Tarsiers of Bohol

Bohol may be famous for the Chocolate Hills. But no other resident from Bohol gathers as much attention as the Tarsiers. A common misconception is that these little critters are monkeys... not! The Tarsiers are close relatives to monkeys, chimps and apes but these primates are an evolved species on their own.

These adorable little critters  have a benign countenance that belie their ferocious countenance as hunters and predators. They feed mostly on live insects. Grasshoppers, locusts moths are their prime diet. They are also know to feed on spiders and lizards as well. They're equipped with the longest tarsals of any mammal which can allow them to jump to a height of three meters. Given that, they can jump from tree to tree without even touching the ground. 

They have a hunting range that averages six to ten hectares per animal. This makes them seem solitary animals but they do communicate through sound emitting a shrill cry to identify their mates and their young. They also mark their territory with scent from gland near the mouth (females) and urine (for males) so they can emit an pungent odor that may not augur well with their cute looks

They have the largest eye to head ratio among any mammal and they use their eyes when they hunt at night. Their eyes are fixed in their sockets and these animals adapt with a special neck that rotates 180 degrees. So I hope tourists to Bohol can read this article before they have an encounter with these creatures in the wild or in Tarsier reserves. DO NOT EVER use flash photography when you take their photos. These Flash bulbs are likely to make them blind. They use their eyes mainly when they hunt at night exposing them to bright lights will definitely impair their vision.

Also, do not attempt to squeeze them tightly and prevent them from jumping from your hands. They are well equipped for that. And remember, they are shy animals. They tend to live at least 24 years in the wild but less than half in captivity. They can pass on worms and parasites to humans as well as these tend to inhabit their fur. They also have small sharp teeth that can bite into flesh.

Tarsiers have shown a remarkable population re-growth as of late. The problem to their decline has been human capture to keep them as pets. They are also prone to be eaten by large predatory birds, feral cats. It's been discovered that when they roam freely, they have a tendency to mate and re-populate. In cages, they have an inbred instinct to bang their soft heads against their cages and commit suicide. None of them live to make babies... talk about birth control! :-)