 Mu
Koh Similan National Park
 Mu Ko Similan
National Park has been rated first by the U. S. publication Skin Diving
of the top ten dive sites in the world. The Similan Islands in the heart
of the Andaman Sea are indeed unparelled in their exotic beauty. If
planning a visit, keep in mind that anytime between December to April is
recommended, with the best month being March, because the monsoons are
over and the water is clear.
The national park is established in 1982 and located in Ko Phrathong
Sub-distreict, Khuraburi District, Phang-nga Province and covers 128
square kilometers, 80,000 rais, of area, 14 square kilometers of which
is land composed of all the islands put together. Located along the
western coastline of the Andaman Sea and in the Indian Ocean, rest these
nine exotic granite islands created by upwellings of hot magma during
the Teritiary-Cretaceous Period some 65 million years ago, then smoothed
by glacial ice and the wave action of the sea.
Similan is really the Malaysian word for nine, as there are nine islands
in the Similan group: Ko Bangu, Ko Similan, Hin Huwagralok, Ko Payu, Ko
Ha, Ko Hok, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong.
In 1998, the park boundary was expanded to cover Ko Tachai which is
located further north of Ko Bon and the Similan group. Then the park
area becomes 140 square kilometers.
Topography
Consists of numerous islands with high and steep granite mountain,
beaches and rocks formation of many shapes. The shoreline of each
islands are of inconsistent curves since they are situated in the outer
part of the sea and are worn away directly by waves. Part of the water
lies in the Andaman Sea and eastern side of the Indian Ocean while the
shoulder of the continent borders the western shoreline of Phang Nga
province and Union of Myanmar, paralleling the Nikobar Islands of India.
There is no mud at all along the beaches, so the sands are very clean,
white and very fine. Some islands do have hills in the area, which are
usually quite tall with the highest top of 244 meters above mean sea
level, while some islands are of flat area surrounded by sand dunes and
coral reefs.
Climate
Summer begins in mid February and ends in May. Rainy season starts from
mid May till October with North - Western wind. Average annual
temperature is 27๐c with average of approximately 83% humidity all year
round. Average annual rainfall is measured at 3,560 millimeters with
evaporation rate of 1,708 millimeters per year. In rainy season, the
national park will be closed during 16 May - 14 November every year for
visitors safety.
Flora
and Fauna
Types of forests can be divided into 3 main characteristics
Beach Forest –open forest with scattered plants at approximate height of
not over 15 meters such as Terminalia catappa, Barringtonia asiatica,
Callophyllum inophyllum. Small perennials and large shrub not exceeding
10 meters in height found are Xylocarpus gaugeticus, Herltiera
littoralis, Hibiscus tiliaceus which is a smaller shrub found are
Capparis micracautha, Breynia vitris-idaea Fischer, Pandanus
odoratissimus. Grounds covering plants common in the area are beans,
Vigna sp., Spilanthes sp., Ischaemum barbatum, Lophatherum gracile, Hoya
parasittrica, Asplenium nidus.
Scrub Forest – habitat for shrubs which can develop on grounds with soil
depth of not exceeding 30 centimeters. A few cacti can be found while
more common shrubs found are Cercus spp., Dracaena spp., Memecylon
caeruleum, Cleistanhus polyphyllus.
Primary Forest – habitation for perennials at a height of 20 meters or
above such as Dipterocarpus costatus, Dipterocarpus boudii, Shores spp.,.
Lower perennials at 15-20 meters in height are palaquium obovatum,
Eugenia denaiflora, Wrightia sp., 10-15 meters in height are Hydnocarpus
ilicifolius, Semecarpus curtisii, Diospyros wallichii. Bambusa sp.,
Calamus longisetus, Plam, Amydrium medium and Bauhinia glauca are also
found with other creepers and parasites such as betel pepper, bauhinia
and orchid.
The most unique vegetation found only on Ko Yai in the Andaman sea are
sapodilla and Nguang Chang Talay while edible plants are Manilkara sp.,
Toumefotia argentia, Bouea oppositifolio, Lepisanthes rubiginosa,
Diospyros wallichii, Neang and Copparis micracantha.
Marine
and Wildlife:
Beneath the sea at Mu Ko Similan National Park lies a complex ecosystem
commonly called the rainforest of the sea: the coral reef. The major
residents of the reef are coral and the closely related sea anemones; of
the Phylum Cnidaria, Class Anthozoa, which contains all radially
symmetrical invertebrate animals. Corals a nd sea anemones exist as
individual polyps living in either solitary or mostly colonial forms.
The polyps of hard corals construct communal limestone homes which are
built up into a multitude of shapes and sizes eventually giving rise to
a coral reef. Soft corals have soft bodies made of large numbers of
identical polyps connected by fleshy tissue (Zooxanthallae). These soft
corals contain small algae within their tissues which are able to
convert the sun's energy into food. This cooperative relationship is
known as symbiosis and also exists in hard corals, clams and other
marine organisms. There are several factors that support good
environment for the reef i.e. temperature, salinity, light, wave and
tide, sedimentation and nutrient. Therefore, healthy coral reef can be
found easily in the Andaman Sea comparing to the Gulf of Thailand. In
Andaman Sea, coral reefs are able to classified as deep water and medium
water. For the deep water coral reef grow down to 30 m. Of course, in
this case water allows enough light for the algae. This reef type is
mostly found in Similan and Surin islands. For the rest area, medium
water coral reef grow between 8-15 m beneath the surface.
 Coral can also be classified to fall into these structural categories:
massive, columnar, encrusting, branching, foliceaous, laminar and
free-living coral. The hard corals found in Mu Ko Similian National Park
are deep water species of mostly staghorn coral types (Acropora echinata)
and the smaller cauliflower shaped types (Seriatopora histrix). Many
other species of marine life co-exist within the coral reef: Gorgonian
sea fans, flower-like soft coral, several species of crabs, spiny
painted lobsters, squid, sponges, sea cucumbers and giant clams.
Above the sea surrounding each island lies Beach forest, which steadily
becomes Tropical forest further inland. Important tree species include Manilkara sp. Cordia subcordia, and Tournefotia argentia. A survey
conducted in 1992 revealed that 39 species of birds can be found on the
nine islands. Resident species include the Brahminy Kite, and the
White-breasted Waterhen, while migratory species include the Pintail
Snipe, and Grey Wagtail. Temporary migratory species include the Barn
Swallow, Cattle Egret, Watercock, and the Roseate Tern. The most
commonly seen species include the Pacific Reef-Egret, Nicobar Pigeon,
Pied Imperial Pigeon, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, and the Collared
Kingfisher.
The environment of Mu Ko Similian National Park is obviously that of a
small island, wherever you go, you are not far from the sea. Natural
fresh water reserves are few, and as a result, large mammal species
cannot exist. Survey s have revealed that 27 species of small mammals
exist within the park, including 16 species of bats namely: the
black-bearded tomb bat, the lesser false vampire bat, the intermediate
horseshoe bat, the lesser bent-winged bat, and the hairless bat. 3
species of squirrels can be found including the gray-cheeked flying
squirrel. 4 species of rats: the yellow Rajah rat, the ricefield rat,
roof rat and noisy rat can be seen scurrying around as well. Finally,
the more unusual but fairly common residents include the bush tailed
porcupine, common palm civet, flying lemur and the bottlenosed dolphin.
22 species of reptiles and amphibians can be found in the park including
the banded krait, reticulated python, white-lipped pit viper, common pit
viper, garden blue lizard, hawksbill turtle, leather turtle, Bengal
monitor lizard, common water monitor lizard, ornate froglet, common
Asiatic frog, marsh frog, and the common bush frog. Finally, another
most interesting species located in the Similans island is called the
hairy leg mountain land crab. This crab is found in such large numbers
you will be sure to see many just by walking around a bit. No matter
where you are on the island, seeing this creature will be a reminder you
are never far from water.
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