Environment & Ecology

Environment

We try to act in an environmentally friendly way at all times on the island and would appreciate your support. We have a government approved "no-fish zone" all around the island and we try as best we can to persuade fishermen not to use nets off our reef.

We have a recycling program in the island and we would be extremely grateful if you could take part in our environmental mission by segregating the waste into different types (glass, metal, plastic and paper waste) are carried to Bintan for recycling.

Our lavatories are connected to septic tanks. You may flush toilet paper in moderation, but please refrain from flushing plastics, cigarette butts and other solid wastes.

FLORA

For a small offshore island, Pangkil is home to an astonishing diversity of plants. The island’s natural vegetation comprises coastal forest with a wide variety of trees and shrubs capable of living in the relatively dry conditions with salt laden winds. The wooded areas are dominated by the spectacular Seashore Screwpines, large Beach Almonds, Sea Apple, Sea Teak and Sea Hibiscus. The sandy shores support Sea Lettuce, Noni trees, pretty seashore morning glory and the seashore crinum lily. There are over 40 species of plants in the island-including two stands of mangrove trees.

Dedicated information of the island’s natural history is available in the island along with reference books and maps. You may help us by sharing your discoveries so we can add them to our growing species list.

Survey Record at 20th August 2002 by Subaraj Rajathurai and Helen Newman

TERRESTRIAL INDIGENOUS FLORA

FAUNA

The woods provide a home for the melodious Magpie Robin, pretty little sunbirds, Kingfishers, Tailor Birds and Flowerpeckers. The Changeable Hawk Eagle is commonly sighted soaring above the island along with the handsome Brahminy Kite. A total of 19 birds have already been identified in the Island.

The Great Mormon is one of the most common butterflies present in Pangkil and there are also interesting land snails, the beautiful Golden Web Spider, lizards, grasshoppers and ghost crabs.

Exploring the mangrove will reveal periwinkles, mudskippers, halfbeaks, cardinal fish, and a variety of scurrying crabs. The sea shore at low tide reveals more treasures, with sea cucumbers, stone crabs, anemones, shrimps and sponges to name a few. Reef-shoes are essential for exploring here; sharp spiny molluscs and even the odd fish can strike the unwary.

The island is surrounded by a shallow fringing reef and snorkellers will find plenty to keep themselves amused. Plate, massive and mushroom corals predominate the reef with patches of staghorn coral, daisy coral, leather corals and the occasional giant clam.

Ticking within the corals are more than half a dozen species of damsel fish, along with shuffling goat fish, butterfly fish, snappers, wrasse, rabbit fish and tusk fish. You can look out for at least two species of the playful anemone fish and passing schools of yellow-tailed barracuda, fusiliers, parrotfish and perhaps catch a glimpse of the blue spotted stingray.

Survey Record at 20th August 2002 by Subaraj Rajathurai and Helen Newman

TERRESTRIAL ANNIMAL LIFE

INVERTEBRATES

MARINE ORGANISMS

INVERTEBRATES

VERTEBRATES - FISH