Forereef habitat at Bikar atoll. (Manu San Félix via SWNS)
By Talker
Some of the “very last wild and healthy ecosystems” unblemished by humans have been discovered.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6>@E6 2E@==D :? E96 !24:7:4 ~462? E66> H:E9 =:76 24C@DD 923:E2ED — 2?5 >2J D6CG6 2D C676C6?46 E@ H92E 92D 366? =@DE 6=D6H96C6[ D2J D4:6?E:DED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmwF>2?D 92G6 =67E E96:C >2C< @? G:CEF2==J 6G6CJ A=246 @? E96 A=2?6E[ 7C@> E96 566A D62 E@ E96 A62<D @7 E96 9:896DE >@F?E2:?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmqFE 2 ?6H DEF5J DF886DED E92E 2 76H G6CJ C6>@E6 2E@==D :? E96 !24:7:4 ~462? >2J 36 6I46AE:@?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm#6D62C496CD 7@F?5 EH@ 4@C2= 2E@==D[ q:<2C 2?5 q@<2<[ =@42E65 @? E96 E6CC:E@CJ @7 E96 |2CD92== xD=2?5D[ E@ 36 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE :?E24E 64@DJDE6>D C6>2:?:?8 :? E96 C68:@? 2?5 A6C92AD E96 H@C=5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$EF5J 7:CDE 2FE9@C p=2? uC:65=2?56C D2:5i “%9:D DEF5J AC@G:56D E96 7:CDE 4@>AC696?D:G6 64@=@8:42= 32D6=:?6 @7 E96 ?6H=J 4C62E65 }2E:@?2= |2C:?6 $2?4EF2C:6D @7 q:<2C 2?5 q@<2< 2E@==D 7C@> E96 D<J 2?5 =2?5 E@ E96 566A D62[ 2?5 9:89=:89ED D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE :?E24E 64@DJDE6>D C6>2:?:?8 :? E96 C68:@?]k^Am
Green sea turtle hatching at Bikar atoll. (Manu San Félix via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“q:<2C 2?5 q@<2< 2C6 ?@E ;FDE EC62DFC6D 7@C E96 |2CD92== xD=2?5D 3FE 7@C E96 6?E:C6 A=2?6E[ 2 8:7E 7C@> E96 4@>>F?:EJ @7 &E:C:< pE@==[ H9:49 92D EC25:E:@?2==J 2?5 G:8:=2?E=J D2768F2C565 E96D6 7C28:=6 64@DJDE6>D 7@C 564256D]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq:<2C 2?5 q@<2< 2C6 E96 ?@CE96C?>@DE 2E@==D :? E96 |2CD92== xD=2?5D[ =J:?8 2C@F?5 fa 2?5 abh >:=6D 7C@> E96 ?62C6DE :?923:E65 2E@==[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmx? a_ab[ E96 C6D62C49 E62> 4@?5F4E65 6IE6?D:G6 >@?:E@C:?8 @7 =@42= =2?5[ D62[ 2?5 D<J 64@DJDE6>D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J 2DD6DD65 D62\ 2?5 D9@C63:C5 A@AF=2E:@?D[ 492C24E6C:K65 G686E2E:@?[ 2?5 4@?5F4E65 DFCG6JD @7 EFCE=6 ?6DE:?8[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^_f^a_^4@C2=\C667\AC6DF>65\5625\7@C\e_\J62CD\7@F?5\2=:G6\@77\27C:42^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm4@C2= C667Dk^2m 2?5 7:D9 2DD6>3=286D FD:?8 D4F32[ F?56CH2E6C G:56@[ 566A\D62 42>6C2 56A=@J>6?ED 2?5 2 DF3>2C:?6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmuC:65=2?56C[ 2 >2C:?6 64@=@8:DE 2E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]92H2::]65F^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 w2H2::k^2m[ D2:5i “(6 D6E @FE E@ :?7@C> E96 4C62E:@? @7 2 9:89=J AC@E64E65 2C62 H:E9:? E96 D4@A6 @7 E96 |2CD92== xD=2?5D’ #6:>22?=@< G:D:@?[ H9:49 >62?D ‘=@@<:?8 E@H2C5 E96 7FEFC6]’k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“xE :D 2 ?2E:@?2=[ 4@>>F?:EJ\=65 4@?D6CG2E:@? 7C2>6H@C< 56D:8?65 E@ AC@E64E >2C:?6 2?5 E6CC6DEC:2= C6D@FC46D H9:=6 6?DFC:?8 :D=2?5 =:76 E9C:G6D 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D E@ 4@>6]”k^Am
Bumphead parrotfish at Bokak atoll. (Manu San Félix via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%H@ J62CD 27E6C E96 2DD6DD>6?E[ D@>6 `g[d__ DBF2C6 >:=6D 2C@F?5 E96 2E@==D H6C6 564=2C65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C>:>:>C2]4@>^FA52E6D^2CE:4=6D^`g\2??@F?46>6?E^`fh\9:DE@C:4\>:=6DE@?6\>2CD92==\:D=2?5D\7:CDE\?2E:@?2=\>2C:?6\D2?4EF2CJ\D:8?65Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmE96 4@F?ECJ’D 7:CDE ?2E:@?2= >2C:?6 D2?4EF2CJk^2m]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmuC:65=2?56C D2:5i “%96D6 2E@==D 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^_d^`h^4=:>2E6\492?86\E9C62E6?D\:4@?:4\D623:C5\DA64:6D\H:E9\6IE:?4E:@?^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm6IE6?D:G6 D623:C5 4@=@?:6Dk^2m[ >2EFC6 ?2E:G6 G686E2E:@?[ 24E:G6 EFCE=6 ?6DE:?8[ 9:89 C667\7:D9 3:@>2DD 2?5 =2C86 AC652E@CD[ 4@C2=\5@>:?2E65 C667D 2E q@<2<[ DECF4EFC2==J 4@>A=6I >6D@A9@E:4 923:E2ED[ 2?5 DFCAC:D:?8=J 5:G6CD6 2?5 A@@C=J <?@H? 566A\D62 4@>>F?:E:6D]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp4C@DD 3@E9 2E@==D[ E96 C6D62C496CD 7@F?5 `d D623:C5 4@=@?:6D E92E H6C6 4@?7:C>65 @C =:<6=J E@ 36 3C665:?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J 2=D@ 7@F?5 2E =62DE aee 8C@FAD @7 C667 7:D9[ `bg 8C@FAD @7 7:D9 =:G:?8 2E 8C62E6C 56AE9D 2?5 fh 8C@FAD @7 566A\D62 7:D96D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmu:7E66? 8C@FAD @7 @A6?\H2E6C AC652E@CD — :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^``^_a^DH:>>:?8\H:E9\D92C<D\EFC?:?8\E@FC:DED\:?E@\4@?D6CG2E:@?:DED^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmD92C<Dk^2m[ ;24<D 2?5 H29@@ — H6C6 C64@C565]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmu@FCE66? @7 E96 @3D6CG65 8C@FAD 92G6?’E AC6G:@FD=J 366? C64@C565 :? E96 |2CD92== xD=2?5D[ 2?5 EH@ >:89E 36 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^`_^_e^A2EC:4<\DE2C\D4:6?E:DED\5:D4@G6C\df\?6H\566A\D62\DA64:6D^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmDA64:6D ?6H E@ D4:6?46k^2m]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qms6DA:E6 D92C:?8 >2?J 492C24E6C:DE:4D 2?5 9@FD:?8 >2?J @7 E96 D2>6 DA64:6D[ uC:65=2?56C D2JD E96 2E@==D 2=D@ 5:776C 7C@> 6249 @E96C]k^Am
Brown bobbies at Bikar atoll. (Chris Thompson via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmu@C 6I2>A=6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ad^_a^`h^9F?5C65D\@7\D62\EFCE=6D\E2<6\@G6C\36249\7@C\>2DD\?6DE:?8^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmD62 EFCE=6 ?6DE:?8k^2m H2D 2=>@DE 6I4=FD:G6=J 4@?46?EC2E65 2E q:<2C[ H:E9 `ba 8C66? D62 EFCE=6 ?6DE A:ED C64@C565]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 E@E2= 3:@>2DD @7 C667 7:D9 H2D 9:896C 2E q@<2< H9:49 :D 492C24E6C:K65 3J 4@C2=\5@>:?2E65 C667 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq:<2C[ @? E96 @E96C 92?5[ DFAA@CE65 >@C6 E2I2 @7 2=826]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 DEF5J[ AF3=:D965 :? E96 ;@FC?2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C@?E:6CD:?]@C8^;@FC?2=D^>2C:?6\D4:6?46QmuC@?E:6CD :? |2C:?6 $4:6?46k^2m[ DFCG6J65 E96 2E@==D 2E @?6 A@:?E :? E:>6[ 2?5 5:5?’E 56E6C>:?6 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E2= >6492?:D>D 42FD:?8 5:776C:?8 64@=@8:42= A2EE6C?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmuC:65=2?56C D2:5 E96J 4@F=5 36 2EEC:3FE65 E@ 5:776C6?46 :? =28@@? D:K6[ H2E6C 6I492?86[ D65:>6?E EC2?DA@CE[ 923:E2E 4@?7:8FC2E:@?[ ?FEC:6?E 5J?2>:4D @C 64@=@8:42= 9:DE@CJ[ 2>@?8 @E96C E9:?8D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 25565i “%96C6 :D 2=D@ 2 3:E @7 2 =@EE6CJ :?G@=G65 2D E@ H9:49 DA64:6D D9@H FA 2?5 A6CD:DE 2E C6>@E6 =@42E:@?D]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmuC:65=2?56C D2JD E96 6IE6?D:G6 DFCG6J:?8 @7 E96 64@DJDE6>D @776CD 2? “F?A2C2==6=65 8=:>AD6” :?E@ 9@H E96J 7F?4E:@? H:E9 @?=J >:?:>2= 9F>2? :?7=F6?46]k^Am
Giant clams at Bokak atoll. (Alan Friedlander via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 D2:5i “%96J 2C6 2>@?8 E96 36DE 64@=@8:42= C676C6?46 DJDE6>D H6 92G6 E@ 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 H92E H6 92G6 =@DE 6=D6H96C6 2?5 E@ AC@G:56 7F?52>6?E2= :?D:89ED ?66565 7@C 67764E:G6 4@?D6CG2E:@? 2?5 C6DE@C2E:@? 677@CED]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C49 E62> D2JD E96 :>A@CE2?E =6DD@? :D E92E >@?:E@C:?8 D9@F=5 ?@E 7@4FD 6I4=FD:G6=J @? D92==@H C667D 3FE 2DD6DD 64@DJDE6>D :? E96:C 7F== 4@>A=6I:EJ[ H9:49 AC@G:56D 2 >@C6 4@>A=6E6 7@F?52E:@? 7@C 4@?D6CG:?8 64@DJDE6> :?E68C:EJ 2?5 EC24<:?8 7FEFC6 4=:>2E6\5C:G6? 492?86]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J D2:5 7FEFC6 DEF5:6D D9@F=5 2=D@ 7@4FD @? 6I2>:?:?8 ?FEC:6?E EC2?D76C 2?5 64@=@8:42= 4@??64E:G:EJ 36EH66? 923:E2ED[ H9:49 H2D ?@E 5@?6 96C6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmuC:65=2?56C 25565i “%96 |2CD92== xD=2?5 8@G6C?>6?E D9@F=5 36 2AA=2F565 7@C E96:C 7@C6D:89E :? AC@E64E:?8 E96D6 8=@32= 3:@5:G6CD:EJ 9@EDA@ED[ H96C6 9F>2? 24E:G:EJ :D 5:DE2?E 2?5 923:E2ED E66> H:E9 =:76]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“pD 9F>2? 24E:G:E:6D :?4C62D:?8=J E9C62E6? 3:@5:G6CD:EJ[ 2C62D 56G@:5 @7 :?E6?D6 9F>2? :>A24ED D6CG6 2D G:E2= C67F8:2]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm“{2C86 >2C:?6 AC@E64E65 2C62D D6CG6 2D 8=@32==J :>A@CE2?E 64@=@8:42= C676C6?46 DJDE6>D 7@C F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 DECF4EFC6 2?5 7FEFC6 EC2;64E@C:6D @7 EC@A:42= @462?:4 64@DJDE6>D :? E96 p?E9C@A@46?6]”k^Am
