Spectral tarsiers are among the most specialized primates, with extreme dietary, sensory, and social needs that make their welfare in captivity exceptionally difficult to achieve.
Tarsiers represent a case where honest assessment of captive welfare capability might lead to the conclusion that the species should not be kept in zoos. Their extreme specialization — diet, sensory sensitivity, social structure — creates welfare challenges that most institutions cannot meet. Reports of stress-induced self-harm in captive tarsiers are deeply concerning. Conservation goals for this species are better served through in-situ habitat protection than through captive programs that cannot ensure adequate welfare.