Officially protected as part of Mu Koh Similan National Park, an area of 140 square kilometres that also includes Ko Bon and Ko Tachai, the Similans have remained free of private development. In the air, rare birds such as sea eagles, kingfisher, and the endangered nicobar pigeon may be spotted. In the water, sea turtles, rays, moray eels and whale sharks are commonly seen along with a vibrant community of tropical fish.
Though the Similans have avoided the fate of other islands in the Andaman like Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lipe, their natural beauty being buried under extensive hotel development, certainly the pressures of mass tourism are starting to be felt here. The Similans have become extremely popular and both the waters and beaches can at times feel like something of a theme park.
Though tour operators are subject to licensing and controls, alarms have been raised that the number of visitors arriving daily to the islands far exceed their capacity. In early 2015, park officials were quoted as saying they would limit visitor numbers to 200 a day on Tachai and 250 a day on Similan (# 8) island, but it’s estimated that some 1,000 people arrive to each daily. Inevitably, coral degradation and beach trash are starting ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 1,000 words.)
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