Declining Tarsier population feared

TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines  - The population of the Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) will continue to shrink if government agencies will not put their acts together, said a local tourist in an interview with The FREEMAN the other day.

The statement came as the Bohol government, through the Provincial Board, has amended Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-005, "prohibiting the possession, display for viewing for commercial or business use, or any other purpose of the Philippine tarsier outside of its natural habitat and from Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary …"

The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), an attached office of the DENR, however has reportedly continued to issue permits to persons displaying these smallest primates for profit.

Tarsiers have been threatened by both demand for sightseeing by tourists and continued destruction of their habitat, said Nestor Canda, provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO).

"Tarsiers are supposed to rest during daytime because they are naturally nocturnal. But what is happening now is that those in captivity are stressed and threatened because of hundreds of visitors come to see and touch them and their ecological needs distorted," he said.

The PB earlier approved a resolution urging the DENR "to stop the issuance of wildlife farm permits, special permits and any other permits allowing the possession, display for viewing for commercial or business use, or any other purposes" of the tarsier.

This however had apparently fell on deaf ears as the PAWB, in-charge of the permits to possess the tarsiers, continues to do so.

The Bohol-based Philippine Tarsier Foundation Inc. estimates that only 1,000 tarsiers or less thrive in the hills of Corella town in Bohol, even with its sanctuary at Barangay Canapnapan of this town, 14 kilometers from the city. Tarsiers are also found displayed in other towns, such as Loboc and Pilar.

Studies showed the tarsiers could be found also in the forests of Samar, Leyte and Bohol, although Bohol is the more famous destination for tarsier viewing due to the highly active private entrepreneurs here.

It was not ascertained yet how many permit holders, who are mostly based in Loboc town, were issued by PAWB, said PB Member Abeleon Damalerio, chair of the environment committee, in response to PB Member Dionisio Balite during the interpellation of the amended ordinance.