Coral reefs: Dutch zoo builds 'Noah's Ark' to help endangered species

Divers are hoping to find more than just two-by-two of each coral

A zoo in the Netherlands has announced that it's collecting rare coral in a 'Noah's Ark' aquarium in an effort to preserve the reef species.

Like the well-known Bible story, where Noah put two of each animal on his big boat before a flood, these Dutch divers say they are building a 'back-up' for the future.

Coral reefs face many threats, including climate change, overfishing and pollution.

It's part of a wider international project to restore endangered coral reef species before returning them to the wild.

Conservationists from Burgers' Zoo began to test if the 'Noah's Ark' could work back in 2022, with help from museums and aquariums in Monaco and France

One of the biggest threats to these animals (no, they're not plants!) is coral bleaching.

This is when coral turns white because the water it lives in is too hot, leaving it vulnerable.

Climate change can make this problem worse. As the Earth's temperature warms, the seas get warmer, making coral bleaching more likely.

It's hoped that projects like this one, called the World Coral Conservatory, can help protect reefs around the world.

Coral grows very slowly - sometimes by only a few millimetres a year - so it will take some time before the coral they collect can be put back in the oceans.

The aquarium in Arnhem, Netherlands, contains the largest living coral reef in Europe

Scientists also have to be careful when reintroducing species to the wild.

If they're not sure where the coral has come from, it's risky to return it, as it could harm other species of animal or plant living there.

For now, people can see the coral sitting - and growing - in the zoo's tropical reef aquarium.