Riccardo Liguori The National Geographic Pristine Seas team has discovered the world's largest (and 300-year-old) coral colony in the South Pacific. This massive organism represents a symbol of marine resilience in the face of climate change
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A coral as large as to be visible from space has been found off the Solomon Islands‘ coast in the South Pacific. It measures 112 feet long and 105 feet wide, roughly the length of two blue whales put together, and is believed to be over 300 years old. It has survived for centuries, with all the historical and environmental changes Earth has gone through, yet was never found until today.
This was an ecosystem discovered by researchers on National Geographic’s Pristine Seas expedition this October 2024, containing an estimated billion polyps-small animals related to jellyfish and sea anemones-that work together as one organism, building a structure immune to time and environmental change. But one may ponder how much longer it might live, since coral reefs around the globe are facing destruction brought about by climate change, pollution, and overfishing.
The discovery: a colossal colony
The discovery was made by happenstance. Underwater photographer Manu San Félix was documenting the expedition and initially thought he encountered either a shipwreck or boulder underwater. On diving further down, he realized it was a large coral colony, one of unimaginable size.
Lying 43 feet beneath the sea surface, its depth made it hard to detect. This natural structure is a big sculpture-like creation made of genetically identical polyps that work together, performing as one organism.
This colony lives in a marine reserve in the Solomon Islands, which is located within the Coral Triangle, an area considered to have the richest marine biodiversity on the planet. While its remote position has probably contributed to its survival, the research team are concerned about its future, particularly in light of the increasing threats from global warming and human activities that threaten coral reefs worldwide.
But its age is decidedly the most intriguing. This colony, though so huge and overwhelming, has lived through centuries of historical and environmental changes. If this colony is indeed around 300 years old, as scientists estimate by its height, then it has seen Earth’s history-from the early encounters with Christian missionaries down to the modern events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
This long lifetime is testimony to how tough it has been for corals and how resilient they are. Astonishingly, the newly discovered colony seems very healthy, begging the question why this colony, out of many, succeeded at withstanding adversity.
According to Molly Timmers, expedition leader, its exact location might be a major factor. Because it is in deeper, cooler waters, out of the reach of warmer waters that cause bleaching, this coral may have found its sweet spot to flourish. Its placement on a slope might also have offered natural protection against sudden changes that devastated other coral reefs.
A future in the balance
For scientists, the situation stays cautiously optimistic. Corals are extremely sensitive to changes in the environment, and global warming keeps on accelerating. Between 2023 and 2024, 77% of the global coral areas went through bleaching because of very high water temperatures. If global warming reaches beyond the threshold of 1.5°C, being catastrophic for coral reefs may involve this giant as well.
The Pristine Seas team aspires that this shall act as a catalyst to more resolute actions in the protection of oceans. “This discovery reminds us of how important it is to protect our wild marine spaces,” says Enric Sala, Pristine Seas founder. While local communities in the Solomon Islands have traditionally set up informal protections for their waters, much more official and international support is required to ensure that these essential ecosystems are preserved.
