most of exotic wildlife left in Philippines is on Palawan island(s).
Thanks God not everyone is ready to accept the isolation of a wild life sanctuary like Palawan.
Unfortunately the demographic pressure in PR is so enormous that even the most remote places will soon be populated.
I understand that population explosion is beyond any control in PR and that spells trouble for everyone,… people, plants and animals.
When I hear some people calling progress the number of new WAL-MART stores being built each month, I get goose bumps…. but the number of peoples and the number of new stores goes hand in hand, isn’t it ?
When is the next WAL-MART opening on Palawan ?
Scary subject !!! No kidding.
P.S. Rather than using word DUDE how about FRIEND or BROTHER or SISTER. After all black americans may be right, at least through that word (brother or sister) they express a certain degree of respect towards each other. I like that approach.
I don’t care if he calls me dude or brother if he follows it with liar, it wont matter much.
Wal-mart expands to the world? I think they’d probably tackle other places first. American’s go to Wal-mart just to get out of the house. Most Filipino spend what they must.
Hi Rusty,
Interesting. When you say that you found a lot of misinformation… what kind of misinformation did you find? Also, how do you know for sure when bits of information are correct and which are not? Just curious.
When I fond information that was on reputable sites from reputable authors, I tended to put more stock in it.
Only two other articles referred to it as a plant capable of eating rats, most treated as if it had been found “eating” rats on a regular basis.
Most of the articles out there do not refer to the plant as it can eat rats but rather make it sound like more that’s all it eats. I saw articles that seem to be making up what the plant looks like. What they described wasn’t like the pictures I was seeing.
But basically, I considered the source.
Hi Rusty, well generally speaking, it is an interesting find, and one that sparks people’s curiosity and imagination. the Philippines are fortunate to have been the place for many new “firsts” or discoveries in plants, animals, ocean life etc. I agree with Robert that one hopes that wildlife areas will be more respected, and certain islands like Palawan will have protected areas. From what I read about the plant, it said that the plant was capable of trapping and devouring in their way, small animals like rats, but not as yet seen doing so.
We don’t really know what the missionaries that first reported the plants saw. They may have seen it. They were lost in the Jungle, I don’t know how long they were out there. The scientist that documented and named the plant said they didn’t see it. One would probably need to talk to the locals.
The Filipino seem to have some interest in protecting their environment. I hope that will continue and grow much stronger. When some people are going hungry though, its understandable why it may not be a top priority.
Rusty, I think one way locals can make money is through eco-tourism in still protected areas. That type of travel wouldn’t really interest me, but it’s a big business in many parts of the world, and it’s another income generating aspect of tourism I would think.
By Eco-tourism, you mean bridges and trails cut through the jungle? I’ve been doing that since I was in the fourth grade, that is visiting places like that. There is one on Bantayan Island but its not completely or perhaps Typhoon Frank unfinished it..
Just a walk way made of bamboo over the water that goes int he the Mangrove. Not a swamp, its salt water. It just goes to a dead end now. I’m told at high tide there are a lot of fish in the water there.
When I lived out in the sticks, I made a few trails of my own. LOL
Well Rusty, on a local level, things like that I guess. Islands like Palawan and other islands that are blessed with all kinds of natural wonders like caves, rivers waterfalls exotic wildlife can benefit from visits from eco-tourist type travelers. You’d like to hope and plan though, that the natural beauty can benefit the local people more than the tourists. An example being Boracay, where tourism has flourished at the expense of the local people.
I would love to visit there someday. Not in my near future. Sounds beautiful but there are also charges of some military officers being linked to kidnappings. I don’t know if true but resorts have been the target of kidnappings. Too many unanswered question that demand an answer. Sounds like the place is beautiful!
hey, i think that
title is wrong, i think that
title should be
plant eating rat
Hey Kit,
Don’t you think that if you’re going to correct someone else’s grammar that you should use proper grammar in the process?
You’re probably correct, though though I’m not 100% certain of that.
really interesting topic for my thesis, are we allowed to go in palawan and study the plant?
Camille,
I don’t know. Step one of your thesis might be finding that out. Though my guess is anyone could slip off into the jungle. Finding the plant without some help from the locals might be really hard. I think i read there are only around 200 of them.
I know I would love to know more about it.
well i don’t know about this species, but pitcher plants are found all over the world.
Are you typing that there are kidnappings in Palawan? Especially by the military. & Palawan was high on my list to visit…….i2f
I said there have been accusations of military involvement in the kidnappings in that area. I’m not aware of any military officials being charged with any crimes regarding this. One American victim of the crimes wrote a book regarding her experience. If you search Amazon, I think you can find it.
Rusty, this is the third time that I have passed by your site to do some casual reading. I commend you on your commitment to self-expression for the sake of self-expression alone! Also, I learned important information about Philippine immigration requirements from reading on your site.
When I read your story about the plant that may eat rats, I had no impression other than that your tone was anecdotal. It did not sound as if you were writing for National Geographic and attempting to lay down botanical facts; so I can’t agree with some of the criticism you took on it. Stay real in your writing! The tone of it sounds genuine. Hope to interact with you again!
Regards,
Demi
There was a kidnapping of tourists on Palawan that was carried out by Moro rebels or pirates- or whatever other moniker they operate under. Moving about in the “developing countries” requires traveling with an awareness that is completely different than the cautionary awareness we apply in the First World. Palawan, pristine paradise that it is, how many would-be backpackers with a dream to hike through its tropical mountains, would ever speculate on the possibility of hazards- like the super-resistant strain of malaria that makes its’ home somewhere up there. I remember reading an article in the past few years about some journalists who went there to write about the malaria somewhere in the mountains there; and they all wound up dead! Two years ago I met some young college students who were in Thailand, in the Chiang Mai area, and were planning to hike up in the mountains(The Triangle of Thailand, Laos and Burma) to see the Li-Su tribal people. (I do not know if they were really going there to look for drugs). To them it seemed just like a great adventure, and I could see in their eyes and hear it in their voices, that they were enchanted by exotic appeal of it all. I was just amazed by their innocence. That they never gave a thought to the hazards that such isolated tribes, living without the amenities of modern medical protocols, could present to them amazed me. They thought my warnings of exposure to possible TB or other diseases was just the fear-mongering of an outdated adult.
My point is that, as travelers, we should add several more dimensions to our perspective on the places we visit. There are all sorts of possible dangers. Knowledge is power! Bogs like this one are a great way to absorb such valuable information.
Hi Rusty,
Although the military has been dragged into some incident of this kind, I think it may not be Palawan.
You may be referring to the story of Gracia Burnham, who in 2001 was part of a group abducted by an Islamic fundamentalist group in one of the resorts in this island and taken down farther south of the Philippines.
Palawan is still one of the top destinations here. I haven’t been to Palawan yet (it tops my list), but my dad whose work assignment is in this island only has great things (and photos) to say about the place. One of the island’s top destinations – the northern frontier – he says, is absolutely breathtaking.
Dexter
Hi Rusty,
The military has been dragged into some incidents in the past but I think it was somewhere farther down south, under different circumstances.
You may be referring to the story of Gracia Burnham, back in 2001. A group of visitors in one of the resorts there were taken by an Islamic extremist group and brought to the southernmost part of the Philippine island of Mindanao.
I haven’t been to Palawan yet (I hope to visit soon) but my dad frequents the province as it’s his place of assignment and can only say good things about “The Last Frontier”. Some forests are practically untouched (protected areas) and the beaches especially up in the north, are breathtaking.
Dexter
this is a little off topic but speaking of rats,one predawn morning on bantayan i was sitting in my courtyard drinking coffee and sipping rhum, a very large grandaddy type rat was foraging for food nearby,we were both aware of each other but had taken the truce[if you don't bother me i'll do the same, all the while i was wondering about all the semi feral cats that frequent the area,i had just pondered the possibility,when suddenly one cat casually walked by,the rat noticed the cat right away but apparently dismissed it as not a concern,the cat on the other hand suddenly decided it had a pressing engagement elsewhere[dammed-est thing i ever saw].and another thing i noticed that most of the cats have short[bobed] tails i assumed that they were some inbred mixture of a manx,but was informed by a reliable source that local cats carry their newborns by the tail [as apposed by the nap of their necks] resulting in damage to their normally long tails
I’ve seen lots of long tailed cats in the Philippines.
I’m having a hard time buying the damaged tail story. Though I have seen several bobbed tailed cats too. They look damaged too. They appear to have tangled with a car and lost I ain’t gonna believe the carry by the tail thing till i see it but I wont be surprised if I do. haha Even lions and other wild animals in Africa and the rest of the world use the nap of the neck. I’m having a hard time buying the Philippine cats do it different.
I have a smile on my face though, time will tell the tale of the tail i guess.
bernie first told me this and being the natural born skeptic i am, several other locals told me the same,they didn’t believe normal cats carried their new kittens any other way,hmmm maybe the rats chewed them off
Maybe its something on Bantayan, I need to investigate, lets go now.
I asked Jessie about this last night. I started off just by asking her how cats carry their kittens in the Philippines. She told me by the neck.
Then I told her what you said. So it isn’t a Philippine thing but who knows there could be some kind of freaky sub-species on the Island.
I’d like to find out more.