They have just arrived in what they believe and hope is paradise. Raja Ampat is located in the centre of what is known as the ‘coral triangle’, which stretches from the Philippines down to Malaysia, Indonesia and over to East Timor.
The island paradise of Raja Ampat is one of the last outposts of the Indonesian archipelago. A remote group of islands with lush white beaches surrounded by turquoise waters, a unique place characterised by its biodiversity. But even here, nature is not left alone by the human footprint. The increasing amount of rubbish in the water is becoming a growing problem with multiple bottoms.
They have been blown up in nuclear tests and poisoned when people fished with cyanide. However, the absolute biggest threat to the future of coral reefs is global warming, according to researcher Fredrik Moberg.
Scientists warn that the significant coral bleaching, which the American weather agency NOAA warned about earlier this year, has spread to several places on earth.
Meet Dr. Tessa Hempson, a coral scientist dedicated to exploring and preserving the coral reefs. Tessa strives to raise awareness about marine conservation, emphasizing collective choices for our oceans' future.
Across the world scientists and biologists are studying a huge variety of dedicated and intricate subjects: jellyfish proteins; fish intelligence and whether octopus dream. On the other side of the coin are the naturalists
iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa is home to one of the world's most pristine reef systems, home to hundreds of different species from rare fish to tiny seahorses...and hundreds of cleaning stations where fish come in for their daily cleaning sessions. Petro van Jaarsveld who is currently conducting her PhD studies on these fascinating stations takes us on a tour inside the surprisingly complex and beautiful world of a fish car wash...
