Tarsier Sanctuary

writeonthespot
writeonthespot
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4 out of 5
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Editor Pick

Tarsier Sanctuary

  • January 19, 2008
  • Rated 3 of 5 by BytheBai from Brunswick, Georgia
Tarsier Sanctuary

You simply can't leave Bohol without getting up close and personal with a tarsier, a small creature that looks something like a cross between a miniature primate and a rat. At first I thought I would be a little bit disgusted by the creatures with their penetrating stares, not to mention that most of my experiences with 'wildlife' zoos in foreign countries have been disastrous (see trekking with camels in India and 'monkey puragatory' in Japan). So, I was a bit hesitant at first, but in the end I was pleased with the experience.

We went to a DNR-approved site, though, and I would highly recommend going to a site that has a similar state sanctioning. We were first taken into a separate cage and allowed to hold baby monkeys and to look at the native bats and flying lemurs (some of the strangest creatures I have ever seen!). Then we were brought into the tarsier cage where the soft furries were clinging to bamboo branches and peaking out at the many tourists cooing at them. None of the tarsiers moved voluntarily while I was there, but fortunately tourists weren't permitted to touch them or take flash photographs. Occasionally, however, the caretakers would place a tarsier on a tourists arm, but on the whole the animals seem to be well-treated.

Besides the animals, there was a dearth of any other sort of information about the creatures, their habitat, eating habits, or anything else. But it was simply amazing to see this creature which, before this trip, I would have thought was simply mythical or something inspired by a horror tale. Their huge eyes peeping out left an indelible impression on me and I will forever associate Bohol with the tarsier. It also explains why nearly all the souvenir artifacts include images of the tarsier. The real things, as usual, aren't nearly as cute as the stuffed animals crafted in their likeness, but they are certainly more thought-producing with expressions that looked positively human at times.

From journal Bohol and Beyond

Editor Pick

Tarsier Sanctuary

  • April 18, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by writeonthespot from Bacolod, Philippines
Tarsier Sanctuary

The tarsier is one of the many jewels of Bohol. The Philippine Tarsier Foundation was set-up for the protection of this endangered species. A 20-hectare forest land is being conserved in Corella, Bohol where a natural sanctuary for the tarsiers was established. Inside the sanctuary, a Tarsier Center is found where information and necessary research materials about the species are kept. We were allowed to go deeper in the midst of the sanctuary and we found the tarsiers enjoying the freedom to roam and live without threats in their natural habitat. The sanctuary was far from other tourist spots but for one who is interested on this small primate and its protection, a visit to the Tarsier Center is educational. It provides visitors a first-hand experience and understanding why these small animals should be preserved and be allowed to live freely.

Eco-tourism is part of provincial and local offices in promoting awareness and involvement in preserving or saving species, whether animals or plants, and preventing the further degradation of natural resources. Eco-tourism activities do not only promote a place or the appreciation of natural beauty but also calls on the participation of locals and tourists in the global movement of saving mother earth. After our visit at the sanctuary, we felt that tarsiers should not be abused for entertainment purposes. Rather, we should do well to be able to co-exist with them.

From journal Nature's Treasures in Bohol

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