Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi

Turtle Islands
Municipality
Map of Tawi-Tawi showing the location of the Turtle Islands
Turtle Islands Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 6°5′0″N 118°18′0″E / 6.08333°N 118.30000°E / 6.08333; 118.30000Coordinates: 6°5′0″N 118°18′0″E / 6.08333°N 118.30000°E / 6.08333; 118.30000
Country	Philippines
Region	Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
Province	Tawi-Tawi
Barangays	2
Government[1]
• Mayor	Mibaral Tang
Area
• Total	62.50 km2 (24.13 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	3,772
• Density	60/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	7507
Dialing code	68
Income class	5th

Turtle Islands, also known as Turtle Isles, is a 5th class municipality composed of a remote group of seven islands in the province of Tawi-Tawi in the Southern Philippines. According to the 2010 census it has 10,048 people in 1,955 housholds.

Geography

Location

The islands are located within the Sulu Sea^[3] at the southwestern tip of the country, at the edge of the international treaty limits separating the Philippines and Malaysia.^[4] The seven islands from northwest to southeast are:^[5][6]

• Sibaung is the westernmost island and is a small coral reef lying 4.5 miles (7.2 km) westward of the north part of Boaan Island. The island has an area of 0.1 hectares (0.25 acre) only. There are a few bushes 35 feet high on this reef.

• Boaan, also known as Boan, is the second largest island of the group with an area of 76 hectares (190 acres) with the highest elevation at 59 metres (194 ft).

• Lihiman is a mud and coralline island of about 29 hectares (72 acres). The island is noted for its explosive mud volcanoes extrusions (see below).

• Great Bakkungaan also known as Great Bakkungan is the third largest at 51 hectares (130 acres) with the highest elevation at 58 metres (190 ft).

• Langaan is a flat coral island of about 7 hectares (17 acres) and a perimeter of 458 metres (1,503 ft).

• Taganak is of volcanic origin and the largest island of the group with an area of about 116 hectares (290 acres) with the highest point at 148 metres (486 ft).

• Baguan is the easternmost of the islands and is also volcanic in origin. The bell-shaped island has an area of 29.1 hectares (72 acres) with the maximum elevation of 40 metres (130 ft).

Fresh water is reported available from shallow groundwater on the last six islands.^[7]

Mud Volcanoes

In the Philippines, mud volcanoes are known to exist only on the Turtle Islands. Presence of these formations are evident on three of the islands - Lihiman, Great Bakkungaan and Boaan Islands. The hills on these islands are mostly mud volcanoes. On Great Bakkungan Island, gray mud quietly flows from the vent in a pulsating manner accompanied by gas bubbling. On Boan Island, mud extrusion have ceased for a number of years.

Compared to the other two islands, in Lihiman Island, a more violent extrusions of mud, mixed with large pieces of rocks occur that it has created a 20-m (66-ft) wide crater on the hilly part of the island.^[4] Such extrusions are reported to be accompanied by mild earthquakes and evidence of extruded materials can be found high up the surrounding trees because of its explosive character. Huge amount of materials are discharged from this volcano that drainage was cut on the northern slope of the hill to direct the flow to the sea. Submarine mud extrusions off the island have also been observed by local residents.^[8]

Political

The Turtle Islands is a municipality of Tawi-Tawi province and is politically subdivided into 2 barangays:

• Taganak Poblacion
• Likud Bakkao

People

According to the 2010 census, the population of the five permanently inhabited islands is 3,772 people in 646 households. With a land area of only 3.08 square kilometers, the islands have a population density of 1168 persons per km² – much higher than the national average of 276 persons per km².^{[citation needed]}

The 2010 Census reported that, as of August 1, 2007, the population of the islands was 6,194.^[9]

History

The islands, together with Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, were formerly held by the United Kingdom which at that time administered the adjacent territory of North Borneo (the current Sabah state of Malaysia), as a British Protectorate. Following the League of Nations Treaty between the United States, which controlled the Philippines, and United Kingdom on January 2, 1930 regarding territorial boundaries,^[6] the UK turned over seven of the Turtle Islands (or Turtle Isles as the UK call it) and Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi to the United States in 1930.^[10] The islands came under Philippine sovereignty with the recognition by the United States of Philippine Independence on July 4, 1946. The remaining three Turtle Islands which were not turned over by UK are now part of Malaysia, and are now the Malaysian Turtle Islands National Park.

Turtle Sanctuary

Together with three islands of neighbor country Malaysia and the surrounding coral waters, Turtle Islands are the only living areas for the Green Sea Turtles in Asia and in the whole world. In 1996, the islands were declared as Turtle Islands Heritage Protected area by the governments of the Philippines and Malaysia as the only way to guarantee the continued existence of the green sea turtles and their nesting sites.^[11][12]

For the five islands, the Philippine government decided to create special protection zones, and within this zones, only scientific and conservation activities are allowed. In other zones, certain rules are adapted in order to prevent too much impact by people on the environment and the turtles. Visiting these zones is only possible with strict guidance and under supervision of the staff of the officials of the government.

For a successful conservation and protection program, the support of the locals was very important. Fishing, for most of them, is the most important activity and source of income. Hunting sea turtles and collecting the turtle eggs for food, had always been a possible source for additional income. From the end of August to December, turtles come by the hundreds from the surrounding coastal waters, to lay and dig their eggs into the sand. The staff of the conservation project were able to succeed in convincing the locals the need to minimize their collecting activities. Local men, women and children, are now involved, helping with the protection activities.^[13]

Malaysian annexation controversy

In 1988, the Manila press announced that Malaysia had annexed the islands. Three days of hype, supported by news maps showing the annexation, died away when it was revealed that the "annexation" was the result of the misreading of an American naval chart by a Philippine naval officer. The officer mistook a deepwater ship route for the boundary of Malaysia's new economic zone.^[14]

Accessibility

Access to the Turtle Islands is difficult, as there are no regular means of transportation to the area.

References

External links

• One Ocean, the Philippines' coastal and fisheries management information.
• Ocean Ambassadors is a page about marine species found in the Philippines and the effort to conserve them.

v t e Province of Tawi-Tawi Municipalities Bongao Languyan Mapun Panglima Sugala Sapa-Sapa Sibutu Simunul Sitangkai South Ubian Tandubas Turtle Islands

v t e World Heritage Sites in the Philippines World Heritage Sites Baroque Churches of the Philippines San Agustin Church Paoay Church Santa Maria Church Miag-ao Church Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras Batad Rice Terraces Bangaan Rice Terraces Hungduan Rice Terraces Mayoyao Central Rice Terraces Nagacadan Rice Terraces Tubbataha Reef Historic Town of Vigan Tentative List Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Angono Triglyphs Apo Reef Natural Park Baroque Churches of the Philippines Extension Boljoon Church Guiuan Church Loboc Church Lazi Church Tumauini Church Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes Butuan Archeological Sites Chocolate Hills Natural Monument Coron Island Natural Biotic Area El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area Jesuit Churches of the Philippines Guiuan Church Baclayon Church Loboc Church Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves Liguasan Marsh Mount Apo Natural Park Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park Mount Malindang Range Natural Park Mount Matutum Protected Landscape Mount Pulag National Park Neolithic Shell Midden Sites in Lal-lo and Gattaran Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and outlying areas inclusive of the buffer zone Paleolithic Archaeological Sites in Cagayan Valley Panglao Island, Bohol Petroglyphs and Petrographs of the Philippines San Sebastian Church Spanish Colonial Fortifications of the Philippines Fuerza de Capul Dauis Watchtower Punta Cruz Fortification Fuerza de San Andres Fuerza de Sta. Isabel Taal Volcano Protected Landscape, Batangas The Maranao Settlement of Tugaya The Tabon Cave Complex and all of Lipuun Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary