We often forget that coral are animals. Living, breathing, moving animals.
Spanish filmmaker Antonio Rodríguez Canto spent a year photographing the creatures, stitching together 25,000 photographs to show their hidden movements.
Colonies of coral, or reefs, are cradles of biological diversity that support up to a quarter of all ocean species.
But pollution, overfishing and oceans warming from climate change threaten reefs worldwide.
Prolonged high temperatures have bleached corals around the world. When the algae that give corals their colors get stressed, they leave, causing once-vibrant reefs to turn pale and ghostly. Bleaching can devastate slow-moving coral, which often grows less than an inch per year when healthy.
Scientists and ordinary people are working hard to protect these critical ocean dwellers before it’s too late.
How can you protect coral reefs?
- Conserve water: Using less water results in less runoff, which can wash pollutants into reef ecosystems.
- Safely dispose of trash: Marine debris can harm reef structures and wildlife.
- Advocate for climate action: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can slow coral-bleaching ocean warming.
