Avoid Loboc Tarsier Conservation Area: Choose Ethical Wildlife Encounters in Bohol

The Loboc Tarsier Conservation Area in Bohol has been repeatedly flagged for animal welfare violations. Despite its “conservation” label, the facility keeps Philippine tarsiers in cramped, unsanitary cages with inadequate food and water. Tourists are allowed to touch, hold, and photograph tarsiers with flash—practices that cause severe stress, injury, and long-term harm to these fragile, nocturnal primates.

Official Actions

In 2019, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) filed a formal complaint with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), citing violations of the Animal Welfare Act. DENR ordered improvements, but compliance remains unverified and conditions reportedly persist.

Why It Matters

• Tarsiers are near-threatened (IUCN) and highly sensitive to disturbance.
• Captive breeding for display fuels the illegal wildlife trade.
• Tourist demand for “selfies with tarsiers” normalizes exploitation.

Better Choices in Bohol

Visit sanctuaries that enforce no-touch, no-flash, observation-only protocols and invest in habitat protection:

• Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary – Corella (Philippine Tarsier Foundation)
• Tarsier Conservation Area – Tarsier Hills, Corella
• Tarsier Sanctuary – Bilar
• Tarsier Sanctuary – Loboc (separate, ethical facility)

Your travel choices have power. Skip Loboc’s exploitative operation and support genuine conservation.