This is my hometown, Bohol.. famous for its "Chocolate Hills" and Tarsiers
My parents are from the Province of Bohol in the Visayan Region and I was born there, too but I grew up in Manila. I was two years old then when my father, a licensed Electrical Engineer decided to take us with him to Manila because of his job. His first job was a teaching profession at the Ateneo de Manila at that time.
My birthplace is the home of the Philippine tarsier (Tarsius Syrichta) which is a very eccentric small animal. It is one of the smallest known primates no larger than an adult men’s hand. It is active during the night and lives on a diet of insects. It can be found in the islands of Samar, Leyte, Mindanao and in my hometown, Bohol in the Philippines. There are three different species in our country : T. Philippensis (Samar & Leyte), T. Fraterculus (Bohol) and T. Carbonarius (Mindanao).
I'm holding a cute little tarsier
Tarsiers of the Province of Bohol, Philippines
The species is believed to be about 45 million years old, dating back to the early Eocene period, and probably one of the oldest land species continuously existing in the Philippines.
The Philippine tarsier, however, is known to be a solitary animal, which values its freedom and privacy. It rarely lives long in captivity. It has been reported that some tarsiers were so traumatized by captivity that they committed suicide by beating their heads against the cages.
If no action is taken, the tarsier might not survive. Although it is a protected species, and the practice of catching them and then selling them as stuffed tarsiers to tourists has stopped, the species is still threatened by the destruction of his natural forest habitat. Many years of both legal and illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture have greatly reduced these forests, and reduced the tarsier population to a dangerously small size. If no action is taken now, the Philippine tarsier can soon be added to the list of extinct species.
The Philippine tarsier, however, is known to be a solitary animal, which values its freedom and privacy. It rarely lives long in captivity. It has been reported that some tarsiers were so traumatized by captivity that they committed suicide by beating their heads against the cages.
If no action is taken, the tarsier might not survive. Although it is a protected species, and the practice of catching them and then selling them as stuffed tarsiers to tourists has stopped, the species is still threatened by the destruction of his natural forest habitat. Many years of both legal and illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture have greatly reduced these forests, and reduced the tarsier population to a dangerously small size. If no action is taken now, the Philippine tarsier can soon be added to the list of extinct species.
These are domesticated tarsiers and they don't bite
Mother and baby tarsier ... So cute, they are hugging each other !!!
Here are some facts about the Philippine Tarsier :
General. The Philippine tarsier has a gray fur and a nearly naked tail. The middle finger is elongated. Head and body length are around 118-149 mm; It weighs 113-142 grams. Males are larger than females.
Eyes. In comparison with his body size, the eyes of the tarsier are enormous. In volume, the capacity of the bony eye orbits, or eye sockets, is larger than that of the brain case, and also larger than its stomach. Their eye sockets have post-orbital closure rather than the postorbital bar of the prosimians. This feature keeps the eyeballs from being pressed against by the powerful temporal muscles to their sides.
Huge round eyes
Tail. The tarsier has a relatively very long tail (232 mm), generally naked except for a tuft of hair at its end. The underside has dermal ridges like those found on human hands and feet. Its tail is used for balancing like a tripod; they prefer an erect posture at all times.
Very long tail
Head. Like an owl, the tarsier has a joint between its skull base and spine to allow head movement of a 180-degree arc. Its upper lip lacks a cleft yet, but still has muscles, so that it can make facial expressions. The adult brain weighs about 4 grams.
Like an owl that can move its head 180 degrees
Teeth. Tarsiers have sharp teeth, enabling them to catch their prey easier. Unique among primates, tarsiers have only two, rather than four, incisors in their lower jaw. Their dental formula is 2.1.3.3 1.1.3.3 x 2 = 34.
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| Tarsier has sharp teeth |
Ankle bones. The name "tarsier" or "tarsius" is derived from the animal's very long ankle bones. The tibia and fibula of the tarsiers are fused in their lower portions, acting as a shock absorber. This is considered a primitive trait, which can normally be seen in quadrupeds. The lower limbs are twice the length of its trunk. These enable the tarsier to leap about three meters from tree to tree. Its movements are similar to that of a frog.
The long ankle bones enable it to leap three meters from tree to tree
Habitat. Tarsiers are arboreal. They live in and around the base of tree trunks and the roots of plants such as bamboo. They can occasionally be found in holes are at the top of trees. In Mindanao, tarsiers appear to thrive best in second or third growth thickets along the coast and in the valleys.
Behavior. The Philippine tarsier is nocturnal; they hunt at night, exclusively for animal prey. At day time, they hide in hollows close to the ground. When kept in captivity, individuals may huddle together or intertwine their tails. They are believed to live in groups, larger than just one male and one female. The female appears to take care for the young exclusively: no male parental care has been observed.
Diet. Tarsiers live exclusively on animal prey. Their diet includes primarily insects such as cockroaches and crickets, but may occasionally be extended with reptiles, birds, and bats. A Philippine tarsier in captivity will eat live shrimp and fish in a bowl of water.
They love insects
Sounds. The tarsier produces a number of different calls. The loud call is a loud piercing single note. When opponents meet, they produce a soft sweet bird-like trill. When several individuals communicate, they can produce a locust-like chirping. Females have a specials sound to indicate that they are fertile.
Scent Marks. Male tarsiers have epigastric glands, which they use for scent marking
Just recently my father, Engr. Arsenio D. Mesiona made a write-up on the Tarsier Conservation and I wanted to share this with you :
Tarsier Conservation
by Arsenio Digal Mesiona on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 10:39pm
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR A PTFI (Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc.) & BISU (Bohol Island State University) COLLABORATION FOR TARSIER CONSERVATION
By Engr. Arsenio Digal Mesiona
Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc.
Km. 14 Canapnapan, Corella, Bohol 6300 Philippines
Telephone: (0912) 516-3375
E-mail: tarsier@mozcom.com
Introduction.
Sometime in early 1996, a group of concerned Boholano advocates of biodiversity conservation saw the need to address the plight of the endangered indigenous Philippine tarsier specie tarsius syrichta.
Accordingly, on April 17, 1996, the Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc. was registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission with the following objectives:
a) tarsier habitat management and protection;
b) community organization and management to support biodiversity conservation;
c) research on ecology and biology of the tarsier, and
d) ecotourism.
Shortly thereafter, the Philippine Tarsier Conservation Program was initiated as a collaborative undertaking between the DENR and the PTFI thru a memorandum of agreement with the following mandates:
1. Conservation and preservation of habitat ofthe threatened Philippine tarsier as the main objective of the project.
2. Promote tarsier conservation as an eco-tourism product in the province since Bohol is a favored tourism destination in the Philippines. It will play a major role in the success of an eco-tourism program in the province. Once appropriate policies and management strategies are established by the local gov't units, both conservation and development efforts can provide corollary livelihood & employment opportunities for the local population.
3. As vehicle for public environmental awareness. Through the use of facilities to be established at the Philippine Tarsier Research Center and a Wildlife Sanctuary for teaching purposes, environmental awareness and the conservation message can be extended to all walks of life, the local communities, and other groups, both local and foreign.
4. For research purposes. Since very little isknown about the Philippine tarsier, there exist a very strong need to provide and support a research program for both national and internationa lprimatologists and wildlife biologists wishing to come to Bohol to study the tarsiers in their natural habitat.
Thru the efforts of PTFI and strong endorsements by the DENR, Proclamation No. 1030 was issued on June 23, 1997 by then President Fidel Ramos declaring the Philippine tarsier (Tarsius Syrichta) as a Specially Protected Faunal Species of the Philippines.
In pursuit therefore, the hunting, killing, wounding, taking away or possession of the Philippine tarsier and the conduct of activities destructive of its habitat are prohibited. However, the possession of the Philippine tarsier for educational, scientific or conservation-centered research purposes may be allowed upon certification by the DENR Secretary.
To ensure the effective enforcement of this prohibition, the DENR is directed to spearhead the undertaking of all activities leading to the establishment ofappropriate sanctuaries to preserve and protect the species, as prescribed under the provisions of Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1991.
The DENR is also tasked to collaborate with other concerned government agencies, NGO's, local government units and local communities in the conduct of accelerated and expanded field researches and to avail of financial support and technical cooperation from local and international entities, as may be deemed necessary to implement the provisions of Proclamation 1030.
With these policy developments and support of the national as well as the provincial government, the PTFI was able to put up and made operational the facilities of the Tarsier Sanctuary in Barangay Canapnapan, Corella, Bohol.
On the other hand, one of the higher educational institutions in the province is the Bohol Island State University (BISU) which just recently got its charter as a full-fledged public university in late 2009.
As stated in its charter's general mandate provision, the university shall primarily provide advanced education, professional and technological instruction in the fields of allied medicine, education, engineering, agriculture, fisheries, environment, arts and sciences, accountancy, cooperative, business and entrepreneurship, technology and other relevant fields of study. It shall also undertake research and extension services, and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization. Also, in its efforts to enhance its faculty development and competency enhancement initiatives, research activities are encouraged to all faculty members and students.
Currently, the university has ongoing collaborative undertakings with local and foreign higher educational institutions. Among these, in particular, is a joint research project with the De La Salle University and Texas A&M University (USA) to study Philippine tarsiers at its facilities in Bilar Campus and around the province engaging BISU faculty and students.
Challenges In Local Tarsier Conservation.
While the PTFI has advanced the conservation cause of thePhilippine tarsier in the province of Bohol, particularly borne out by results at its Tarsier Sanctuary facilities at Corella, Bohol, there are unmistakable indications of non-sustainability of its long term operations unless addressed with sufficient affirmative actions.
Meanwhile, the apparent success of advocating tarsier viewing as an eco-tourism commercial product package has placed a great strain in the advocacy efforts to engender the protection and conservation of the Philippine tarsier in the island ofBohol. With the cuddly cutie gaining a premium place in the economic value chain of our tourism product menu, there is a prevailing suspicion that there exist a systematic illegal trade or collection of tarsiers from the wild. This is borne out by statistical records of the peculiarity that in the last three years (2007 – 2009) there is no reported mortality at the DENR authorized tourist tarsier viewing facilities in the municipality of Loboc, Bohol. This contradicts the accepted norm that tarsiers do not live long while in captivity and in inadequate surroundings, not even considering their delicate dietary requirements.
A Synergy of Capabilities.
Considering the current situation, there exists a definite need to pool the capabilities andresources of both PTFI and BISU in order to advance the cause of Philippine tarsier conservation, even if only in Bohol. This can be a catalytic move for both institutions, together with the active involvement/support of national line agencies, like the DENR, DOT & DOST as well as the local government units.
PTFI, having acquired the mandate and privilege to be the lead agency tasked by government to advocate Philippine tarsier conservation, should consider synergistic arrangements with other institutions with a similar vision and goals as they have set forth in their charters.
With BISU's built-in academic capabilities and resources, it can provide the necessary complement for PTFI's requirement for an institutional capacity to undertake research on ecology and biology of the tarsier. BISU also has its Hotel & Restaurant Management and Tourism curricula, with its faculty and students, to assist PTFI in any undertaking it may engage in the area of tourism associated facilities and services. There are other areas in expertise and assets waiting to be tapped and exploited by both BISU and PTFI to advance common objectives.
The Institutional Arrangement.
To realize and institutionalize the foregoing possibilities of engagement, it is proposed that an agreement be entered into both by PTFI and BISU to advance and launch this mutually beneficial undertaking.
For consideration by the managements of PTFI and BISU.
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(1) Engr. Arsenio D. Mesiona is an alumnus of Holy Name University (High School, 1961) and the University of San Carlos (Engineering, 1966). He served as Tagbilaran City Office of the Mayor consultant (Sept. '09 – June '10), SSS Office of the President consultant (Aug.'08 – June '10), CHED Office of the Chairman consultant (2 years) and NEDA Office of the Director General consultant (3 years). He also served as member of the Board of Trustees of then Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry & Technology (CVSCAFT), the forerunner of Bohol Island State University (BISU).
The Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Corella, Bohol. It is an arm of the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc. (PTFI), a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 1996 to find ways to conserve as well as to promote the tarsier of Bohol. In 1997, with the signing of the MOA between DENR and PTFI the Tarsier Conservation Program was created.
Deep in the secondary growth forest foothill of Corella town, in the interior part of Bohol, is an institution dedicated to the preservation and scientific researches on the endemic tarsier of Bohol. This is the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary of Canapnapan, Corella Bohol, a project of the foundation primarily established with the Program Goal of:
1. To protect the Philippine Tarsier and its habitat from extinction through increased environmental awareness, research programs and establishment of protected areas for wildlife in the Province of Bohol
2. To provide economic and social development opportunities to the local population through the introduction of eco-tourism-related livelihood endeavors.
