Philippine Tarsier

When I visited the Philippine island of Bohol, I decided one day to rent a scooter, mainly to see the famous Chocolate Hills. But one worthy detour brought me (after a lot misguided directional advices) to the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, where the near threatened Philippine Tarsier lives in a naturally habitat. The Philippine Tarsier Foundation runs this sanctuary, and has the Tarsier in focus. That is quite different from the Loboc Tarsier Conservation (and other places along the Loboc river), which are unethical for-profit Tarsier viewing area that subjects Tarsiers to conditions very harmful to their health. Do not support those places!

The Philippine Tarsier is about 8-16 centimeters short and the only entirely carnivorous primate left (they eat mostly insects). The disproportionately large eyes are fixed in the skull, so the Tarsier can instead turn their head 180 degrees. As you may understand the Tarsier is nocturnal and have very good eyesight. And they are cute as hell..

The Many Faces of Kids

"The Gang of Mtae". Usambara Mountain Range, Tanzania 

It was easier some years ago when a digital camera was not very well known to kids. Kids were mostly rather reluctant to be taken picture of, but when they saw themselves seconds later at the display they were all in for another picture (and many more). Usually the second and third photo turned out best, and you could delete the first you shot. This way I got some lively pictures from Tanzania and Philippines, while they for example were more doubtful looking in the Annapurna mountain range in Nepal.

Some of the kids asked for bribes like money, candy or whatever, but usually they were just genuinely interested in a shabby backpacker with a small pocket-camera (and bad soccer-skills). I have never paid for a picture but if you really want to give something, it should be something useful for their education. Candy is the last thing you should give, because the dental health service is not like back home.

Maybe this will be an ongoing feature of this blog, so here are a few more pictures of mine to kick things off:

Malapascua Island, Philippines

Livingston, Guatemala

Ausangate Mountain Range, Peru

Annapurna Mountain Range, Nepal

Annapurna Mountain Range, Nepal