Bertarelli-Annual-Report-2024-LR - Flipbook - Page 8
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Bertarelli Foundation
On the ground in the Chagos Archipelago Marine
Protected Area, we mobilised a coral rescue mission at
very short notice in response to predictive models showing
a high likelihood of severe coral bleaching induced by the
El Niño event. We successfully brought 12 colonies of the
endemic and threatened brain coral, Ctenella chagius, into
the Horniman Museum and Gardens aquarium in the UK
and collected vital field data on its abundance, habitat,
and distribution. As virtually nothing is known about the
biology, life history or husbandry requirements of this
coral, this project is already significantly increasing our
understanding, and the long-term prospects of survival,
for this critically endangered species emblematic of the
Chagos Archipelago.
Social Science for Conservation Course in Sri Lanka,
February 2023 © Claire Collins
In addition to research in the Chagos Archipelago, project
teams conducted fieldwork in Egypt, India, La Réunion,
Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius, New Caledonia, the
Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tetiaroa in French Polynesia.
Two training workshops on cetacean monitoring and social
science techniques were held in Sri Lanka.
Lobophyllia coral colour morphs, Diego Garcia © Jon Slayer
