Tourism is hurting Bohol's Superstar, the Philippine Tarsier

A friend of mine showed me this news a few days ago from www.news.com.au in Australia,  regarding the Philippine tarsier, the world's smallest primate,  getting threatened by tourism.   It is sad that the government have been promoting the country to increase tourism and strengthen this sector of the economy but neglect the damages that it could cause to our environment and natural resources.

The news item tells of the Tarsier Man, who made a living by catching tarsiers as a child and selling them for $6 after stuffing the poor and weak mammals.  He now has become a conservationist and works at the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary.  Things like this happen when there is not enough programs nor campaigns conducted towards awareness of the environment.



The tarsier, along with the Chocolate hills, is the symbol and pride of Bohol therefore in the tourism activities in the island, this sense of pride should be reflected.  Tourists should be encouraged to respect the habitats and behavior of this mammals.  Being sensitive primates, tarsiers should not be touched nor squeezed as they hit their heads against hard objects when they get stressed out and their thin skulls break.  Using flash in cameras should also be avoided when getting a photo.  It is bad enough encroaching in their turf, to maltreat them is another thing.

The tarsier in Bohol is already in the "near threatened" status, if hunting and mistreatment of these cuties are not stopped, then only photos of the legendary tarsier will we be leaving for the next generation to appreciate.  Sad.