The natural forests of Bohol were once the only known habitat of the Philippine tarsier. But in recent years, it was discovered that the world’s smallest primate also lives in forested areas of Samar and Leyte and in the islands of Dinagat and Siargao.
In Mindanao, sightings of tarsiers have been reported in South Cotabato and Sarangani (particularly in the forests of Maitum). In Davao Region, colonies of tarsiers have been found in barangay Bobon in Mati City, Davao Oriental and barangay Suaon in Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
So, it’s not surprising that in the towns of New Corella and Asuncion, both in Davao del Norte, tarsiers also abound. In fact, two tarsiers (a male and a female) coming from the two municipalities were released at the Tagum Botanical Park in barangay San Agustin last year. A third tarsier was found by a farmer just near the park.
“While tarsiers in Tagum are not really endemic to this rapidly urbanizing hub, the local government here is keen in offering its green parks as an alternative sanctuary to these tiny animals,” said Louie Bryan M. Lapat, the city’s information officer III.
The Tagum Botanica Park occupies 31 hectares and is planted with local and introduced species of trees. Although hilly in nature, the park is blanketed with a canopy of trees.
“While some parts of the park are devoted for human activities, a large part of the park is still devoid of human intervention,” Lapat said. “Because noise easily stresses tarsiers, the Tagum Botanic Park is a perfect place for them since it is peaceful and silent. It’s like an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city.”
Although tarsiers may be cute and cuddly, they should not be kept as pet. In fact, they don’t fare well in captivity. “A tarsier sanctuary in Tagum may sound cool but a veterinarian said that it’s better to let the tarsiers live in their natural habitat,” Lapat pointed out.
If there’s a local wildlife species that immediately comes to mind at the mere mention of the word “threatened,” it’s the Philippine tarsier. In 1996, the International Union Center for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Animals classified it under the “near-threatened category.”
On the other hand, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listed the Philippine tarsier under Appendix II, which means trade of the species and subspecies “is strictly regulated.”
“Both listing mean that the species is not yet threatened with extinction but may become so if appropriate conservation measures and trade regulations are not carried out,” explained Dr. Wilfredo S. Pollisco, who was then director of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). PAWB is now known as Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB).
In 1997, then President Fidel V. Ramos signed Proclamation No. 1030 declaring the Philippine tarsier as “a specially protected faunal species of the Philippines.” As such, “the hunting, killing, wounding, taking away or possession of the Philippine tarsier” and activities that would destroy its habitats are strictly prohibited.
However, the law allows the possession of Philippine tarsier “for educational, scientific, or conservation-centered research purposes” upon the certification of the head of the environment department.
Contrary to what old biology textbooks claim, the Philippine tarsier is not “the smallest monkey in the world.” In fact, scientists don’t even consider it a monkey or ape at all. It is classified as primate, of which monkeys and humans also belong.
“The Philippine tarsier is found in various habitats, particularly in dense patches of bushes, tall grasses, bamboos, and small trees in tropical rainforest,” informed Dr. Corazon Catibog-Sinha, then the PAWB assistant director when interviewed by this author.
Known locally as maomag or mago, Philippine tarsier can also be found in abandoned clearings with new growths of medium-height plants, both in the lowlands and at medium elevations.
In the past, they used to be common in coastal forest near rivers and creeks. They have also been sighted at the base of the tree trunks and roots of bamboo but rarely in cavities at the tree tops.
“The Philippine tarsier stands about 5 inches tall – small enough to fit snugly in the human hand,” described an ad published by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT). “Its tail is about 9 inches long and partly covered with fur, arching over its back when it hops on the ground.”
To communicate with each other, Philippine tarsiers generally make chirping sounds similar to those made by locusts. They also occasionally make loud, shrill calls and soft bird-like noises.
One interesting fact about this primate is that they are considered nocturnal hunters (they normally sleep during the day and wake up at sundown). They are well-equipped for stalking insects, lizards and small amphibians at night. Their main hunting tools are their huge eyes, each of which is bigger than their entire brain. One point of interest: tarsiers do not feed on dead animals.
The PAWB shares the following information about the Philippine tarsier:
• The Philippine tarsier produces a strong smell during the breeding season. This is believed to be crucial for socialization and sexual communication. Estrus occurs at 24-day intervals, during which courtship and copulation take place.
• After copulation in captivity, tarsier females have been observed to develop vaginal plugs – something like a natural chastity belt.
• Tarsier pregnancy lasts for about six month, giving birth to only one offspring each year. A new born tarsier can already cling to branches; less than a month after birth the young starts leaping; in two months or so it is weaned from the mother.
• In captivity, tarsier mothers carry their young with their mouths when disturbed. Mothers park their young while they forage for good. No parental care has been observed in tarsier fathers.
• A tarsier’s lifespan in the wild may reach up to 24 years. In captivity, however, a tarsier’s life expectancy is little more than 12 years. Many tarsiers taken from the wild and placed in captivity survive only for two to five years.
• Some tarsiers captured and placed in enclosures have been reported to go wild, committing suicide by smashing their heads against objects.
In the 1960s, Philippine tarsiers used to abound, particularly in Bohol. One account said: “There were so many that many tarsiers were run over by passing cars. People recalled that masses of tarsiers used to cross the roads at night, doing their slow hop-crawl on the ground.”
But those were in the past. Today, their number is fast dwindling. The destruction of their known forest habitats is one of the main culprits. Indiscriminate and illegal logging, cutting of trees for firewood, kaingin (slash-and-burn farming) and urbanization patterns have encroached on the habitats of the tarsier.
Data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization showed that between 1990 and 2000, forested areas in the country decreased by 1.42% to 5,789,000 hectares from 5,871,000 hectares. In 2001 alone, the DENR recorded a loss of a total of 1,400 hectares of forestlands.
The unabated hunting of the species by humans for house pets or for trade has contributed to its decline as well. Because of its adorable and benign appearance, many have been lured to keep the Philippine tarsier as pets. This demand fuels the capture and illegal trade of the animal further diminishing its remaining number.
Philippine tarsiers also fell prey only to their natural enemies, such as civets and snakes.
“While the hunting and trade of tarsiers are now prohibited by law, people can still catch a glimpse of these fascinating creatures in captive breeding programs operated by private groups and local governments and sanctioned by the DENR,” the PLDT ad said.
