Emergency Recovery Plan for the world's rarest coral, Ctenella chagius
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Darwin Plus Local
VALUE £49,576
WHERE British Indian Ocean Territory
Summary
The Chagos brain coral, Ctenella chagius, is endemic to BIOT and on the brink of extinction, likely due to ocean heatwaves. The imminent El Niño climate event is predicted to be severe, with potential for mass bleaching of coral reefs across the region. Based on expert assessments, an Emergency Recovery Plan is the recommended response. We will recover live colonies of Ctenella, transport them to London, and establish a safety net population in aquaria as part of that response.
