Lakshadweep gifts its corals to Gujarat

In a pioneering species reintroduction initiative for the restoration of coral reefs - also known as rainforests-of-the-seas, the Gujarat Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of India transplanted fragments of locally-extinct corals in the coastal waters of Gujarat.

This is for the first time in the country that such fragments of locally-extinct corals have been successfully moved over large distance and transplanted.

Fragments of Acropora sp. were collected from Agatti Island, in Lakshadweep, where they are common, and moved about 1,500 kms for reintroduction in Mithapur Reef in Arabian Sea and Poshitra Reef of Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch.

The initiative was also supported by the Lakshadweep Forest Department including the Wildlife Warden - Agatti, Abdul Rahim, who have earlier worked with such coral conservation initiatives.

“There is an overall decline in the distribution of Acropora in Gujarat, and live Acropora has not been sighted here for several decades now,” said Pradeep Khanna, principal chief conservator of forests, Gujarat.

“Success of this effort will give rise to a new era in conservation of marine biodiversity,” he said.

Coral reefs are marine ecosystems that support a rich and colourful array of aquatic flora and fauna. “Coral reefs are called the ‘rainforests-of-the-seas’ because like terrestrial rainforests, they are among the richest ecosystems supporting unimaginably extensive food webs. However, human activities are causing undue damage to this ecosystem too and if we ignore them we risk losing this unique natural heritage,” said Satish K Goyal, chief wildlife warden, Gujarat, stressing that the reefs play a crucial role in protecting coastlines from harsh ocean currents.