Pulau Kukup
Encyclopedia
Pulau Kukup is a mangrove
island
located at about 1 km offshore from the 150 year-old fishing village of Kukup
in Pontian
, at the South-western region of the state of Johor
, and towards North-west of Tanjung Piai
, Peninsular Malaysia
. The area of the island is 6.472 square kilometres and is surrounded by 8 square kilometres of mudflats. Pulau Kukup's status as a remote hinterland changed in the 1990s when scientists began focusing on the island's biodiversity
a unique ecological characteristics. In the interest of preserving this unique habitat, Pulau Kukup was gazetted a national park
in 27 March 1997. In January 2003, this island was granted the status of a "Wetland of International Importance" or RAMSAR
Site, by the Geneva
-based Ramsar Convention Bureau.
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
located at about 1 km offshore from the 150 year-old fishing village of Kukup
Kukup
Kukup is a small fishing village located about forty kilometres southwest of Johor Bahru, in the district of Pontian, Johor, on the Strait of Malacca in Malaysia. It is famous for its open-air seafood restaurants built on stilts over the water. Some of the restaurants are geared for tour groups,...
in Pontian
Pontian, Johor
Pontian is a district in southwest Johor. It is located 62km from Johor Bahru, the state capital of Johor. It is also located at Miles 37 from Johor Bahru. The name Pontian is also used in the names of two towns in the district, Pontian Besar and Pontian Kechil, of which the latter serves as its...
, at the South-western region of the state of Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, and towards North-west of Tanjung Piai
Tanjung Piai
Tanjung Piai is a cape in Johor which is the southernmost point of Peninsular Malaysia and thus the most southern point of mainland Asia. The skyline of Singapore is visible across the Johor Strait from the point...
, Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
. The area of the island is 6.472 square kilometres and is surrounded by 8 square kilometres of mudflats. Pulau Kukup's status as a remote hinterland changed in the 1990s when scientists began focusing on the island's biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
a unique ecological characteristics. In the interest of preserving this unique habitat, Pulau Kukup was gazetted a national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in 27 March 1997. In January 2003, this island was granted the status of a "Wetland of International Importance" or RAMSAR
Ramsar
Ramsar is a city in and the capital of Ramsar County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 31,659, in 9,421 families....
Site, by the Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
-based Ramsar Convention Bureau.
See also
- List of islands of Malaysia
- List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance