Dear ones, the tarsier is an animal, which is halfway between lemurs and monkeys. It measures only about 9-16 centimeters. Its tail is double its length. It is found in the Philippines and various islands of Southeast Asia.

Tarsiers are nocturnal creatures with a well-developed sense of smell. They move through the forests by launching themselves from trunk to trunk, propelled by their enormously elongated hind limbs. They mate for life and live in monogamous pairs. They are an endangered species; their diet is carnivorous comprising insects and lizards. They are the smallest monkeys in the world and if kept as pets, they die within two years.

They are easily stressed and bang their heads against the bars of their cages. They get their name from their long, ankle bones which are called tarsals. They are also very sensitive to bright lights, loud sounds and bodily contact. If they are held in captivity, they commit suicide. They are traumatized by loud noises and human contact. When one visits a tarsier sanctuary, one has to be quiet.

Why am I writing about them?

They are among the oldest primates, dating back to at least 55 million years. Now their habitat is threatened by us. Climate change leading to deforestation, and agricultural pollutants. The noise level has risen all around and the tarsier finds it hard to cope.

What can we learn from the tarsiers?

Swami Sivananda gives us the answer. Silence is the language of God; it is also the language of the heart. We can attempt to be quiet by practicing a yogic sadhana. And when one sees the tarsiers in the sanctuary, we are watching a creature which has survived 55 million years. Like so we must reflect on the harm which noise pollution causes and how it is destroying the planet.

Aim Hrim Klim