IUCN Management Category Unassigned

Biogeographical Province 4.05.01 (Indochinese Rainforest))

Geographical Location Comprises three groups of islands, in the Andaman Sea, 20-30km off the west coast of Tenasserim, and 40-60km from the nearest major town, Tavoy (FAO, 1982). The islands lie on an approximate north-south line, stretching over some 70kms of sea and comprise: North Moscos, or Heinze Islands; Middle Moscos, or Maungmagan Islands; and South Moscos, or Launglon Bok Islands. 13°47'-14°23'N, 97°46'-97°57'E

Date and History of Establishment Originally designated as a game preserve by an order, dated 13 May 1924, under Rule 5(a) of the Burma Game Rules 1917. Reconstituted as a game sanctuary on 29 September 1927 under the Burma Game Rules by Forest Department notification No. 241 (FAO, 1982, 1985).

Area 4,924ha, of which only the South Moscos islands (approximately 2,330ha) is proposed as a national park (FAO, 1982).

Land Tenure Government

Altitude Ranges from sea level to about 300m on most islands, with a maximum height of 555m on Heinze island in the North Moscos group (FAO, 1982).

Physical Features The islands generally rise steeply from rocky shorelines to a north-south oriented watershed. They constitute the exposed peaks of underwater ridges, formed by late Tertiary tectonic movement and by volcanic activity (Chibber, 1927). The largest island is Auk Bok, in the South Moscos group, measuring about 10km by 2.4km, and which, in common with a number of the other larger islands, features sandy bays and sheltered anchorages. The sea between the islands and the mainland averages about 24m, and nowhere exceeds 40m in depth (FAO, 1982).

Climate The climate is monsoonal, with little or no rain during the cold season from December to Febuary. Mean annual rainfall at Tavoy, some 13km inland, is 5451mm, the wettest months being May to October. Mean maximum and minimum temperatures at Tavoy are 37°C and 14°C in April and January, respectively (FAO, 1982).

Vegetation The islands are covered with climax southern low tropical evergreen forest, which is at its most luxuriant in the South Moscos group. However, this primary cover, dominated by Dipterocarpus spp., has been modified to a certain extent by illegal felling. Lianes Calamus spp. and epiphytes are abundant, and there are limited areas of mangrove in the tidal zone. On the beach Agathis sp. may be present and bamboo is uncommon, although there is a limited occurence of Neahouzeaua stricta. Further details of associated species are given in FAO (1982).

Fauna Although there has been no comprehensive ecological survey, the islands appear to be poor in terrestrial wildlife, possibly due to the presence of feral dogs. Wild boar Sus scrofa and crab-eating macaque Macaca fasicularis are common, whilst mouse deer Tragulus sp. and monitor lizard Varanus sp. are reported but not readily seen. Green turtle Chelonia mydas (E) has been reported, although other species may be present (FAO, 1982). Turtle nesting sites on Auk Bok have been reduced to one, in contrast to the more widespread nesting on all three island groups in the 1930s, when some 60,000 eggs were collected annually. Current egg harvests number about 30,000 from South Moscos and 9,000 from the Middle Moscos group. All eggs laid are collected, under licence from the Forestry Department, by a concessionaire based on Auk Bok. The avifauna on the islands is diverse and includes hornbill, possibly Rhyticeros undulatus and pied imperial pigeon Ducula bicolor. Although white-bellied sea eagle Halietus leucogaster and reef egret Egretta sacra are present, sea birds are relatively scarce. Cave dwelling edible-nest swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphaga are found on Hgnettaik Kyun islet in the South Moscos, and on Cradle Rock in the Middle Moscos. All nests are collected, currently by Thaya Kone Village Cooperative Society, under a concession from the Forestry Department. In 1982, market prices for the nests ranged from US$286 to US$1200 per kg. Current production averages about 28kg per annum, which represents a decline of some 41% over the level achieved during 1951-1956, and the colony on Cradle Rock is now considered to be too small to be worth commercially exploiting. Coral is found around the South Moscos islands, and probably exists elsewhere in the sanctuary, although there has been no comprehensive marine survey (FAO, 1982).

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population There are no residents in the sanctuary, although fishermen set up temporary camps during the dry season. Besides fishing, these people are engaged in some timber felling and collect other forest produce from within the sanctuary (FAO, 1982).

Visitors and Visitor Facilities The sanctuary does not attract visitors and there are no facilities for them on the islands. Tavoy has a daily air service from Rangoon and so the area in general is reasonably accessible (FAO, 1982).

Scientific Research and Facilities Turtle egg and swiftlet nest harvests have been monitored by the Forest Department, and Chhibber (1927) surveyed and described the geography of the region. In 1982 the Middle and South Moscos groups were surveyed briefly (FAO, 1982). There are no scientific facilities.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management An attempt was made in 1924-1929 to introduce sambar Cervus unicolor, Indian muntjak Muntiacus muntjak, wild boar Sus scrofa, hog deer Cervus porcinus and jungle fowl Pavo sp. (Tun Yin, 1954). Of these introductions only wild boar is still present on the islands. The islands are valued for their marine turtles, edible-nest swiftlets and marine flora and fauna, including coral. In 1982 it was recommended that: turtle egg and swiftlet nest collection should cease immediately; boundaries should be clearly marked and efffectively guarded; the three main islands of the South Moscos group and associated islets should be designated as a marine national park; Middle Moscos should either remain as a wildlife sanctuary or be uprated to a nature reserve; and North Moscos should be excised from the sanctuary and revert to unclassed forest without special protection (FAO, 1982).

Management Constraints Sustained egg-harvesting pressure has reduced the breeding turtle population significantly in the sanctuary and the edible-nest swiftlet colonies are threatened in a similar manner. Illegal logging and collection of forest produce threatens the forest cover (FAO, 1982).

Staff No information

Budget No information

Local Addresses

Divisional Forest Officer, Tavoy Forest Division, Tavoy

References

Chhibber, H. L. (1927). Geography of south Tenasserim and the Mergui archipelago. Burma Research Society Journal 17: 127-156.

FAO (1982). Maungmagan, Moscos islands and Mergui archipelago: report on a preliminary survey. Nature conservation and national parks project FO/BUR/80/006. Field report 4/82. FAO, Rangoon. 35 pp.

FAO (1985). Burma: survey data and conservation priorities Nature conservation and national parks project FO/BUR/80/006. Technical Report No. 1. FAO, Rangoon. 102 pp.

Tun, Yin, U. (1954). Wildlife preservation and sanctuaries in the Union of Burma. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 52: 264-284.

Date November 1986, updated February 1989

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