Corals of Pulau Perak - After 46 years of Scientific Solitude - Underwater Surveys (2004, 2006)

Aug 27, 2026

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Underwater surveys at Pulau Perak in 2004 and 2006 assessed whether corals persisted after the 1958 scientific expedition. Using a modified Reef Check approach at two reef-wall stations at 5 m and 15 m, the study recorded corals with high cover reaching up to 58%. Extensive fish life and abundant banded coral shrimp were observed, alongside a notably distinct Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star population compared with other Malaysian waters. The surrounding area is recommended for marine park declaration due to pristine coral diversity and associated marine fauna.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Study Site and Historical Background

Pulau Perak overview

Previous coral records and sampling limitations

2004 and 2006 Underwater Surveys

Survey method and stations

Coral cover and associated fauna

Findings and Conservation Recommendation

Corals of Pulau Perak:After 46 years of Scientific Solitude Affendi Yang Amril",Badrul Huzaimi Tajuddin¹,Yong Ai Lin¹and Kee Alfian AbdulAdzis² 1 Institute of Biological Sciences,Faculty of Science,Universiti Malaya,50603 Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia. 2 Marine Ecosystem Research Centre(EKOMAR),Faculty of Science &Technology,NationalUniversity of Malaysia. *affendi@um.edu.my(corresponding author) (scleractinian coral,reef wall,Reef Check,Pulau Perak) # INTRODUCTION Munshi Abdullah(1795-1854),a revered Malaywriter,was one of the first Malay scholars whovisited and wrote about Pulau Perak in 1854.Hedocumented it in his final travel journal‘Kisahpelayaran Abdullah dari Singapura ke Mekah'which unfortunately could not be completed.Abdullah died at the end of his journey in Mekahwhile performing his Haj,from cholera.It was onhis 9h day sailing towards Mekah that he reachedthe island at about 4 pm on 6 of February 1854.Hedescribed the island aptly,"There was not a singleblade of grass nor shrubs of any kind on this island,only mounds of stones,which appeared whitish andsilvery from a distance”,which is why people havenamed it Pulau Perak.It is also a place where birdsof various kinds gather to sleep [1].Apparently, AbstractUnderwater surveys were done at Pulau Perak in 2004 and 2006 to investigate whethercorals were present after the last scientific expedition in 1958.Using a modified Reef Check method at twostudy stations at 5m and 15m depths,it was documented that corals were not only present but had a highcover of up to 58%.Abundant fish life and high numbers of the banded coral shrimp were observed.Averydistinct Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star population unlike the ones found in other Malaysian waters was alsodocumented.The island and its surrounding water should be declared a marine park as it harbours a richdiversity of pristine corals and other marine life. AbstrakTinjauan bawah air Pulau Perak telah dijalankan pada tahun 2004 dan 2006 untukmengetahui jika batu karang masih wujud seperti yang dilaporkan oleh ekspedisi saintifik sebelum ini yangtelah dilakukan pada tahun 1958.Dengan menggunakan kaedah Reef Check yang telah ubahsuai untukdigunakan di kawasan ‘reef wall’,tinjauan telah dilakukan di dua stesyen pada kedalaman 5m dan 15m.Bukan sahaja batu karang masih didapati di sana tetapi ianya mempunyai litupan yang tinggi sehingga 58%.Ikan dan udang 'banded coral shrimp'juga didapati dengan banyak disana.Populasi tapak sulaiman ‘Crownof Thorns'di Pulau Perak didapati amat berbeza jika dibandingkan dengan populasi di kawasan lain diperairan Malaysia.Oleh kerana perairannya mempunyai banyak batu karang yang amat baik serta diversitihidupan laut yang tinggi adalah dicadangkan supaya kawasan ini digazetkan sebagai sebuah Taman Laut. Munshi did not know that it was the bird droppingsthat made the island appear 'silver'(=perak). Pulau Perak(5°41'3.27”N,98°56'19.86”E)issituated in the northern part of Selat Melaka about120 km south-west of Pulau Langkawi and 140km north-west of Pulau Pinang(Figure 1).It isapproximately 550 m in length,400 m wide and125m in height.Munshi Abdullah had describedPulau Perak as being barren,but today,the islandis covered in green shrubs(Figures 2-4).Thebirds,though,are still there in large numbers. The island marine life has been lying dormantwith regards to scientific knowledge for nearly46 years.The last known scientific data wastaken on the 22 September 1958 when GeorgScheer from the Hessian State Museum,Darmstadt, Figure 1.A combination of a satellite picture (taken from Google Earth on 20\#October 2008)and a bathymetry map of the area(taken from Lipa et al.[2])showing Pulau Perak in Selat Melaka.Pulau Langkawi and Pulau Pinang is also shown. Figure 2.Picture taken by satellite(taken from Google Earth on 20th October 2008)of Pulau Perak.The locations of the twostations surveyed are marked as red stars.The helipad,jetty and lighthouse are also shown. Figure 3.Undated picture from the air

FAQs

Why were the 2004 and 2006 underwater surveys carried out at Pulau Perak?

Surveys were conducted to determine whether corals were still present after the last known scientific data from 1958.

What method and station depths were used in the modified Reef Check survey?

A modified Reef Check method was used at two study stations on the reef wall at depths of 5 m and 15 m.

What were the key results about coral presence and coverage?

Corals were not only present but also showed high cover, documented up to 58%, together with abundant fish life and banded coral shrimp.

Why should Pulau Perak and its surrounding waters be declared a marine park?

The area should be gazetted as a marine park because it harbours rich diversity of pristine corals and other marine life, including distinctive Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star populations.

Aug 27, 2026

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