PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, Philippines — The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) is suffering from coral bleaching due to prolonged heat brought by the El Niño phenomenon, a report from the Tubbataha Management Office said. It is home to around 360 coral species representing 75 percent of known coral species, and not less than 600 or 40 percent of the world’s reef fish, including 11 shark species, 13 dolphins and whales, and around 100 bird species. ADVERTISEMENTThe only identified affected spot, so far, was the South Park dive site in the North Atoll of the reef and its surrounding areas. She also said that based on projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Tubbataha, the bleaching has just begun. Alaba said corals damaged in Tubbataha are Acropora and Millepora types or branching corals, which are most vulnerable to bleaching.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 02, 2024 20:59 UTC