{{Short description|Oceanic island in Malaysia}} {{EngvarB|date=February 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox islands | name = Sipadan Island | image_name = Pulau Sipadan.jpg | image_caption = Sipadan Island | coordinates = {{Coord|4|6|52.86|N|118|37|43.52|E|region:MY|display=inline,title}} | location = | map = | label_position = | country = {{Flag|Malaysia}} | country_admin_divisions_title = [[States and federal territories of Malaysia|State]] | country_admin_divisions = {{Flag|Sabah}} | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[Divisions of Malaysia|Division]] | country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Tawau Division|Tawau]] | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = [[List of districts in Malaysia|District]] | country_admin_divisions_2 = [[Semporna District|Semporna]] | population_as_of = | population = | elevation_m = }}
'''Sipadan''' ({{Langx|ms|Pulau Sipadan}}) is the only [[Island#Oceanic islands|oceanic island]] in [[Malaysia]], rising {{Convert|600|m|ft}} from the seabed. It is located in the [[Celebes Sea]] off the east coast of [[Sabah]], Malaysia. It was formed by living [[coral]]s growing on top of an extinct [[volcano|volcanic cone]] that took thousands of years to develop. Sipadan is located at the heart of the [[Indo-Pacific|Indo-Pacific basin]], the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 400 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem. The island sits within '''Sipadan Island Park''', a [[marine park]] encompassing 16,860 hectares and managed by [[Sabah Parks]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2016-03-06 |title=Sipadan now a protected park |url=https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/107408/sipadan-now-a-protected-park/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.dailyexpress.com.my |language=en}}</ref>
== Political history == {{Main|Ligitan and Sipadan dispute}} In the past, the island was at the centre of a territorial dispute between [[Malaysia]] and [[Indonesia]]. The matter was brought for adjudication before the [[International Court of Justice]] and, at the end of 2002, the Court awarded the island along with the island of [[Ligitan]] to Malaysia, on the basis of the "effective occupation" displayed by the latter's predecessor (Malaysia's former colonial power, the [[United Kingdom]]) and the absence of any other superior title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.icj-cij.org/presscom/index.php?pr=343&pt=1&p1=6&p2=1|title=The Court finds that sovereignty over the islands of Ligitan and Sipadan belongs to Malaysia|publisher=International Court of Justice|date=17 December 2002|accessdate=9 April 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409130015/http://www.icj-cij.org/presscom/index.php?pr=343&pt=1&p1=6&p2=1|archivedate=9 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Philippines]] had applied to intervene in the proceedings on the basis of their claim to Northern Borneo, but their request was turned down by the Court early in 2001.
=== Filipino militant attacks === {{Main|2000 Sipadan kidnappings}} On 23 April 2000, 21 people were kidnapped by the [[Filipinos|Filipino]] [[Moro people|Moro]] pirate group [[Abu Sayyaf]]. The armed terrorists arrived by boat, forcing 10 tourists and 11 resort workers to board the vessels at gunpoint, after which they brought the victims to [[Jolo]]. All of the victims were eventually released. As a result of the attacks, the island management together with Ligitan was put under the Malaysian [[National Security Council (Malaysia)|National Security Council]] (NSC).{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}} The perpetrators were jailed in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-22 |title=Militants jailed for life for mass kidnapping of tourists from tropical island resort |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/southeast-asia/abu-sayyaf-philippines-hostages-court-b2633545.html |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
On 8 July 2019, [[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister]] [[Mahathir Mohamad]] has agreed in principle to return the management of both islands from the NSC back to the [[Government of Sabah|Sabah government]] under Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry with the takeover will be done once the federal [[Cabinet of Malaysia|Cabinet]] approving the request.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2019/07/08/sabah-govt-to-take-charge-of-sipadan-island/|title=Sabah govt to take charge of Sipadan Island|author=Durie Rainer Fong|publisher=Free Malaysia Today|date=8 July 2019|accessdate=28 July 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728063841/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2019/07/08/sabah-govt-to-take-charge-of-sipadan-island/|archivedate=28 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2019/08/19/sipadan-ligitan-to-come-under-sabah-in-consensus-by-ma63-committee/|title=Sipadan, Ligitan to come under Sabah in consensus by MA63 committee|publisher=Free Malaysia Today|date=19 August 2019|accessdate=22 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822060512/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2019/08/19/sipadan-ligitan-to-come-under-sabah-in-consensus-by-ma63-committee/|archivedate=22 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Biodiversity and conservation == The island was declared a [[bird sanctuary]] in 1933 by the colonial government of [[North Borneo]] and re-gazetted in 1963 by the Malaysian government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sipadan Island |url=http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my/web-page/places/states-of-malaysia/sabah/sipadan-island |accessdate=23 May 2014 |publisher=Tourism Malaysia}}</ref> The [[coral reef]] ecosystems of Sipadan and nearby [[Mabul Island]] later received recognition as [[scuba diving]] destinations during the 1980s,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Musa |first=Ghazali |date=2002-01-01 |title=Sipadan: A SCUBA-diving paradise: An analysis of tourism impact, diver satisfaction and tourism management |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/14616680210124927 |journal=Tourism Geographies |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=195–209 |doi=10.1080/14616680210124927 |issn=1461-6688|url-access=subscription }}</ref> with the first resort opening on Sipadan in 1984.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=News |first=Gulf |title=Springboard of conservation |url=https://www.zawya.com/en/business/springboard-of-conservation-jvz373uv |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.zawya.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2004, the island was declared a [[marine park]] by [[Sabah Parks]] and 6 hotel and resort facilities on the island were closed by authorities due to their impacts on the ecosystems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrD@DJ |title=Sipadan Island Park - The Official Sabah Parks Website |url=https://www.sabahparks.org.my/sipadan-island-park |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=www.sabahparks.org.my |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The area of protection was expanded by 6,846 hectares in 2015, bringing total area within Sipadan Island Park to 16,860 hectares.<ref name=":0" />
The island's coral reefs have led to its international recognition as a scuba diving destination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Daniel |date=2014-08-21 |title=Diving Into the Mystic Off Sipadan Island |url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/diving-into-the-mystic-off-sipadan-island-1408654893 |access-date=2025-06-15 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> In the film ''Borneo: The Ghost of the Sea Turtle'' (1989)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cousteau Theatrical Films and Television Programs |url=http://www.cousteau.org/img/documents/film_list.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719051243/http://www.cousteau.org/img/documents/film_list.pdf |archivedate=19 July 2011 |accessdate=6 April 2018 |publisher=Cousteau Society}}</ref> [[Jacques Cousteau]] said: "I have seen other places like Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have found an untouched piece of art".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diving Sites [A Brief History of Pulau Sipadan] |url=http://www.sabah.gov.my/pd.sprn/sipadan.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216172816/http://www.sabah.gov.my/pd.sprn/sipadan.html |archivedate=16 February 2009 |accessdate=6 April 2018 |publisher=Semporna District Council |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Visiting Sipadan Island requires a permit issued by Sabah Parks. Since 2019, there are 178 permits available each day.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}} In 2016, four dive marshals were also appointed to monitor scuba diving activities on the island.<ref name=":0" /> The island was closed for 1 month in November 2023 in an effort to allow the ecosystem to recover from human disturbance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Sabah Parks hopeful month-long Sipadan closure will do ecosystem some good |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/14/sabah-parks-hopeful-month-long-sipadan-closure-will-do-ecosystem-some-good |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref>
Frequently seen in the waters around Sipadan are [[Green sea turtle|green]] and [[hawksbill turtle]]s<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip0fBjpN9F4 Here you can see the turtles of Sipadan.] It was filmed by [[Christoph Brüx]].</ref> (which mate and nest there), enormous schools of [[barracuda]] in tornado-like formations as well as large schools of [[Carangidae|big-eye trevally]] and [[bumphead parrotfish]]. Pelagic species such as [[manta ray]]s, [[eagle ray]]s, [[scalloped hammerhead shark]]s and [[whale shark]]s also visit Sipadan. A turtle tomb lies underneath the column of the island, formed by an underwater [[limestone]] [[cave]] with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that become lost and drown before finding the surface.<ref>Fabio Spadi (2003) "Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan: New Parameters for the Concept of Dependency in the Maritime Environment? The ICJ judgment of 17 December 2002",[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mnp/estu/2003/00000018/00000002;jsessionid=6qt3nvmpmm558.alice ''The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law''] 18: 295–310</ref> [[Killer whale]]s have also been sighted around the island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-02 |title=Killer whales seen off Sipadan, reinforces Semporna waters as marine mammal study area |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/02/02/killer-whale-seen-off-sipadan-reinforces-semporna-waters-as-marine-mammal-study-area |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref>
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Sipadan island.jpg|The island File:Hawksbill Sipadan.jpg|[[Green sea turtle]] File:Beneath Sipadan Island.jpeg|Beneath the island </gallery>
== See also == * [[Mabul Island]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Sipadan Island}} {{Wikivoyage|Sipadan Island}} * [http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my/web-page/places/states-of-malaysia/sabah/sipadan-island Tourism Malaysia – Sipadan Island] * [https://www.protectedplanet.net/555705700 Sipadan Island Park] at [[World Database on Protected Areas]] * [https://www.sabahparks.org.my/sipadan-island-park Sipadan Island Park] at [[Sabah Parks]]
{{Islands of Sabah}} {{Protected areas of Sabah}} {{National parks of Malaysia}} {{Sabah Development Corridor}} {{Recreational dive sites|reereg}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Islands of Sabah]] [[Category:Important Bird Areas of Sabah]] [[Category:Underwater diving sites in Malaysia]] [[Category:Tourism in Sabah]] [[Category:Indonesia–Malaysia border]] [[Category:Former disputed islands]] [[Category:Protected areas of Sabah]] [[Category:Marine parks of Malaysia]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 2004]] [[Category:Bird sanctuaries]] [[Category:IUCN Category II]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1933]]