Quinapondan, Eastern Samar, local authorities have issued a stern warning against the capture and possession of tarsiers, following an incident involving a local farmer. The farmer reportedly caged a tarsier he found while collecting firewood, raising concerns about the protection of this endangered species.
According to Philippines News Agency, Quinapondan's municipal environment and natural resources officer, there have been frequent sightings of tarsiers on the outskirts of the town, necessitating increased awareness of environmental laws among residents. The issue came to light after Florencio Caandoy, a local farmer, captured a tarsier on November 13. Caandoy informed authorities about the primate and expressed no intention of keeping it, but he was unaware of the legal implications of his action.
The tarsier was subsequently released back into the wild, witnessed by personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This incident is not the first of its kind in the area, with previous tarsier sightings reported in Quinapondan's forest and other nearby locations.
Tarsiers are a primate species endemic to the Philippines, commonly found in Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Maripipi islands. Being nocturnal, they primarily feed on insects and small vertebrates. Under Republic Act No. 9147, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, the possession of endangered wildlife is punishable with imprisonment and fines.
DENR emphasizes that wildlife species are sensitive and do not survive long outside their natural habitats, highlighting the importance of protecting these creatures and their ecosystems.