RESCUED. One of the two tarsiers released back in the wild after being rescued by farmer Nasrudin Angkong, of Barangay Langayen, Pikit, North Cotabato on March 22, 2020. At least three tarsiers were rescued by concerned citizens in the heavily-vegetated forests of North Cotabato since January this year. (Photo courtesy of DENR-12)
COTABATO CITY – A farmer from a remote village in Pikit, North Cotabato has found two “tarsiers” (Tarsius syrichta) and handed them over to environment officials who eventually released the primates back to its natural habitat.
Badjury Mustapha, community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO), said the two primates were found on March 22 by farmer Nasrudin Angkong, of Barangay Langayen, Pikit, North Cotabato.
Angkong told environment officials that he found the two primates while he was clearing his farm lot.
Having heard about the Department of Environment and Natural Resources campaign to protect the tarsiers, Angkong immediately alerted village officials of his discovery.
The officials accompanied him in bringing the tarsiers to CENRO in Midsayap which also covers the adjoining towns of Pikit and Aleosan. Since January this year, a total of three tarsiers have been rescued and eventually released in Pikit, North Cotabato.
Early this month, a tarsier was rescued in Pikit and released back to the wild. Forester Datu Daud B. Mangalangkat said the small primates were released back to their natural habitat since they appeared to be in good condition.
Angkong said he hoped that other villagers in Pikit would emulate what he has done to help preserve the environment.
Mustapha praised Angkong and CENRO personnel for their prompt action to send the tarsiers back to the wild despite the coronavirus scare.
“The public is now aware of the significance of various species in our ecosystem. The action of the concerned citizen is a big help to save the tarsiers and other wildlife species in the area,” Mustapha said.
Mustapha appealed to the public, especially those in remote communities, not to harm or capture wildlife species.
Tarsiers are declared as “near threatened species” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. (PNA)
