A huge black coral tree thought to be 300 to 400 years old was discovered. Found Researchers from the University of Victoria in the waters of Fiordland National Park in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

A coral measuring 4 meters high and 4.5 meters wide (anti-patella fiordensis) is believed to be one of the largest ever seen in New Zealand’s Aotearoa waters.

Ironically, black corals are white in color, with only their black skeletons. This species is listed as protected under the Wildlife Act.

Professor James Bell, a marine biologist at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University in Wellington, said the coral was “absolutely huge”.

“This is by far the largest black coral I’ve seen in my 25 years as a marine biologist. Most black corals I encounter while diving are small, and even the largest corals are usually less than 2-3 meters tall, so it was really amazing to find this,” he said.

These large corals are an important breeding resource for this slow-growing species.

In the past 40 years, the world has lost half of coral reef. This species is increasingly threatened by rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and destructive fishing practices.

Last year, a bottom trawler pulled up six tonnes of protected coral in a single trawl, marking the worst case of coral destruction in Aotearoa New Zealand in more than a decade.