Tunku
Abdul Rahman Park is a State Park
created to protect the natural environment, including the coral
reefs, marine life, the fauna and flora. This park is lying from
3km to 8km off Kota Kinabalu which comprises of 5 islands. They
are Sulug Island, Manukan Island, Sapi Island, Mamutik
Island and Gaya Island. During the British rule in
1882, a trading settlement was set up in Gaya Island by British
North Borneo Chartered Company. This company later shifted to
the mainland Kota Kinabalu. After 92 years, finally in 1974 ,Gaya Island and the whole of Pulau Sapi was gazetted as the
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, named after the first Prime Minister
of Malaysia.. This gazetted place covers an area of 8,990acres
(3,638 hectares). In 1979, it was increased to 12, 185 acres
(4,929 hectares) with the inclusion of the other 3 nearby
islands such as Manukan Island, Mamutik Island and Sulug Island.
All these islands
can be visited all year round. Humidity remains quite high
throughout the year. Temperatures are normally between 23.8 -
29.4 degress Celsius. The islands are basically made up of
sandstones and sedimentary rocks. According to some experts,
about a million years ago during the Ice Age, major changes in
the sea level causes portions of the mainland being cut off by
the sea, thus forming the islands we see today. Most of the
these islands forming cliffs, caves, honeycombs and deep
crevasses along the shore are actually formation of sandstones.
In all the 5 islands , all types of flora and fauna can be found
here. Along the shoreline, you can see a lot of beautiful
shoreline vegetations such as Pandanus Dubius and Podocarpus
Polystachyus. The tallest of them all are the Keruings with
narrow crowns of large dark green leaves, and their, 2wing
fruits that litters the trails.
Human activities
in recent years have replaced the original vegetation on the
other island with casuarina and coconut palms, mango and etc.
The most common animals that you can find here are rats,
squirrels, monkeys, pied hornbills, monitor lizards and various
types of snakes. The hard to find and rarely seen are bearded
pigs and scaly pangolins commonly known as Anteaters to Asian.
Marine
Life:
Coral reefs fringe all the islands and are exposed during low
tide. The best reefs are around Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug
islands. Excellent reef patches are found between Pulau Sapi and
Pulau Gaya. These living organisms are carnivorous animals
feeding on plankton floating in the sea. The different species
form coral of different shapes and are named accordingly - stag
horn, mushroom, cabbage, brain and so on. They come in a variety
of colours and shades - yellow, green, blue and purple. Coral
reefs are home to many kinds of fish, molluscs, the giant clam,
scorpion shell, sea cucumber, feather starfish, cowry shell,
black and brilliant blue sea-urchins. The coral fish include the
butterfly, parrot, clown, dragon, soldier - in all their
brilliant colours. Bigger fish, like the red carp, grouper,
baracudda and catfish, and occasionally shark, can also be found
in the deeper waters.
Pulau
Manukan:
This 51-acres boomerang
shaped island is the second largest of the Tunku Abdul Rahman
Park, Manukan has good stretches of beaches on the southern
coastline. The best stretch is on the island. Ideal for
snorkeling, diving and swimming. 20 unit chalets, a clubhouse,
restaurant, souvenirs and diving centres and recreational
facilities, such as a swimming pool, football field, squash and
tennis courts, and infrastructure support water, electricity,
desalination plant, sewerage system, and even a solar powered
public telephone are provided.
Pulau Mamutik:
Its 15-acres make it the smallest of the 5 islands of the
Park. Rich coral life surrounds the islands. It has a jetty, a 3
bedroom resthouse for rent and staff quarters for Rangers
stationed there. Facilities include changing rooms, toilets,
picnic shelters, tables and barbecue pits. Fresh water and
electricity are available.
Pulau
Sulug:
Farthest away and relatively undeveloped is the 20-acres Sulug
Island. The shoreline is mostly rocky. It is popular with
foreign visitors who prefer the quiet and abandoned atmosphere.
Good reef patches lie on the southern end. Changing rooms and
toilets, picnic shelters and tables are provided. Supply of
fresh water is available.
Pulau
Gaya:
Gaya Island is the largest island of the
Park. It derived its name from the Bajau word "Gayo"
which means big. Several ridges, rising more than 600 feet and
peaking at 1,000 feet, from the backbone of the 3,665 acres
Pulau Gaya. It has 16 miles of shoreline with beaches ranging
from fine white sandy to pebbly, and mudflats, mangrove and
sandstone cliffs. The major beach area in Police Beach, a
quarter mile of fine white sand sloping gently into the bay
making it ideal for swimming in usually crystal clear water. The
coral reefs along the entire coast of the island are in
excellent condition.
Pulau Sapi
A small island of 25 acres, Sapi Island has one of
the nicest beaches in the Park - its clean white sand and
crystal clear water and coral reefs fringing the shoreline makes
it ideal for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Day use facilities
include a jetty, picnic shelters, barbecue pits, tables,
changing rooms and toilets. Camping is allowed, with the
permission of the Park Warden.
