Reading the Philippines Lonely Planet we learned about the Tarsier, commonly known as the world’s smallest monkey. Sara fell in love instantly upon seeing their furry little heads, big golden brown eyes and thin long fingers. In our Lonely Planet on page 333, it talks about the Tarsier Foundation (http://www.tarsierfoundation.org), and how it maintains a shelter for the Philippines Tarsier in their own outdoor facility because these monkeys don’t need to be incarcerated but treated fairly.
We had planned on visiting the foundation and sanctuary as part of our trip because we felt it to be the right thing to do for these small primates. The sanctuary is on the outskirts of Sikatuna about ten-miles from Loboc or twenty-two miles from Tagbilaran City. Hoping our tour included this stop Sara inquired of our guide Gailyn about the Tarsier. “We will be there shortly,” she replied. Not even five minutes later our driver Elmer pulled over at a roadside shack with a large banner declaring “Tarsier Center.”
Climbing out of the car we immediately looked at each other over the roof of the car. “This cannot be it,” James stated to Sara. “I know. This is definitely not what we wanted,” she replied closing her car door. They had done it again, taking us to another location just as the guidebook had warned. This too made James sad, and contemplate, why don’t they understand the benefits of a research facility for the greater good of this species? Money, it’s always about someone else making a quick buck.
Deciding he wouldn’t be getting anywhere near the research center or boycotting this stop and not seeing the little monkeys at all, James decided to hang back. When his guide approached him she asked, “don’t you want to see the little monkeys?” “Honestly, I do. I would like to see them, but I cannot condone going here. This is not the Research Foundation this is just someone trying to make money off tourists. It makes me sad. I’d prefer to stand by the car until Sara comes out.” The guide blushed then walked away.
Tarsiers are commonly known as “the world’s smallest monkey,” because of their physical characteristics. There are four species around the world in Borneo, Sumatra, Sulwesi, and the Philippines. These tiny primates live in secondary forests and dense patches or thickets of bush, tall grass and bamboo. On average the Philippine Tarsier weighs around 120 grams (4.23 ounces) standing at a maximum height of 100 millimeters (3.93 inches). Additionally their tails (189 to 293 mm / 7.44 to 11.53 inches) are considerably longer than their body and it is used as a functioning fifth limb.
Similar to a monkey they have a flattened face, round skull, erect posture and a haemochrial placenta. Their ears resemble a bat’s in both shape and size. Unique to them are their eyes. They are twice as large as those of humans but are incapable of seeing out the corners. A bonus they can rotate their heads up to 180 degrees, enabling it to leap backward with high precision. With the help of adhesive discs on the soles or its fore and hind limbs, they can cling to branches either vertically or horizontally. They are a nocturnal creature, sleeping during the day and awaken at sundown. It feeds on crickets, beetles, termites and other insects. Sometimes it will eat lizards, small fish, young birds, frogs, mice and crabs ingesting them lice.
With a heightened sense of hearing it protects its eyes by keeping them closed until their prey is inside the mouth. They are able to consume 10 to 12 grams (.35 to .42 oz) of food per day. A pregnant female can eat twice that amount. The Philippine tarsier is extremely shy and nervous despite its cuddly looks and proportions. Currently this little monkey is on the threatened endangered list due to neglect of unenlightened tourists and collectors smuggling them for pets.
You Can Help Preserve the Tarsiers by:
- Not keeping tarsiers as pets
- Not buying captured tarsiers in the pet market
- Reporting cases of hunting, killing or smuggling of tarsiers; as a specially protected faunal specie (Proclamation 1030, such acts prohibited)
- Not patronizing outlets displaying illegally-acquired tarsiers
- Sending donations to duly recognized bodies promoting tarsier research and conservation
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