Melaka Tourist Sight :: Tanjung Tuan Raptor Watch
Tanjung Tuan or Cape Rachado (as named by the Portuguese) is an exclave of the state of Malacca, with a lighthouse, facing the straits of Malacca.
The coastal area off the cape is famous as the site of the naval battle of Cape Rachado in 1604, between the Dutch VOC and Portuguese fleets, the opening act for the series of conflicts between the coalition of Dutch-Johore and Portuguese Malacca that ultimately ended with the Portuguese surrender of the city and fort of Malacca to the VOC in 1641.
After Portugal conquered Malacca in 1511, the Portuguese wanted to build a lighthouse to guide its ships. The cape was chosen and it was named “Cape Rachado” by them. Subsequently, a lighthouse was built in between 1528 and 1529. As Malacca switched hands to the Dutch and later to the British in 1641 and 1824 respectively, so too did the possession of the structure.
In 1921, the area was gazetted as a permanent forest reserves with an area of 80.97 hectares under the name of Camp Rachado Forest Reserves.
On 5th January 1971, the rest of the 60.70 hectares of the Cape Rachaso forest was gazetted as a wildlife sanctuary under the jurisdiction of Perhilitan Department under Birds and Wildlife Protection Ordinance No. 2/1955/ However by year 2002 re-gazetted has been made and the actual area is 75.92 hectares.
In 16 April, 1996, a company (Dataran Baiduri Sdn Bhd) was assigned to commercially develop the park.
Cape Rachado is also a strategic place for bird watching activities especially during annual migration season. The place is well-known as a popular stopover point for thousands of migratory birds from southern to northern hemisphere especially Honey Buzzard. Other birds that stop here during their annual winter migration route include Swifts, Hawks and Eagles which can be spotted between September and March every year.
Tanjung Tuan is only coastal dipterocarp hill forest remains in Melaka. Rich in flora and fauna with 54 species of wild birds consist of resident and migratory birds and 3 species of primate.
This area has been designated by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. The Malaysian Nature Society is active in promoting conservation in the area.
Location map:
GPS Coordinates: 2.407352E, 101.852311N 
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