A FOOL FOR TARSIERS - Once ridiculed for his quest to save the Philippines' tiniest primates, Carlito Pizarras is now viewed as a national treasure

International Wildlife, May-June, 2000 by Floyd Whaley

Pizarras' knowledge has also been tapped by others: In 1991 the Philippine government sent researchers to his village to determine whether the tarsier should be declared a protected animal. IUCNEThe World Conservation Union responded by giving the species a priority rating of 4, meaning that it was vulnerable and threatened by habitat destruction and hunting.

Despite these actions, Pizarras saw little change in the tarsier's status. Finally, in 1996, a group of prominent Bohol residents joined together to help save the animal that made their island distinctive. With the support of the national government, they established the Philippine Tarsier Foundation.

"One of the reasons the founders were eager to put up the foundation was because Lito was already there," says Danny Nazareno, the foundation's administrator. "He was working every day to conserve the tarsiers and knew all about them. He gave us a head start."

The foundation opened its office in Bohol's capital of Tagbilaran in September 1997 and hired Pizarras as a field officer. The group has since established a research center and a protected breeding area in the jungles of Corella, not far from Pizarras' house. In the past few years, due in part to the foundation's work, the tarsier has found its way into the Philippines' national consciousness. Few Philippine tourist brochures fail to feature an image of the striking creature.

The reputation of the "tarsier man" has also grown. Once regarded as eccentric and foolish for his lonely quest to save the primates, Pizarras is now feted by Philippine leaders. When England's Prince Charles came to visit the country in 1997, Pizarras was invited to the Philippine presidential palace to make a symbolic presentation of a pair of tarsiers to the monarch-to-be. "It was like a dream being in the palace," said Pizarras. "But I was nervous that the tarsiers would run away or jump onto the prince."

Despite the international attention, many challenges remain for the tiny primates and their defenders. Logging and farming continue to decimate the animals' habitat. Human population growth in the Philippines brings with it a host of problems including house cats, which at night kill tarsiers for fun as much as for food. And some farmers continue to kill tarsiers because of the mistaken belief that the animals destroy crops. In actuality, they eat the pests that damage crops.

Pizarras now spends his days at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, helping to maintain a sanctuary for the animals. And when visitors show up, he's proud to introduce himself by his once derogatory nickname.

"I'm the tarsier man," he says with a friendly grin and an outstretched hand.

Philippines-based writer Floyd Whaley and photographer Kevin Hamdorf collaborated on a story about land mines in the March/April issue.