The Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) is seriously threatened! That is why two of Rotterdam Zoo’s marine biologists, Michaël Laterveer and Dirk Petersen, are visiting the Caribbeans every year. At the time the corals release millions of sperm and eggs they will both be found under water on the spot ready to collect the baby-corals (the larvae).

For the first time since 2009 the larvae are not solely used for their own purpose viz cultivation, but also for restoration of the endangered coral reefs.

After the larvae have settled on cross-shaped ceramic tiles they are ‘sowed’ across the reef. In the years to come we will find out whether this has been successful. Exciting!