It’s time to stop the Tarsier Abuse
Posted by on March 15, 2009
Two weeks ago, I was able to catch a show on local television which showed the grim state of the tarsiers in Bohol today. I was so shocked to see the video footages and photographs of the tarsiers commiting su|cide, or dying at an early age.
The show became an eye-opener for me as I was scheduled to go to Bohol three days after that TV show was aired.
When we arrived in Bohol, we were brought to a tarsier sanctuary. True enough, the tarsiers looked stressed. While they all look cute, being small and cuddly, it was also a pity seeing them in this sorry state.
Tarsiers are nocturnal animals. They are supposed to be asleep during day time.
While it is clear in the sanctuary rules that touching the tarsiers or taking photos with flash is prohibited, there are still some people, tourists included, that violates this very basic rule. I was so surprised to witness how these supposedly
guardians of tarsier, pulled one its the tiny primate’s tails and transferred it to another tree.
Isn’t it a form of animal abuse? It is the same keepers themselves who are violating the rules of the so-called sanctuary.
No one knows until when these tarsiers will roam the earth. Nobody seems to understand the need to protect this cuddly little creatures.
It is high time for us to support the call of the Bohol Provincial Government to close down these private sanctuaries and just turn over the tarsiers to the Official Sanctuary in Corella Bohol.
We need to get our act together to protect the tarsiers in Bohol, because of not, time will come when our great grand children will only get to see these cuddly tarsiers in books and encyclopedias.
I just visited Bohol two weeks ago. Actually, it’s my 3rd time to visit the place, once in every year.
Can’t imagine this abuse is happening on the only smallest living primate in the world.
Back in 2003, I encountered the tarsier in Loboc, it surprised me that I do not need to go to Corella to see them. I thought the owners probably had connections to be able to keep some for the tourists. It’s good that the government is doing these measures to protect the tarsiers. I agree, although I have to admit that I enjoyed the encounter, that they should give these endemic creatures a rest.
I went to Bohol 3 years ago. Hoping that i could see a tarsier and i failed. But im pretty amazed by the beaches in Panglao island. Wonderful beach!