Pygmy Tarsiers found in Indonesia

Pygmy tarsiers found in Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The pygmy tarsier was thought to have been extinct since 1921, but it suddenly reappeared in 2000 when two Indonesian scientists trapping rats in Sulawesi accidentally captured and killed one of them.

Since then, Sharon Gursky-Doyen, an anthropologist leading a research expedition for Texas A&M University, and her team have captured several.  They trapped the gremlin-looking creatures using nets and attached radio collars to their necks in order to track their whereabouts.  These tiny primates belong to the order primates, they weigh about 2 ounces, are able to turn their heads 180 degrees and have claws instead of nails. 
Gursky-Doyen said the tarsiers were found on mountainsides above 6,000 feet, in damp, dangerous terrain. 

The anthropologist is working on a paper that will shed light on the behavior of pygmy tarsiers and provide much needed data on their population.

Gursky-Doyen also hopes that the Indonesian government will take measures to protect the species within Lore Lindu National Park.

Below is the link to the full article on Reuters (Nov. 18):


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