Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

Zoo Philippines, Philippines

The Tarsier Sanctuary is a large forest dedicated to the protection of tarsiers, small nocturnal primates with big, round eyes that feed primarily on insects. They usually cling to low branches or the trunks of slim trees. They’re an endangered species. Prior to the development of the sanctuaries, many tarsiers were kept as pets by private individuals in environments not conducive to their lifestyle and survival. Tarsiers are adorable cute animals with giant eyes and immensely soft fur, their long hind legs enable tarsiers to leap distances of up to 5 meters between branches. 5 meters for just 10 cm body length!; the Tarsier is a unique animal as they are the only completely carnivorous primates in the world. Insects make up the bulk of a Tarsier’s diet along with small vertebrates such as frogs, lizards and small birds. Tarsiers are delicate, emotionally-sensitive creatures that get stressed easily (and they have been known to commit suicide via banging their heads against trees trunks), so visitors have to lower their voices and keep the noise level to a minimum. Visitors are allowed to take pictures (without the flash), but touching the tarsiers is an absolute taboo.