Facebook posts expand known range of Philippine tarsiers to 29 provinces
Researchers using Facebook sightings have identified Philippine tarsiers in 29 provinces, more than double the area previously recorded.
Graduate researchers Simeon Bejar and Maria Tabeta analyzed more than a thousand Facebook entries from 2006 onward to map Philippine tarsier distribution. Their work revealed sightings in 29 provinces, far exceeding the 14 provinces previously identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with a concentration of new records in northern Leyte. The study highlights that over 80% of Filipinos use Facebook, providing a vast, crowdsourced data source for such elusive nocturnal primates.
While Bohol benefits from active forest management and tourist regulations by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the researchers observed illegal activities elsewhere, including caged, leashed, and dead tarsiers posted online. The findings underscore ongoing threats from the pet trade and gaps in protection beyond well-monitored areas. Bejar and Tabeta have created a dedicated Facebook page for their work and hope to expand the effort with additional students or funding.
