A cool spot in the ocean protects the coral reef and the surrounding marine life from the harmful effects of the climate crisis.
The coral sanctuary is a wildlife hotspot where species are thriving despite warming events that have killed their neighbours.
The coral refuge, which stretches from Shimoni, 50 miles south of Mombasa, in Kenya to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, is fed by cool water from deep channels formed thousands of years ago by glacial runoff from Kilimanjaro and the Usambara mountains. Outside that area, the corals are bleached and dying. But inside the area, of around 400 sq km [150 sq miles] they retain their colour and their health.
The coastline has the highest density of dolphins in east Africa, and coelacanths, fish once believed extinct, swim in its deep waters. I thought ‘why are all the animals here?’ And I realised it was because of Kilimanjaro.
The cool water appears to protect the corals from episodic warming events like El Niño. The major reef habitats-island and fringing reefs are also protected from the open ocean storms and the strong inter-annual current temperature variability.
McClanahan has been looking for coral sanctuaries in the west Indian Ocean for more than a decade. He said he has found three potential coral sanctuaries in the western Indian Ocean, but only for this one is the available scientific evidence “pretty strong.”
Initially, McClanahan succumbed to a feeling of despair about the future of the reefs, "then you sort of pull up your socks and go see what you can do," he said. “I’m very excited about it. It gives us something to hope for. Some good news in gloomy times.”
Sehemu ya bahari yenye baridi huhifadhi matumbawe na viumbe wa baharini wanaozunguka eneo hilo kutokana na athari mbaya za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Hifadhi ya matumbawe ni mahali pa wanyama wa porini ambapo spishi zinaendelea kusitawi licha ya matukio ya joto ambayo yamewaua majirani zao. Mto huo unaanzia Shimoni, Kenya, umbali wa maili 50 kusini mwa Mombasa, hadi Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, na una maji baridi kutoka kwenye mifereji ya kina kirefu iliyoundwa maelfu ya miaka iliyopita na maji ya barafu kutoka Kilimanjaro na milima ya Usambara. Nje ya eneo hilo, matumbawe yamepungua rangi na kufa. Lakini ndani ya eneo hilo lenye ukubwa wa kilomita 400 za mraba, wanaendelea kuwa na rangi na afya nzuri. Pwani ya pwani ina idadi kubwa zaidi ya pomboo katika Afrika Mashariki, na coelacanth, samaki ambao wakati mmoja waliaminiwa kuwa wametoweka, huogelea katika maji yake ya kina kirefu. Nilifikiri, 'Kwa nini wanyama wote wako hapa?' Na nikagundua ni kwa sababu ya Kilimanjaro. Maji baridi yaonekana hulinda matumbawe kutokana na matukio ya joto ya mara kwa mara kama vile El Niño. Makazi makuu ya matumbawe - visiwa na matumbawe ya pembeni - pia hulindwa kutokana na dhoruba za bahari wazi na mabadiliko makubwa ya joto la sasa la kati ya miaka. McClanahan amekuwa akitafuta hifadhi za matumbawe katika bahari ya Hindi ya magharibi kwa zaidi ya miaka kumi. "Mwanzoni, McClanahan alishindwa na hisia ya kukata tamaa kuhusu siku zijazo za matumbawe, ""baada ya hapo unashuka na kwenda kuona nini unaweza kufanya.""" <unk>Ninafurahi sana kuhusu hilo. Inatupa kitu cha kutumaini. Habari nzuri katika nyakati zenye kuhuzunisha. <unk>