Bohol Tarsier Conservation Area: Peculiar Creatures and Where to Find Them
Bohol Tarsier in Villa Aurora, Bilar, Bohol is one of the only few tarsier conservation areas certified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to take care of the rare Philippine Tarsiers since July 2016.
Visit Bohol Tarsier to fill your knowledge of the wide-eyed tarsiers.
For only Php 60 (Php 50 if you’re a student or senior citizen), you’ll get the chance to see Philippine Tarsiers in person.
They might just amount to a maximum size of 6 inches and can be no bigger than the size of your hand, but they have eyes that are larger than what their bodies dictate, a tail of 7 to 11 inches longer than their bodies, an ability to jump of up to 2 to 5 meters to boot, and a long tarsus bone, which is why they are called tarsiers.
Expect some sleepy tarsiers when you visit during the day.
And some wide-eyed ones as well.
These species, which have a maximum lifespan of 24 years, are often mistaken as monkeys, but while they belong to the order of Primates, they still belong to a different family. They are carnivorous and often feast on insects.
A total of 8 tarsiers can be seen at Bohol Tarsier, with others being bred in captivity. The trees where you can find them are marked with signs that say, “Silence Please,” so make sure that you’ll keep your voices toned down throughout the short tour, as tarsiers are usually asleep during the day.
Silence, please!
Tip: Please bear in mind that taking photos with flashes and that is extremely close to the tarsiers are prohibited, so it is better to keep a safe distance or have your photos taken by the tour guides inside the conservation area as to not to distract the tarsiers.
With luck, you can catch some tarsiers awake enough for that selfie.
At the very end of your tour, there will also be a gift shop waiting for you with all kinds of souvenirs to choose from.
Adorable tarsier keychains usually priced at Php 25 and 3 for Php 100 can be found here, as well as hats, wallets, and even native bags woven from palm leaves (bayong) priced at Php 300 to Php 800 depending on the size.
Keychains, mugs, and all sorts of souvenirs can be found inside!
Bayong (Php 300 to Php 800)
Bohol Tarsier is open from 8 am to 5 pm every day and is part of Bohol Tours and Nature’s Wonder Travel & Tours’ Countryside Tour Package!
How to get here:
The spot featured here is included in the Countryside Tour provided by Bohol Tours and Nature’s Wonder Travel & Tours, Inc.
For a complete list of their itinerary, you may visit their website at Bohol Tourism Philippines. You may also visit them at 0573 N.A.J. Bldg., CPG North Ave., Tagbilaran City, Bohol or call them at 038-422-8321 / 0926-750-4755.
Details:
Address: Villa Aurora, Bilar, Bohol
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact Information: 0918-688-2470 / 0927-641-2063
Entrance Fee: Php 60 regular rate, Php 50 discounted (students and senior citizens)
A version of this appeared in Philippine Primer Japanese (Vol. 133) and English (Vol. 38) magazines.
