Selirong Island

Not to be confused with Mosquito Island (Senegal) or Mosquito Island.

Selirong Island

Native name: Pulau Selirong Nickname: Mosquito Island
Selirong Island as seen from Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge
Selirong Island Location in Brunei
Geography
Location	Brunei Bay
Coordinates	4°52′55″N115°07′47″E / 4.8818999°N 115.1298164°E / 4.8818999; 115.1298164
Archipelago	Malay Archipelago
Area	25 [1]  km2 (9.7 sq mi)
Highest elevation	1 m (3 ft)
Administration
Brunei
District	Temburong
Mukim	Labu
Demographics
Population	0

Selirong Island (Malay : Pulau Selirong), also known as Mosquito Island, ^[2] is an island located within the Brunei Bay and Mukim Labu, Temburong District, Brunei. ^[3] The island also sits at the river delta of the Temburong River. ^[4]

Geography

Approximately 2,409 hectares (5,950 acres) hectares of the island are covered with mangrove forests, which have been designated as a research and study area for the flora, fauna, and animal species of the country. This area is known as the Pulau Selirong Recreational Forest Park. ^[5]

History

In 1948, the 2,499 hectares Labu–Selirong Wildlife Sanctuary was established. ^[6] Initially in 1950, plans for both the Andulau and Selirong Forest Reserve were set to begin within that year but later fell through. ^[7] Later in 1954, the Labu–Selirong Wildlife Sanctuary was later expanded to an area of 8,984 hectares (22,200 acres). ^[6] Since 1995, the Forestry Department, along with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, has been working to improve the island, which has now been turned into a recreational park. ^[8] As part of the 6th National Development Plan, the island was developed into a park by the Forestry Department in 1998. ^[9]

Tourism

It is home to the Selirong Island Mangrove Park and Selirong Forest Reserve. ^{[10] [11]} The island consisted of the largest mangrove swamps and wildlife reserve with an area of 2,566 hectares (6,340 acres). ^{[12] [13]} Selirong is one of the ten islands used for ecotourism, research and educational purposes. ^[14] In order to monitor and investigate the wildlife on the island, notably a 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) walkway and an observation tower were built. ^[15]

Animals such as the proboscis monkeys, macaques, kingfishers and eagles made up the fauna. ^[16] Meanwhile, plants such as the nipah palms, stilt roots, bakau trees can be found in the Pulau Selirong Forest Recreation Park. ^[17]

Transportation

The island can only be accessed by speedboats from Bandar Seri Begawan. ^[18] The estimated time to reach the island from Muara is 45 minutes as it is required to pass through the Brunei River and across the Brunei Bay. ^{[19] [8]}

See also

• Protected areas of Brunei

References

1. "Pulau Selirong Recreational Park | Brunei Darussalam Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
2. Borneo Bulletin Brunei Yearbook. Brunei Press Sdn. Bhd. in collaboration with Integrated Information Pte. Limited. 2007.
3. The Asian Wetlands: Bringing Partnerships Into Good Wetland Practices : Proceedings of the Asian Wetland Symposium 2001 "bringing Partnerships Into Good Wetland Practices", 27-30 August 2001, Penang, Malaysia. Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia. 2002. p. 293.
4. "Brunei Darussalam: Nature-Based Tourism". Southeast Asia Travel. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
5. Haji Adanan Haji Abd. Latiff (2012). Kenali Negara Kitani: Tempat-Tempat Eksotik (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. p. 194. ISBN   978-99917-0-855-3.
6. Nature, World Wide Fund for (1989). A Directory of Asian Wetlands. IUCN, The World Conservation Union. p. 915. ISBN   978-2-88032-984-6.
7. Office, Great Britain Colonial (1950). Annual Report on Brunei for the Year. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 22.
8. Md. Zain, Norliah (18 July 2007). "Pulau Selirong berusia 1,000 tahun pukau pengunjung" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). p. 6. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
9. The Far East and Australasia 2003 (34th ed.). Abingdon-on-Thames: Europa Publications. 2002. p. 216. ISBN   978-1-85743-133-9.
10. The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2009. Oxford Business Group. 2009. p. 136. ISBN   978-1-907065-09-5.
11. Silvestre, Geronimo (1992). The Coastal Resources of Brunei Darussalam: Status, Utilization and Management. WorldFish. p. 149. ISBN   978-971-8709-11-5.
12. Forum, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Southeast Asia Regional (2000). The World Commission on Protected Areas, 2nd Southeast Asia Regional Forum, Pakse, Lao PDR, 6-11 December 1999: Papers presented. IUCN Lao PDR. p. 56.
13. "SELIRONG ISLAND MANGROVE TOUR". Borneo Tour Specialists.
14. The Integrated Management Plan for the Coastal Zone of Brunei Darussalam. WorldFish. 1 January 1992. p. 86. ISBN   978-971-8709-15-3.
15. Asia, Inc: The Region's Business Magazine. Manager International Company. 2002. p. 19.
16. Fidgeon, Tamsin (2004). World Travel Guide. Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing. p. 105. ISBN   978-1-902221-84-7.
17. "Department of Fisheries - Pulau Selirong Forest Recreation Park". www.fisheries.gov.bn. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
18. Welcome to Brunei Darussalam: The Complete Traveller's Guide. Brunei Press. 2000. p. 39. ISBN   978-99917-32-05-3.
19. Fidgeon, Tamsin (2004). World Travel Guide. Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing. p. 105. ISBN   978-1-902221-84-7.