A team of scientists from the National Geographic Pristine Seas has discovered the largest known coral in the world in the waters of the Solomon Islands. The organism, with a circumference of 183 m, comprises millions of corals. Scientists say it is between 300 and 500 years old and is visible from space. The discovery occurred during an October 2024 expedition in the “coral triangle,” a region of the western Pacific. This coral, belonging to the species Pavona clavus, is a refuge for various marine species, such as fish, shrimp, and crabs.
The discovery is significant because this coral is not part of a reef, a network of many coral colonies, but an individual organism that has grown uninterrupted into millions of genetically identical polyps over the centuries. When the research team first spotted the coral, they mistook it for a shipwreck. Though its size is impressive at 34 m wide, 32 m long, and more than 5 m high, it may have gone undocumented due to the locals mistaking it for a boulder.
Scientists believe the coral’s location in deeper, colder waters, protected by a slope and shelf, may have helped it stay healthy in the face of warming oceans. Despite that, climate change is still a severe threat. Trevor Manemahaga, the Solomon Islands’ climate change minister, told BBC News how important this discovery is for their community, as natural resources like corals are vital for the country’s economy and culture. The Solomon Islands face increasing dangers from the effects of global warming, including stronger storms and land loss from erosion.
The research team announced the discovery during COP29, an international climate change conference, highlighting the urgency to protect and restore corals. The Solomon Islands community hopes the discovery will bring official protections to their waters.