Tarsier

How to go there

The Philippine Tarsier foundation offers viewing of the tarsier in their natural habitat at the The Philippine Tarsier Foundation. But in our case, we hired a rent-a-van service to tour us in Bohol. Kuya Lito (our driver) brought us to a viewing area owned by a local breeder of tarsiers in Bohol, located near the Loboc river cruise.

I heard that there’s also a viewing area in the river cruise, where the tarsiers are caged. This is not the same area that we went to though.

What to see

The tarsiers in the viewing area we went to are kept in a distance from people by a ‘bakod’ or fence. They hang on to a 5-foot tall plants the owner had prepared for them. They are also protected from the sunlight as they are kept in a ‘kubo’(hut)-like viewing area.

Kuya Lito and the caretaker warned us of the creatures sensitivity. No flash photography is allowed as tarsiers are nocturnal animals, and gets scared of the flash’s beaming light.

Prior to our visit there, I have already heard the news that viewing tarsiers has been prohibited, but it’s actually just touching and holding of the animals that were disallowed.

Find the tarsier

The tarsiers are the second smallest primate in the world. This animal’s wide-eyed, little face and small body frame is just as big as my hands.

We also learned of the tarsiers suicidal tendencies. According to Kuya Lito(our driver and tour guide), the tarsier kills itself whenever it gets depressed by hitting it’s head to a hard object.

Tips and Traps

• No entrance fee is needed, but a donation box is appreciated at the viewing area.

Fees and Fares of this Tour

Van rental : P2000 (inclusive of seven tourist spots)

More pictures of Tarsiers and Bohol here:

(click on the picture to view the album)