Twenty five thousand dollars... and we owe it all to YOU!!!

Confronted with the urgency of facing corals during record heat, Tela Coral launched an emergency campaign earlier this year to build a genetic bank to protect the unusually healthy coral on #TheRebelReef. And the coral loving community responded. 

Thanks to generous gifts from around the world and in donations both large and as small as $5, we here at Tela Coral are beyond thrilled to have raised $25,000 for construction of a genetic bank facility. Elkhorn coral will be the initial focus of our gene bank as this species used to dominate the Caribbean (and are expected to soon be extinct in Florida) but still flourish in Tela. 

By bringing fragments of corals into aquarium tanks that assure the coral’s health, they become a genetic bank through which we can begin to understand what makes the corals in Tela so special. And, with luck, we can share those lessons with other places and communities.

A huge shout out to all who donated and who continue to support #TheRebelReef. 

#ExploraHonduras #VisitHonduras #Coral #CoralReefs #Ocean #OceanConservation #CoralRestoration #ReefRestoration #OceanClimateAction #WINGS #WINGSWomenOfDiscovery #WINGSFlag #WomenInScience #WomenInStem #WomenEmpowerment #WomenSupportingWomen #WomensLeadership #SheInspiresMe #Exploration #Honduras #tela ...

Our work here at @telacoral consists of three major pillars; science, media, and community empowerment. Each plays it’s respective role within the long term success of our mission and we wanted to share a little more on what each means to us!

Science - We facilitate scientific work and dream of establishing a permanent science program in Tela. We’ve already raised funds for to begin building a genetic bank, a stereomicroscope with a video camera, and an underwater drill. Our expeditions have begun establishing baseline scientific information including water quality, temperature, and sediment samples.

Media - Unless people are informed about Tela’s corals, they remain vulnerable. One of our priorities is to engage individuals with the skills and equipment to capture these stories through film, photography, sound, and more, documenting the events on #TheRebelReef. We’re thrilled to have attracted the attention of media outlets both in Honduras and in the United States. Our efforts have also brought new attention from top-tier research institutions. 

Community Empowerment - We’ve been thrilled to mentor a young aquarist from @tela_marine, supporting her work to share her stories at an international meeting. We’ve also had the privilege of partnering with @familiesinnature to bring students to Tela to participate in scientific research.

These three pillers factor into our daily operations and have allowed us to forge forward in our efforts to protect #TheRebelReef! 

#ExploraHonduras #VisitHonduras #Coral #CoralReefs #Ocean #OceanConservation #CoralRestoration #ReefRestoration #OceanClimateAction #WINGS #WINGSWomenOfDiscovery #WINGSFlag #WomenInScience #WomenInStem #WomenEmpowerment #WomenSupportingWomen #WomensLeadership #SheInspiresMe #Exploration #Honduras #tela ...

They say you shouldn’t have favorites when it comes to your “kids” but in the case of our coral “children” we have to make an exception. Everyone meet Casita, one of our all time favorite corals to see while working out on #TheRebelReef.

Casita is a type of coral known as Mountainous Star Coral (Orbicella faveloata) and she is HUGE - her width is about 80 feet and her height over 25 feet. Estimates put her age around two centuries. Orbicella faveolata is native to the coral coast of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Along wave swept habitats colonies of this coral will appear flattened, whereas in less exposed regions the same species may well form dome or stump shaped colonies - bet you cannot guess which category our Casita falls into. 

Once a highly abundant, this species has declined rapidly in the last few decades and is now absent in many of the shallow reef habitats it once dominated. With a long generation period and slow growth rate, this species is listed as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Despite all the stressors that she may face, Casita - as well as others corals on #TheRebelReef - are thriving and serve as a constant reminder of hope for the future of our reefs. 

#ExploraHonduras #VisitHonduras #Coral #CoralReefs #Ocean #OceanConservation #CoralRestoration #ReefRestoration #OceanClimateAction #WINGS #WINGSWomenOfDiscovery #WINGSFlag #WomenInScience #WomenInStem #WomenEmpowerment #WomenSupportingWomen #WomensLeadership #SheInspiresMe #Exploration #Honduras #tela ...

We love being underwater at #TheRebelReef but also recognize that not everyone has the chance to dive into the marine world. However, that doesn’t prevent individuals from learning more about the work that is happening down in Honduras! 

That is all thanks to the AMAZING team over at @tela_marine.

Tela Marine is Tela’s premier aquarium/research center and they lead all efforts to protect this bay. Their aquarium attracts 2,500+ visitors monthly and admission is free — attendees are just asked to watch an 8-minute video about the magic of corals. 

In doing so, Tela Marine is inspiring the next generation of ocean heroes, and we’re excited to amplify their work as well as help in any way we can! 

So the next time you are in Tela, be sure to visit and learn even more about #TheRebelReef. 

#ExploraHonduras #VisitHonduras #Coral #CoralReefs #Ocean #OceanConservation #CoralRestoration #ReefRestoration #OceanClimateAction #WINGS #WINGSWomenOfDiscovery #WINGSFlag #WomenInScience #WomenInStem #WomenEmpowerment #WomenSupportingWomen #WomensLeadership #SheInspiresMe #Exploration #Honduras #tela ...