World · Philippines Bureau
DENR launches probe into mysterious tarsier deaths in Samar
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has initiated a comprehensive investigation following multiple deaths of Philippine tarsiers along a roadway in Calbayog City. Authorities have stepped up wildlife monitoring efforts in the affected area to determine the cause of the fatalities.
LSN Philippines ·
The DENR has ordered intensified wildlife monitoring operations along the Cacaransan-Saputan Road in Calbayog City, Samar, following reports of dead Philippine tarsiers discovered in the region. The agency deployed personnel from the Calbayog Pan-as-Hayiban Protected Landscape to conduct immediate on-site investigations and assess the scope of the problem.
DENR teams verified reported locations where tarsier remains were found and gathered eyewitness accounts to establish a timeline and identify potential contributing factors. The Philippine tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates and endemic to the Philippines, is protected under national wildlife conservation laws.
The investigation aims to determine whether the deaths resulted from vehicular accidents, habitat loss, disease, or other environmental factors affecting the species in the area. The Cacaransan-Saputan Road traverses critical habitat for the critically endangered species, making the findings significant for future conservation planning.
Authorities have not yet released preliminary findings from their investigation. The DENR indicated that continued monitoring would help establish patterns and inform protective measures to prevent further tarsier fatalities in the region.