Philippine Tarsier[1]
Conservation status
Data deficient (IUCN) [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Family: Tarsiidae Genus: Tarsius Species: T. syrichta
Binomial name
Tarsius syrichta (Linnaeus, 1758)
Geographic distribution of Philippine Tarsier

The Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta), known locally as the Mawmag in Cebuano/Visayan, is an endangered tarsier species endemic to the Philippines. It is found in the southeastern part of the archipelago, particularly in the provinces of Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao, Philippines.^[3] Its name is derived from its elongated "tarsus" or ankle bone.^[4] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x2400, 990 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Tarsier Bohol Philippine Tarsier User:Pinay06 ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in female mammary glands and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex region in... Families 15, See classification A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. ... Species Tarsius syrichta Tarsius bancanus Tarsius spectrum Tarsius dianae Tarsius pelengensis Tarsius sangirensis Tarsius pumilus Tarsiers (family Tarsiidae, genus Tarsius) are a genus of prosimian primates, previously classified as strepsirhines, but now classified as haplorhines, though still not considered to be monkeys. ... Species Tarsius syrichta Tarsius bancanus Tarsius spectrum Tarsius dianae Tarsius pelengensis Tarsius sangirensis Tarsius pumilus Tarsiers (family Tarsiidae, genus Tarsius) are a genus of prosimian primates, previously classified as strepsirhines, but now classified as haplorhines, though still not considered to be monkeys. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 384 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (660 × 1030 pixel, file size: 86 KB, MIME type: image/png) Geographic distribution of the Philippine Tarsier. ... Cebuano, also known as Sugbuanon, is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 18,000,000 people and is a subgroup or member of Bisaya, Visayan and Binisayâ. The name came from the Philippine island of Cebu, with the Spanish suffix -ano meaning native, of a place, added... Visayan may refer to: Visayan languages, spoken in the central Philippines. ... The Siberian Tiger is a subspecies of tiger that are critically endangered. ... Type species Lemur tarsier Erxleben, 1777 Species Tarsius syrichta Tarsius bancanus Tarsius tarsier Tarsius dentatus Tarsius lariang Tarsius pelengensis Tarsius sangirensis Tarsius pumilus The tarsiers are the members of the Tarsius genus of prosimian primates, monotypic in the Tarsiidae family and Tarsiiformes infraorder. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bohol Region: Central Visayas (Region VII) Capital: Tagbilaran City Founded: March 25, 1565 Population: 2000 census—1,137,268 (18th largest) Density—276 per km² (25th highest) Area: 4,117. ... Samar, formerly Western Samar, is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. ... This article is about the island. ... Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. ...

Its geographic range also includes Maripipi Island, Siargao Island, Basilan Island and Dinagat Island.^[2] Tarsiers have also been reported in Sarangani, although they may be different subspecies. Believed to be about 45 million years old,^[5] and perhaps one of the oldest land species to continuously live in the Philippines, it was only introduced to western biologists in the 18th century.^[6] Maripipi is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. ... Great surfing spot called Cloud 9. ... Basilan is an island of the Philippines, it contains Basilan Province and Isabela City, which is not part of the province anymore. ... Dinagat Island is a small island in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf in the province of Surigao del Norte. ... Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. ...

Anatomy and Morphology

The Philippine Tarsier is a tiny animal, measuring about 4 to 6 inches (15 cm) in height. The small size makes it difficult to discover. The average mass for males is around 134 grams, and for females, around 117 grams. The average adult is about the size of a human fist and will fit very comfortably in the human hand.

Like all tarsiers, the Philippine Tarsier has a round head that can be rotated 180 degrees. It has a special adaptation in the neck to do this, its eyes being fixed and not being able to move. The large membranous ears are mobile,^[7] appearing to be almost constantly moving, causing any movement to be heard. It has uniquely large goggling eyes (disproportionate to its head and body), listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest eyes on a mammal. Being nocturnal, having these huge eyes are perfect for night vision.^[8] A human eye Eyes are organs of vision that detect light. ... Guinness World Records 2007 edition. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in female mammary glands and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex region in...

The Philippine Tarsier has a thick and silky fur which is colored gray to dark brown. The thin tail is naked or bald except for a tuft of hair at the end, and is about twice the body length, usually used for balance. The feet has two grooming claws unlike most animals. The hind limbs are elongated and have disk-like pads on the fingertips that help it cling easily to trees. Its "tarsus" or ankle bone is elongated (hence the name) allowing it to jump at least 3 meters from tree to tree without having to touch the ground.^[8] The long digits are tipped with rounded pads that allow T. syrichta to grip almost any surface. The thumb is not truly opposable, but the first toe is. All of the digits have flattened nails, except for the second and third toes, which have sharp claws that are used for grooming.^[9]

The dental formula is 2:1:3:3 in the upper jaw and 1:1:3:3 in the lower jaw, with relatively small upper canines.^[7] Dentition is the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. ...

Range and Distribution

The Philippine Tarsier, as its name suggests, is endemic to the Philippine archipelago.^[10] Tarsius syrichta populations are generally found in the southeastern part of the archipelago. Established populations are present particularly on the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.[3] They have also been found on various isolated islands within its known range, such as Maripipi Island, Siargao Island, Basilan Island and Dinagat Island.^[2] REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bohol Region: Central Visayas (Region VII) Capital: Tagbilaran City Founded: March 25, 1565 Population: 2000 census—1,137,268 (18th largest) Density—276 per km² (25th highest) Area: 4,117. ... Samar, formerly Western Samar, is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. ... Leyte can refer to several things: Leyte, an island in the Phillipines, site of a major World War II battle Leyte Gulf, also in the Phillipines, and site of a WW II battle Leyte province, a province of the Phillipines, including most of Leyte island Southern Leyte, a province of... Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. ... Maripipi is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. ... Great surfing spot called Cloud 9. ... Basilan is an island of the Philippines, it contains Basilan Province and Isabela City, which is not part of the province anymore. ... Dinagat Island is a small island in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf in the province of Surigao del Norte. ...

Ecology and Life History

Tarsier tree climbing

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x2400, 722 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Philippine Tarsier ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x2400, 722 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Philippine Tarsier ...

Habitat

The Philippine Tarsier's habitat is the second growth, secondary forest, and primary forest from sea level to 700 m.^[10] Its habitat also include tropical rainforest with dense vegetation and trees that offer it protection like tall grasses, bushes and bamboo shoots. Tropic wet forests in the World Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, also known as tropical wet forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... Natural vegetation dominated by grasses Grass is a common word that generally describes a monocotyledonous green plant in the family Poaceae. ... Diversity Around 91 genera and 1,000 species Subtribes Arthrostylidiinae Arundinariinae Bambusinae Chusqueinae Guaduinae Melocanninae Nastinae Racemobambodinae Shibataeinae See the full Taxonomy of the Bambuseae. ...

Research findings also show that the Philippine Tarsier prefer dense, low-level vegetation in secondary forests, with perching sites averaging 2 meters above the ground.^[11]

Home range

Initial studies show that the Philippine Tarsier appears to have a home range of 1 to 2 hectares.^[3] Recent research shows that home ranges averaged 6.45 hectares for males and 2.45 hectares for females (MCP and Kernel 95%), allowing for a density of 16 male and 41 female tarsiers per 100 ha.^[12]

Research findings also show that while both male and female tarsiers are solitary animals, they cross each other's paths under the cover of nightfall as they hunt for prey. They travel up to one and a half kilometres across the forest and the optimal area is more than six hectares.^[13]

Ecosystem roles

Besides human hunters, feral cats banished from nearby communities are the species' main predators, though some large birds are known to prey on it as well.^[14] Because of its nocturnal and arboreal habits, the Philippine Tarsier is most likely to fall prey to owls, or to small carnivores which it can encounter in its canopy homes. Rescued feral kittens Most feral kittens have little chance of surviving more than a few months and are vulnerable to starvation, predators, disease and even flea-induced anemia[1][2]. Here, kittens from two feral litters are fostered by a domestic mother. ... Families Strigidae Tytonidae Ogygoptyngidae (fossil) Palaeoglaucidae (fossil) Protostrigidae (fossil) Sophiornithidae (fossil) Synonyms Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist Owls are a group of birds of prey. ...

Feeding Ecology

The Philippine Tarsier is carnivorous. Primarily insectivorous, its diet consists of live insects and is also observed to feed on spiders, small crustaceans, and small vertebrates such as small lizards and birds. Tarsius syrichta preys on live insects, particularly crickets and grasshoppers. Upon seizing its prey, the tarsier carries it to its mouth using both hands.^[3] This tigers sharp teeth and strong jaws are the classical physical traits expected from carnivorous mammalian predators A carnivore (IPA: ), meaning meat eater (Latin carne meaning flesh and vorare meaning to devour), is an animal that eats a diet consisting mainly of meat, whether it comes from live animals... Any organism with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures is an insectivore. ... Subfamilies See Taxonomy section Crickets, family Gryllidae (also known as true crickets), are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets (order Orthoptera). ... Families Superfamily: Tridactyloidea Cylindrachaetidae Ripipterygidae Tridactylidae Superfamily: Tetrigoidea Tetrigidae Superfamily: Eumastacoidea Chorotypidae Episactidae Eumastacidae Euschmidtiidae Mastacideidae Morabidae Proscopiidae Thericleidae Superfamily: Pneumoroidea Pneumoridae Superfamily: Pyrgomorphoidea Pyrgomorphidae Superfamily: Acridoidea Acrididae Catantopidae Charilaidae Dericorythidae Lathiceridae Lentulidae Lithidiidae Ommexechidae Pamphagidae Pyrgacrididae Romaleidae Tristiridae Superfamily: Tanaoceroidea Tanaoceridae Superfamily: Trigonopterygoidea Trigonopterygidae Xyronotidae Grasshoppers are herbivorous insects...

As predators, the Philippine Tarsier may help to structure insect communities. To the extent that it is preyed upon by other animals, it may impact predator populations. This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Biological interactions result from the fact that organisms in an ecosystem interact with each other, in the natural world, no organism is an autonomous entity isolated from its surroundings. ...

Behavior

The Philippine Tarsier is a shy nocturnal^[3] animal that leads a mostly hidden life, asleep during the day and only active to look for food during the night. During the day, it sleeps in dark hollows close to the ground, near the trunks of trees and shrubs deep in the impenetrable bushes and forests. They only become active at night, and even then, with their much better sight and amazing ability to maneuver around trees, are very well able to avoid humans.^[6] A bat illustrating nocturnal features. ...

It is arboreal^[3] and is a vertical clinger and leaper,^[7] habitually clinging vertically to trees and are capable of leaping from branch to branch. Having an elongated tarsus helps it in leaping. This article is about the biological organisms known as trees. ... FIG. 268– Bones of the right foot. ...

The Philippine Tarsier is solitary. However, it is found to have either monogamous or polygamous mating system.^[7] Look up Solitary in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Faithfulness redirects here. ... The term polygamy (many marriages in late Greek) is used in related ways in social anthropology, sociobiology, and sociology. ...

Communication

The Philippine Tarsier uses varied means of communication. Although less vocal than many primate species, it uses calls which are often associated with territorial maintenance and male-female spacing.^[3] Its "loud call" is a loud piercing single note. When content, it emits a sound similar to a soft sweet bird-like twill. And when several tarsiers come together, they have a chirping, locust-like sound.^[15] Desert locust Nymph of Locust Schistocera americana with distinct wing-rudiments Desert Locust Schistocerca gregaria Locust from the 1915 Locust Plague For other uses, see Locust (disambiguation). ...

Its vocal communication is the distress call made by infants when they are separated from their mothers. It is also the call made by males to their mates during mating season. Its olfactory communication is the marking of a scent from the circumoral gland which the female uses to mark her mate with the gland located around the mouth. It is also the marking of a male's territory with the use of urine. Its tactile communication is the social grooming done when one tarsier grooms the other, removing dead skin and parasites, observed in females on adult males, as well as in females on their offspring.^[7] This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Life History

Tarsier with a baby

Image File history File links Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) with baby Permission to publish this image was granted personally by Serafin Jun Ramos Jr. ... Image File history File links Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) with baby Permission to publish this image was granted personally by Serafin Jun Ramos Jr. ...

Reproduction

The Philippine Tarsier's pregnancy or gestation period lasts about 6 months. The female's estrous cycle lasts 25-28 days.^[7] Mating season begins in April to May. The males "plug" the female’s vagina after intercourse. The female gives birth to one offspring per gestation. The infant is born with a lot of hair and born with its eyes open. The females carry their infants in their mouth. A new born can already cling to branches and in less than a month after birth, it can start leaping. In 2 months, it leaves the mother. Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. ... The estrous cycle (also oestrous cycle; originally derived from Latin oestrus) comprises the recurring physiologic changes that are induced by reproductive hormones in most mammalian placental females. ...

The Philippine Tarsier reproduces poorly in captivity.^[16]

Etymology and Taxonomic History

The Philippine Tarsier has been called "the world's smallest monkey" or "smallest primate" by locals before. However, the Philippine Tarsier is neither a monkey nor the smallest primate. It is related to other primates, including monkeys, lemurs, gorillas and humans but it occupies a small evolutionary branch between the strepsirrhine prosimians, and the haplorrhine simians. While it is a prosimian, and used to be grouped with the rest of the prosimians, it has some phylogenetic features that caused scientists to classify it as a haplorrhine and, therefore, more closely related to apes and monkeys than to the other prosimians. Approximate worldwide distribution of monkeys. ... Families 15, See classification A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. ... Approximate worldwide distribution of monkeys. ... Superfamilies and Families Cheirogaleoidea Cheirogaleidae Lemuroidea Lemuridae Lepilemuridae Indriidae Lemurs make up the infraorder Lemuriformes and are members of a class of primates known as prosimians . ... Type species Troglodytes gorilla Savage, 1847 distribution of Gorilla Species Gorilla gorilla Gorilla beringei The gorilla, the largest of the living primates, is a ground-dwelling omnivore that inhabits the forests of Africa. ... Trinomial name Homo sapiens sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin: wise man or knowing man) in the family Hominidae (the great apes). ... Families Cheirogaleidae Lemuridae Lepilemuridae Indridae Daubentoniidae (Aye-aye) Lorisidae Galagidae The Strepsirrhini clade is one of the two suborders of primates. ... The Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) is a prosimian of the family Lemuridae. ... Families Tarsiidae Cebidae Aotidae Pitheciidae Atelidae Cercopithecidae Hylobatidae Hominidae The haplorrhines, the dry-nosed primates (the Greek name means simple-nosed), are members of the Haplorrhini clade: the prosimian tarsiers and all of the true simians (the monkeys and the apes, including humans). ... Families Cebidae Aotidae Pitheciidae Atelidae Cercopithecidae Hylobatidae Hominidae The simians (infraorder Simiiformes) are the higher primates very common to most people: the monkeys and the apes, including humans. ... Phylogenetic groups, or taxa, can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic. ...

The smallest primate is the Pygmy Mouse Lemur while the smallest monkey is the Pygmy Marmoset. Nevertheless, the Philippine Tarsier is still one of the smallest primates, and is considered to be the mammal with the biggest eyes.^[17] Binomial name Microcebus myoxinus Peters, 1852 The Pygmy Mouse-lemur (Microcebus myoxinus) is the smallest of the mouse-lemurs and the smallest primate in the world, only weighing around 30 grams (roughly 1 ounce). ... Binomial name Spix, 1823 The Pygmy Marmoset (Callithrix (Cebuella) pygmaea) is a monkey native to the rainforest canopies of western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and eastern Peru. ...

Although the species is believed to be about 45 million years old, and is perhaps one of the oldest land species to continuously live in the Philippines, it was only introduced to Western biologists in the 18th century through the description given to J. Petiver by the missionary J.G. Camel of an animal said to have come from the Philippines. Petiver published Camel's description in 1705 and named the animal Cercopithecus luzonis minimus which was the basis for Linnaeus' (1758) Simia syrichta and eventually Tarsius syrichta, the scientific name it is known at present.^[18] Among the locals, the tarsier is known as "mamag", "mago", "magau", "maomag", "malmag" and "magatilok-iok".^[19]

According to records of the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, three subspecies are presently recognized: Tarsius syrichta syrichta from Leyte and Samar, Tarsius syrichta fraterculus from Bohol and Tarsius syrichta carbonarius from Mindanao.^[20] The IUCN taxonomic notes lists two subspecies but that the non-nominate one is poorly defined as present, so the species is treated as a whole. Tarsius syrichta carbonarius and Tarsius s. fraterculus: Hill (1955) recognized these taxa as weakly defined subspecies. Niemitz (1984) found the differences to be insignificant based upon comparisons with museum specimens. Musser and Dagosto (1987) felt that the available museum specimens were insufficient to resolve the issue, but mentioned that Heaney felt that a single male tarsier from Dinagat might be distinct. Groves (2001) did not recognize subspecies of T. syrichta.^[21]

Importance to Humans

There is no known negative impact of the Philippine Tarsier on humans, just as long as it is in its native environment. However, when kept as pets, there is a possibility that the species may spread worms and other parasites to their human owners.

Tarsiers used to be kept as pets or sold for trade, although their survival in captivity is erratic due to their need for live insects upon which to feed. Scientists are interested in these animals because of their unique taxonomic position, and study of tarsiers may aid human economies.

Conservation

In 1986, the Philippines Tarsier was assessed as "Endangered" by the IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986. It was still assessed as "Endangered" by the IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre in 1988, as well as in 1990 (IUCN 1990). In 1996, it was assessed as "Lower Risk/conservation dependent" by Baillie and Groombridge (1996).^[22]

On September 13, 1991, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), per DENR Administrative Order Number 48 or DAO 48, listed the Philippine Tarsier as an endangered species: species and subspecies of wildlife whose populations are in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating.^[23]

The Philippine Tarsier is listed in Appendix II of CITES,^[24] and the U.S. ESA classifies it as threatened.^[25]

In 2000, the IUCN, having continuously listed the Philippine Tarsier as endangered,^[25] further assessed the Tarsius syrichta in its red list category and criteria as "Data Deficient" (DD)^[2] which means that there is inadequate information to make a direct or indirect assessment of its risks of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. Further, it basically means that it is not known how close the species is to extinction or if it is a lower risk. The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... The Dodo, shown here in a 1651 illustration by Jan Savery, is an often-cited[1] example of modern extinction. ...

Being classified as such, the sale and trade of the species is prohibited. In addition, research on the species, particularly those using invasive techniques, is controlled by the DENR Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) and requires Environmental Compliance Certificate/Environmental Impact Statement or ECC/EIS. The Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Filipino:Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Kayamanan) abbreviated as DENR is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for controlling and supervising the exploration, development, utilization, and conservation of the countrys natural resources. ...

Threats to the Species

For the past 45 million years, tarsiers have inhabited rainforests around the world, but now they only exist on a few islands in the Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia.^[13] In Bohol, the Philippine Tarsier was a common sight in the southern part of the island until the 1960s. Since then, the number has dwindled to as few as an estimated 1000 still left in the wild.^[17] Once protected by the humid rainforests and mist-shrouded hills, these mysterious primates struggle to survive as their home is cleared for crop growing.

Due to the quickly growing human population, which causes more and more forests to be converted to farmland, housing areas and roads, the place where the Philippine Tarsier can live its secluded life is disappearing.^[6]

Along this line, the dwindling of Philippine forests has posed a grave and significant threat to the survival of the Philippine Tarsier because this results in the destruction of its natural forest habitat. Indiscriminate and illegal logging, cutting of trees for firewood, "kaingin" or slash and burn method of agriculture, urbanization patterns have encroached on the habitats of the tarsier, causing the tarsier to be threatened or endangered.^[26] Assarting in Finland in 1892 Slash and burn (a specific practice that may be part of shifting cultivation or swidden-fallow agriculture) is an agricultural procedure widely used in forested areas. ... The threatened categories (IUCN Red List) Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants, fungi, insects, bugs, etc. ... An endangered species is a species whose population is so small that it is in danger of becoming extinct. ...

In addition, the unabated hunting of the species by humans for house pets or for trade has contributed to its decline. Hunting tarsiers to sell as pets was until recently, a thriving industry. Because of its adorable and benign appearance, many have been lured to keep the Philippine Tarsier as pets. This demand fuels the capture and illegal trade of the animal further diminishing its remaining number.^[17] Moreover, the life span is 24 years when living in the wild, but only 12 when in cages and taken cared of by people. It is also known to die from psychological damage when around humans because its instinct is to be out in the wild. Moreover, its reduced life span in captivity is due to the fact that it is easily distressed by being displayed and physically handled during the day contrary to its natural biological rhythm.^[17] World map of human life expectancy, 2005 Life expectancy is a statistical measure of the average length of survival of a living thing. ...

Hunters and poachers are also big threats; not only do they kill the Philippine Tarsier, but they capture them too. Tarsiers rarely live 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 or drowning themselves on the drinking bowls. Rather than surrender to US soldiers, the Mayor (Bürgermeister) of Leipzig Germany, committed suicide along with his wife and daughter on April 20, 1945. ...

Paradoxically, indigenous superstition coupled with relatively thick rainforest, particularly in Sarangani province, have apparently preserved this endangered species. Indigenous tribes leave the Philippine Tarsiers in the wild because they fear that these animals could bring bad luck. One belief passed down from ancient times is that they are pets belonging to spirits dwelling in giant fig trees, known as belete trees. If someone harms a tarsier they need to apologise to the spirits of the forest, or it’s thought they will encounter sickness or hardship in life.^[13] The indigenous peoples of Asia are the various groups identified as indigenous peoples within the region, as per the modern definition of that term. ...

Conservation efforts

Legislation

Signage at entry to Philippine Tarsier Foundation Research and Development Center

Several legislations have been passed to protect and conserve the Philippine Tarsier. DENR Administrative Order No. 38, Series of 1991 (DAO No. 38) included the Philippine Tarsier among the national protected wildlife species and proposed its listing under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). More over, the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group had given the species Conservation Priority Rating 4, which means that the species is highly vulnerable and threatened by habitat destruction and/or hunting. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 1100 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Philippine Tarsier Philippine Tarsier Foundation Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 1100 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Philippine Tarsier Philippine Tarsier Foundation Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or...

Proclamation 1030 was signed by then President of the Philippines Fidel V. Ramos on June 23, 1997, declaring the Philippine Tarsier a specially protected faunal species.[1] The Proclamation contains that since the Philippine Tarsier, endemic to the Philippines, offers immense ecological, aesthetic, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the country and to the Filipino people, it is a matter of national concern since it forms part of the Philippine heritage. The Proclamation thus prohibits the hunting, killing, wounding, taking away, or possession of the Philippine Tarsier, but that possession for educational, scientific, conservation-centered research purposes may be allowed upon certification of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary. Further, the DENR is also tasked to collaborate with other concerned government agencies, NGOs, 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 the Proclamation.^[27] The President of the Philippines is the head of state and government of the Republic of the Philippines. ... Fidel Valdez Ramos (born March 18, 1928) was the 12th President of the Philippines. ... Fauna is a collective term for animal life of any particular region or time. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Parthenons facade showing an interpretation of golden rectangles in its proportions. ... HIStory - Past, Present and Future, Book I is a double-disc album (one half greatest hits, one half studio album) by American musician Michael Jackson released in June of 1995 by the Epic Records division of Sony BMG. The first disc, (HIStory Begins) contains fifteen hit singles from the past... For the 1914 Charlie Chaplin film, see Recreation (film). ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. ... Research is a human activity based on intellectual investigation and aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising human knowledge on different aspects of the world. ... The Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Filipino:Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Kayamanan) abbreviated as DENR is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for controlling and supervising the exploration, development, utilization, and conservation of the countrys natural resources. ... The term non-governmental organization (NGO) is used in a variety of ways all over the world and, depending on the context in which it is used, can refer to many different types of organizations. ...

Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1991 mandates the establishment of appropriate sanctuaries to preserve and protect the Philippine Tarsier. Ajax prepares to violate the sanctuary of Athena by abducting Cassandra by force: red-figure vase, c. ...

There are also legislations at the other local level, including Provincial ordinances and proclamations (Bohol Province), Municipal Ordinances (Corella), Barangay Ordinances (Canapnapan, etc.).

On July 30, 2001, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act that provided for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats, including the Philippine Tarsier, and its inclusion as a flagship species.^[28] Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (born April 5, 1947), also known by her initials G.M.A., is the 14th and current president of the Philippines. ...

Conservation initiatives

Conserving biological diversity involves tools like the protection of natural or semi-natural ecosystems, the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded lands, and ex-situ conservation techniques.^[29] In-situ conservation is the maintenance of plant and animal genetic material in their natural habitat. The aim of in-situ conservation is to allow the population to maintain itself within the community of which it forms part and in the environment to which it is adapted so that it has the potential for continued evolution.^[29] Protected areas are among the most valuable in situ conservation tool and cost-effective means for preserving genes, species, and habitats and for maintaining various ecological processes of importance to humanity. They are set aside to conserve species that cannot be preserved ex-situ and wild crop relatives. The protected areas system maintain species diversity by protecting the range of different community types and by allowing for changes in species' distributions. They do this by protecting the diversity of physical environments containing a range of situations to allow organisms to adjust their local distribution in response to climate change and linking corridors of natural and modified environments, which will allow species to change their continental distributions.^[29] Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. ... Ex-situ conservation means literally, off-site conservation. It is the process of protecting an endangered species of plant or animal by removing it from an unsafe or threatened habitat and placing it or part of it under the care of humans. ... In-situ conservation means on-site conservation. It is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat, either by protecting or cleaning up the habitat itself, or by defending the species from predators. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ...

Reforestation attempts to restore deforested areas using indigenous tree species are more consistent with biodiversity conservation strategies such as protected area management and natural regeneration. This allows for enhanced forest ecological services such as watershed functions, wildlife habitat, and maintenance. As a result, local biodiversity is protected and rehabilitated. In trial sites in Leyte, local fauna has been seen to quickly re-colonize the mixed plantations of rainforestation cooperators/farmers. Birds and fruit bats initially, and then larger mammals including Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) and Flying Lemur (Cynocephahis volans) were seen in the sites after four years (Goltenhoth et al. 2000).^[30] Biodiversity on a 15-year-old reforested plot of land. ... Leyte can refer to several things: Leyte, an island in the Phillipines, site of a major World War II battle Leyte Gulf, also in the Phillipines, and site of a WW II battle Leyte province, a province of the Phillipines, including most of Leyte island Southern Leyte, a province of... Species  Cynocephalus varigatus  Cynocephalus volans Colugos are arboreal gliding mammals found in South-east Asia. ...

Philippine debt-for-nature swap program

To save the Philippine Tarsier from extinction, the Philippine government has launched various initiatives. Efforts to conserve the species started in 1988 when a study on the tarsier habitat requirements was initiated in Corella, Bohol by the Parks and Wildlife Bureau or PAWB under the financial grant of the Wildlife Conservation International. This was followed by a Philippine Tarsier Project by Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 7 in 1991-1992 under the Debt-for-Nature Swap Project.^[31] CORELLA in Bohol is the endemic home of the Tarsiers, which has made this central Philippine island province famous . ... The Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Filipino:Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Kayamanan) abbreviated as DENR is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for controlling and supervising the exploration, development, utilization, and conservation of the countrys natural resources. ...

The debt-for-nature swap, first proposed by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature in 1984, is a scheme in which conservation organizations acquired title to debt, either by direct donation from a bank, or by raising the cash to buy it, and then negotiate with the debtor countries to obtain debt repayment in local currency at a favorable conversion rate, or to secure conservation measures/activities.^[31]

Haribon Foundation was identified as the local NGO partner in its venture. As the local NGO partner, Haribon Foundation became the fund manager of the program, thus, all financial transactions with the Central Bank of the Philippines and the World WWF were handled while release of funds to all the projects was facilitated. One of the projects implemented on the first year was the "Endangered Species Conservation: Philippine Tarsier" supervised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or DENR.^[32] The Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, simply known as Haribon Foundation, is a membership organization dedicated to the conservation of Philippine biodiversity. ... The Central Bank is depicted on the 100-peso bill. ... One of the departments of The Executive Departments of the Philippines, the largest component of the national executive branch of the government of the Philippines. ...

Philippine Tarsier Foundation Incorporated

Main article: Philippine Tarsier Foundation

PTFI Tarsier Research and Development Center, Corella,Bohol

The Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc. based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines is spearheading the campaign to preserve the Philippine Tarsier. Under a Memorandum of Agreement with the DENR signed on April 27, 1997, its mission is: to establish a forest reserve on the island of Bohol which shall serve as the sanctuary of the Philippine Tarsier; to protect and manage the tarsier sanctuary through the active participation of local communities; to establish and maintain a wildlife research laboratory for the study of the ecology and biology of the Philippine Tarsier; to establish and maintain visitor facilities for ecotourism and disseminate information material about the Philippine Tarsier with emphasis on the species' protection and conservation."^[33] The Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Incorporated (PTFI) is a non-profit, non-stock corporation based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, established in 1996 to conserve, promote research and establish a sanctuary for the Philippine Tarsier. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3456 × 2304 pixel, file size: 4. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3456 × 2304 pixel, file size: 4. ... Corella may refer to Philippines Corella, Bohol Spain Corella, Spain Birds from a number of species of Australian Cockatoo This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bohol Region: Central Visayas (Region VII) Capital: Tagbilaran City Founded: March 25, 1565 Population: 2000 census—1,137,268 (18th largest) Density—276 per km² (25th highest) Area: 4,117. ... The Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Incorporated (PTFI) is a non-profit, non-stock corporation based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, established in 1996 to conserve, promote research and establish a sanctuary for the Philippine Tarsier. ... View of the City of Tagbilaran from Bohol Plaza Resort Flag of Tagbilaran City Tagbilaran City is a 1st class city in the province of Bohol, Philippines. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bohol Region: Central Visayas (Region VII) Capital: Tagbilaran City Founded: March 25, 1565 Population: 2000 census—1,137,268 (18th largest) Density—276 per km² (25th highest) Area: 4,117. ... A memorandum of agreement (MOA) or cooperative agreement is a document written between parties to cooperatively work together on an agreed upon project or meet an agreed upon objective. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Ajax prepares to violate the sanctuary of Athena by abducting Cassandra by force: red-figure vase, c. ... Various species of deer are commonly seen wildlife across the Americas and Eurasia. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ...

To date, the Philippine Tarsier Foundation has acquired 7.4 hectares of land in Corella, Bohol for the sanctuary. With the Department of Environment and Natural Resources playing an oversight role, the foundation has asked other Bohol towns with Philippines Tarsier populations to donate 20 hectares (49.4 acres) of forestland for conservation. The Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Incorporated (PTFI) is a non-profit, non-stock corporation based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, established in 1996 to conserve, promote research and establish a sanctuary for the Philippine Tarsier. ... Corella may refer to Philippines Corella, Bohol Spain Corella, Spain Birds from a number of species of Australian Cockatoo This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bohol Region: Central Visayas (Region VII) Capital: Tagbilaran City Founded: March 25, 1565 Population: 2000 census—1,137,268 (18th largest) Density—276 per km² (25th highest) Area: 4,117. ... Ajax prepares to violate the sanctuary of Athena by abducting Cassandra by force: red-figure vase, c. ... One of the departments of The Executive Departments of the Philippines, the largest component of the national executive branch of the government of the Philippines. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bohol Region: Central Visayas (Region VII) Capital: Tagbilaran City Founded: March 25, 1565 Population: 2000 census—1,137,268 (18th largest) Density—276 per km² (25th highest) Area: 4,117. ...

It also runs a Tarsier Research and Development Center, which serves as a visitor center and venue for research, as well as a habitat preserve.^[34] At the sanctuary, a spacious net enclosure keeps 100 Philippine Tarsiers for feeding, captive breeding and display. Here, visitors can observe the Philippine Tarsier in their natural habitat. Within the sanctuary, the Philippine Tarsiers roam freely and all of them have gotten used to a seven-foot high fence that circumscribes the territory and which serves mainly to protect them from predators like feral cats. At night, tarsiers can be seen climbing out of the fence to forage for food farther into the forest. They return again before daybreak, as if observing a curfew.^[27] Ajax prepares to violate the sanctuary of Athena by abducting Cassandra by force: red-figure vase, c. ... Captive breeding is the process of breeding endangered animals by capturing them from their natural environment, breeding them in restricted conditions in zoos and other conservation facilities, and releasing them back to the wild when the population stabilizes and the threat to the animal in the wild is lessened or...

Tarsier Sanctuary captive display

Captive tarsier display in Loboc, Bohol

Because the Philippine Tarsier sanctuary in Corella, Bohol is off the tourist path,^[35] private individuals in Loboc, Bohol have provided an alternative way for tourists to see them through their displays of the Philippine Tarsier along the Loboc river banks. This captive tarsier display is conveniently on the way to other tourist spots in Bohol, particularly the Chocolate Hills in Carmen town.^[36] Despite the protection status of the Philippine Tarsier, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has granted special limited permits for this display of the Philippine Tarsier in Loboc. Here, tourists can see the Philippine Tarsier up close and personal and take pictures, but are not allowed to touch them. Unfortunately, the Philippine Tarsier here are semi-captive, being kept in cages along the Loboc river. Here, the animals are not in a sanctuary and as such, these shy animals have miserable lives and normally don't survive for long.^[37] Though they are allowed to leave their cages at night to hunt for food, this is contrary to the ban on possession of Philippine Tarsier by virtue of its protected status. Proclamation 1030 states that "the possession of the Philippine Tarsier is only allowed for educational, scientific, conservation-centered research purposes upon certification of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary." Further, the possession of these tarsiers for display encourages their possession as pets.^[36] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 744 KB) self-taken I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 744 KB) self-taken I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Ajax prepares to violate the sanctuary of Athena by abducting Cassandra by force: red-figure vase, c. ... CORELLA in Bohol is the endemic home of the Tarsiers, which has made this central Philippine island province famous . ... Loboc is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. ... REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Province of Bohol Region: Central Visayas (Region VII) Capital: Tagbilaran City Founded: March 25, 1565 Population: 2000 census—1,137,268 (18th largest) Density—276 per km² (25th highest) Area: 4,117. ... Bohol, Philippines from Google Earth The Chocolate Hills Natural Geological Monument The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. ... Carmen is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. ... One of the departments of The Executive Departments of the Philippines, the largest component of the national executive branch of the government of the Philippines. ... Loboc is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. ...

References