Pulau Singa Besar, Kedah

Pulau Singa Besar (GPS: 6.21052, 99.738) is one of the main islands of the Langkawi Archipelago. It is located to the south of Pulau Langkawi, and to the west of Pulau Dayang Bunting. Pulau Singa Besar is said to be 17 km from Kuah, not that it matters, as most tours to this island comes from Porto Malai, located directly to the north of it.

Pulau Singa Besar measures 6.5 km from north to south, and 2.5 km from east to west. There are forest paths allowing visitors to trek across the island, right to the southernmost cape of Tanjung Genting. The island is in the shape of the letter C, with a tail to it. On the northern part facing Pulau Langkawi is Teluk Sepai. The upper eastern part, forming the top of the C, is Tanjung Pekula. Teluk Botol is a wide bay in the eastern centre of the island. On the southeastern part is a cape called Tanjong Pak Kahar, flanked by Teluk Pak Kahar to the north, and Teluk Ketapang to the west. Pulau Singa Besar is separated from Pulau Beras Basah by Selat Simpang Tiga.

Pulau Singa Besar is one of the islands visited on island hopping trips of the Langkawi Archipelago. There are some deer and peacocks on the island which are animals left over from a defunct menagerie. There is a disused path along the coast. The island was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1988, but subsequent activities have introduced alien species to the island, including peacocks, deer and mousedeer. So far, no indepth study has been published on the impact of these animals to the resident species.

According to legend, Pulau Singa Besar, which means "Island of Giant Lions" or "Great Lion Island", got its name because the guardian fairy of the island, Mambang Sari, placed lions on the islands to protect it. Mambang Sari is of course the same fairy nymph of neighbouring Pulau Dayang Bunting fame. Pulau Singa Besar is paired in name with another smaller island to the north of it, Pulau Singa Kecil (Lesser Lion Island). Other islets in the vicinity include Pulau Jong to the east of Tanjung Pekula, and Pulau Chupak to the southeast of Tanjung Genting.

Pulau Singa Besar is on the Map of Islands of Langkawi

Back to Discover Langkawi mainpage; list of Islands in Langkawi, Islands in Kedah and Islands in Malaysia

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