In the summer of 2024, searing ocean temperatures devastated much of Mesoamerica’s coral. But in Honduras’s Tela Bay, a reef known as Cocalito remains improbably intact—dominated by elkhorn corals so robust they scrape the water’s surface.
The survival of this reef is baffling. Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), once common across the Caribbean, has declined by up to 98% in many areas due to warming seas, disease, and pollution. Yet here, in a bay fed by a river heavy with fertilizer and waste, these corals not only endure—they flourish.
Scientists have taken notice, reports Fritz Pinnow for Mongabay News. A team from the University of Miami, suspecting the corals harbor heat-resistant algae or unique genetic traits, collected samples to crossbreed with Florida’s nearly extinct elkhorns. Early findings suggest Cocalito’s coral hosts an unusually resilient symbiont. Still, results are preliminary, and other theories abound.
Some point to environmental quirks. Coastal currents may shield Cocalito from sedimentation and heat. Others cite human behavior: the reef’s shallow waters deter fishers, perhaps allowing a healthier ecological balance to persist.
Whatever the explanation, Cocalito’s persistence stands in stark contrast to the regional picture. Tela Bay’s other reefs were not spared from the global bleaching event, now affecting 84% of reefs worldwide. Local conservationists have long been working to mitigate stressors—fighting pollution, managing tourism, and monitoring reef health—but even they are surprised by Cocalito’s resilience.
That surprise is now fueling action. With support from the Mesoamerican Reef Fund, local NGOs are ramping up reef monitoring and protection. A documentary team is preparing to tell Cocalito’s story to the world.
The mystery remains unsolved. But in a year defined by coral loss, Cocalito offers something rare: A reason to keep looking for answers.
