Tarsier found in 29 provinces in Philippines - study

Did you know that aside from Bohol, tarsiers can be found in 29 provinces in the Philippines?

In Kuya Kim's report in "24 Oras" on Thursday, researchers from the Institute of Biology at the University of the Philippines Diliman have long been studying which provinces in the country still have tarsier populations.

"Isa sa mga challenges talaga namin ay paano kami makakapunta sa areas kung nasaan sila nakikita," Simeon Gabriel Bejar said. 

"We are very limited by funding. So ang dami naming gaps when it comes to 'yung scientific knowledge," he added.

To get around this, they analyzed over 1,100 Facebook posts from 2006 to 2024 and found sightings in 29 provinces—nearly double the number previously recorded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

"Tarsiers are widespread, and they are all found across Mindanao, in Bohol, Samar, Leyte and all islands nearby," Bejar said.

"Nakita namin sila sa 29 provinces. That's almost twice the number of provinces na previously listed sa IUCN. 'Yung mga researchers noon, they weren't able to go into these provinces because mahirap ma-infiltrate itong areas na ito for research," he added.

In Compostela, Davao de Oro, a teacher found a tarsier in a tree while having a cleanup drive.

According to Fernando Alinsonorin Jr., it was his first time encountering a tarsier, and he wanted to help the tarsier but didn't know what to do.

"Kapag hinawakan natin 'yung tarsier is very sensitive at madaling ma-stress. Kapag hinayaan lang namin na nandoon 'yung tarsier wala ng tirahan kasi pinagtagbas ko 'yung mga damo," Alinsonorin said.

In the end, Alinsonorin chose to help the tarsier.

"Ang ginawa namin, pinulot namin atsaka nilagay namin doon sa area na hindi pa natabasan para hindi siya ma-haram," he added.

Wildlife biologist Jay Fidelino said that there's no harm in what Alinsonorin did.

"Kung minimal naman 'yung handling nila, kumbaga pinulot lang para itabi sa puno. I don't see any harm from that."

With tarsiers now being discovered in various provinces across the Philippines, Bejar said it is high time to raise awareness about their presence in different islands—and the threats they face that make conservation efforts urgently needed. 

To address this problem, researchers launched the initiative called Tarsier Care.

"It's the Philippine Tarsier Conservation and Research Initiative. Lahat ng mga information na nakukuha namin sa posted namin, we use it to get information from the public," Bejar said.

Tarsiers are now classified as a threatened species by the IUCN. He stressed that the best way to protect them is by preserving their natural habitats and safeguarding forests. 

The public is also urged to avoid wildlife exploitation by not keeping tarsiers as pets and by reporting any illegal trade or capture to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or proper authorities. 

Responsible tourism is equally important—people are advised not to touch the animals, keep noise to a minimum to prevent stress, and visit only ethical wildlife sanctuaries when viewing tarsiers. —Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News