Growing baby corals

Meet the UK scientists giving breeding corals a helping hand.

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Clever scientists may have found a way to protect reefs around the world - making baby corals in the lab. This will speed up the recovery of wild corals that are under threat.

Corals under threat

Corals might look like beautiful underwater plants but they are actually tiny animals that live in groups called colonies. Over many years, different colonies grow together to form coral reefs. Like colourful underwater cities, reefs become home to turtles, fish, crabs and many other creatures. Reefs make up less than 1% of the ocean floor but provide a habitat (home) for a quarter of all marine life.