In two excursions over the past year, scientists examined the normally stunning coral reefs around the island of Kiritimati and pronounced it mostly a boneyard of dead coral. About 85 percent was dead, 10 percent was sick and bleached, and only 5 percent was doing OK.
The same scientists returned this month and found 6 to 7 percent of the coral is alive and not bleached.
That`s according to University of Victoria coral reef scientist Julia Baum, who despite the signs of hope remains wary. She says, "It`s like having a patient who is very sick and instead of letting them recover we keep infecting them with more and more illnesses."
Scientists find a bit more life in coral reefs in Pacific
19 November 2016
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In a ghost town of dead coral off a remote Pacific island, scientists have found a bit more life.
