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Record-Breaking Coral Colony Discovered on Great Barrier Reef

2/25/2026

44 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A Pavona clavus coral colony on the Great Barrier Reef measures 111 meters long and 3,973 square meters, mapped by photogrammetry.
Jan Pope, a citizen scientist with the Great Reef Census project, found the colony near Cairns.
Dr. Tom Bridge of the Queensland Museum notes large coral colonies are rare due to bleaching.
Genetic testing is needed to confirm whether the colony is a single organism or multiple colonies.

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Story summary

A Pavona clavus coral colony on the Great Barrier Reef measures 111 meters long and 3,973 square meters, mapped by photogrammetry.
Jan Pope, a citizen scientist with the Great Reef Census project, found the colony near Cairns.
Dr. Tom Bridge of the Queensland Museum notes large coral colonies are rare due to bleaching.
Genetic testing is needed to confirm whether the colony is a single organism or multiple colonies.