The PHILIPPINES: Bohol – Part 1: Chocolate Hills & Tiny Tarsiers

Bohol was the second island we visited, during our fam tour of the Philippines. We arrived via a short plane ride from Manila, eager to explore the tropical landscape. One of the main attractions was the enticingly-named Chocolate Hills (above), an unusual geological feature formed ages ago by the interactions of rainwater, erosion and coral deposits. These grass-covered, dome-shaped hills, numbering up to 1,700, are made of karst limestone, varying from 100 to 400 feet in height. During the dry season, the grasses dry-up and turn brown, inspiring their name. Though devoid of birds, we found these an interesting mid-afternoon diversion.

An afternoon lunch stop at the Simply Butterflies Conservation Center of Bohol yielded several species, including Tailed Jay, Swamp Tiger, the Clipper (above) and Indian Lacewing. This small, attractive preserve is dedicated to protecting and strengthening the natural environment of the butterflies through plant research, breeding and releasing.

We found some birds too – Purple-throated Sunbird (above), Red-keeled Flowerpecker and Chestnut Munia.

A lunch cruise on the Loboc Riverboat proved to be a wonderfully relaxing diversion. Amid serene landscape, delightful breezes and a delicious buffet, we were serenaded the entire hour of our cruise up the Loboc River, ending at the picturesque local Busay Falls. We silenced the Elvis-wannabe musicians when Nicky spotted a stunning Silvery Kingfisher perched on the riverside.

On the return journey we tied-up with another floating balsa-wood raft, where we were treated to a show of a traditional folkdance of the Visayan people, including the “Tinikling” dance (above) which imitates the movement of the native Tikling bird (the ‘Barred Rail’ dance).

The Tarsier Sanctuary in the hills of Corella was a major highlight. Tarsiers (above) were once abundant here, but years of rapid deforestation and poaching has reduced one of the world’s smallest primates to a population of barely 1000 individuals. This tiny, palm-sized primate is named for its elongated tarsus (ankle bone), which facilitate 10-foot jumps from tree to tree. Its long fingers have rounded pads that allow it to easily grip tree bark surfaces. These solitary creatures prefer dense, low level vegetation in secondary forests, where it perches about 6 foot above the ground. As a nocturnal carnivore, Tarsiers feed mainly on insects and lizards. During this hot period we found most of the mammals to be within 3 feet of the ground. The establishment of a forest reservation on Bohol may be their only chance of survival. Tarsiers were the inspiration for the Star Wars character, Yoda.