Pulau Kukup Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance

Description

Pulau Kukup (English: Kukup Island) 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.

Coordinates: 1°19′N 103°27′E / 1.317°N 103.45°E / 1.317; 103.45