arutao national park is a group of 51 islands in the Andaman Sea, in Satun province, near the Malaysian border. The two main island groups are Tarutao and the Adang-Rawi islands. The park covers an area of 1490 square kilometers of which about 85% is the marine area. Tarutao island was used as a prison in the late 1930's. The existance of sharks and crocodiles in the surrounding sea at that time ensured that only a few could escape alive. During the time of second world war food and medical supplies failed to reach the island. In despration, the prisoners and their guards raided a passing merchant ship, and discovered the value far beyond their expectations. Then followed the blood-thirsty piracy began. The waters around Tarutao became one of the most feared in the Malacca strait.