Dutch zoo creates coral 'Noah's Ark' to preserve endangered reefs

ARNHEM, Netherlands (Reuters) - Divers at a Netherlands zoo on Monday began work to create a "Noah's Ark" of coral as part of a global effort to preserve coral reefs by building reserve populations in aquaria.

With corals under threat globally from climate change, overfishing and pollution, conservationists at Burgers' Zoo in the city of Arnhem are creating a back-up of endangered species.

The coral could be reintroduced to its original habitat when conditions improve, said Nienke Klerks, a biologist at the zoo.

"This project is making a kind of back-up of corals so in case they die out in the wild, we'll still have them in aquaria," Klerks said.

Because of the slow growth rates of corals - which can range from several millimeters to several centimeters a year - it would be years before any coral could be returned to the wild.

Even then, conditions would have to improve first for the coral to thrive, she added.

The zoo has worked on building the coral reserve together with the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and two French aquaria, and Klerks hopes more zoos will join the project.

(Reporting by Piroschka van de Wouw; Writing by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Ros Russell)