Orchid Island is about a 25 mile volcanic island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan island and separated from the Batanes of the Philippines by the Bashi Channel of the Luzon Strait. Orchid Islands jagged volcanic landscape, lush tropical jungles and clear blue waters are home to a unique mix of wildlife of Indo-Pacific and Chinese origin, and to the Tao people, an ocean-going culture with ancient beliefs and deep respect for nature. There are thousands of different species of fish and mumerous sea snakes that populate the island's coral reefs. The Orchid Island Scoop Owls, Whistling Green Pegeons and Birdwing butterflies, thrive in the forests alongside a host of reptiles, colorful insects and huge spiders. The Tao's guardianship of both forest and ocean has preserved the island's wild nature since their ancestors arrived from the Phillippines nearly a thousand years ago. To this day, they harvest the sea from painted boats, hand-made from forest timber and though the Tao's world is changing fast, many spirital beliefs and links with nature survive.