Why You Should Avoid Loboc Tarsier Conservation Area in Bohol

The Loboc Tarsier Conservation Area in Bohol, Philippines, has faced sustained criticism from animal welfare organizations and conservation experts regarding its treatment of the Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta), one of the world's smallest primates and a near-threatened species.

Documented Welfare Concerns

• Inadequate Enclosures: Tarsiers kept in small, cramped cages that prevent natural movement and climbing behaviors.
• Unhygienic Conditions: Reports of substandard sanitation and insufficient veterinary care.
• Inappropriate Diet: Failure to provide proper nutrition for these specialized insectivores.
• Exploitative Handling: Visitors allowed to touch, hold, and pose with tarsiers – causing severe stress to these nocturnal, solitary animals.

Expert Condemnation

• Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS): States the facility "falls short of minimum standards for tarsier care" and emphasizes "tarsiers are wild animals and should not be kept in captivity."
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Has expressed formal concerns about welfare standards at this facility.

Conservation Paradox

The facility breeds tarsiers in captivity and reportedly sells them to other zoos and wildlife parks, directly contributing to the illegal wildlife trade – a major threat to the species' survival in the wild.

Ethical Alternatives in Bohol

Support legitimate sanctuaries prioritizing tarsier welfare and conservation:

• Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary (Corella)
• Tarsier Conservation Area (Tarsier Hills)
• Tarsier Sanctuary (Bilar)
• Tarsier Sanctuary (Loboc) – distinct from the problematic facility

These facilities provide naturalistic habitats, prohibit handling, and focus on education and species preservation.

By choosing ethical alternatives, you protect endangered tarsiers and promote responsible wildlife tourism in the Philippines.