Latest news with #MaptheGiants'
Gulf Insider
29-04-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Discovers Largest Coral Colony In Red Sea, Rivaling Global Record
Red Sea Global (RSG) announced on Sunday the discovery of a massive coral colony off the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia, within the waters of AMAALA. The colony, a member of the Pavona species, rivals the size of the world record holder, a 32-by-34-meter coral structure documented in the Pacific, and is the largest of its kind ever recorded in the Red Sea. AMAALA is a luxury tourism project being developed along the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia, near the Red Sea. According to a statement issued by RSG, the newly discovered colony could become a major attraction for tourists visiting AMAALA, offering a rare diving experience. Visitor access will be permitted under strict guidelines aligned with RSG's responsible tourism policies, designed to minimize ecological impact while showcasing the Red Sea's unique underwater ecosystems. Ahmed Alansari, Head of Environmental Protection and Regeneration at RSG, described the find as a testament to the ecological richness and resilience of the Red Sea. 'The discovery of a coral of such extraordinary dimensions demonstrates the ecological significance as well as the pristine beauty of the Red Sea,' he said. 'These giant corals are time capsules of information, critical for tracing past oceanographic changes and modeling responses to future environmental shifts. Understanding how this coral has survived for so long will be crucial for protecting reefs across the Red Sea, and potentially around the world, for generations to come.' Determining the coral's exact age poses challenges, given the invasive nature of standard dating techniques and the lack of published growth rates for this particular species in the Red Sea. However, estimates based on the colony's size, growth rates observed in the Pacific, and photogrammetry suggest that the coral is between 400 and 800 years old. Further studies led by researchers from RSG and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are underway to better determine the coral's age and understand the environmental conditions that have allowed it to thrive. Red Sea corals are recognised globally for their exceptional resilience, having adapted genetically to warmer waters and higher salinity levels. The colony was discovered by RSG scientists Rhonda Suka and Sylvia Jagerroos, who are now leading efforts to map and document the site. 'Finding such an invaluable specimen was truly a mind-boggling experience,' said Suka. 'This colony's resilience gives us hope for the continued survival of Red Sea corals in the face of rising environmental and human pressures.' Jagerroos added, 'A coral of this size is incredibly rare. Mapping these giants is crucial to conserving them, which is what the 'Map the Giants' project is working to achieve globally by documenting coral structures larger than five meters. This is the second giant colony RSG has submitted to the project in recent months.' AMAALA, set to welcome its first guests later this year, aims to become the world's most comprehensive health and wellness destination. The project will open with more than 1,400 hotel rooms across eight luxury resorts, offering a wide range of wellness programs led by internationally renowned operators.
Arab News
28-04-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Huge ‘800-year-old' coral colony identified in Red Sea
JEDDAH: A massive Pavona coral colony has been discovered in the Red Sea, off the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia. The largest of its kind ever identified in the waters, it is expected to become a tourist attraction at the nearby Red Sea Global resort of Amaala. This standalone colony — in contrast to a much larger reef, which is made up of many individual colonies — was described as one of the most significant environmental discoveries in the region and, although an exact size was not immediately given, it was said to rival the world's largest-known individual coral colony, which is in the Pacific Ocean, covers an area of 32 meters by 34 meters and is 5.5 meters high. Red Sea Global told Arab News it will offer visitors to the Amaala resort the chance to view the colony in a secure and environmentally responsible way that ensures it is properly protected and minimizes effects on the local ecosystem. Ahmad Al-Ansary, the organization's head of environmental protection and regeneration, told Arab News that 'a discovery of this magnitude underscores both the Red Sea's environmental importance and its natural beauty.' The discovery, off the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia, is said to be one of the largest of its kind in the world. Estimating the age of the colony poses a technical challenge because of the limited growth-rate data for this species of coral in the Red Sea. Based on its size, comparative growth rates from Pacific specimens, and photogrammetry techniques that create 3D models from two-dimensional images, conservative estimates put its age at between 400 and 800 years old. Red Sea Global and KAUST said they were carrying out additional research and will refine the estimate. 'These giant coral formations act as 'time capsules,' preserving critical data on past climate conditions and helping us anticipate future environmental challenges,' he added. He went on to say that studying this colony will be essential for safeguarding coral reefs in the Red Sea and around the globe. Red Sea coral ecosystems are among the hardiest in the world, genetically adapted to relatively high temperatures and salinity, and researchers said they will continuously monitor the colony to understand the nature of its resilience. Ronda Sokka, a marine scientist at Red Sea Global and a co-discoverer of the colony, described it as 'a natural treasure whose incredible hardiness in harsh conditions is truly rare.' Her colleague Sylvia Yagerous said that mapping and documenting such large colonies is a core objective of the 'Map the Giants' project, which aims to record all coral formations worldwide exceeding five meters in size. The latest find is the second giant colony documented by Red Sea Global in recent months.
