The Coral Triangle Photojournalistic Slide Show

On Tuesday, 27 October WWF Singapore proudly presented Jürgen and Stella Freund, internationally renowned wildlife photographers, who gave a spectacular slide show about the unique and beautiful Coral Triangle. Nearly 200 people joined the Freunds at the Botanic Gardens Botany Centre, for a photographic kaleidoscope depicting the first 7 months of their 18-month WWF Coral Triangle photojournalistic expedition.

The Freunds, collectively known as freundfactory, internationally renowned wildlife photographers and long-time collaborators of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), have been commissioned to carry out an 18 month photojournalistic expedition investigating the connectivity between the wildlife, people and the marine environment of the Coral Triangle.

In one vast, turquoise-blue corner of this Earth, the forces of nature have crafted a truly amazing underwater tapestry of corals. One that is unrivalled in its richness, importance, and sheer beauty. This is the Coral Triangle - nursery of the seas. Born out of the collision of tropical light, warm sea temperatures and oceanic currents, the ‘Coral Triangle’ is a triangular-shaped region in the indo-pacific, covering 6 million km2 of all or part of the seas of six countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste). The Coral Triangle is defined by marine zones containing 500 or more species of reef-building coral and is referred to as the world’s centre of marine life - the diversity of coral, fish and other species in this region is higher than anywhere else on earth. Its underwater riches are equally matched by the diversity of its people, cultures and traditions – all of whom rely on the sea in one way or another for their survival.

From an economic standpoint the area sustains 120 million people, most of whom make their living from the vast oceans around them. The Coral Triangle also generates an estimated US$12 billion in annual tourism revenue from visitors who come to experience its incredible sights, both above and under the water. Naturally, such pressure has taken its toll on the area’s resources. A fast-growing population has brought intense human pressure as well as economic demand and frenzied coastal development. Tuna, sharks, turtles, and most especially live reef fish are being caught, sold, and consumed at an alarming rate, and in staggering numbers; the live reef fish trade alone is worth some US$810 million a year. “Crumbling and fading coral reefs, sea change temperatures due to climate change that is threatening the wildlife, declining fish stock due to 2.25 million fishers, and species on the brink of extinction” are the biggest challenges facing the Coral Triangle, declares the WWF website (www.panda.org).

It is in acknowledgement of the importance of the region, and the need to address the threats it faces, that WWF has established its Coral Triangle Programme, working on the ground with communities, partnering with several sectors, and formulating strategies to keep the region alive.
During their breathtaking slide show, Jürgen and Stella gave us a remarkable insight into the beauty and richness of this unique marine eco-region and illustrated WWF’s field work through stories and pictures, demonstrating the ‘connectivity’ between the people and wildlife of the Coral Triangle.

To learn more about the Coral Triangle, go to www.panda.org/coraltriangle. Follow the Freunds’ riveting expedition blog.