Islands in Malaysia

Like most of the tropical islands in Southeast Asia, the islands off Malaysia's coastline are a ecological paradise teeming with wildlife, some endemic. Some islands take the form of coastal swamps while others have their own miniature rainforest ecosystem. While being a habitat for unique wildlife and lush environment for island flora, these places are often tourist attractions as they may offer a secluded getaway, often with warm beaches or marine reefs.

Exploring the islands of Peninsular Malaysia is a great alternative to the mainland's rainforests, as you can witness a similar, yet different tropical ecosystem at work. However, due to its isolated nature and limited topography, island destinations suffer easily from commercial exploitation and development. The smallest bit of environment change, either in the form of forest destruction or glut of tourists, can result in drastic changes to the wildlife diversity, perhaps even wiping out endemic species of wildlife. Care must be taken to preserve these island retreats while balancing tourism and development.