Tanjung Tuan (16044)
Malaysia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Tanjung Tuan
Central coordinates: Latitude: 2.4000, Longitude: 101.8500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 93
Area of KBA (km2): 1.26283
Protected area coverage (%): 88.51
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Tanjung Tuan (also known as Cape Rachado) is a rocky promontory, which faces the Straits of Melaka in the west. The site offers the shortest water crossing (38 km) to and from Tanjung Medang, the extreme north point of Pulau Rupat, a small island adjacent to Sumatra, west Indonesia for at least five species of migrating raptors (DWNP, 1994).Coral reefs can only be found here in the west coast of the peninsula (Goh and Sasekumar, 1980). Tanjung Tuan is also a national historical and heritage site. The lighthouse is the oldest in the country. It is still being used as a guide for shipping and had been operational since during the Portuguese conquest (16th century) of Melaka. The waters off the area contain several old shipping wrecks as there were several sea battles during various periods for the control of maritime trade along the Straits. Tanjung Tuan is also a recreational area, which is popular with the weekend crowd.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Tanjung Tuan is Malaysia's most important site for migratory raptors in South-east Asia (Zalles and Bildstein, 2000). Large numbers of migrating raptors especially the Crested Honey-Buzzard have been recorded since 1960s congregating at this bottleneck promontory during their spring migration therefore qualifying for nomination under category A4iv Congregations (Wells, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990a, 1990b; White, 1961; Yeap, 2000, 2003; Medway and Nisbet, 1965, 1967, 1968; Medway and Wells, 1964; Jeyarajasingam et al., 2000b). Fifty-four species of birds have been recorded in the reserve (DWNP, 1994). Non-bird biodiversity: (I) Globally threatened mammals (IUCN, 2002): VULNERABLE: Smooth Otter Lutrogale perspicillata; NEAR THREATENED: Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularisSilver leaf monkey(II) Globally threatened reptiles (IUCN, 2002): ENDANGERED: Green Turtle Chelonia mydas(III) Globally threatened plants (IUCN, 2002): CRITICAL: Dipterocarpus kerii
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The area is entirely hilly and steep. Four types of vegetation have been identified at Tanjung Tuan (DWNP, 1994).Coastal mangrove forest found in small patches in the east and southeast part of the area. Brugueira sp. is the dominant species of the forest type.Coastal beach forest in the west and eastern side of the reserve, dominated by Terminalia catappa, Eugenia sp. and Xylopia sp. Lowland dipterocarp forest covers 80% of the total area, dominated by Shorea sp. and Dipterocarpus sp.Scrub vegetation is found in areas which has been burned previously.Tanjung Tuan has the last remaining stand of lowland dipterocarp forest, which reaches down to the coastal waters of the Straits of Melaka.
Land use: tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Forest | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Tanjung Tuan is one of the three remaining Virgin Jungle Reserves in the Melaka State. Several identified threats include the following;{traffic associated with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport may pose a danger to the migrating raptors (Anon., 2000).{development by illegal settlers.{pollution from sewage and oil spills.{of the coast.{development pressure (e.g. proliferation of resorts, condominiums and apartments).
Additional information
References: Anon. 2000. Macro Environmental Impact Assessment (Macro EIA) for Coastal Land Reclamation off the Coast of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus. Prepared by Uniti Consultants Sdn Bhd, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus.deCandido, R. and Allen, D. 2000. The 2000 Spring Migration of Raptors at Tanjung Tuan (Cape Rachado), Malaysia. Suara Enggang 3: 40-43. DWNP. 1994. Laporan Inventori Hidupan Liar Kawasan Perlindungan Mergastua, Tanjung Tuan, Melaka. Peninsular Malaysia: Department of Wildlife & National Parks.Goh, A.H. and Sasekumar, A. 1980. The Community Structure of the Fringing Coral Reef, Cape Rachado. Malayan Nature Journal 34: 25-37.IUCN. 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.redlist.org (23 June 2003).Jeyarajasingam, A., Noramly, G. and Ooi, C.H. (eds.). 2000b. Recent Sightings. Suara Enggang 2: 31-42.Medway, Lord and Nisbet, I.C.T. (compilers). 1965. Bird Report: 1964. Malayan Nature Journal 19: 160-194.Medway, Lord and Nisbet, I.C.T. (compilers). 1967. Bird Report: 1965. Malayan Nature Journal 20: 59-80.Medway, Lord and Nisbet, I.C.T. (compilers) 1968. Bird Report: 1966. Malayan Nature Journal 21: 34-50.Medway, Lord and Wells, D.R. (compilers). 1964. Bird Report: 1963. Malayan Nature Journal 18 (2&3): 133-167.Wells, D.R. (compiler). 1974. Bird Report: 1970 and 1971. Malayan Nature Journal 27: 30-49.Wells, D.R. (compiler). 1982. Bird Report: 1974 and 1975. Malayan Nature Journal 36: 61-85.Wells, D.R. (compiler). 1983. Bird Report: 1976 and 1977. Malayan Nature Journal 37: 197-218.Wells, D.R. (compiler). 1984. Bird Report: 1978 and 1979. Malayan Nature Journal 38: 113-150.Wells, D.R. (compiler). 1990a. Malayan Bird Report: 1982-1983. Malayan Nature Journal 43: 116-142.Wells, D.R. (compiler). 1990b. Malayan Bird Report: 1986-1987. Malayan Nature Journal 43: 172-210.White, D.H.S. 1961. Migrating Raptores. Malayan Nature Journal 15(3&4): 181.Yeap, C.A. (compiler). 2000. Report: Raptor Watch Week 2000, 9-12 March, Tanjung Tuan, Melaka. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Nature Society.Zalles, J.I. and Bildstein, K.L. (eds.). (2000). Raptor Watch: A global directory of raptor migration sites. Cambridge: BirdLife International and USA: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. (BirdLife Conservation Series No.9).