SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO KURAMAN ISLAND, LABUAN

LABUAN (Malaysia), June 12 (Bernama) -- The Labuan Marine Park Department is
organising a scientific expedition to study the natural habitat and marine life
at the Kuraman Island Marine Park near here.

Its director, Albert Apollo Chan, said the expedition was also to map and
document the natural habitat and marine life, identify aquatic marine species in
danger of going extinct and to record coral species as well as flora and fauna
found there.

He said the findings of the research would be documented for use by the
department's information centre to be set up on the island.

Meanwhile, the sandy beaches at Kuraman Island, the nesting area for green
turtles and several sea bird species, would be fenced up to prevent encroachment
by local residents.

The Kuraman Island, which will be gazetted as a Malaysian Marine Park, is
occupied by 80 refugee families under the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR).

There are two settlements on Kuraman Island, namely Kampung Warisan (Warisan
Village) and Kampung Singgahmata (Singgahmata Village).


-- BERNAMA