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Letter: Save the long-lost primate
A pygmy tarsier, one of the planet's smallest and rarest apes, was recently rediscovered in Mt
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A pygmy tarsier, one of the planet's smallest and rarest apes, was recently rediscovered in Mt. Rore Katimbo in Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi.
Looking like a Gremlin, this unusual nocturnal insectivore with large eyes and ears had not been seen since 1921.
The first live pygmy tarsier was sighted in August by an Indonesian-American expedition at an elevation of 2,100 meters. Indonesia should take the necessary measures to protect this rare species.
I take this opportunity to draw the attention of North Sulawesi Governor Sarundayang to the need to protect the animal.
To my absolute horror, people in North Sulawesi consume the Tarsius Spectrum primate (which is also a protected species, no bigger than my hand) as a snack during festivities. In 1998 the Tarsius Spectrum in North Sulawesi numbered 3,500 according to Johnny Tasirin, an ecological and conservation expert of Sam Ratulangie University in Manado.
Now they have dwindled to a mere 1,800, half its population within a 10-year time-span, which is extremely alarming. Soon this tiny primate will disappear for good. Heavy fines and long jail sentences should be imposed on anyone catching and consuming the Tarsius Spectrum also because this tiny primate is the symbol of the North Sulawesi province.
Please take immediate action!
LYNNA VAN DER ZEE OEHMKE
Bogor, West Java
