Tarsiers are extraordinary nocturnal primates with unique physiology that makes them extraordinarily difficult to keep in captivity with good welfare outcomes.
Tarsier welfare in captivity represents one of the most extreme welfare challenges in zoo animal management. These tiny primates experience intense stress from captive environments, sometimes dying from self-inflicted head injuries when panicking against enclosure surfaces. Their nocturnal activity patterns, exclusively live prey diet, and extreme sensitivity to human presence make welfare provision extraordinarily difficult. Most welfare authorities now recommend that tarsiers should not be kept in captivity except in emergency rescue situations with the highest possible quality specialized facilities. Their conservation value in the wild is better served through habitat protection than through captive programs that cause severe welfare compromise.