World’s Largest Coral Found at 34 Meters Wide and 300 Years Old, Surviving Climate Threats

[{"selector":"#anim-4c4f2ed3-16ba-4c46-9f23-1b5eb62e0f4e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74ef494b-55d1-4e65-9932-55d432c23711","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89ae683a-1759-4799-9208-9c3dec0e651d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Karmactive Staff

[{"selector":"#anim-7ff1513f-0054-4a8f-8ab2-dfb407ea42c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07fd6fb2-d1ac-448e-b8a1-b84ae3c936c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -98.51364%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6b392ad-d593-4b61-924f-18501ab3ce93","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3dbe324-5380-4b16-ad04-13094f8f9de2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90f968f4-1b0e-4f3c-82b1-a13ac8e3e0df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af44a1aa-959d-47cc-a61c-096aa7e885fa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Egor Kamelev (Pexels) Marine biologist and videographer Manu San Félix discovered the world's largest coral in a remote region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean in October 2024.

[{"selector":"#anim-d912ef25-9c96-4b88-a214-6dccdd577bc6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b07d9daa-e4d9-4799-83b2-24fefcd0a0c0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5615986d-b7c3-4a26-bc2f-a5f1c85b0c22","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bf07576-f53b-4bec-97cc-f0eee58e9aa2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-49379a4f-2d58-40c9-bfbe-c81169d7c3ce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5710632c-e031-4d9b-9173-023cf8f53497","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f4b1ca1-773d-42ad-afc2-0b04dc244682","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] As part of a National Geographic Pristine Seas project expedition, Félix detected something at about 13 meters depth that appeared like a shipwreck from the surface. Photo Source: Jorge Láscar (CC BY 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-592e11a9-a063-4bcd-b9e5-15d7adc937e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a92d779a-1c0a-4e0f-b139-c5340af1bfb0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62926c0a-310e-42df-b349-55b2f81d510d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a646796-dcf8-4224-a7a3-499a12d93263","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -98.51364%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f010e245-e8fc-47ef-b2d7-826a81f7167e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1650d36a-f08d-4979-ad87-45e5f4c236d0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Jorge Láscar (CC BY 2.0) A team of eight divers recorded the coral's dimensions at 34 meters wide, 32 meters long, and 5.5 meters high.

[{"selector":"#anim-54aae465-b731-4010-b1e9-3410208a1e3a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44468955-cee8-415c-a8d0-3108921a587c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b599bbd-75db-4ab4-9d1c-ab88fcb435b0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af9e4b42-3dc5-42c2-8955-4db0af73bed1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0329c27c-034e-4a75-9bb0-72d7122b3f26","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1aba4dc8-3cb9-4da4-a0a9-8bce879ca559","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-beea09e7-3ad5-4f17-852d-28260cf931fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Scientists identified the coral colony as Pavona clavus (shoulder blade coral), known for its shoulder-like columns. It is brown with patches of yellow, red, pink, and blue. Photo Source: GRID-Arendal (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-0b63a710-56ee-4239-bf06-2a4d215ae24b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68ddde03-d810-4d43-8515-06b9be49a265","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24c6308c-63ea-45cb-9364-762a21ddd6e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63d5bcae-37c8-4efa-b674-9e6b3a48fbfe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.0495%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34689f1e-887d-4468-997a-b79d4df3257f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd167a70-d2ff-4ee4-a013-0fe3dea59262","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: micamonkey (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) The megacoral consists of nearly 1 billion genetically identical coral polyps functioning as a single organism. This specimen is uniquely flattened and extensive.

[{"selector":"#anim-feead764-6c32-4ede-92ef-2bfcced51bf9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9944367-1501-4c3d-be35-111aec7eab72","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31955155-a094-4d33-a5bd-cba2e3b9c3cb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2cf23c9f-c0c8-45f8-9d83-45033ff30ad2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2838c81a-21dc-4d62-bfe4-0e70686fcb93","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50cea2ef-d7b3-46e7-90fb-ff63fa30cb4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca2b82af-ba95-453a-aff1-dac7575eec77","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Researchers estimate the coral to be around 300 years old. Photo Source: USFWS - Pacific Region (CC BY-NC 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-e0c9bbfa-9e70-47cc-8c17-6a0d66231beb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25d27d8e-0505-4c56-99af-e1069be04312","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3afccc2-c5fc-4af5-b464-4f159cfaba98","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0fa24b2c-c459-4dab-82f7-119ece12912e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.0495%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05613ef7-d3bb-40b4-8302-ede9a6b99910","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb4a906b-fa20-4f89-a3da-cbd0309c4c93","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Christian Gloor (CC BY 2.0) Seventy-seven percent of coral reef areas have experienced bleaching-level temperatures between 2023 and 2024.

[{"selector":"#anim-d256b035-a814-4532-868d-f5358e4de4e9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55ac1962-7430-4c40-a238-7060d1ed1008","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9963c07-5ac6-412b-9e5b-146404204b6c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-297b19e3-d0cd-4af9-91f6-5960629c5a57","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b20f7cc-895d-4446-9da8-b161333e7cb1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b14b3ab3-db3e-4411-a056-65117ca93c67","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2ee4027-abcb-409c-b6a0-4f0882ec1ed9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The coral faces various threats such as global warming, ocean acidification, overfishing, pollution, and urban development. Scientists warn that global warming beyond 1.5°C could be catastrophic for coral reefs and aquatic life. Photo Source: Francesco Ungaro (Pexels)

[{"selector":"#anim-0a985706-b194-4cfc-87fe-8e9b3d1b6e09","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-428aed40-55fa-4136-85fb-eb3ba5431ab5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 343.51796%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59bce429-b35b-4d53-91ff-825525cb3ede","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec0ae635-8966-4fb1-b2b0-aef368066a90","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.0495%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87985e71-6112-40c0-af62-295aaf0054f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4754af29-dbdf-455d-bcab-3e18120d2dce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: John Turnbull (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Currently, only 8.4 percent of Solomon Islands' waters are protected by government regulations.

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World’s Largest Coral Found at 34 Meters Wide and 300 Years Old, Surviving Climate Threats

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