Scientists discover coral sanctuary along the East African coast, cooled by channels formed during the creation of Kilimanjaro.
A climate crisis refuge for corals has been discovered off the coast of Kenya and Tanzania, where species are thriving despite the warming of the ocean.
The sanctuary is a wildlife hotspot boasting rare species like dugong and other prehistoric fish. Researches have come to the conclusion that its location in a cool spot in the ocean is the reason for its thriving marine life.
Tim McClanahan, the author of the study published in Advances in Marine Biology, has been searching for coral sanctuaries in the Indian Ocean for the last decade.
“I’m very excited about it. It gives us something to hope for. Some good news in gloomy times,” McClanahan said.
The coral refuge stretches from Shimoni in Kenya to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. It is fed by cool water from deep channels formed thousands of years ago by glacial runoff from Kilimanjaro and the Usambara mountains.
The cool water is what appears to be protecting the corals from the harmful effects of the climate crisis.
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