Tengah Island Conservation is located on the beautiful Tengah Island in the South China Sea. The island is approximately nine nautical miles off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, Pulau Babi Tengah (“Middle Pig Island” in the Malay language) is one of the islands in the Seribuat Archipelago. The island is one of 13 islands that make up the protected Johor Marine Park.

The interior of the island is covered in tropical forest; its 3 km circumference is adorned with eight sandy beaches framing clear waters and rocky outcrops. The rich marine life around the island includes healthy coral reefs that play host to dugongs, whales, dolphins, porpoises, and sea turtles.

Pulau Tengah was used as a location for an UNHCR Refugee Transit Camp  from the mid-1970s to early 1980s. During this period around 120,000 boat people fleeing Vietnam  transited through the island before being allocated a new country of refuge. Many ex-boat people come back to visit Pulau Tengah and stay with us at Batu Batu recounting their incredible stories. Many memories and photos can be found in this Facebook group.

After the refugee camp was closed, Pulau Tengah was used as the location for a small backpacker resort called Pirate Bay and later on the set for the Expedition Robinson and Koh Lanta - two European survival reality series.