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04 April 2023 / 6 Comments

Philippine ghost animal - 2 places to see them on Bohol Island

Writer: Helena Bergström

The Philippine ghost animal, or tarsier, is a tiny animal with huge eyes that lives in the Philippines. There are two places on the island of Bohol where you can see them, and we visited both.

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Philippine ghost animal

The Philippine ghost animal is a species of ghost animal, which is a kind of higher primate, but not a monkey. The animals are tiny and the Philippine ghost animal measures only 117-127 millimetres, not counting the tail. They weigh 110-153 grams, which is about the weight of an apple ...

The most characteristic feature is the gigantic eyes, which are adapted to see in the dark. The eyes cannot move in their sockets, but the ghost animal can turn its entire head 180 degrees.

Filippinskt spökdjur
Ghost animals are tiny, but have big eyes

The animals, which are nocturnal and sleep during the day, feed on a variety of insects and other small animals such as lizards and small birds. They have one baby at a time, which the mother carries in her stomach for six months. Another interesting thing is that it has been discovered that they communicate with each other using ultrasound, at frequencies that humans cannot perceive.

These small creatures are shy and delicate, and the species has 'near threatened' status. Among other things, the animals are easily stressed and, if stressed, they may kill themselves by banging their heads hard against a tree trunk.

Filippinskt spökdjur
The Philippine ghost animal is a nocturnal primate, sleeping during the day.

Two places on Bohol where you can see the Philippine ghost animal

The Philippine ghost animal lives in several places in the Philippines, mainly on the islands of Bohol, Dinagat, Leyte, Samar, Palawan and Mindanao. If you visit Bohol, there are two places to see them:

  • Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Corella
  • Tarsier Conservation Area, Loboc

Given the near threatened nature of the species and the sensitivity of the animals, it is of course important that they are properly cared for and that efforts are made for their conservation. Whilst we cannot assess all aspects, our feeling is that Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary is the best place from this perspective. The environment was much calmer and quieter, and we got much more information about the animals and their needs.

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We took a moped to both places, which are about 40 minutes apart, and tell you about both visits.

Flod på ön Bohol
View of river on the road, during our moped ride

1st Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

We started by visiting Philippine Tarsier Sanctuarywhich is the smaller and less touristy of the two places. Already a bit before we arrived, we were met by a sign asking us to be quiet. The Philippine ghost animals live in the surrounding forests!

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Filippinskt spökdjur

When we arrived, we were welcomed, paid an entrance fee (about 30 SEK/person) and given our own guide who took us out on a trail where we would see the Philippine ghost animals. We weren't the only tourists here - two other couples were being guided on the trail at the same time - but everyone made an effort to be as quiet as possible.

Se Filippinskt spökdjur på Philippine tarsier Sanctuary

In the trees we could look at the Philippine ghost animals. They are really incredibly small, and photographing them from a distance with a mobile phone camera is not the easiest thing to do, so you have to make do with some grainy pictures.

There were only four ghost animals along the trail according to the guide, of which we could see three. Since they are nocturnal, they were sleeping, or peering sleepily at us.

Se Filippinskt spökdjur på Philippine tarsier Sanctuary
Se Filippinskt spökdjur på Philippine tarsier Sanctuary
Se Filippinskt spökdjur på Philippine tarsier Sanctuary

After the short tour, which was done in silence, we went back to the main building, where there is a small exhibition with text, pictures and some interactive elements. The guide followed us around and told us about the animals, and we could also ask questions about anything we wanted. It was a relatively short, but pleasant and educational visit.

Se Filippinskt spökdjur på Philippine tarsier Sanctuary
The exhibition shows what the skeletons of ghost animals look like.

2. tarsier conservation area

Our next stop was at Tarsier Conservation Area, which is a much more touristy place. Here we were greeted by a large entrance and many tourists, probably from South Korea, but also from Europe.

Tarsier Conservation area Bohol

We paid the entrance fee (about 25 SEK/person), walked past a souvenir shop, took a photo of ourselves at an "I love Bohol" sign, and went out on the path where we would see ghost animals. Here you walked on your own, without a guide, but you quickly saw where the ghost animals sat because large clusters gathered there.

Tarsier Conservation area Bohol
Tarsier Conservation area Bohol
Tarsier Conservation area Bohol

Again, there were signs telling you to be quiet, but this was not respected in the same way. One Asian tourist made a lot of noise to get a poor animal to look up, which didn't feel good considering they normally sleep during the day.

You could also queue to take a selfie in front of a ghost animal, but we didn't do that. We didn't learn much about the animals here, but the walkway was much longer and there were more ghost animals to see.

Filippinskt spökdjur
A ghost animal at Tarsier Conservation Area

Cars Man-Made Forest

Right next to the Tarsier Conservation Area is the Bilar Man-Made Forest, which is also worth checking out. This is a dense forest that extends two kilometres in the vicinity of the towns of Loboc and Bilar. The forest consists mainly of white and red mahogany trees, and is part of a reforestation project that started over 50 years ago.

Bilar Man-made forest Bohol

Bilar Eco Park

We made an unscheduled stop at the Bilar Eco Park, which is also located here.

Bilar Eco Park Bohol

For a tiny entrance fee (about two kronor) we walked around in the beautiful forest. According to the woman who charged us, there would be a small cave further away, but we were getting tired, and since we had quite a long hike ahead of us, we didn't stay long.

Bilar Eco Park Bohol
Bilar Eco Park Bohol
Bilar Eco Park Bohol

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

In the neighbourhood of these places to see the Philippine ghost animal, you can see the much talked about The chocolate hills. You can also visit the theme park Sikatuna's Mirror of the World or take a boat trip on the River Loboc. It's also not too far to the touristy island. Panglao, where you will find several nice beaches. Find all our tips for Bohol here.

Our top tips for the Philippines. Click on the image!

Have you seen a Philippine ghost animal?

Have you ever seen a Filipino ghost animal, or perhaps some other type of ghost animal? If so, where? Please tell us!

Frequently asked questions about the Philippine ghost animal

Are ghost animals only in the Philippines?

Ghost animals are found in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Philippine ghost animal (Tarsius syrichta) is only found in the Philippines.

Is a ghost animal a monkey?

The ghost animal is not a monkey. Ghost animals (Tarsius), like monkeys, belong to the group of higher primates.

What are ghost animals called in English?

Ghost animals are called tarsier in English. Filipino ghost animal named Philippine tarsier.

Facts about the Philippine ghost animal

  • Name: Tarsius syrichta in Latin, stomach stomach in the local language Cebuano
  • Systematisation: Primates (higher primates), genus: ghost animals
  • Conservation status: Near threatened
  • Distribution: Mainly on the islands of Bohol, Dinagat, Leyte, Samar, Palawan and Mindanao in the Philippines.
  • Size: 117-127 mm long without tail
  • Weight: 110-153 grams
  • Appearance: Grey-brown fur, almost hairless tail, very large eyes, a head that can be turned 180 degrees.

How the Philippine ghost animal lives

  • Activity: At night, between dusk and dawn.
  • Communication: With ultrasound
  • Food: Insects and other small animals, such as lizards and small birds
  • Reproduction: One pup at a time, usually born between April and July. The female is pregnant for about 6 months.
  • Lifespan: 2-12 years
  • Suicide: Philippine ghost animals can kill themselves if stressed, by banging their delicate head against a tree trunk.
  • Hot: Cats, humans and the destruction of their habitats.

Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary

Tarsier Conservation Area

  • Address: Loay Interior Road, Loboc, Bohol
  • Price: 120 pesos/person (about 25 crowns) 2023

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FREEDOMtravel Avslut
04 April 2023 6:00
Philippines
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6 Comments

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  1. Lena - gott för själen says:

    Fascinating little creature! Sad when people can't respect how to behave! I understand that it was a great contrast since you visited the places one after the other.

    Hug Lena

    04 April 2023 - 9:51

    Reply

  2. bmlarsreseblogg says:

    We've never heard of these ghost animals, but with their big eyes and nocturnal life, they remind us a bit of the galagos (or bushbabies as they were also called) we saw late one night at a camp in South Africa. They were also primates and could be from 7 cm to up to 30-40 cm + a long tail. What we saw in the dark were the big round eyes.

    04 April 2023 - 13:39

    Reply

  3. BP says:

    What a curious creature. It certainly looks like an owl. An ugly-cute creature. Then again, it is rather naive to think that a large group of tourists will keep quiet, I hope the species survives.

    04 April 2023 - 20:14

    Reply

  4. Anna Nilsson Spets says:

    Yes, I have seen them too, not this specific species. They are so cooool But ugh, I shudder when I read about people who can't behave and that thing about letting themselves be photographed with the animal... nope.

    05 April 2023 - 6:24

    Reply

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